Tuesday 16 February 2016

Avene PhysioLift Range - Anti-Ageing Skincare Review

Back in December I attended the Avene Thirty Plus event in London - a fascinating discussion on the subject of attitudes to ageing within the beauty industry which you can read about here if you're interested. At the event, we were gifted Avene's new PhysioLift range, targeted at ageing skin. I've been using it for a few weeks now, so I thought it was about time I shared my experience with you.

Avene PhysioLift range - Anti-Ageing skincare

Avene PhysioLift range - Anti-Ageing skincare

I've mentioned before that I find the world of skincare pretty overwhelming. So many brands, so many products, so many different issues to try to counteract. After moving house in January, I decided that enough was enough, got myself a piece of paper and a pen and wrote down in a bulleted list all the skincare steps I felt I really needed. That might sound a bit nuts, but I was getting to the stage where some products were being switched up daily, others were so overused that they were no longer having an effect on my skin, and basically I just wasn't in control of what I was plastering all over my face. One thing's for sure - my skin has definitely thanked me for reigning it all in and establishing a coherent routine.

Avene PhysioLift range - Anti-Ageing skincare

The Avene PhysioLift range is part of this routine, and, I'm sure, at least part of the reason why my skin has looked and felt a lot better recently. Designed to strike the perfect balance between effectively targeting signs of ageing and being gentle enough for sensitive skin, the products contain the following active ingredients:

Retinaldehyde - A radiance booster that's as effective as retinoic acid, but gentler on the skin

Hyaluronic acid mono-oligomers - Perfectly sized fragments of hyaluronic acid, designed to deliver moisture to exactly where it's needed

Ascofilline - Boosts collagen levels and plumps the skin.

The range includes an eye cream, a targeted wrinkle filler, a night cream and two day creams - one for dry skin and one for normal to combination skin.

Avene PhysioLift range - Anti-Ageing skincare

In the evenings, after thoroughly cleansing and toning, I start by applying the eye cream. It's a nice, fairly firm feeling product, and is designed to smooth, plump and firm up the under eye area. It has a special "patch" texture which helps the ingredients to absorb throughout the night, but you can't feel this. It just sinks in like any other eye cream.

Avene PhysioLift range - Anti-Ageing skincare - Eye Cream

Avene PhysioLift range - Anti-Ageing skincare - Eye Cream

This is my favourite product from the range, and the one I think has made the biggest impact on my skin.

Now, I feel like I need to give you a bit of background here, so apologies in advance for going off on a tangent, but I assure you it's relevant! Before trying this eye cream, I had been using Boots No 7 Protect and Perfect eye cream for the longest time. (Years!) While this is a good product, I think my skin had got a bit too used to it, and I didn't feel that it was doing a lot for me. Then I switched to the Sunday Riley Start Over active eye cream after winning it in Anne's giveaway, and this made a huge difference to my under eye area. Not that it's ever really been a big problem area for me, but there were a few fine lines there which never seemed to go away, and switching to Sunday Riley reduced them dramatically, although I would agree with Anne that the one downside of that product is that it stings like a mofo if you get it too near your eyes.

So this was a great test for the Avene eye cream. (I told you I'd get back to the point eventually!) If my lines started to look more prominent again, I would know it wasn't as good as the Sunday Riley product. Well, I've been using it for three to four weeks now and I'm still really happy. My under eye area feels smooth and firm, and the fine lines remain diminished.

While I think that the simple act of switching to a new product was definitely beneficial for me, I'm also confident that the Avene PhysioLift eye cream is pretty awesome at its job, and I can't recommend it enough. If you're only going to try one product from the range, make it this one!

The next step in my routine is to apply the Precision Wrinkle Filler to any deeper lines I have on my face - so that's between my brows, across my forehead and along the lines that run from the corners of my mouth to my nose.

Avene PhysioLift range - Anti-Ageing skincare - Wrinkle Filler

Avene PhysioLift range - Anti-Ageing skincare - Wrinkle Filler

A concentrated hit of the active ingredients present in this range, the wrinkle filler is intended to deliver an additional boost to those areas where you need it most. I've used a product like this before, (I think by Vichy), and do think they work to a certain extent if you use them regularly over an extended period of time, although in my opinion nothing is going to erase absolutely all traces of the lines on your face except Botox. That said, I feel that the Avene PhysioLift range as a whole has helped to make my complexion feel plumper and smoother and has softened fine lines, so I will continue to use the wrinkle filler along with the other products.

There is no serum in this range, so after the wrinkle filler I massage a couple of drops of Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate into my skin and then apply the night cream - or to give it its proper name, the smoothing, Regenerating Night Balm. Like all the Avene creams it feels very pleasant to use - substantial but definitely not heavy.

Avene PhysioLift range - Anti-Ageing skincare - night cream

Avene PhysioLift range - Anti-Ageing skincare - night cream

My morning routine is a lot more pared down - cleansing and toning followed by the eye cream and then the day cream. So far I haven't tried the emulsion - a lighter version of the day cream with a thinner consistency - as my skin seems to crave moisture at the moment. However, I will be holding this in reserve for the next time it decides to go through an oilier phase.

Avene PhysioLift range - Anti-Ageing skincare - day cream

Avene PhysioLift range - Anti-Ageing skincare - day cream

I realise you can't tell the difference from this photo, but the cream on the left (for dry skin) is a thicker consistency than the emulsion (for normal to combination skin) on the right.

While the regenerating night balm contains all three active ingredients to smooth and plump your skin while you sleep, the day cream combines firming properties with Pre-Tocopheryl, a powerful anti-oxidant, to protect against the free radicals we come into contact with during the day. 

