Late last year, during a visit to Poland, I picked up the new Avène Hyaluron Activ B3 Multi-Intensive Night Cream. It wasn’t available in Swedish pharmacies yet, and I was intrigued by its formulation with retinal. As someone who has written a comprehensive guide on European equivalents to the US version of Avène RetrinAL, I was eager to test this product and compare it to others I’ve tried.
Since the start of the year, my boyfriend and I have been using this night cream as our primary retinoid treatment. We’ve been consistent in our routine, applying it three times a week, and now that we’ve finished the jar, we’re ready to share our experience. This review covers everything you need to know about the Avène Hyaluron Activ B3 Multi-Intensive Night Cream, from the texture and application to the results we’ve seen over the past six months.
Avène Hyaluron Activ B3 Multi-Intensive Night Cream
This night cream is a new addition to the Avène Hyaluron Active B3 collection. The products are aimed for those who are starting to notice their first signs of aging or
Ingredients and Packaging
- Key Ingredients: 0.1% Retinal, 2% Niacinamide, Haritaki extract, and Hyaluronic Acid
- Benefits: Improves skin elasticity, helps firm the skin, and reduces wrinkle creasing.
The cream contains 0.1% retinal, as confirmed by the Australian official Avène website. For some reason, European sites do not state this. It also includes niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, which work together to enhance the skin’s texture and hydration, revealing smoother skin.
The cream is packaged in a 40ml vacuum pump with a glass jar, ensuring the product remains fresh and easy to dispense. The cream has a natural orange hue due to retinal. One might want to be mindful at night as the hue can stain pillows.
Additionally, the product is fragranced, which might be a deal breaker for some. However, compared to other Avène retinal products I’ve tried, I find this fragrance more tolerable, although I still wish it were unscented.
My Experience
My partner and I have been using the Avène Hyaluron Activ B3 Multi-Intensive Night Cream three times a week as our main retinoid treatment, applying 2-3 pumps each for the face and neck. It has a smooth, creamy texture where a little goes a long way.
However, for a night cream, it isn’t particularly hydrating on its own, especially if you have dry skin. This is a common issue I’ve noticed with most retinal products I’ve tried. I recommend applying it after a hydrating toner or essence or layering an additional moisturizing cream on top for better hydration.
At 0.1% retinal, it’s effective yet very tolerable. Neither my partner nor I have experienced any irritation or negative reactions. We did introduce this slowly into our routine, but in hindsight, we could’ve gone for our 3 times per week from the get-go.
We both noticed a difference in our skin from the first use—our skin became even, soft, plumped, and tightened. Over the past six months, it has significantly improved our skin’s softness and even reduced breakouts. Every night I use this I wake up to the claims of hydrated, smooth, and plump skin. I also find that the fine lines, that are starting to appear, are reduced or softened. This cream is truly living up to its promise!
Comparison to Other Products
Other retinal products I’ve tried include: Avène PhysioLift Night Balm (0.05% – Discontinued), Cleanance Smoothing Night Cream (0.1% – possibly discontinued?), Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 (0.06%), and Allies of Skin Retinal & Peptides Repair Night Cream (0.05%).
While Medik8 Crystal Retinal is perhaps the most potent of them all, despite being 0.06% rather than 0.1%, I find the Avène Hyaluron Activ B3 Multi-Intensive Night Cream to be my absolute favorite so far! It’s more plumping, equally wrinkle-softening, and less irritating despite being 0.1%. It’s actually most similar to the Allies of Skin Retinal night cream, but at a third of the price and, in my opinion, more effective with less use and better packaging!
Conclusion | ★★★★★
The Avène Hyaluron Activ B3 Multi-Intensive Night Cream has become a big favorite of mine. It simplifies my routine, and the results have been fantastic! It lives up to its claims and other than the fragrance, there’s really nothing to hate. If it weren’t for having another retinoid in stock, I would repurchase and keep using it over other retinal products that I’ve tried. In fact, I did repurchase a jar this summer to gift to my mom because I found it to be so lovely with noticeable results!
At a price range of €30-€45 in Sweden (though I paid about 119zł/€28 for it in Poland) and being readily available at most pharmacies in Europe, it’s super affordable for the quality and results it delivers. Because of this, it’s one of the few retinoid products that I see myself being consistent with. And we all know that consistency is key to healthy skin! I can also see myself buying this night cream again just to use it on my decolletage if I ever want to continue trying something else for the face.
