At a time when our society aspires to more well-being and naturalness, thermal water is once again sought after and infinitely precious in the eyes of all.
It remains for us to choose the water that best suits our skin and its specific needs.
What is thermal water?
"It is an underground hot water taken from its source that is enriched with trace elements and mineral salts in contact with the rocks along which it travels," explains Marie-Ange Martincic, director of Thermes d'Avène.
The properties of these waters vary according to the geological nature of the soil from which they are extracted.
Pure and organic by nature, they are protected by French regulations (the strictest in Europe), which prohibits filtering or chemically treating them.
"For the past three years, the profession has created an Aquacert label, which guarantees mastery of their original purity and integrity," says Marie-Ange Martincic.
A healthy and beneficial water for our skin? It is certainly more and more envied with the pollution that surrounds us, but also more and more need, according to Nathalie Broussard, director of scientific communication Vichy.
"There is an increasing number of people complaining about skin sensitized, irritated, suffering from atopy and allergies. Through care of the thermal water, they aspire to a return to equilibrium, to a normal state, to a parenthesis of sweetness and peace, "assures it.
Avene thermal water: water with restorative powers
At the spa of Avène, located 80 kilometers from Montpellier, spring water gushes with a flow of 70,000 liters per hour. Its characteristics are low mineralization (with a balanced ratio of calcium and magnesium), it is concentrated in trace elements and contains a lot of silicate. It replaces the distilled water usually used in all cosmetic formulas to better relieve "burning" skins.
It's for me ? Yes, if I have a rebellious skin, very dry, atopic, small patches of eczema, after-effects of scars. But also after a session of aesthetic medicine (laser for example) or a microdermabrasion. Because the thermal water of Avène has the peculiarity of accelerating the skin repair processes (well for wrinkles), improve healing, and decrease the inflammation and itching phenomena. This is why it is advised especially following a radiotherapy.
Why do we love him? The Avene range, with soothing and anti-irritant properties, brings an unheard-of relief to all sensitive skin in general, whenever the epidermis is in a "crisis", that it is attacked by its environment or dermatological gestures. These are real SOS care.
La Roche-Posay thermal water: an alloy softness and protection
La Roche-Posay, native of Vienne (the first dermatological spa with 8,000 patients a year), is a concentrate of softness and protection. Softness thanks to its rich silica, which forms a comfortable and velvety film on the surface of the epidermis, hence its nickname of "velvet water". And protection thanks to a high concentration of selenium (60 micrograms per liter) which protects the balance and the cellular vitality and which slows the aging .
It's for me ? Yes, if I can not stand anything on my skin, whether it be dry, mixed or oily, because the thermal water contained in all the products in the range is healing, decongestant, calming and antiradical.
Why do we love him? "Because twenty-five thousand dermatologists around the world recommend it," remarked Yann Kerhervé, marketing director of La Roche-Posay But also and above all because this thermal water is a kind of natural shield, "thanks to its unique content of selenium which in fact a powerful antioxidant. Ideal to preserve everyday skin sensitized and irritated by a polluted environment. "We also like the voluntarily minimalist formulas in active agents that reduce the risks of skin reactions
Uriage thermal water: hydration
It is not surprising that this Alpine water, collected above Grenoble, is two to three times more concentrated in minerals than the others (1 gram per liter). Because, before being taken several tens of meters deep, the thermal water of Uriage has walked in the depths for thirty to eighty years and therefore had time to soak and to charge with electrolytes . As a result, she performs miracles on all dermatoses. Its strong point in the care? It is isotonic: its composition in minerals is comparable to that of the skin. And, in spraying, it is one of the few that can be allowed to evaporate on the epidermis without risk of dehydration.
It's for me ? Yes, if I have dry skin like a parchment and if this condition is accompanied by pruritus (itching). Isotonic and fortifying, Uriage water is also for me if I am a medical treatment anti-acne vitamin A, very drying and sensitizing acid.
Why do we love him? "The fact that it has almost the same richness in mineral salts as our own cells gives it a perfect affinity with the skin, without any difference in pressure or osmotic shock, perfect balance", assures Luc Lefeuvre, director of the research and development of Uriage products. In addition, the sulfur found in thermal water at the station (very active to heal dermatological lesions) is dissolved in creams in the form of sulphate salt to convey calcium in particular, a strengthening salt.
