All about: the Eau Thermale Avène XeraCalm AD range

Eau Thermale Avène is a legendary French skincare brand that creates of some of most gentle and calming products out there. It is centred around the use of thermal spring water for its soothing properties, and all Avène products are created to heal and soothe even the most sensitive of skin types, including babies and kids.

A pharmacy-only brand that often flies a little under the radar, it is one of the most recommended skincare brands by French dermatologists and works to fight against irritated skin, intolerant skin and allergic skin. Its most famous offering is its Thermal Spring Water, which has calmed my skin over the years even when it’s been at its most eczema-afflicted. A naturally soothing source for sensitive skin since 1743, Avène’s Thermal Spring Water's unique composition is clinically shown by over 150 studies to calm, soothe and soften the skin. Ideal for red, sensitive or irritated skin and perfect for post-workout, travel, outdoor activities or to freshen up makeup, it is incredibly reasonably priced and a must in every bathroom.

With the colder weather meaning skin is getting a bit of a hammering at the moment, I have added two more of Avène’s products to my arsenal with some amazing results. The first is Avène XeraCalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Cleansing Oil, and you know how much I love an oil! This one won Allure magazine’s Best of Beauty 2014 award for Best Breakthrough product in the bodycare category, and was also voted Best Cleanser for Sensitive Skin by the US National Eczema Association. A daily cleansing oil that can be used in the shower or the bath, it calms, soothes and alleviates itching associated with atopic dermatitis and eczema, and is generally a brilliant choice for winter skin of any type. And although it is an oil it gently lathers up well, working the whole time to seal in moisture and restore the skin's barrier. Suitable for infants, children and adults, its ingredient list includes I-Modulia, a complex derived from Avène Thermal Spring Water that calms itching while helping to support the skin's own defense system, and Cer-Omega, which is derived from evening primrose and rich in omega-6 and ceramides to provide exceptional hydration and help restore the skin's epidermal barrier. Amazing.

After that I have been lathering on XeraCalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Cream when I feel my skin needs it, which is another Allure Best of Beauty Winner – 2016’s Best Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin. A replenishing cream that directly targets itching, redness and irritation for skin prone to atopic dermatitis and eczema, it is formulated without any preservatives, parabens or fragrances, and its clever delivery system keeps the cream completely sterile and safe for its entire use. Suitable for infants, children and adults, it has a super rich texture that feels beautiful on the skin, and also contains the aforementioned I-Modulia and Cer-Omega for their super restorative properties.

So if sensitivity is your issue then I highly recommend that you check these two wonders out. Both come in at around the NZD $40 mark, and as a little goes a long way are a more than justifiable gift to self.