Jack & Hill: A Beauty Blog - make-up, cosmetics, perfume, and the substance of style

Avene Extremely Gentle Cleanser

Yeah, I kinda left you hanging there. So: Avene Extremely Gentle Cleanser is, as I said, my new favourite. It is what it says on the label - non-irritating and creamy without leaving a film on one's skin (as something like, say, E45 Wash - which I was using prior to the Avene - does). According to the label, you don't even need to rinse it off; you can just use a cotton pad to apply and a tissue to remove. Because I'm contrary - not to mention afraid of the tiny spots one can get from failure to rinse thoroughly - I apply it with my fingers, wipe it off with a cotton pad, and rinse with lukewarm water at least ten times. It's good and also relatively inexpensive - I got mine from my (paid) friends at the Skin Knowledge Network for £7, 50 pence off the suggested retail price.

My skin looks fine (or so everyone goes to pains to tell me), but in truth it's something of a nightmare: it tends to dry patches, while also being shiny as hell, and can be awfully sensitive when it wants to be. Unfortunately, I can't find Cetaphil here, and thinking about it, I wouldn't be surprised if the Avene Extremely Gentle Cleanser was comprised of the same exact ingredients.

The not-so-secret garden

Oh, what a small world: I do a Google search for my favourite new cleanser, Avene Extremely Gentle Cleanser, and the first result is from the Garden Pharmacy, which is located a few doors down from my new office. (I'm also a fan of Avene Thermal Spring Water, for spraying on my face if it's a bit irritated. I don't know that the water is all that special, but my skin has been quite good lately.)

The Garden Pharmacy is a fab little place in Long Acre, Covent Garden. I had to rush in - to pick up some contact lens solution - and out the other day, and wished I didn't have something stuck in my eye, as it would have been nice to have a long browse (and not to have something stuck in my eye). At the moment, they've got a sale on Clarins products: buy two, get three large sized products free. (This is in the shop; their excellent website doesn't seem to reflect this special offer, though there are loads of others on there.) While the jury may still be out on Clarins skincare, this is worth a look in if you're a fan. (Another parenthetical aside: My boyfriend has an apartment in a Parisian suburb, and apparently the Clarins HQ is just across the road. They actually drop samples off with the local women! We are so moving there.)