TikTok skin-care hacks might not always get the expert seal of approval, but the latest “twist” on using Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream ($26) is getting a solid “derm do.”
The rich, nourishing skin barrier cream leverages a unique postbiotic (extracted from the bacterium found in Avène’s Thermal Spring Water) to promote a healthy microbiome ideal for skin restoration, and its skin-care benefits are seemingly endless. It’s so multitasking, in fact, that the brand contends the Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream allows for more than 45 uses—including as a lip mask, face mask, daily moisturizer, treatment for minor cuts and scrapes, cracked or chapped skin, diaper area, after sun exposure, and more.
Clinical testing also contends it stands up to the claims. The cream has been proven to restore skin four times faster for visible improvement in as few as two days, and an 80-percent reduction in skin discomfort after 48 hours of application. The non-comedogenic formula is also free from alcohol, silicones, parabens and fragrances.
And here’s the social-media hack: While a little goes a long way, TikTok users (including the trusted @dermguru) currently recommend to try the “slathering” method before bed. The move: Apply the cream as if it were a mask, rather than rubbing and blending it in, for glowy skin the next morning.
Phoenix, AZ dermatologist Dr. Karan Lal recommends the cream post-laser, as it can be used on open skin, and says this hack is a smart one to copy (he does it as well). He likes the product so much, in fact, that, when he travels, it’s pretty much all he packs for his nighttime routine.
“It is the best product to use as a mask before bed,” Dr. Lal says. “It’s safe for broken skin, compromised skin, and is great if you are having an eczema flare or even after a long day of wearing makeup.”
Amazon users seem to agree, coining the cream as a “miracle product.”
“I usually don’t write reviews but this cream was a life saver,” shared one review. “The spring water sometimes separates, but the tube is pretty pliable where I just squeezed it from top to bottom a few times and it really wasn’t a big deal for me at all. It’s very refreshing, It served two purposes for me. It took away the itch of mosquito bites and I had also scratched myself enough to break skin and since I am under a medical treatment at the moment this causes me to heal slower. This cream provided so much relief, it soothed and I believe it even helped the scar heal. I am so grateful that I found it.”
