Is Avene Thermal Spring Water The Answer To Sensitive Skin’s Tantrums?

Hands up if you feel thermal water is just fancy tap water in a pretty bottle. I used to feel like that, too. I don’t mind splurging on my antioxidants and retinoids but… water? It never seemed like a good way to invest my money. Until a friend gave me a bottle of Avene Thermal Spring Water Spray.

She has sensitive skin and swears this fancy water soothes her skin’s many tantrums. She even sprits it on to calm down the redness after shaving or running. It was my chance to put it to the test and see which one of us was right. Short answer: both. One woman’s throwaway can be another woman’s treasure. Long answer: read on.

Key Ingredients In Avene Thermal Spring Water Spray: What Makes It Work?

AVENE THERMAL SPRING WATER

Thermal water isn’t just plain old water. It’s hot water that comes from hot springs. Here’s the whole story: thermal water originates deep into the ground, where it’s heated by the Earth’s natural heat. From there, it works its way up to the spring through rocks and soil, picking up all kinds of minerals along the way.

But not all thermal waters are created equal. The mineral content of a specific mineral water depends on the place it comes from. Avene Thermal Water contains:

• Bicarbonates 226.7
• Calcium 42.7
• Chlorides 5.4
• Magnesium 21.2
• Nitrates 1.4
• Potassium 0.7
• Silica 10.6
• Sodium 4.8
• Sulfates 14

What does this means for your skin? Here’s where it gets tricky. Most of the studies done on Avene Thermal Water were done by… Avene. That’s not to say they’re not accurate… I just like to see confirmation from independent sources whenever possible. Having said that, here’s what studies discovered Avene Thermal Water can do:

• Helps protect skin cell from UV damage (in vitro)
• Improves skin’s softness and suppleness
• Reduces irritation
• Reduces peeling from tretinoin
• Soothes eczema

If you have sensitive, easily irritated skin, keeping a bottle of Avene Thermal Spring Water Spray around can come in handy.

Does your sensitive skin throws a tantrum every time you use a new product? Download your FREE “Skincare Ingredients To Avoid” cheatsheet to find out the most common culprits to avoid (hint: they’re NOT what you think):

The Rest Of The Formula & Ingredients

Avene Thermal Water Spray contains only two ingredients: Avene Thermal Water and Nitrogen Gas. Why is there gas in your bottle? Simple, Nitrogen Gas acts as a propellant, pushing the thermal water out of the bottle. It doesn’t nothing else for your skin, but without it, you wouldn’t be able to use it. At least now you know why it’s there.

Texture

Well, it’s water, so it has the texture you’d expect from water. Super lightweight. Runny. Fast-absorbing. There’s not really much to be said here.

Fragrance

It’s fragrance-free. I like this. Avene could easily have added an artificial scent to make this thermal water smell like a bouquet of flowers or a sunny day at the beach. But fragrance is also the most irritating ingredient in skincare product and an absolute no-no for sensitive skin. And it’s not like water smells bad you need to cover it up, you know what I mean?

How To Use It

Spritz it on every morning right after cleansing. Reapply as needed during the day, especially if you find your skin getting drier, a little red around the cheeks, or easily irritated. Pretty straightforward.

Packaging

The thermal water comes in a white bottle with a spray applicator (the name kinda gave that away, didn’t it?). The white colour makes me think of purity and sensitivity. The spray applicator is practical and easy to use.

Performance & Personal Opinion

I’m not sure I’m the right person to review Avene Thermal Spring Water. For starters, my skin isn’t sensitive. Quite the opposite. It’s really rare that it throws a tantrum even when I throw high concentrations of retinol at it. So its soothing properties are kinda lost on me.

Well, if they’re really as good as the studies claim, they may help reduce the chronic inflammation that occurs deep down in the skin and that contributes to premature aging, but I have no way to verify that without proper equipment.

Instead, what I get is the hydration effect. I keep a bottle of this thermal water in my pursue and spritz it on to refresh myself throughout the day. After that, my skin feels a little softer. I know, kinda underwhelming, but that’s thermal water for you. It’s for people who need the extra burst of hydration in the torrid heat or sensitive skin that needs soothing. If you don’t fit either box, you don’t need to invest in one.

How Does Avene Thermal Spring Water Spray Compare To La Roche Posay Thermal Spring Water?

Let’s take a look at their composition first, shall we?

You may have noticed that La Roche Posay Thermal Spring Water is a lot higher in minerals. That makes it the better option, right? Not so fast. Depending on how sensitive your skin is, a higher mineral content may lead to a higher chance of irritation. So if your skin is very sensitive, Avene may be the better option. Avene is more hydrating too. If your skin is more on the oilier side and doesn’t need as much hydrating and soothing, then La Roche Posay Thermal Spring Water may suit your skin better. It’s £9.00 at Boots.

How Does Avene Thermal Spring Water Spray Compare To Vichy Mineralising Thermal Spa Water?

Yes, thermal water is not all equal. Water has a slightly different composition depends on many factors, including where it’s extracted from:

Although Vichy has the highest mineral content of all the mineral waters, it’s not as harsh as La Roche Posay. I’d still say Avene is better for very sensitive skin that needs gentler loving care. If you have normal or oilier skin and needs lighter hydration with less soothing power, Vichy would work better for you. You can get Vichy Mineralising Thermal Spa Water ($11.99) at Look Fantastic and Ulta.

What I Like About Avene Thermal Spring Water Spray

• Lightweight, fast-absorbing texture
• Soothing, reduces irriations
• Slightly hydrating
• Practical packaging
• Fragrance-free

What I DON’T Like About Avene Thermal Spring Water Spray

• Texture feels runny (it’s water after all!)
• If your skin is already in good condition, you won’t see much of a difference

Who Should Use This?

Anyone can use Avene Thermal Spring Water Spray. It won’t harm your skin. But you’ll only see visible results if you have sensitive skin or redness that needs some soothing.

Does Avene Thermal Spring Water Spray Live Up To Its Claims?

Price & Availability

$19.00/£11.62 at Boots, Cult Beauty, Dermstore, Look Fantastic, and Sephora

The Verdict: Should You Buy It?

If you have sensitive skin, it can help. But it’s by no means a must-have. It’s up to you to decide if your skincare routine needs a boost. I’ll say this though: I love having this handy in the torrid summer months. It provides some much needed refreshment!

Dupes & Alternatives

• La Roche Posay Thermal Spring Water ($17.98): It’s harsher mineral water on this list and leaves a tacky residue behind, but it gives much needed hydration to most skin types. Available at Boots.
• Vichy Mineralizing Thermal Spa Water ($7.00): The thermal water with the highest mineral content, it’s not as gentle as Avene but very hydrating for all skin types. Available at Look Fantastic and Ulta.

About Gio

Hi, I'm Gio. I'm a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever - every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what's worth the splurge and what's best left on the shelf - using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.