Avène's new national trainer Yoann Ledey has a passion for healthy skin. He shares his advice on how to keep your complexion balanced and looking its best.
“It’s essential to identify and understand your skin type and follow simple skincare steps. At Avène we have a range for everyone from mildly sensitive to intolerant, hypersensitive and atopic skins.”
Battling breakouts and skin flare-ups can quickly drain your confidence. Luckily, French brand Eau Thermale Avène excels at treating sensitive and problematic skin. Recommended by dermatologists across the globe, the base of this luxurious skincare is pure spring water drawn from a national park in the Haute Vallée de l'Orb region at the foot of the Cévennes Mountains in Avène, France. Avène national trainer Yoann Ledey reveals to editor Trudi Brewer how this water is the secret to a healthy, luminous complexion at any age.
What are the rules for keeping your complexion even-looking in colour and breakout-free?
It's essential to identify and understand your skin type and follow simple skincare steps. At Avène we have a range for everyone from mildly sensitive to intolerant, hypersensitive and atopic skins.
What are those steps?
Cleanse: If your skin is oily, it's thicker than other skin types and has excess oil (sebum) production, which can lead to inflammation, pimples and blackheads. This skin type needs a regime to regulate oil flow, reduce inflammation, even out skin tone and offer antibacterial qualities. Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel is ideal for both face and body, and can also help to clear 'bacne' (back acne). Dermatologists recommend using this cleanser in conjunction with Isotretinoin treatment for severe acne. For sensitive skin, a soap-free cleanser will help to rebalance the skin's moisture barrier and prevent dryness. If your skin is dry, try Avène Extremely Gentle Cleanser. Rich in Avène Thermal Spring Water, it gently cleanses and rebalances the skin.
Soothe: The crucial step after cleansing is to soothe the skin with our unique Eau Thermale Thermal Spring Water. This water has the lowest mineralisation on the market. It is soothing and anti-irritating and can be used on all skin types.
Tone: This step is especially important for oily, acne-prone skin types. Avène Cleanance Mat Mattifying Toner is designed to remove shine from the skin and reduce the appearance of enlarged pores. It also prepares the skin for moisturising.
Moisturise: This step is crucial to your daily routine. A moisturiser protects the skin from external aggressors and helps prevent ageing. Moisturising promotes a bright complexion and improves skin function. Avène Hydrance Optimale Aqua Cream-in-Gel, protects, hydrates and brightens all skin types.
Ledey's skincare essentials include Avène Cleanance Soap-free Cleansing Gel, $42; Avène Mat Mattifying Toner, $40; Avène Extremely Gentle Cleanser Lotion, $41; and Avène Eau Thermale Thermal Spring Water 150ml, $29.
How do you know if your skin is sensitive?
It reacts with redness, itching, stinging, swelling and flaking, from mild to extreme cases. External factors can trigger this or it can be an existing skin disease. To understand if your skin is sensitive there are few questions you can ask yourself: Does your skin react to products like soaps, lotions, creams and shampoo? Does your skin flush red easily? Does it react when the weather changes? Does your face turn red or do you feel that burning sensation after a long, warm shower? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then you may have sensitive skin.
There are so many skincare brands to choose from, what makes Eau Thermale Avène stand out from the crowd?
Eau Thermale Avène is tested by dermatologists and contains ingredients with exclusive patents. At the border between dermatology and cosmetics, Eau Thermale Avène is the leader in dermo-cosmetics, which means it has a medical approach to making cosmetic products. The soothing Thermal Spring Water at the base of all Avène products is recognised by dermatologists all over the world. This water is used to treat the skin of 3,000 people each year from all over the world at Avène's Hydrotherapy Centre, which was established in 1743 in south-west France. More than 150 clinical studies have proven its efficacy on all skin types – even eczema or psoriasis-prone skin. Avène Thermal Spring Water's extremely low mineral content means it doesn't dry out the skin and has a softening and soothing effect.
What is your best skincare tip?
Eau Thermale Avène Thermal Spring Water. This spray suits all skin types and is very versatile. It can be used to hydrate skin while flying, nourish dry skin in winter and sooth skin that has been exposed to the sun in summer. It comes in three sizes, 300ml, 150ml and 50ml – perfect for your handbag.
