Serum Spotlight: The Best Avène Treatments for Hydrated, Radiant & Rejuvenated Skin
Jas is the former Senior Content Specialist at Adore Beauty. A beauty admirer turned certified addict, she brings a sharp editorial eye and pop-culture pulse to everything she creates. Her words have appeared in The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, and Broadsheet. When she’s not producing viral content or podcasting about skincare, you’ll find her thrifting for vintage treasures or binging Bravo (strictly for research, of course).
In Partnership With Avène.
If there’s one product worthy of your time and investment (besides SPF), it’s serums.
Nestled between your trusty cleanser and moisturiser, these potent concoctions are to your beauty routine what Google Maps is to a road trip, guiding your skin toward the best version of itself.
While often misunderstood or overlooked due to time or budget constraints (girl, same), serums are essentially the ‘treat’ step of your regimen, addressing a variety of skin concerns from dehydration and premature ageing to pigmentation and stubborn dullness.
In the world of serums, Avène is considered one of the best in the biz.
The French pharmacy brand has earned its stripes for its skin-friendly formulas that cater to pretty much everyone, particularly the delicate needs of sensitive skin.
Anchored by its hero ingredient, the revered Avène Thermal Spring Water, these serums embody the no-nonsense approach synonymous with French pharmacy skincare; marrying efficacy with elegance in every drop.
Over the last few weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of dabbling in a handful of Avène’s serums for my dry, perpetually dehydrated skin.
Below, I’ve shared my thoughts alongside Avène’s top serums for hydration, age management, pigmentation, texture and more.
Spoiler alert: two of my serums are practically empty if that’s anything to go by…
1. Avène Hyaluron Activ B3 Concentrated Plumping Serum.
Ideal for: sensitive skin that's no stranger to wrinkle worries.
Notable ingredients:
- 1.5% Hyaluronic acid: intensely hydrates and plumps.
- 6% Niacinamide: nourishes, protects and aids skin concerns, including uneven tone and texture.
Fast facts:
- Fragrance and oil-free formula.
- Lightweight texture absorbs fast, leaving no sticky residue.
- Deeply moisturises for plumper, smoother, comfortable skin.
- Supports well-ageing skin and an even skin texture and tone.
My Avène Hyaluron Activ B3 Concentrated Plumping Serum review:
Having both of my fave ingredients–hyaluronic acid and niacinamide–in one formula is this lazy skincare girlie’s dream. It’s also a win for our wallets, just quietly.
This serum landed on my desk at the perfect moment, swooping in a few weeks ago just as my skin was grappling with the woes of winter (texture, dehydration, etc.).
The first thing I noticed was its juicy texture. Thicker than expected, but it feels like a big drink for the skin when applied.
There’s a slight tackiness that lingers–but that’s the plumping at work and is a small price to pay for how healthy and radiant it makes my skin look and feel.
I’ve been loving sandwiching it with a vitamin C in the morning for a glowy, dewy complexion, and with the Avene Hyaluron Activ B3 Multi-Intensive Night Cream 40ml - Niacinamide & Retinal Night Cream of an evening to make the retinol work even harder.
Its cute ‘lil glass dropper makes getting the perfect amount easy (and is a v chic touch), though I found that a single full dose was needed to evenly spread the product across my face and neck, rather than the recommended two drops.
Now, full disclosure: I haven't reached the stage of significant ageing signs just yet, but I did notice my smile lines slightly reduce after each application – an early, promising win, if you ask me!
2. Avène DermAbsolu Reshaping Serum.
Ideal for: Mature, reactive or sensitive skin types seeking a refined age-management serum.
Notable ingredients:
- Plant-based oils (e.g. jojoba): Deeply hydrating, restoring barrier integrity and supporting skin repair.
- Glycoleol: Intensely nourishing; combats dryness and helps maintain optimal hydration.
- Vanilla polyphenols: Safeguard endogenous hyaluronic acid, contributing to a plumped, soft appearance.
- Sytenol™ (Bakuchiol): Nature-derived retinol alternative; helps preserve collagen, reduce signs of sagging, lift and tone facial contours.
- “White light” pigment: Imparts a subtle radiance without a glossy or oily sheen (used in the updated formula).
Fast facts:
- Contains a light scent: Still gentle, but reactive skin users should patch test.
