Many of us struggle with skin that is prone to extreme dryness and tightness, or that reacts and gets irritated by anything from the weather to the ingredients in skincare. And anyone with sensitive skin tends to tiptoe around skincare, trying to find effective cleansers, treatments and moisturisers that provide calm and comfort, and don’t aggravate the situation.

Here’s the good news – there is a soothing and calming range for sensitive skin that’s easily accessible and doesn’t cost a fortune. Now, for the first time, Aveeno® are bringing their skin expertise to our faces with Aveeno® Calm + Restore™ Face Care, available at pharmacies nationwide, and priced €15.99 and under. All dermatologist-tested, the Face products are fragrance-free and suitable for normal to dry skin.

Calm + Restore features all you need for a simple but effective four-step daily skincare routine:

1 Nourishing Oat Cleanser, €9.99 – gentle, fragrance-free, soothing daily cleanser, in generous 200ml size
2 Oat Toning Lotion, €9.99 – a final cleansing step to refresh skin
3 Triple Oat Serum, €15.99 – with Aveeno’s Triple Oat Complex and calming Feverfew to smooth skin and restores the skin’s moisture barrier
4 Oat Gel Moisturiser, €12.99 – a lightweight gel moisturiser with prebiotic Oat known to help repair and soothe skin, with 24hr moisturisation.

THE TRIAL

We sent Calm + Restore™ to three of our The GLOSSiest beauty panellists to road-test. They had all experienced skin issues at some time, such as dryness, patchy skin, flakiness, itchiness and tightness, and irritation or sensitivity to ingredients or the environment.

Maria-Celene, Aoife and Sarah tried the full range for three weeks. All mentioned healthcare professionals as the biggest influences on their skincare choices.

THE GLOSSiest Beauty Panel tester, Aoife.

THE EXPERIENCE

First impressions? “What first struck me was the sleek elegant packaging,” says Aoife. “I am a new mother so am very careful about products I use in case my child comes in contact with the cream. My own skin has also changed during and post-pregnancy. Having used the Aveeno range for babies (as recommended by my pharmacist), I felt confident that these products would not cause any issues.”

“All four products were great to use and really complemented each other,” she continues. “As the moisturiser and serum immediately soak into the skin it has actually cut down the time I spend on my daily routine while still making my skin look fresh and dewy.”

“I really enjoyed the experience of using these products, they were so soothing and just a delight to use,” says Sarah.

“I felt I needed a bit more hydration from the moisturiser for my skin, but I loved the cooling effect it had on application,” comments Maria-Celene.

THE GLOSSiest Beauty Panel tester, Sarah.

THE RESULTS

After three weeks, all three noticed an improvement in their skin – two of them a visible improvement – and all said their skin was calmer but stronger, more soothed and hydrated. They rated the products between seven and ten out of ten, scoring them highly for consistency, absorbency and hydration.

“My skin was definitely a lot more calm and visibly more hydrated and smoother.” says Sarah.

Aoife, who has sensitive skin, and has struggled with dehydration and irritation from ingredients, got on particularly well with Aveeno® Calm + Restore™. She reports: “Since I began using the products, my skin has been noticeably reinvigorated. I have a healthier looking glow and I am very pleased with my complexion. I like the pleasant scent and find it all blends well into the skin. I often find that skincare products advertised for sensitive skin can still cause irritation. But from my first use, these were gentle. I would highly recommend this range.”

Maria-Celene found the cleanser lovely and gentle – “and I have since recommended this to a friend to try. Overall I loved the gentle formula of the toner too, and will more than likely switch from my normal toner. After using all products continuously, my skin definitely feels a bit calmer and softer in texture.”

THE GLOSSiest Beauty Panel tester, Maria-Celene.

THE STANDOUT

The testers’ favourite was the Aveeno® Calm + Restore™ Triple Oat Serum, with all three testers saying they loved it. “The serum was beautiful to use and I’d definitely purchase it again,” says Maria-Celene.

All three said they would buy from the Aveeno® Calm + Restore™ range in the future and would recommend it to a friend.

Find out more about AVEENO® Calm + Restore™, and more, visit www.aveeno.ie.