Review: Avene Sport Fluid – Very High Protection – SPF50+ UVA / UVB

Where to purchase: On the Avene Website HERE

Price: ~£19

Volume: 100ml

Made in: France

What is it?: A Broad-spectrum, High sun protection cream-liquid SPF. Has a mix of chemical/physical filters.

Brand Description: This high protection SPF is made for Sensitive skins and for those doing high intensity sports. It can be applied both on the face and body. This SPF is made to last a long time and be stable with skin tolerance in mind. (I would say re-apply your SPF every 2 hours however).

• Contains Pre-tocopheryl + Pro-taurine which is an antioxidant complex meant to protect the skin from oxidative stress (therefore premature ageing), apart from the sun protection of course.

Aimed at: This is aimed at those who want a sweat-resistant, water-resistant, light texture and ultra-fluid SPF. In terms of the sweat-resistance: This was tested on 133 people who do moderate-intense sports for 14 days and they were asked if the product seemed sweat-resistant to them; 124/133 ‘found the product to be sweat resistant.’

Note: I used this while working out and found that it seemed to be ok in terms of sweat resistance. But of course when working out I mop my face with my towel which I’m sure must disrupt some of that SPF barrier, so I do re-apply afterwards if I’m spending time in the sun.

Supposedly Good for: Sensitive Skins + All Skin Types.

What I think: I think Dry skins would prefer this over Oily skins (very emollient). Also, if your skin is sensitised or you’re on intensive retinol, this may sting. AND I think those with darker skin tones wouldn’t like this due to the addition of Tinosorb M.

Packaging: Plastic Squeeze-y bottle with a sturdy flip-top cap. Very sturdy packaging.

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Directions: Before Sun exposure, apply this SPF to the face and/or body. One finger on the face and one finger on the neck.

How I use it: I used this on the face, hands and neck before working out (as this is a sport SPF). Also if I had cropped leggings, I would apply this SPF onto my legs (was not a pleasant experience as it felt greasy). I now simply use this reluctantly as a hand SPF cream and as a body SPF cream.

Key Ingredients: Glycerin (Natural Moisturiser) + Butylene Glycol (Moisturiser/Humectant). This has quite a lot of Emollient ingredients (More mositurising/fatty/oily): C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Diisopropyl Adipate, Cetearyl Isononanoate, C10-18 Triglycerides, Caprylic/​Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Behenate, Glyceryl Dibehenate, Tocopheryl Glucoside, Tribehenin

• So many emollients: makes a lot of sense when using/applying this product, as I can really feel that grease/stickiness/oiliness of this product when rubbing in. It also means that this product is not mattifying (silicones usually do that in SPFs or Alcohol-containing SPFs) and gives a dewy/shiny finish.

I was a bit skeptical about the Avene Thermal Spring Water actually doing anything, but there have been quite a few studies and papers discussing how the thermal water actually helps soothe inflamed skins and improve the skin’s microbiota: HERE / HERE / HERE / HERE

(So I would actually recommend for sensitive/sensitised skins to check out their Thermal Spring Water Mist, as it may be good for those with angry inflamed skins, just too soothe everything right before using a moisturiser).

SPF Filters: Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol [Nano], Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane

NOTE: Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol = Tinosorb M. This is a half Chemical/ half Physical SPF filter! Which means that it provides a slight white cast. Hence why this does give me a slight sickly/ghost-like look that isn’t as bad as regular titanium-Dioxide containing SPFs, but it does mean that this SPF doesn’t fully disappear into my skin tone AND SO I would not recommend this for darker skin tones.

Full Ingredients: AVENE THERMAL SPRING WATER (AVENE AQUA). C12-15 ALKYL BENZOATE. DICAPRYLYL CARBONATE
METHYLENE BIS-BENZOTRIAZOLYL TETRAMETHYLBUTYLPHENOL [NANO]. WATER (AQUA). GLYCERIN. BIS-ETHYLHEXYLOXYPHENOL METHOXYPHENYL TRIAZINE. DIETHYLHEXYL BUTAMIDO TRIAZONE. DIISOPROPYL ADIPATE. BUTYL METHOXYDIBENZOYLMETHANE. CETEARYL ISONONANOATE. SILICA. LAURYL GLUCOSIDE. POLYGLYCERYL-2 DIPOLYHYDROXYSTEARATE. DECYL GLUCOSIDE. C10-18 TRIGLYCERIDES. TRIMETHYLPENTANEDIOL/ADIPIC ACID/GLYCERIN CROSSPOLYMER. BENZOIC ACID. BUTYLENE GLYCOL. CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE. CAPRYLYL GLYCOL. CITRIC ACID. DISODIUM EDTA. FRAGRANCE (PARFUM). GLYCERYL BEHENATE. GLYCERYL DIBEHENATE. OXOTHIAZOLIDINE. POTASSIUM CETYL PHOSPHATE. PROPYLENE GLYCOL. SODIUM BENZOATE. TOCOPHEROL. TOCOPHERYL GLUCOSIDE. TRIBEHENIN. XANTHAN GUM.

