If your skin is a little irritable at times, you'll want to know how to calm things down when you need to. So with the help of trusted skincare range, Eau Thermale Avène, we unravel the facts about sensitive skin

Did you know that 61 per cent of women claim to have sensitive or reactive skin — skin which can be itchy, red, blotchy or just downright irritable?

So what causes our skin to behave out of sorts? While some people are always sensitive, external factors such as the environment, your lifestyle and perhaps most crucially, using the wrong cosmetics and skincare can all play a part. Many products can cause irritation so you need to be careful what you use.

One skincare range that understands the unpredictability of sensitive skin is Eau Thermale Avène. The best-selling sensitive skincare range in France, it has gone from strength to strength since being launched in the UK in 2000, partly due to consumer demand for skincare products with a pharmaceutical advantage.

So what's the secret ingredient? The range is based on Avène Thermal Spring Water, which for hundreds of years has been used to treat sensitive and atopic skin. The soothing and anti-irritating properties of this water have been consistently proven by a vast programme of clinical trials, many of which have been published in international medical and scientific journals.

The Eau Thermale Avène range is a godsend for sensitive skin, and along with the following tips and tricks, your secret weapon when dealing with a complexion that refuses to behave:

Savvy skincare

Exposure to the sun and temperature changes are known to aggravate Rosacea or trigger flare-ups, so you may need to change your skincare regime in the summer. Look for fragrance-free products, as fragrance is a known irritant and can cause flare-ups.

Paraben, preservative and fragrance-free, Avène Skin Recovery Cream (£11.95 for 40ml) is an emergency treatment that effectively calms irritation. Moisturising agents help restore, comfort and repair damaged and dry skin, while 67 per cent Avène spring water soothes it. The formula is suitable for all skin types and is quickly absorbed so you'll feel it working from the very first application — a blessing in disguise for dehydrated skin!

Calm down!

If your skin is feeling hot or rashy, try not to scratch because this will make things worse. Instead, spritz on Avène Thermal Spring Water Spray (£5.25 for 150ml or £3 for 50ml) — like a breath of fresh air for skin, Eau Thermale Avène Water retains all the natural minerals and trace elements captured on its journey through the rocks of the Black Mountains in the South of France, thus creating a water that is pure, soothing, anti-irritating and softening.

In the morning, a quick spray awakens the face and gives the complexion luminosity (allow the water to take effect for a few moments before drying the face: it will leave a protective film on the skin's surface). Last thing at night, it will prepare the skin for your night cream. The refreshing mist will also sharpen your mind and help you keep cool whenever you feel hot or bothered.

Sun shade

Delicate skin should be careful in the sun. Avoid sunbathing between 11am-3pm by seeking shade, having lunch or wearing a fashionable wide-brimmed hat. These simple steps will help you avoid both flare-ups and sun damage, although you will still get a healthy colour. Besides, the deeply-tanned look is so over for 2008! After sundown, spray on Avène Thermal Spring Water to soothe any red or overheated areas (this product is also an in-flight essential for helping to keep skin hydrated, fresh and cool), followed by Avène Skin Recovery Cream.

Eau Thermale Avène products can be purchased from:
Boots or garden.co.uk. Stockist information: 01582 820165 or e-mail pfdc@pierre-fabre.co.uk.