Eau Thermale Avène Very High Protection Emulsion SPF 50+

As we all know by now, I'm very fair skinned. We also all know by now that fair skin and good weather really don't mix well, so I am always sporting the factor 50. The trouble with sunscreen is that it's generally fairly greasy, and when your skin is very grease-prone already, you're left with nothing but trouble on your hands.

This is why I've been on the search for something a little more mattifying. Enter Eau Thermale Avène Very High Protection Emulsion SPF 50+. As my first encounter with a face-specific SPF, and one designed for combination-oily skins at that, it was completely contrary to any sunscreen I've ever experienced.

First up, we can't ignore the fact that this just does not spread. No spread means difficult to blend, which means white cast. I'm very conscious of sunscreen leaving white traces as they are often very stubborn to remove. You'll have to work quickly with this, trying to blend as quickly as possible before it dries. It's a very tough liquid that likes to grip, so good luck with that, right...

While white cast is an issue in and of itself, this product actually likes to make you turn a little... purplish? Don't let that discourage, as it actually offers some neat benefits and you won't look purple in the slightest:

• It evens out the skin tone, so any redness or inflammation is balanced. My skin always looks very fresh and natural after applying as it really helps restore the equilibrium (through disguise)

• It has a very effective pore blurring effect. My pores are honestly invisible after applying this, as it covers them in a very thin whitish/purplish finish, making them only visible at very close inspection

As a dry touch sunscreen - the contributing factor as to why it's so difficult to spread - this product has a lovely satin-like finish to it. My face feels delightfully smooth and velvety after use, and it absolutely no way sticky or greasy. While it is designed to give a matte-finish, it does offer a nice real-glow so your skin doesn't appear completely dry or dull.
While it is quite a lightweight formula, utterly weightless on skin, it does feel heavy when coming to the end of its 2 hour life-cycle. Layering this product over itself also contributes, making it quite a thick and clunky product further into the day. 

This sunscreen does aims to reduce sebum production, but I don't think it delivers on that promise entirely. My skin looks wonderful after first application, it's a fresh glow, pore-free, UVA-safe face. But after 2-3 hours, things start to slip. My own facial oils kick in and really show this sunscreen who's boss. Unfortunately, the matte promise falls a little short.

The Eau Thermale Avène Very High Protection Emulsion SPF 50+ offers full range coverage from UVA rays and also covers UVB. It's designed for hypersensitive skins and causes no irritation. It provides great protection so long as the product is spread in correctly. It comes in a pump-action dispenser, which makes it super easy to use and minimises product transfer. While it kept me always protected and blurred my pores, I will not be repurchasing due to issues with white cast and spreadability.

The Eau Thermale Avène Very High Protection Emulsion SPF 50+ can be purchased from Boots for £16.00 / 50ML.