NOTE: The Incidecoder have a full ingredient breakdown HERE

Texture: This comes out like a liquid that seems relatively lightweight as it slides along the skin. While rubbing in, I’m really hit with the scent which I’m not a fan of (smells like babies nappies, that sort of artificial scent). The more I rub in, the more emollient and greasy this starts to feel, and I realise that hair and/or dust is probably going to stick to my hand so I need to really wait for this to dry down/absorb. But that doesn’t mean that this mattifies or that oily/greasy feeling disappears, it’s more like I’m forced to get used to it.

I will say however that spreading this out, the white colour does start to disappear a bit (but it settles into fine lines and needs to be properly spread out/blended in. Also this is layerable (this does NOT ball up).

This does not dry matte. It also doesn’t really fully sink in to the skin / fully absorb. ALSO when applying this to the face, I noticed that this would bunch up/collect in the creases i.e. sit on my eyelids and it would take me extra long to blend that out so I didn’t look like I had white cream on my eyes. But overall this doesn’t make my complexion look good, I look quite sick or tired with this on. I would not recommend for darker skin types.

White Cast?: This doesn’t make me look as ghost-like as other SPFs, especially ones that contain Titanium Dioxide. But this overall doesn’t sit the best on my face and because it bunches up where creases are/shows up if you don’t FULLY blend this in, my sister had to let me know that I looked a bit crazy when wearing 🙂 So I’m a bit nervous to recommend this to darker skin tones as if this isn’t blended in properly, it may not provide the best complexion/finish.

Does it sting the eyes?: No this did not sting my eyes 🙂

Fragrance?: Yes and boy do I not like it. It smells exactly like a fresh baby’s nappy or like the Johnson & Johnson baby wipes (I’m not a fan of the scent). It’s very off-putting for me.

Good Under Makeup?: Due to the very emollient nature of this and the potential sticky feeling I get with this, I wouldn’t try it under foundation. I think this is better used on its own without makeup.

How long have I been using this?: I used this on the face for about a week until I had to call it quits. It just wasn’t that flattering to my complexion, didn’t give me the sort of finish I wanted (I looked quite greasy and shiny) and also felt very uncomfortable, especially in the summer weather).

The Effect?: Very moisturised, sun-protected skin that also feels slightly sticky and greasy.

What I like:

• High SPF rating
• Great packaging (nice and sturdy, flip-top cap so I don’t drop the cap when applying)
• Specifically made to be reef-safe
• Didn’t sting my eyes
• Moisturising

What I don’t like:

• Fragrance is off-putting
• I don’t like dewy finishes
• Greasy / Oily feeling due to how moisturising this is. Dust + hair liked to stick onto me.
• Uncomfortable and I didn’t like to apply or re-apply
• Didn’t truly blend and disappear into the skin (when applied to my face, it’s much better on the body in terms of finish). Also, if this is not spread out properly, then this can bunch up i.e. on the eyelids. This also didn’t make my complexion look good and my sister noted that I still looked a bit ill (but not as ill as a regular Titanium Dioxide-containing SPF.

Overall Rating and Conclusion: 1.5/5 – I love that this has a high SPF rating and I really like the study packaging. I like that it aims to be long-wearing too. My issue with this product is the way it bunches up on my face, makes me look slightly ill and feels uncomfortable on the skin + greasy. No this did not sting my eyes, but the smell of this is off-putting for me. I’ve relegated it to a body/hand SPF but I don’t really like using it for those purposes either (I still will because I like that SPF50). I could totally imagine sand sticking all over my body if I went to the beach 😦

I do think this is best suited for pale skins who are intensely dry. This is very emollient and may suit you better.

Would I repurchase?: No. It’s not pleasant to wear even as a hand cream (dust sticks to my hands).

Dupe?: A Western SPF50 Dupe with better wearability is the Garnier Solaire Sun Fluid.

My Skin Type: I am acne prone and have slightly dehydrated combo skin. My skin is usually tight where the cheeks and eye area is and the outer parts of my face. My T zone is oily. My skin isn’t a fan of thick/heavy formulas so I opt for lightweight formulas to prevent it from clogging up. My skin doesn’t like essential oils either and I try to avoid fragrance when I can.

Disclaimer: I am a skincare enthusiast and not a skin expert. I am not qualified to give out dermatological advice. This type of advice should only be given by a medical practitioner. Upon trying / using any of the reviewed products on the blog, please follow the manufacturer’s instructions and warnings and please seek medical advice if needed.

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