Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream, Face Moisturizer, face cream for sensitive skin, helps restore skin barrier, restorative cream, safe for infants, children and adults

In seeing so many negative reviews I felt compelled to weigh in as this is my favorite moisturizer. I have very dry, menopausal skin. Additionally, I have rosacea which seems to have been a nice gift from said menopause (you can only laugh, right?). It's very common for those of us in our 50's to have a compromised skin barrier and when an issue like rosacea is present, even more so. Because of all this my skin is very intolerant to most moisturizers and nearly all actives (over the last few years I've had to discontinue my retinols and chemical exfoliators). While ingredients like ALA's, petrolatum, mineral oil, parafin/bees wax, and lanolin are well tolerated and known to be quite soothing, they don't hydrate very well as they are more occlusive than moisturizing. Enter this product. Magically, it does both! It's marketed as a protective cream, which again implies occlusive, but it penetrates like no other. Gone is the tight, dry feeling that persisted even when I had a heavy layer of product on my skin (my previous moisturizer was Eucerin Original Healing Cream -- which still has its uses -- because it was the only thing I could put on my skin outside of squalane oil during a flare). Now, no topical can cure rosacea. However, the right product can calm the skin, repair the damaged lipid barrier, and improve its appearance. This moisturizer does just that and it's become my holy grail. Since starting this I've also added in the Cicalfate Serum which has only aided in repairing my skin. Another Avene product that works great for me is the XeraCalm Balm which helps with itching. I use all three of these daily and they've really helped fix the secondary issues that come with rosacea. As for the complaints about it being greasy or too heavy. I can see this not working for people with normal or oily skin (or perhaps only in moderation). But my skin loves the heavier weight and because one of the ways I soothe a flare is to keep a tiny mister bottle on hand and repeatedly spray my face so I have to guard against the drying effects of evaporation. These products are so lipid heavy that I can wet my face all day long without worrying about that, though I do reapply throughout the day. As for the watery consistency issue, I haven't had that problem but it does caution on the packaging not to expose the product to temperatures below 41 degrees F (5 C). I suspect that if it gets too cold either because of the weather or because of whatever warehouse it sat in during transit it will separate. Maybe open the package and before squeezing some out look to see if it has split and then shake it up/message the tube. So, if you have skin like mine don't hesitate to try this product. I'm leaving this absurdly long review for my struggling brothers and sisters out there with rosacea in hopes that it provides some relief! Happy moisturizing, internet strangers. ;)

I love this product so much, but, like everyone else the water HEAVILY separated. A lot of water just shot out immediately and as i've used the cream it has felt more and more thick bc of that, shaking the tube or not. POSSIBLE SOLUTION: I actually think the company could salvage this problem by upgrading packaging to a Cosmetic JAR and then customers could take a toothpick and stir if separation has occurred by the time of purchase. I hope to try this with my next tube, just toothpaste squeezed everything out into a nice cosmetic jar and stir the water back into the product. This is such a simple solution that could really solve the product waste. This refreshes my skin, doesn't break me out, and is lovely. I break out so easily, and being middle aged my skin really requires a dense help with moisture. <3

Ok, So I heard great things about this cream and decided to order. I ordered on May 28th and I live on the Gulf Coast of Texas and it is in the low 90s right now. I was worried mine would arrived separated like many others claimed to have gotten theirs, and sadly it did. Warm weather or not, blue water shot out of the tube the minute I squeezed it. Luckily, I read Mia P's review and submerged my tube in warm water (hot water actually straight out of my instant hot water faucet). I left it for about 5 minutes then shook it vigoroously. It seemed to help but was still a bit wonky so I repeated the process again and success! My tube is totally fine now and comes out in a thick, rich, emollient cream as it is supposed to. I will update my review after I use it more but so far I love the way it feels on the skin. It is very thick but spreads nicely and completely absorbs into the skin and leaves no greasy residue which is a big deal because I have oily skin. I purchased this to help with my Retin A uglies (I actually am using Musely with .05% tretinoin) and am hoping it helps with the redness and peeling I am having. I will update my review once I've used it for a while but wanted to post this review as I saw so many people complaining about the separating and just thought I'd mention that you can fix this issue if you have it (and there is a good likely hood that you will). Update: I've been using this for a week now and I am absolutely in love with this cream! It is the most hydrating and healing cream I've ever used. Usually, thicker face creams like this would cause issues for me with acne or clogged pores as I do have oily skin that can break out if I use products with occlusive ingredients, but this one does not. In fact, my skin has never looked better! This is a must-have if you are using Retin-A/Tretinoin and going through the red/peely phase with your skin. The separation that occurred when I first received it has not been a problem and the cream is staying thick and free from any strange liquidy issues after I put it in hot water as mentioned in the first part of my review.