Vichy thermal water : the beautiful skin effect
It is to its incredible environment that the thermal mineralizing water of Vichy owes its constant concentration in fifteen minerals which soothe, regenerate, strengthen and protect the epidermis. Better, according to a recent study conducted by the laboratory, it would improve the quality of skin texture.
It's for me ? It is for everyone and for the whole family, that one has 5, 15, 30, 50 or 70 years. Because this range proposes products very "sharp" on specific problems (wrinkles, oily skin, brown spots ...)
Why do we love him? Because this is a real beauty "This year we demonstrated that it was able to maintain and balance the physiological pH of the skin , and proved its anti-inflammatory effects under dermatological control after a peel. And recently, a clinical test in Asia confirmed that it had the property of decreasing the size of the pores. So we can really talk about beauty water, "says Nathalie Broussard, director of scientific communication for gingham
Biotherm thermal water : anti-aging innovation
We no longer present the brand, but we can recall that its famous plankton, the microorganism (rich of thirty-five nutrients) present in all the products, was discovered in the thermal springs of Molitg-les-Bains (Pyrenees) . Years later, Biotherm laboratories and biologists at Stanford University (California) demonstrated that this active ingredient had a unique protective effect and reinforced the natural defenses of the skin . Today they associate it with extracts of aquatic organisms living in other waters of the world to concoct new generations of active ingredients mainly intended for anti-aging care.
Why do we love him? Biotherm continues to innovate with Blue Therapy technology which combines the amazing properties of the thermal plankton with those of two other aquatic organisms. "In addition, our anti aging formulas are based on our current knowledge of skin aging, which makes it possible for the first time to better target and repair the damage associated with aging," explains Elisa Simonpietri, international scientific director of Biotherm.
Jonzac thermal water: a concentrate of minerals
Initially it is a thermal water that is brought to light late and accidentally in 1979 in Jonzac in Charente-Maritime. This water gives birth in 1986 to a spa accredited by the Academy of medicine for its phlebological therapeutic rheumatologic and respiratory. It is only much later that one discovers its dermatological properties validated by the dermo-cosmetic laboratory Lea Nature.
Why do we love him? If you do not try Jonzac products for their glamor you will do it for their affinity with the skin and their strong moisturizing power. Thermal water has indeed been recognized as isotonic . It is therefore perfectly bioavailable and effective on dehydrated epidermis . "Our tests have also validated its regenerating and restorative properties on the soothing skin barrier, in particular it reduces the redness induced by ultraviolet and anti-inflammatory rays by inhibiting the release of histamine, it limits reactions of sensitivity or intolerance skin" Valérie Cauche of the Léa Nature laboratory. We like the repair range highly concentrated in thermal water (up to 65%) and prices very accessible.
Cadum Spa Water: high in magnesium
One generation chases the other. If for some Cadum it was a big chubby baby who lathered soap for others it is now a line for the toilet with the spring water of Bad Zurzach in the Swiss Alps on the banks of the Rhine. This source discovered in the fifties and which is also the largest open-air spa in Europe is particularly suitable for sensitive skin thanks to its richness in magnesium .
Why do we love him? The range Thermal, soft and pleasant, is very affordable given the large formats in which it is proposed. Too bad we do not know the percentage of thermal water present in the products and that the formulas contain sodium laureth sulfate a cleansing agent not bad but a little too muscular.
Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc thermal water : full of antioxidants
They are lucky the Hautes-Savoyardes to find this range of products exclusively in the pharmacies of their region! But no panic the other aficionadas of France and elsewhere can buy them on the Internet.
This brand with fresh formulas like milky desserts with mont blanc thermal water rich in mineral salts is interesting because it is endowed with boron and manganese respectively cicatrizing and antioxidant.
According to brand officials (Rivadis), an independent family-run company dedicated to skin health, "the station of Saint-Gervais-les-Bains where the source comes is the second dermatological spa of France, it relieves some three thousand infants and children of dermatological and respiratory diseases each year ".
Why do we love him? Its products are of a very good quality / price ratio and the skinless, irritated skin prone to scalds say thank you.