- Feather-light texture, non-greasy and non-sticky finish; ideal for layering.
- Radiance-enhancing — the “white light” pigment gives a luminous effect without shine.
- Multi-benefit formula: hydrates, revitalises, nourishes and supports the skin’s own collagen/hyaluronic acid network.
- Targets facial firmness and recontouring effects over time.
Here’s what one AB customer said about it:
"I have used this item every day in the evening after washing my face & toner.
It is a creamy-like texture in a dropper format. I loved how revolutionary the dropper is, automatically topping up every time you twist and open the bottle. After using this for about 2 weeks - 1 month, I loved the after effects, leaving my skin feeling soft and supple." - Doris.
3. Avène Hydrance Boost Concentrated Hydrating Serum.
Ideal for: all thirsty skin types, including sensitive.
Notable ingredients:
- Hyaluronic acid: delivers immediate and long-lasting hydration.
- Vitamin B3 (aka niacinamide): fortifies the skin barrier and helps improve various skin concerns including acne and rosacea.
Fast facts:
- Plumps, softens and moisturises the skin.
- Restores skin balance and boosts hydration.
- Hydration that's here to stay—lasting up to 48 hours.
- Feather-light, water-infused texture that’s free from stickiness.
My Avène Hydrance Boost Concentrated Hydrating Serum review:
Okay, real talk–you may be wondering, “Wait, why do I need not one, but two hydrating serums in my life, Jas?”
I had the same initial thought. But after slathering both on my skin over the past few weeks, I’ve come to understand how and why they differ.
Number one, while it has a similar cocktail of hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, this serum is all about quenching your skin’s thirst, while Avène Hyaluron Activ B3 is more focused on well-ageing skin.
Secondly, this serum is definitely on the thicker side. It has an almost gel texture that feels intensely hydrating when applied, making it a wise choice for my dehydrated friends.
The final thing worth pointing out is that this serum has a subtle fresh scent that, while lovely, is perhaps not the best option for hypersensitive skin.
Out of the two, I find myself reaching for this serum more–mostly because I love how dewy it makes my skin look, even under makeup.
So, if juicy skin is your jam, this could very well be your new BFF.
4. Avène Tolerance Control Intensive Skin Recovery Serum.
Ideal for: hyper-sensitive, reactive skin types.
Notable ingredients:
- Pro-vitamin B5 (aka panthenol): the skin's irritation whisperer, redness reducer and barrier defender.
- TRP-Regulin: patented ingredient that kicks discomfort to the curb and improves tolerance threshold.
Fast facts:
- Indulges the skin with hydration and soothing in one sweep.
- Leaves the skin feeling calm, supple and hydrated for longer.
- Boost the skin's defence mechanism while increasing its tolerance.
- Lightweight, non-greasy texture that absorbs fast and feels refreshing.
- Aids irritation's many faces—tightness, tingling, burning, redness, dryness and beyond.
I'll let Charli's review do the talking:
“Due to a lot of exposure to the sun, I was really looking for a new serum that would help me settle my skin sensitivity.
I noticed that it helped me really calm my skin down instantly after use. Additionally, my skin is not as hypersensitive at all anymore.
My favourite part is that it helped me really reduce my skin's redness within minutes of applying it.” - Charli.
5. Avène Cleanance AHA Exfoliating Serum.
Ideal for: oily, blemish-prone skin.
Notable ingredients:
- Lactic acid 2.43%: Exfoliates and helps refine skin texture, reduces blemishes and residual marks.
- Succinic acid 3%: For pH adjustment and helps refine skin texture, reduce blemishes and residual marks.
- Glutamic acid 0.2%: Leaves skin feeling soft, supple and aids with skin moisture retention.
Fast facts:
- Gentle AHA exfoliant for smoother, more evenly-toned skin.
- Helps reduce excess oil and refine skin texture.
- Contains 99% of ingredients of natural origin.
- Can be used on the face, neck and neckline.
- Fragrance-free and tested on sensitive skin.
- Lightweight, fresh, non-oily texture.
Here's a customer review collected as part of an Avene promotion:
"I struggle with breakouts and closed comedones and I have tried so many products to help with this issue and this product in particular has shown a visible difference.
I use it once a week and have noticed that my skin is a lot smoother, has less texture and it has helped with the closed comedones.
I have very sensitive skin but I did not have a reaction to this and it did not cause any extra breakouts.
