Avène is a French skincare brand that claims to be rooted in dermatology and hydrotherapy. I've been a fan of the brand ever since discovering their Cicalfate line, so when I saw they launched a mystery bag I jumped at the chance to get more Avène in my life.
FYI: This box is still available for sale!
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About this Mystery Box from Avène
The Box: Avène Mystery Bag
The Cost: $25
The Products: An assortment of full size and deluxe samples to soothe and calm sensitive skin with a $50 value
Ships to: The U.S. for free
Avène Skincare Mystery Bag 2021 Review
You're able to pick two free samples when you check out. Here's what I grabbed!
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This set also came with this cute grey makeup bag with a pale pink interior. I appreciate that it can be folded flat to save space, but is still pretty roomy when fully opened.
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Avène Eau Thermale Thermal Spring Water, 5 oz - Retail Value $14.00
This isn't my first bottle of this aerosolized spring water, but it is one I am happy to have a restock of- my skin loves this stuff. Yes, it is literally just water. But it is spring water that comes from the south of France where the water is imbued with trace minerals, and the extraction method of getting the water out of the spring means that the water remains untouched by chemical or microbiological pollution. All of that sounds fancy, but it truly does work to give my skin a boost of hydration. The aerosol mist allows me to get a nice cloud of water on my skin (instead of a targeted stream) that feels really refreshing, and when I use this as the first step after cleansing I've noticed that my serums absorb better. I have gone through multiple bottles of this, and I also gave a bottle to my sister and have her hooked on it now, too.
Avène Cleansing Foam, 50 ml - Estimated Value $6.67 (buy the 150 ml version for $20.00)
I've never tried this cleanser before, but I really liked it! The pump dispenses a fluffy foam that feels great on the skin, and even though the product page lists that this is best for oily skin, I found it to be gentle on my dry skin (and it didn't leave my face feeling tight). Along with their signature thermal spring water, this cleanser also has glutamic acid and zinc, and I think the zinc might be why I found this to be so gentle on my skin.
Avène A-Oxitive Antioxidant Defense Serum, 5 ml - Estimated Value $7.33 (buy the 30 ml version for $44.00)
Antioxidant serums are a must in my morning routine (did you know antioxidants work with your sunscreen to provide a comprehensive defense against UV rays, pollution, and free radicals?), so I was pleased to be able to try this out. I would classify the texture of this as milky and lightweight, and it has a slight scent that I couldn't place but found really pleasant. This absorbed fast into my skin, and the formula has a few different products that provide antioxidant benefits along with hyaluronic acid and thermal spring water.
Avène PhysioLift Eyes, 2 ml - Estimated Value $6.13 (buy the 15 ml version for $46.00)
This eye cream is designed for all skin types, and the texture is thick while still spreading out easily over the skin. I only needed a tiny dot to feel like I had applied a sufficient amount of eye cream, so even this small tube will last me a while. The formula has thermal spring water, hyaluronic acid, brown algae extract, and retinaldehyde (a form of retinol). I don't really have fine lines to test this out on (one of the claims is that it can plump the skin so fine lines are less visible), but the skin under my eyes did feel softer and more nourished after I applied it. I didn't have any issues with eye sensitivity, either.
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Avène Hydrance Aqua Gel, 7 ml - Estimated Value $5.04 (buy the 50 ml version for $36.00)
I love gel-cream moisturizers- they feel so lightweight while still delivering a big boost of moisture to my dry skin. This aqua gel is gentle enough to use as an eye cream, while heavy-duty enough to be your night-time moisturizer. It's made with thermal spring water, hyaluronic acid, and a patented lipid trio to keep your moisture barrier healthy and prevent transepidermal water loss. This is a great moisturizer for these humid summer months, and even if you have oily skin I think you'll appreciate how lightweight this feels.
Avène Soothing Sheet Mask - Retail Value $9.50
I actually have a box of these sheet maks- I'm happy to add one more to my stash. The mask is made of a biodegradable bio-cellulose material that hugs the contours of my face, but it does feel a tiny bit small (I do have a bigger face, so this isn't an uncommon issue for me). The main ingredient and star of this sheet mask is Avène's signature thermal water, and since I reach for this sheet mask when my skin feels irritated, I can confirm that it does soothe dry or stressed skin. I think the cost is a little high for what the mask does, but I still enjoy using it.
Avène Moisturizing Melt-In Body Balm, 7 ml - Estimated Value $0.84 (buy the 250 ml version for $30.00)
There's no way around it- I am disappointed Avène sent us a foil packet rather than a larger sample size. Especially since this is a body balm, which means this entire sample was used up in one use. The product itself, though, was nice. I found it to be thick and nourishing without being greasy or too heavy, and it felt really nice on the dry skin on my knees, elbows, and cuticles. The formula has (you guessed it) thermal spring water, but it also has shea oil, camelina oil, and safflower oil along with glycerin and squalane.
Verdict: I really enjoy the Avène brand, so I will admit being a touch disappointed by this mystery box- it just didn't feel like enough effort was put into curating something lovely, and rather was a way for Avène to get rid of samples. That being said, I appreciate the affordable price- I would be a lot more upset if a brand charged $50 for this and then delivered mostly samples. Plus, all of the items are getting a lot of use- some of the samples are already gone, and I am happy to have the spring water mist on my vanity to use on a daily basis again. Value-wise, everything adds up to $49.51. Avène promised a $50 value, and I think we can attribute at least a fifty-cent value to the cute makeup bag to make that total over $50. Does this bag have a personal value of $50? That's a different story, and I don't think I will be quite so quick to jump on the next mystery box Avène offers.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box today? Yes, this Mystery Bag is still available.
Value Breakdown: At $25.00 for this box, here is what you're paying per item:
- Spring Water Mist: $7.07
- Cleansing Foam: $3.37
- Antioxidant Serum: $3.70
- Physiolift Eyes: $3.09
- Hydrance Aqua Gel: $2.54
- Soothing Sheet Mask: $4.80
- Body Balm: $0.42
- Makeup Bag: N/A
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What do you think about the Avène Mystery Bag? Did you grab one?
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