As I promised in my last blog post, I wanted to dig in to the French skincare products I bought on my honeymoon, because there were A LOT. Like other foreign countries, high quality skincare is way more accessible than in the US. I don’t think I ever recapped what skincare my husband brought back when he was in Japan but let me tell you – he brought back amazing skincare (and a lot of it) for about $30 US dollars. Needless to say, I was very excited to go skincare shopping in France.
French pharmacies are everywhere. They sell a wide range of skincare products – from more drugstore type brands, to luxury brands you would find at Sephora. I did some research before shopping because I probably would have been lost (PS Google translate is also your best friend here). The Breaking Beauty podcast recently did an episode on French skincare which was super helpful. They also link their products in the show notes so I had a better idea of what to look for. Additionally, I referenced some other blog posts regarding what the hot brands are and what products to invest in.
Why French Skincare?
In short, better quality ingredients and better testing of ingredients. Unlike the US, where we lather on a million different products, the French way is much simpler. You don’t need as many products when all the right ingredients are there! The French take pride in the anti-aging properties in their products and not using anything super heavy that will strip your skin of all its properties. For example, all their cleansers are super simple and gentle. Most people get their products from pharmacies and not through their derm. Again, less is more.
When You Go:
Prepared to be a bit overwhelmed. These pharmacies are way more stocked with products than in the US. I knew some of the brands, like Caudalie and La Roche Posay, but I didn’t know what was necessarily the best for my skin and what the trending products were in France.
Luckily, everyone I spoke to at the pharmacies were SUPER helpful. As long as you try to speak a little French and ask if they speak some English, employees will meet you halfway. The clerk I worked with at the first pharmacie I went to in Paris, Pharmacie du Forum Des Halles, gave some recommendations based on my dry skin. I needed a face cleanser and a Vitamin C serum but also ended up getting a couple other goodies!
Product Lineup:
Cleanser:
Sanoflore Cleansing Oil Jelly: $24.87 at French Beauty Hub. I love this cleanser. It was recommended to me at the Pharmacie. It’s super light and hydrating, and removes your face of any makeup or residue that you get throughout the day. Perfect example of the less is more in French Skincare
SPF:
Avene Tinted Cream SPF 50: $19.52 at French Beauty Hub. The US version of this product is a little different but Aveve USA has a slightly different version of this product that was an Allure Beauty Winner in 2023. It has a nice golden texture to it that gives your skin a subtle tint and a glowy look. It’s also infused with France’s Thermal Spring Water.
Vitamin C Serum:
Vichy LiftActiv Vitamin C Serum: $34.99 at Vicky USA. It took some time in my skincare journey but I finally got Vitamin C serums into my routine. These serums are essential for radiance and protecting your skin of environmental aggressors. I love this one because it has hyaluronic acid and Vitamin E. This was another product recommendation for me and great for people with dry skin!
Eye Cream:
Embryolisse Smoothing Eye Contour Care: $25.00 at Embryolisse USA. I just ran out of my eye cream and started using this yesterday. So far I really like it! It works to help reduce puffiness and dark circles which is important for me in an eye cream. It has a great, light texture; along hyaluronic acid and Vitamin E & A for anti-aging prevention.
Thermal Spring Water Face Mist:
La Roche-Posay: $19.00 at Ulta. We all know Thermal Spring Water Mists are a French skincare essential. These face mists sooth and refresh the skin. I especially like to use this after working out. You can also use them throughout the day when your skin needs some extra hydration or after cleansing.
I also picked up Avene’s Cicalfate Restorative & Protective Cream, linked here. I was told you can’t leave France without it, but there is a US version. It came in handy when I got a sunburn in Cannes.
Some Non-Pharmacie Picks:
We did a perfume tour in the south of France in a small village called Eze. This perfume factory, Fragonard Parfumeur, also makes luxury skincare products. Fresh skincare made in house? Yes please! To be honest, I was way more excited about the skincare than the perfume. I scooped up their famous Royal Jelly Face Cream and VRAI Natural Hair and Body Argan Oil. Both these products are super hydrating and help with radiance and anti-aging. Picture of the face cream below; I’m obsessed with the texture! I am not using much of the Argan oil until the winter (when I feel like face oil is more necessary) but I also love how soft it makes the ends of my hair! I linked them in this paragraph.
The Best news: It’s super easy to get the exact products, or a version of them, in the US. French girl skincare is definitely a VIBE for summer that I am so onboard with. I also love how affordable these products are. What do we think about the less is more vibe for our skincare?
Above: My little trip to the perfume factory (:
Martinis & Mascara 
Leave a comment