The Best French Pharmacy Skincare Buys
Some countries are renowned for their distinctive approaches to beauty. Korea, for instance, is known for pioneering advanced skincare formulations, while Australia is recognized for producing some of the world’s finest sunscreens. However, French beauty stands out for excelling in numerous areas. Not only is France regarded as one of the global fragrance hubs, but it has also perfected the art of skincare to an exceptional degree.
French pharmacies have gained international recognition for their exceptional skincare offerings, providing effective and affordable products rarely found in typical British drugstores. In France, skin health is more widely emphasized, and it’s common for people to seek skincare advice from pharmacists. This approach acknowledges the skin as the body’s largest organ, deserving the same care as other vital organs.The Best French Pharmacy Skincare Buys, Listed:
- Best French pharmacy moisturiser for ultra-sensitive skin: Avène Cicalfate + Restorative Protective Cream for Very Sensitive Skin – $29.90
- Best French pharmacy serum for lightweight hydration: Vichy Minéral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Serum – $29.99
- Best French pharmacy cream for all skin types: Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré Moisturiser – $29.00
- Best French pharmacy everywhere oil: Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse or Golden Shimmer Multi-Purpose Dry Oil – $49.00
- Best French pharmacy rich moisturiser: Avène Hydrance Rich Hydrating Cream Moisturiser – $32.00
- Best French pharmacy everyday lip balm: Nuxe Rêve De Miel Lip Balm – $19.90
- Best French pharmacy facial mist: Caudalie Beauty Elixir – $49.00
- Best French pharmacy face mask: La Rosée 3-In-1 Regenerating Stick Mask – $28.00
- Best French pharmacy multi-use salve: Boiron Homéoplasmine – $22.00
- Best French pharmacy micellar water: Bioderma Sensibio Cleansing Micellar Water For Sensitive Skin – $19.00
- Best French pharmacy solution for acne-prone skin: La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo (+) Moisturiser – $23.00
- Best French pharmacy brightening serum: Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum – $75.00
- Best French pharmacy solution for dull skin and fine lines: A313 Cosmetic Cream with Retinyl Palmate – $32.50
- Best French pharmacy moisturiser for oily skin: Bioderma Sébium Mattifying Moisturiser – $25.99
- Best French pharmacy body SPF for sensitive skin: Bioderma Photoderm Lait Ultra SPF50+ Very High Protection Sunscreen – $28.99
- Best French pharmacy shower oil: Bioderma Atoderm Shower Oil – $9.99
- Best French pharmacy solution for dry and dermatitis-prone skin: La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume for Sensitive Skin – $32.00
- Best French pharmacy gentle cleanser: Avène Tolerance Control Extremely Gentle Cleanser for Very Sensitive Skin – $22.00
- Best French pharmacy deodorant: Caudalie Vinofresh Natural Stick Deodorant – $16.00
1. A313 POMMADE 50g – $32.50
This vitamin A-infused cream is so popular that some pharmacies have put a quantity limit on how many can be bought at one time. It improves skin tone, laxity, dullness, spots, and fine lines. One thing to note: if you’re using any vitamin-A product, daily SPF is a non-negotiable to protect your skin from UV damage.
2. La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+ – 100ml – $32.00
The balm texture ensures long-lasting hydration, and the inclusion of vitamin B5 and thermal spring water act to soothe skin inflammation. Ideal for those with dry and eczema-prone skin.
3. Avène Hydrance RICH Hydrating Cream – $32.00
Avène’s products are ideal for sensitive skin types, and this moisturizer is particularly great. It has a luxuriously rich texture that melts into the skin to soothe sensitivity and irritation. It also comes in a lightweight emulsion formula, ideal if your skin is more on the combination or oilier side.
4. Avène Cicalfate+ – $29.90
This is one of Hailey Bieber’s favorite moisturizers. It helps repair a broken skin barrier, soothes eczema, heals inflamed breakouts, and can even be used on bumps and grazes. It creates an anti-bacterial “dressing” over broken skin to help create the ideal conditions for skin repair.
5. Avène Tolerance Extremely Gentle Cleanser – $22.00
When my skin gets very irritated, I always return to this. It does a great job of gently removing makeup without stinging sensitive skin. It leaves skin feeling soothed and comfortable. Use this with a flannel and lukewarm water to gently cleanse the skin.
6. LA ROCHE POSAY Effaclar Duo+M Anti-Blemish Gel Moisturiser – $23.00
This gel-cream texture melts into the skin, hydrating oily and combination skin just enough without feeling heavy. It helps to reduce breakouts and acne scarring while the mattifying formula helps to combat shine, leaving skin shine-free throughout the day.
7. Caudalie Beauty Elixir – 100ml – $49.00
Both Victoria Beckham and Rosie Huntington-Whitely are fans of this face mist. Use it to refresh your skin throughout the day or to add a dewy glow to your makeup.
8. Caudalie Vinofresh Natural Aluminum-Free Deodorant – $16.00
Natural deodorants often get a bad rap, but not this Caudalie gem. Its scent is delicate yet unisex, making it the ideal base for perfume and fragrance to be layered on top. It comes in a roll-on format for straightforward use.
9. CAUDALIE Vinoperfect Brightening Dark Spot Serum Vitamin C Alternative – 30ml – $75.00
This serum brightens lackluster skin while lightening dark spots such as sun damage or stubborn acne scarring marks. It leaves skin seriously glowy, and the compliments will roll in after a couple of weeks of use.
10. NUXE HUILE PRODIGIEUSE Multi-Function Dry Oil – 100ml – $49.00
Nuxe’s multipurpose oil has become a beauty staple. This lightweight oil is great for adding a glowing sheen to limbs, adding gloss to the lengths of your hair, or being used as a facial oil. It also smells incredibly chic.
11. NUXE HONEY Lip Balm – $19.90
This might be one of the greatest lip balms in existence. It has a cosseting texture that envelops lips with honey, shea butter, and sweet almond oil, creating a protective barrier over the lips, making it great as an overnight lip mask.
12. BIODERMA Sensibio H2O Micellar Water – 500ml – $19.00
This micellar water effortlessly dissolves away makeup and grime from the day. It’s a great backup cleanse when you can’t cleanse your skin in a bathroom, making it handy to pack for festivals or long flights.
13. BIODERMA Sébium Mat Control – $25.99
If you have oily skin, this mattifying formula leaves skin velvety soft, blurring over pores while helping reduce shine-inducing sebum throughout the day. It also helps prevent new breakouts from forming in the first place.
14. BIODERMA Photoderm Lait Ultra SPF50+ Very High Protection Sunscreen – 100ml – $28.99
This high-protection sunscreen is perfect for sensitive skin. It offers broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays while being gentle on the skin, absorbing quickly without leaving a greasy residue.
15. BIODERMA Atoderm Shower Oil – 100ml – $9.99
This soothing body oil is gentle enough for eczema-prone skin and helps maintain the integrity of the skin barrier, protecting from bacteria and environmental aggressors.
16. Boiron Homeoplasmine Ointment Skin Irritation – 18g – $22.00
This unassuming ointment is a French pharmacy favorite. It’s great for hydrating chapped lips, cuts and scrapes, healing dry spots, and soothing skin irritation.
17. Vichy Minéral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Serum – 50ml – $29.99
This hydrating hyaluronic acid-based serum is loved among editors. It intensely hydrates skin, plumping out fine lines and leaving skin glowing—it’s like a tall glass of water for your skin.
18. Embryolisse Lait Crème Concentré – 75ml – $29.00
Loved by celebrities