As I mentioned before, the combination of the whole range together is something that my skin is loving at the moment, and I would definitely recommend it. If you have sensitive skin but still want products that pack a serious punch when it comes to anti-ageing, then look no further. This range is super-effective yet gentle as anything.

Are you a fan of Avene? What's your favourite skincare brand?

Kate x

Some links may be affiliate links. All opinions, as always, are my own.
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31 comments

  1. I know how you feel about being overwhelmed with so much skincare! I've stopped looking for new products and working with the ones I have at the moment :) I wanted something to target anti ageing as well and use a lovely serum from Caudalie and an anti ageing eye cream from Origins :) Glad these products are working out for you Kate!

    Hanh / hanhabelle

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Hanh - I hear a lot of good things about Origins but haven't used it for years. x

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  2. Now that is an interesting information: I need to try the Avene eye cream asap if it has such lovely results without stinging the eyes!
    And I agree with you: More important than a vast variety of products is a set routine and a feeling for what it really is your skin needs. Using too much stuff all over your face, switching it up daily will not get you anywhere.

    Linda, Libra, Loca: Beauty, Baby and Backpacking

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    Replies
    1. I was so impressed with the eye cream! And yes, I am really feeling the benefits of a sensible routine. x

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  3. I have heard a lot about this brand but have not had the chance to use any of it yet, but it all sounds interesting so I will have to give some of it a go :)

    Pams Stuff and Things

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    1. I don't think I'd tried anything by Avene before the end of last year. It's surprised me how good it is! x

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  4. I get overwhelmed with skincare items too. I have chucked out multiple prodcuts now and use only what is required. I keep switching products.
    Lovely post there, detailed information about the products. Would love to try the eye cream :)

    Aroma Magic Mineral Glow Scrub Review | Curious And Confused Me

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    Replies
    1. I really do recommend the eye cream - very impressive! x

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  5. I just posted a review of some of these products yesterday :) I really like the eye cream and the Night Balm is good too :) x

    Mummy’s Beauty Corner

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    Replies
    1. It's a lovely range isn't it? Hopping over to read your review! x

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  6. I really liked Avene for skin care! I used a few of the acne fighting products when my skin was going through a bad phase. It's cleared up now so I want to try some other options from their range!

    Jasmin Charlotte

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    Replies
    1. I've also found their acne products to be very effective. Really great brand! x

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  7. I love Avene skincare, I think it's so underrated! I usually stick to their Cleanance range as well as the rich moisturiser but the eye cream sounds great!

    Danielle's Beauty Blog

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    Replies
    1. I agree! I was equally impressed by the Cleanance product I tried and I'm holding onto it for the next time I have a breakout. x

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  8. Love your skincare reviews! It is so well explained and demonstrated. I haven't tried Avene yet but would love to try it now.
    By the way your Longines watch and that bracelet are going to tear a hole in my pocket very soon! :P
    I am sure the pros outweigh the cons by huge margin, at least in your case! :)

    MyFashionFixes

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    Replies
    1. Aw thanks so much Priya!

      My watch is about 15 years old! It was a gift from my parents and it's had at least two new batteries, and I still love it. x

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  9. Avene is a great company, although I haven't use too many of their products before. I find they are great for my dry, sensitive skin. I use their facial mist all the time. Thanks for sharing this detailed review!

    http://www.mintnotion.com

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    Replies
    1. I've actually got the facial mist but I've yet to try it. I think everyone who has tried Avene has only positive things to say about the brand! x

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  10. I read about the eye cream on Dagmara's blog & it went straight on to my "to try" list and I know would like to try the night cream too. I have sensitive skin so they sound perfect for me. Great review xx

    Beautylymin

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    Replies
    1. They are so gentle, yet effective too! x

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  11. It sounds like a great range - I've tried a few products from Avene and I've loved them x

    Heather | Of Beauty & Nothingness x

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    Replies
    1. It's such a quality brand - everything they do seems to be really good. x

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  12. I use to use Avene when I had acne and it helped a lot. I'd love to try out this range though!

    www.thebambieyes.com

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  13. This range sounds wonderful, so happy that your skin is loving it!

    Paula
    Thirteen Thoughts

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  14. I need the eye cream!!!!! I have such horrible under eye wrinkles at the moment. No matter what cream I use, I get major irritation so at the moment I am barely using anything. I need to check this one out!!

    Angie | Chocolate & Lipstick | Beauty, Fashion & Lifestyle Blog

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  15. Thanks for the review. Just wanted to say though that the kiehls midnight recovery is packed with fragrance, which really isn't good for your skin. It would be a shame to nullify all the good the Physiolift is doing. Hope you don't mind my two cents.

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  16. Love, love, love your bracelet. Where did you get it? Thanks

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    Replies
    1. It's a Sweetie bracelet from Links of London! Had it for years and I still love it. X

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  17. Hi,
    I know this review was a while ago but I wondered what you think about the day cream not having any SPF in it? I have been using the cleanance range and love it but my skin is really starting to age now, spots gone wrinkles back!
    Have you tried la Roche posay?
    This is the first time I read your blog and love it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It certainly is useful when spf is built into skincare, but if it isn't, I tend to wear a separate sun cream which I apply after my moisturiser and before my makeup. La Roche Posay isn't a brand I've tried though I've heard a lot of good things about it. Happy you like the blog! X

      Delete
  18. I used to use the Clean and Clear Morning Burst skincare range (Cleanser + Moisturizer) for a long time! And for some unknown reason, I decided to switch to the Neutrogena Visibly clear skin care range (Cleanser + Moisturizer). And I started having HORRIBLE break-outs!!!

    Survival Skill for Physical Fitness

    ReplyDelete

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