When Escentual were running their "1/3rd off French Pharmacy" promotion in March, one of the items at the top of my list was a new daytime serum. I had long finished up my sample of YSL's Forever Light Creator (Which I love dearly but I can't justify the price), and in a bid to find an alternative I found Vichy's Idéalia Life Serum. To be honest, what made me purchase it was the fact that the product looked very similar - they both share a pearlescent sheen. So, when it landed in my lap a few days later, I started using it straight away. However, about a week later, Escentual were looking for bloggers to try out a serum for sensitive skin - and I thought, what a perfect opportunity to do a comparison review! The Avène Soothing Hydrating Serum* arrived in the post not long after and I began to use it alongside my Vichy serum. I actually used the Avène on the left side of my face, and the Vichy on the right, so I could see and feel them side-by-side and be able to share with you the results I got from both.



So, what do these serums have in common? Funnily enough, they have near enough the same description of skin types they are to be used on - along the lines of "For skin that is affected by stress, pollution and poor diet". They are both enriched with their respective "Thermal Spa" waters, and these feature high in their ingredients lists. Both claim to be lightweight and to leave skin soft, smooth and supple. They are both "Tested under dermatological control" and are suitable for sensitive skin. The packaging for both are, in essence, very similar, with pump dispensers and a glass bottle. However, whereas the Avène doesn't promise any long-term effects, the Vichy on the other hand goes quite in-depth - I will explain below.

I'll start off with the Avène first - I was really looking forward to trying this! With the claims of being a lightweight serum, I hoped that this would help provide a good, smooth base for my make up when used under my moisturiser - which I'm pleased to say that it does. The packaging, whilst simple in design looks and feels quite expensive, with the glass bottle being quite heavy. I like that the frosted glass allows me to see how much I have left. The pump, whilst functioning as it should actually feels a bit clunky; it dispenses a precise amount with one pump, and it's not possible to get "half-a-pump", if you know what I mean! However, two pumps is the perfect amount for me to use all over my face so there is no real wastage here. This spreads very, very easily - you need a lot less than you think you would. Upon application, it feels very cooling and I suspect that this is down to the alcohol included in the ingredients list - something that I was disappointed to see. How can Avène claim that their serum is "intensely soothing and hydrating", yet include alcohol, which is known to be drying on the skin? That being said, glycerin presides higher on the ingredients list and every time I have used this product I have noticed that my skin feels a bit more hydrated. Nothing particularly noticeable, but just enough to comment on. My skin also feels completely smooth in finish, which is what I primarily look for in a day serum and what I was pleasantly surprised to find with this. Being water-based, this sinks into the skin very well and within a couple of minutes, leaving no residue or visible product on the skin at all. It doesn't aggravate nor has it improved my sensitive skin (I have rosacea), but with the latter it doesn't claim to, so I wasn't surprised in that respect. Avène don't offer any claims about long-term benefits with this serum, focusing more on immediate results, but I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. There is definitely a market for products that are fairly simple and just do what they need to do with no added fuss - this fits the bill perfectly.




Let's begin with the packaging, which definitely looks more luxurious compared to the Avène. The bottle for this is completely opaque, which I have to admit is my only problem with it. The pump is much more easily controlled, allowing a more gentle pressure to be applied - meaning that you can dispense as much or as little as you like. This serum is much thicker than I expected; I liken it more to a cream than a serum, and you need a few pumps to have enough to spread across the face. Seeing as Vichy claim this to be "ultra-light", I was surprised at the texture. When applied to the skin, it takes much, much longer to sink in than Avène's and truthfully, I'd say that it is a good ten minutes before the product feels like that it has been absorbed fully. This makes it difficult to apply moisturiser over the top and create a smooth base for make up - it often feels a bit tacky on the skin, despite the claim of it being "non-sticky". This leaves a visible pink, light-reflecting sheen on the skin; no glitter, but it creates an almost "soft-focus" finish and my skin looks healthy and glowing. Compared to the lack of any visible difference from Avène's serum, this was a big plus. As for the long-term benefits, Vichy claim that within four weeks, "the pores appear tightened", "skin texture feels refined" and generally the skin looks "younger and healthier". For the first claim about pores, this serum does help with that on first use, due to the silica, which helps to "fill in" pores. In the long run, the added benefit of salicylic acid (Although right at the bottom of the list) has, in conjunction with other products, helped to improve the appearance of my enlarged pores around my nose - but only minimally. Overall, my skin does look and feel a bit healthier, and doesn't appear to be quite as sallow and dull as it used to be. The texture of my skin hasn't really improved any, other than it feels a bit softer - but I still have my slightly rough, dry patches, which I was hoping this serum would help repair.

Avene Size: 30ml Price: £14.45 Skin type: Sensitive Dispenser: Pump Bottle: Frosted glass Alcohol free: No Texture: Gel-like, runny Appearance: Cloudy, almost translucent Scent: Minimal, almost salty

Vichy Size: 30ml Price: £25.45 Skin type: All (Including sensitive) Dispenser: Pump Bottle: Coloured/covered glass Alcohol free: Yes Texture: Cream-like, thicker Appearance: White, pearlescent sheen Scent: Noticeable, floral

Normally, I would finish this by saying which one I think is best - but in this case, I think that they're two completely different animals, despite first appearances. Whereas the Avène feels like a true daytime serum, the Vichy feels more akin to a moisturiser and I don't think you necessarily need to use one on top of this serum. Their difference in price is quite substantial, but with the latter you are paying for added long-term skincare benefits, which you don't really get with Avène's.

Overall, I think it depends on what you looking for. If you're after a good all-rounder to use in the morning, that is safe for sensitive skin and prepares the skin ready for the day ahead, I think that the Avène Soothing Hydrating Serum is an excellent choice. However, if you're wanting your skincare to work a bit harder for you, and see a visible difference to your skin both immediately and in the long run, I would recommend the Vichy Idéalia Life Serum. Personally, I will be continuing to use both, rotating on a regular basis. My skin is happy with both of these products, and as the saying goes - if it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Both the Avène Soothing Hydrating Serum and the Vichy Idéalia Life Serum are available to buy from Escentual at a reduced price (As of May 2014) - snap them up quick before they become full price again!