I like that it is fragrance free as fragrance usually irritates my skin. It also did not dry out my skin which I have noticed other chemical exfoliators do.
I will keep this in my rotation." - Julz.
6. Avene Vitamin Activ Cg Radiance Concentrated Serum.
Ideal for: Sensitive skin seeking radiance.
Notable ingredients:
- 1.8% Vitamin Cg: A highly stable form of Vitamin C with antioxidant properties that help protect skin against free radicals while brightening and boosting skin radiance. (1.8% Vitamin Cg is equivalent to 20% Pure Vitamin C*)
- 3% Niacinamide (aka vitamin B3): Helps reduce the appearance of dark spots and regulate oil flow.
- 1.5% Bakuchiol: a plant-based retinol alternative that supports well-ageing skin.
Fast facts:
- Features a more stable form of vitamin C that oxidises less quickly (so it lasts longer).
- Lightweight and fast-absorbing with a non-greasy finish.
- Gives skin a dewy, healthy glow, even under makeup.
- Contains 94% of ingredients of natural origin.
Here’s what people are saying about it:
“This adds light to my skin without sparkle. It makes me look awake, polished, and slightly more expensive in the best possible way.” - Myrelle.
“This is one of best serums I have come across!
When you apply it, it's not sticky or greasy at all and feels more like a light moisturiser. It's also incredibly hydrating, especially when used in combination with the Avene Vitamin Activ Cg Radiance Intensive Cream.
After a few weeks of usage, I have noticed more hydrated and radiant skin, a lightening of darker spots on my face and a fresh glow. My skin is also quite sensitive, and it doesn't irritate it at all.
I received this product from AVENE to review, however, I will be purchasing this product again for sure!” - Julia H.
7. Avène Cicalfate+ Skin Repair Serum.
Ideal for: Sensitive and/or irritated skin seeking relief.
Notable ingredients:
- TRP-Regulin to reduce skin discomfort and build its tolerance threshold.
- Pro-vitamin B5 to help restore and strengthen a compromised skin barrier.
Fast facts:
- Soothing, skin barrier-supporting serum.
- Features a light, fresh texture with no greasy or sticky afterfeel.
- Helps reduce skin tightness, tingling, heat, redness and general discomfort.
- Developed with dermatologists using 96% of natural origin ingredients.
My Avène Cicalfate+ Skin Repair Serum review:
I rotated this serum into my routine over the last couple of weeks to soothe a skin flare-up – much like I would with my La Roche-Posay Cicaplast. It has a light gel texture that sinks in fast and leaves a comfortable, thin milk(?)-like film on the skin.
I noticed a slight reduction in redness as each day passed, in tandem with my stripped-back skincare routine, and within about a week, I saw visibly less texture and irritation.
Where I imagine this serum’s benefits really shine is post-procedure, more specifically, after lasers or peels, when your skin feels all hot and bothered. Or if you’re someone who struggles with eczema or easily sensitised skin.
Here’s what one AB customer had to say:
“Nice light serum that leaves my skin feeling soft and non irritated.” - Em.
8. Avène Sunsitive® Sunscreen Serum Spf 50+.
Ideal for: All skins, especially dry, normal to combination sensitive skin.
Notable ingredients:
- High broad-spectrum UVB-UVA protection.
- Hyaluronic Acid: Hydrates and plumps.
- Vitamin E: Nourishes with antioxidant protection.
- Aloe Vera: Soothes and calms.
Fast facts:
- Hybrid sunscreen serum with skincare benefits.
- Leaves the skin hydrated, with a dewy but non-greasy glow.
- Ultra-lightweight texture, ideal for everyday use, all year round.
- Provides high broad-spectrum protection while deeply hydrating.
- Fragrance-free and non-comedogenic.•Dermatologically and clinically tested.
Here are what some Adore Beauty customers said in their reviews:
“I love this product for its moisturising properties and its sun safety. Another winner from Avene.” - Veronica.
“This is the best face sunscreen I have ever used! This product does have a sunscreen smell to it. It is nice and silky in texture and does not irritate my skin or cause any rough texture or pimples.”
Important note: Sunscreen is only one part of sun protection so wear protective clothing and seek shade. Avoid prolonged sun exposure. Reapply every 2 hours and after swimming, towelling and perspiring in accordance with directions.
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