Hurry: The French Drugstore Brand that ‘Rivals La Mer’ Is 25% Off Right Now

While the old adage “you get what you pay for” certainly applies to many things–mattresses and hiking boots, for example–the saying doesn’t always apply to skincare. Don’t get us wrong: Some top-dollar picks, like the $195 Elemis Pro-Collagen Morning Matrix, are *absolutely* worth the sky-high price point, but these days, even the most affordable skin-care brands have begun packing dermatologist-approved, skin-saving ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide into their products. And French pharmaceutical drugstore brand Avène is no exception, proving to us time and time again that potent, luxury skin care doesn’t necessarily have to come with a premium price tag attached.

Still, if you cringe at the thought of paying full price for anything in this economy, let alone a facial serum, now’s your chance to try all of the best Avène products while saving some serious coin. From October 5 through October 12, Avène is hosting a Friends and Family 25-percent-off sale sitewide, meaning you’ll be able to save big bucks on the brand’s most popular skin savers like the RetrinAL 0.1 Intensive Cream (a personal fave of our editors’). No e-coupons necessary: Simply enter the promo code FRIENDS25 at checkout to take advantage of the sale.

Unsure of which products deserve a spot in your shopping cart? Ahead are eight of our favorite tried-and-true Avène skincare heroes, along with what their prices will look like after the discount is applied.

8 Avène skincare products we’ll be buying at their 25% off sale

Avène, Thermal Spring Water — $14.25

Original price: $19

Fancy a spritz? Your skin does, too!

Avène’s iconic Thermal Spring Water facial spray is loaded with minerals and post-biotic microflora, smoothing and softening skin texture while promoting a healthy skin microbiome. Packaged in a sterile environment, this refreshing mineral spray restores balance with a neutral pH.  

Pros:

• Soothes and softens skin
• Neutral pH restores balance
• Refreshing

Cons:

• No extra skin-care features or ingredients

Avène, RetrinAL 0.1 Intensive Cream — $59.25

Original price: $79

This cream is here to give your skin its groove back, pronto.

The concentrated formula contains retinal, a vitamin A derivative that’s been clinically proven to be more effective than retinol at erasing visible lines and wrinkles. Relastide, a pro-elastin peptide, restores skin elasticity and adds plumpness and firmness back to dull skin while pre-tocopheryl, a photostable precursor of vitamin E, acts as a powerful antioxidant and protects skin from free radicals.

Pros:

• Retinal reduces fine lines and wrinkles
• Relastide adds plumpness and firmness
• Thermal spring water smoothes and softens

Cons:

• Has a slightly yellow tint that may stain clothes

Avène, Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream — $31.50

Original price: $42

In order to achieve the skin of your dreams, sometimes you need to build back the skin you already have. The Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream does just that. This nourishing cream gently hydrates dry, compromised skin with ingredients safe enough to use on children and infants. Thermal spring water pairs up with the brand’s protein-rich C+ Restore compound in order to repair your skin’s moisture barrier, all while a copper-zinc sulfate complex promotes a healthy skin microbiome, boosting your skin’s recovery process.

Pros:

• Safe for children and infants
• Copper-zinc sulfate promotes healthy skin microbiome
• C+ Restore compound repairs moisture barrier
• Thermal spring water softens and smoothes

Cons:

• Some may find the thick, ultra-moisturizing texture to be greasy

Avène, SOS COMPLETE Post-Procedure Recovery System — $86.25

Original price: $115

Whether you’ve gotten a microneedling treatment, a chemical peel, or laser hair removal, the SOS Complete Post-Procedure Recovery System can fast-track the healing process. The kit contains a 30-day supply of Avène’s Thermal Spring Water, Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream, A-Oxitave SOS Antioxidant Sheet Mask, Tolerance Extremely Gentle Cleanser, Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Cream, and Solaire UV Mineral SPF 50+ Sunscreen.

Your vulnerable post-treatment skin will thank you for having this kit on deck.

Pros:

• Restorative and gentle
• Promotes faster healing process
• Safe for vulnerable post-treatment skin
• Allows you to try six of the brand’s best-selling products

Cons:

• Bottles in the system are not full size

Avène, Tolerance Extremely Gentle Cleanser — $20.25

Original price: $27

This multi-award-winning skin cleanser is simply ahh-mazing.

It’s super gentle and great for sensitive skin types, earning the National Eczema Association’s seal of approval. The wipe-off, no-rinse cleanser is fueled by d-sensinose, a post-biotic active ingredient that soothes skin discomfort.

Pros:

• Ultra-gentle and safe for all skin types
• D-sensinose soothes and calms irritated skin
• Approved by the National Eczema Association

Cons:

• Might not be powerful enough for oily skin types

Avène, Retrinal Ceramide Lipid-Replenishing Balm — $57.00

Original price: $76

Take it from us:Avène’s Retrinal Ceramide Lipid-Replenishing Balm is a worthy competitor for the ever-viral $380 Crème de La Mer.

This creamy balm deeply hydrates dry skin for 48 hours while replenishing it with ceramides, strengthening the skin’s natural barrier with every application. Niacinamide brightens uneven skin tone while the brand’s patented thermal spring water soothes and softens. This balm firms up skin and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles thanks to bakuchiol, a plant-based alternative to retinol.

Pros:

• Ceramides strengthen skin barrier
• Niacinamide brightens uneven skin tone
• Bakuchiol reduces fine lines and wrinkles
• 48 hours of hydration

Cons:

• Niacinamide may irritate sensitive skin types

Avène, Hydrance Aqua-Gel — $30.00

Original price: $40

Daily moisturizer? Check. Overnight mask? Check. Eye contour? Check.

This multi-purpose hydrating gel does it all.

Powered by a trio of lipids, thermal spring water, and hyaluronic acid, this moisturizer promises 24 hours of non-stop hydration. Bonus: Dextran sulfate and pre-tocopheryl protect your skin from pollutants and defend it against free radicals caused by UV exposure.

Pros:

• Multi-purpose gel moisturizer
• Lipids and hyaluronic acid hydrate the skin
• 24 hours of hydration
• Protects skin from pollutants and free radicals

Cons:

• May be too lightweight for dry skin types

Avène, Cicalfate+ LIPS Restorative Lip Balm — $15.00

Original price: $20

This lip balm doesn’t just hydrate dry, chapped lips; it helps prevent them from forming again in the future. The water-resistant formula nourishes dry lips with jojoba, castor, and shea oils, and reinforces a stronger, healthier lip barrier with a protein-rich C+ Restore compound. It’s also safe for all ages, making it a great baby bag companion.

Pros:

• Jojoba, castor, and shea oils nourish lips
• C+ Restore repairs lip barrier
• Water-resistant
• Safe for all ages

Cons:

• May feel “sticky” to some