Hello all! – I tried out two highly recommended, high sun-protection Sunblocks from the French brand Avène!
These are: 1. The Avène Very High Protection Dry Touch Fluid SPF 50+ and 2. Anti-ageing Suncare (sun cream) SPF 50+
Note: If you would like to read my other Avène reviews, they are HERE.
- Avène Very High Protection Dry Touch Fluid SPF 50+
- Avène Anti-ageing Suncare (Suncream) SPF 50+
- Dupes:
Avène Very High Protection Dry Touch Fluid SPF 50+
- Available at: Boots: LINK
What makes this different / special: This contains the patented SunSitive® complex: a photo protective system with minimum filters, long-lasting stability and efficacy while providing UVA-UVB protection.
Key Ingredients: This contains Pre‐Tocopheryl & Thialidine (Antioxidants) to protect the skin against free radicals. Avène Thermal Spring Water is included to soothe the skin. Ascofilline(tm) is also included to reinforce the skin’s collagen.
UV Filters: Tinosorb M, Tinosorb S, Uvasorb HEB, Avobenzone (These provide both UVA and UVB sun care).
Full Ingredients: Avene Thermal Spring Water (Avene Aqua). C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate. Dicaprylyl Carbonate Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol [Nano]. Diisopropyl Adipate. Water (Aqua). Silica. Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine. Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone. Alcohol (Alcohol Denat). Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate. Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane. C10-18 Triglycerides. Decyl Glucoside. Glyceryl Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate. Potassium Cetyl Phosphate. Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer. Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract. Benzoic Acid. Caprylic/Capric. Triglyceride. Caprylyl Glycol. Disodium Edta. Glyceryl Behenate. Glyceryl Dibehenate. Propylene Glycol. Sodium Hydroxide. Stearyl Alcohol. Tocopherol. Tocopheryl Glucoside. Tribehenin. Xanthan Gum.
Swatches / Texture + Finish:
Note: This is meant to be reflective and give the skin a more radiant complexion.
Finish?: This has a powdery finish as this is a more mattifying fluid,
Swatch Comparison: No Product (Left) VS Product (Right)
The Texture: This is more mattifying than the regular Sun Cream. This does have a slightly more dusty/powdery finish. But this starts off as greasy and oily when applying.
The Finish: As you can see this has a white cast effect with some reflection / reflective qualities.
Does this ball up?: For me; yes. Under my mask, along the collar of my shirt and also if I dab my face with a towel while working out, this will ball up.
White Cast?: As you can see from the pictures; yes this has a white cast (a noticeable one) on my Warm Golden tone skin. I would not recommend this to darker Skin Tones.
Scent?: Yes this has fragrance; it smells like Dove Soap mixed with UV Filters. The scent doesn’t fully go away for me.
What I like: Doesn’t dry out my skin / High sun protection.
What I don’t like: The White Cast + the Balling up.
Ideal Skin Type: Pale Skin and Oily / Combo / Normal Skin Types.
Overall Rating: 3/5 – I appreciate the high sun protection and how this doesn’t dry out my skin. The scent of this isn’t bad but it’s quite potent. I don’t appreciate the balling up issues I’ve had with this and I’m not a fan of the white cast.
Avène Anti-ageing Suncare (Suncream) SPF 50+
Available at: Ecsentual: LINK / Look Fantastic: LINK
What makes this special / different?: All the same technology as the Sun Fluid (please read the above to see) BUT this also contains Ascofilline™, which is an anti-ageing* active ingredient.
Sunscreen Filters: Tinosorb M, Tinosorb S, Uvasorb HEB, Avobenzone (these provide both UVA + UVB sun protection).
Full Ingredients: AVENE THERMAL SPRING WATER (AVENE AQUA). C12-15 ALKYL BENZOATE. DICAPRYLYL CARBONATE. METHYLENE BIS-BENZOTRIAZOLYL TETRAMETHYLBUTYLPHENOL [NANO]. DIISOPROPYL ADIPATE. WATER (AQUA). SILICA. BIS-ETHYLHEXYLOXYPHENOLMETHOXYPHENYL TRIAZINE. DIETHYLHEXYL BUTAMIDO TRIAZONE. ALCOHOL (ALCOHOL DENAT). ALUMINUM STARCH OCTENYLSUCCINATE. BUTYL METHOXYDIBENZOYLMETHANE. C10-18 TRIGLYCERIDES. DECYL GLUCOSIDE. GLYCERYL STEARATE. PEG-100 STEARATE. POTASSIUM CETYL PHOSPHATE. ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER. ASCOPHYLLUM NODOSUM EXTRACT. BENZOIC ACID. CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE. CAPRYLYL GLYCOL. DISODIUM EDTA. GLYCERYL BEHENATE. GLYCERYL DIBEHENATE. PROPYLENE GLYCOL. SODIUM HYDROXIDE. STEARYL ALCOHOL. TOCOPHEROL. TOCOPHERYL GLUCOSIDE. TRIBEHENIN. XANTHAN GUM
Texture: As you can see; this is a cream. It is moisturising and creamy. However it remains quite greasy throughout the day.
Swatch Comparison No Product (Left) VS Product (Right):
Finish: As you can see this is whiter than the Sun Fluid.
Fragrance + Essential Oil Free?: Yes this contains Fragrance: Dove Soap mixed with UV filters. The smell lingers.
Texture?: This is less mattifying, and more greasy, sticky and oily compared to the sun fluid.
Shiny?: Yes.
White Cast?: YES. As this contains Tinosorb M (Half chemical half physical spf) which provides white cast in high doses.
Do these Ball up?: Yes. Under my mask, the collar of my shirt and when I dab my face with a towel.
Good under makeup?: I would not recommend it for fear of balling up (especially when using brushes).
Rating: 3 (nearly 2.9)/5 – I do not like the white cast. I do not like the sticky nature of this and how it feels slightly greasy on the skin. I do not enjoy the balling up either. I appreciate the high sun protection however.
So Overall: I had very high hopes for both of these Sunblocks so I’m sad they didn’t live up to my expectations. Perhaps Dry Skin and those who are more pale could get away with using these products however.
NOTE: If I had to choose, I would prefer the Sun Fluid > The Sun Cream as it’s slightly more mattifying / powdery and less greasy finish. But both give me a white cast and balled up for me, so they’re not my favourites.
Would I repurchase?: No. Neither of these sunblocks suit my skin type and neither have the finish I like and both make me look pale.
Dupes:
Instead of the Dry Touch Fluid, if you’re looking for a mattifying, oily-skin suitable Western SPF, then I would go for the Nivea Anti-Shine SPF (Swatches + Review HERE)
In terms of a good SPF Fluids, I would recommend:
- The L’Oreal Vitamin C Sun Fluid (Swatches + Review HERE)
- The Garnier Ambre Solair Sun Fluid (Swatches + Review HERE)
- OR the Vichy Sun Fluid (Swatches + Review HERE)
- In terms of regular sunblocks that are good (No White Cast). I would recommend the BanilaCo Sunny Essence (quite fragrance but it doesn’t ball up)
Or the Too Cool for School – Water Bare Sun SPF50+ PA++++: LINK
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.
Follow me on IG for Updates!
Note: I earn a small commission when you purchase through affiliate links, which helps me purchase products for review + also help improve the Blog! If you would like to support me, thank you ever so much! and if not, that’s fine – I hope you enjoy my posts!
My Skincare Regime 
One of my favs!
LikeLike