I was having the worst skin winter of my life. I am hypersensitive and my skin started rejecting an expensive line I had used for many years (EL). My skin wasn’t healing even just using AQ balm on it and occasionally steroids when it was extra bad, and the pronounced eczema on my eyelids and neck for months was making me miserable and gross looking. I started researching brands I hadn’t tried for super sensitive skin and saw recommendations for Avene. We were leaving on a vacation and I was desperate to feel better so I ordered this and the matching serum. I started with only this cream and overnight I saw my skin start to heal. Within a few days it was like the last few months never happened. I carefully added the serum and had no issues. I used only these two products for the month I was gone and had glowing skin the whole time. This is thicker than a normal lotion since it is made to protect your skin but if you let it warm up a few seconds it smoothes easily. This will definitely remain a staple in my skin arsenal and I can’t thank you enough for making an actually gentle but effective product! This picture is two weeks after starting the product, smooth skin and confident to take selfies!

I originally bought Avène Cicalfate because my skin was irritated and my cheeks looked dull and slightly red. After using it for about a week, I noticed my skin looked calmer, smoother, and surprisingly more radiant. The cream is thicker than a normal moisturizer, but it spreads easily and doesn’t feel greasy on the skin. I use a small amount as the last step of my routine at night. When I wake up, my skin looks more hydrated and healthy. What I like most is that it really helps when my skin barrier feels stressed from actives or over-exfoliation. My skin just looks more balanced and has a natural glow now. If your skin is sensitive, irritated, or recovering from treatments, this is definitely worth trying. A little goes a long way, and I’m glad I gave it a chance.

**ARRIVED with product SEPARATION** THERE IS A FIX! I had never used this product before and I hears wonderful reviews. Since I have moderate eczema on my eyelids and under eyes I have to be careful with what I use. I needed more intense care for that delicate skin than what the Vanicream cream and the cerave ointment was giving me. So I ordered this product. I was not aware of the issue that it can arrive separated so when I opened it to use it the water squirted out! Nooooo this is precious product! So I took to Amazon and TikTok to see if this is normal and it is. I filled up a bowl of hot tap water and submerged the closed tube of product in it and made sure to take it out before the water cooled. I shook the tube and massaged it. I opened it and carefully squeezed it and the product still seemed to be separating but it was better than before. So I filled the bowl again with hot water and did the process over again. This time it worked like a charm! Have patience! And make sure to keep the product in a warmer environment so that it won’t seize up.

My dermatologist recommended this cream after a laser procedure, and gave me some samples to take home. I found the thick, smooth cream calming and protective for my irritated skin. The zinc oxide leaves a whitish cast at first, which does tend to fade after it sinks in, but it could be problem if you have darker skin. Not an issue for me since I’m pale. Because I liked the samples, I ordered two full-size tubes. Both arrived with the product inside completely separated. The texture was nothing like the samples. I opened the first tube and clear, watery liquid spilled everywhere. I quickly recapped it, shook and squeezed the tube as much as possible to try to re-emulsify the product, and it remained stubbornly separated, with chunky white paste suspended in thin liquid. I’ve thoroughly shaken the second tube and continue to hear the sloshing of thin liquid. So apparently once the cream has separated, it will not re-mix. I don’t know what caused the unacceptable condition of the product—manufacturing variation, storage conditions prior to shipping, or conditions during shipment. Whatever it was, I would not buy this product in this way again. The samples were a five star product. The full size product I received was zero stars.

It works!!! I am a Tazarotene user and my skin is beyond irritated and dry at times. Ive tried so many different products to counter Tazarotene's side effects but everything is kinda meh. Avène Cicalfate gave my skin an immediate relief from the itching sensation. I used it as a night mark and skin barrier visibly looked better the next day. I'm taking one star away because as others say, the product arrived seperated. I wasn't aware of the issue so when I opened the tube, the water started pouring out. This is resolved by leaving the closed tube in some hot water for 15 minutes. I'd do that before I open a new tube. Overall, despite the separation issue, the product still works, it has no scent, it seems high quality, and I would likely repurchase if my skin likes it in the long run.

El aspecto de mi piel ha mejorado mucho desde que empecé a usarla, yo regularmente la utilizo por las noches con una pequeña cantidad es mas que suficiente. mi piel es grasosa y apesar de eso la crema tiene una perfecta absorcion al otro dia amaneces como radiante tambien se las recomiendo mucho para la rozadura de pañal le quita el dolor casi inmediatamente.

I have bought this product endless amount of times. With super sensitive skin it is one of the only creams that doesn’t irritate and creates a great barrier against drying out. It is affordable and keeps my skin hydrated for hours. Have recommended this product to so many friends with other skin problems. Keep in mind it’s a thicker consistency but I love that as I feel like it lasts longer through out the day.

helps as it is ment to do.

Very good for my skin, original product!

La consistenza è ricca ma non eccessivamente pesante, si assorbe abbastanza bene e dà comfort immediato, soprattutto su zone secche, arrossate o irritate. Adatta anche su pelli molto delicate e sensibili come la mia. L ho usata sia in seguito ad alterazioni della normale barriera cutanea e dopo una brutta allergia in cui mi ero riempita di puntini rossi. Ha un ottima azione lenitiva che si sente già nei primi giorni di utilizzo. Non la consiglio alle pelle troppo grasse perché è un po’ pesante.