How the heck do you tell what’s in a skincare product?
Sure, plenty of brands show off the darling active of the moment on the packaging, but we all know there’s barely a drop of that in there.
So, how the heck do you tell what’s REALLY in a product?
Avant skincare tells you straight up. The active ingredients (and the odd filler one – come on, no one is perfect) are written in capital letters on the front of the box. At the back, you’ll find a brief explanation about what they do – both in English and French. Cool, huh?
Plus, those tubes and jars look so sleek, don’t you agree?
My first foray into Avant Skincare is the Pro-Intense Hyaluronic Acid Illuminating Day Cream. I know, I know. What a surprise. If you’re a regular here, you know my skin can’t get enough hyaluronic acid in winter.
How did it fare?
- What’s In Avant Skincare Pro-Intense Hyaluronic Acid Illuminating Day Cream?
- Texture
- Fragrance
- How To Use It
- Performance & Personal Opinion
- Who Is This For?
- Who Is This NOT For?
- Packaging
- Does Avant Skincare Pro-Intense Hyaluronic Acid Illuminating Day Cream Live Up To Its Claims?
- Price & Availability
- Do You Need It?
- Dupes & Alternatives
What’s In Avant Skincare Pro-Intense Hyaluronic Acid Illuminating Day Cream?
HYALURONIC ACID TO HYDRATE SKIN
Hyaluronic Acid is a humectant.
Humec… what?
Let’s start again: hyaluronic acid is a moisture magnet. It attracts water from the air into the skin and binds it there. It’s so good at its job, it can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water!
You know what all that water does to your skin? It makes it soft and smooth. It plumps it up so your fine lines and wrinkles look smaller. It gives it that beautiful translucent glow.
Hyaluronic acid is a great way to give dry skin that extra burst of moisture it needs and hydrate oily skin without adding more oil to it. It’s a win win for all skin types.
Related: Why You Should Add Hyaluronic Acid To Your Skincare Routine
Struggling to create an anti-aging routine that works? Download the Best Anti-Aging Skincare Routine Cheatsheet below to find out what products really work – and in what order to use them:
EMOLLIENTS TO SOFTEN SKIN
Emo… what?! Stop it with the difficult words, Gio!
I know, I know. But hear me out. Emollients are ingredients that moisturise your skin and make it soft and smooth.
Avant said the two two moisturising workhorses here are Jojoba and Avocado oils and they certainly do part of the job. But, the bulk is done by synthetic emollients, such as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol and Cetearyl Alcohol. They’re at the top of the ingredient list, not the oils.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is derived from the fatty acids in coconut oil. Coconut oil is a wonderful moisturiser, but can be heavy and comedogenic. Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride has a much lighter feel so it delivers all its moisturising benefits without the side effects.
Cetyl Alcohol and Cetearyl Alcohol are the good kinds of alcohol (yes, alcohol can be good). They’re called fatty acids and have moisturising properties that help dry skin stay soft and supple.
I know these ingredients aren’t as sexy as Jojoba and avocado oil buy they work just as well and are just as safe.
Related: What Does Alcohol-Free In Skincare Really Mean?
ANTIOXIDANT TO FIGHT PREMATURE AGING
Wait, what? Antioxidants in a jar packaging?
Yep. I’m not too bothered about the Vitamin C because it’s a derivative (Ascorbyl Palmitate). Derivatives are stable so they don’t degrade as easily when exposed to light and air (i.e. When put in a jar).
The rest of the antioxidants is mostly in the jojoba and avocado oils. That’s ok. I just wish the antioxidants were higher on the ingredient list. They’d have worked better against wrinkles.
Related: Types Of Antioxidants In Skincare
Texture
The texture looks a little jelly in the tube. It’s also very lightweight and sinks in immediately into the skin, giving it a much-needed bout of moisture.
Fragrance
Subtle and refreshing.
How To Use It
In the morning, it between serum and sunscreen. At night, it’s the last step of your skincare routine.
Performance & Personal Opinion
Avant Pro-Intense Hyaluronic Acid Illuminating Day Cream is a pretty seafood green. I know this isn’t very scientific of me, but it’s kinda refreshing to see a cream that’s not your usual white or light yellow.
When I first started using the cream, Mr BWB asked me what I was doing to my skin. It was softer and smoother than usual.
It also looks glower. Granted, it doesn’t make my skin glow like a high-sheen highlighter, but then that’s not the look I’m going for. I prefer a more subtle glow that makes my skin look healthy and fresh. This delivers just that.
The cream makes my fine lines look smaller, too. That hyaluronic acid plumps them well up. It’s true the effect vanishes by the end of the day but then very few things fight wrinkles long term. In the meantime, I want something that makes them look smaller, too. See what I’m saying?
The real drawback for me is that, on the coldest days of the year, when my skin gets drier than usual, this cream alone can’t keep it moisturised all day. After a few hours, I get that tell-tale tight feeling that lets me know I need to slather on some more.
This is a problem that only dry skin will have – and even then only when it feels particularly dry. Oily skin will be totally fine with this cream all year round.
Related: Treatment VS Prevention: What Really Works Against Wrinkles
Who Is This For?
It’s suitable for all skin types, bar maybe sensitive (the fragrance may irritate you).
Who Is This NOT For?
- Sensitive skin: The fragrance may irritate you.
- Very dry skin: It’s not moisturising enough for you.
Packaging
A sleek see-through jar with a black cap. It’s not the most hygienic, but it’s beautiful.
Does Avant Skincare Pro-Intense Hyaluronic Acid Illuminating Day Cream Live Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| Aims to smooth fine lines and wrinkles. | True, but the effect is only temporary. |
| Works to hydrate skin. | True. |
| Helps prevent and reverse the signs of ageing. | It has a sprinkle of antioxidants that can help with this, but you need more than that to help prevent and reverse the signs of aging. |
Price & Availability
£112.00 at Harvey Nichols
Do You Need It?
If you’re looking for a hydrating moisturiser that gives your skin a subtle glow AND money is not a concern, this is worth a try.
If you’re on a budget, you’re better off with a cheaper moisturiser with stronger antiaging properties.
Dupes & Alternatives
- Dr Dennis Gross Skincare Hyaluronic Marine Oil-Free Moisture Cushion (£59.00)
- Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Acid Cream (£45.00)
Ingredients
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Sorbitol, Maris Aqua (Sea Water), Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Persea Gratissiam (Avocado) Oil, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Ozokerite, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Fragrance, ethylhexylglycerin, CI 42090 (FD&C Blue No.1), CI 17200 (D&C Red No.33)
