20 Cult-Favorite French Pharmacy Products That Are Worth the Hype
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For skincare aficionados, a non-negotiable on any trip to France is a visit to the French pharmacies where high-quality skincare products are sold at an affordable price.
Charlotte Palermino, co-founder and CEO of Dieux, has racked up more than half a million views on her Instagram breakdown of the best French pharmacy products. But why are skincare products so great at French pharmacies, and what should you absolutely scoop up? Per Palermino, “the most exciting things at a French pharmacy are lovely moisturizers at a good price, the sunscreens are the gold standard, and there are some delightful body products that you cannot find in the US.”
While we’ll take any excuse to visit France, you don’t have to buy a ticket to Paris to experience the magic of French pharmacies. Here are some of the most sought-after French pharmacy finds, all available to purchase from the comfort of your own home.
A more gentle alternative to retinol, Caudalie combines resveratrol (an antioxidant from grapes), hyaluronic acid, and plant-based collagen to help make skin firmer with this serum. It's great for people who find other anti-aging products too harsh, since it’s less aggressive and doesn't usually cause irritation.
If your skin gets easily irritated or red, the Tolerance Control Cream might be what you need. The formula's star ingredient, D-Sensinose, comes from Avène's thermal spring water and calms irritation. With 98% natural ingredients, it's especially helpful for those with sensitive skin.
Another cult French pharmacy product, this shower oil doubles as a gentle but moisturizing face and body cleanser. Its blend of vegetable biolipids and vitamin B3 has earned it multiple beauty awards, while clinical testing shows it hydrates for up to 24 hours. The soap-free formula is so gentle that even babies can use it.
If you've ever struggled to find a lip product that actually helps with dryness instead of making it worse, this might be your answer. The French B-corp's take on a lip oil blends skincare and color, using a mix of jojoba, castor, and sweet almond oils that adds light moisture and a buildable sheer tint. The formula feels lightweight and non-sticky on lips, and fans of the product swear by its ability to heal chronically dry lips while providing a natural-looking tint that can even double as a cheek stain.
This serum from SVR keeps things simple but effective by mixing vitamin B3 with three different types of hyaluronic acid (an ingredient that helps skin hold onto water). It helps with oily skin, dark spots, and dry patches all at once. You can use it in the morning and at night, and it won't irritate your skin like some stronger products might.
This French classic is a perfumed oil that can be used on your face, body, hair, and cuticles. The base is made of a blend of oils including sweet almond oil, camellia oil, hazelnut oil, and argan oil. The lightweight formula is non-greasy and leaves skin soft and moisturized with a light but lingering floral scent.
This French eye balm features a cream-gel texture that gives delicate under-eye skin a hydrating boost. With ingredients like cornflower hydrosol and vegetable acacia gum, the balm helps to reduce hydration-related dark circles and fine lines. The balm's texture transforms into water upon application, allowing it to absorb quickly.
La Rosée is one of the most popular pharmacy brands in France—and for good reason. Its products are known for being friendly to sensitive skin. One of the best-selling products from La Rosée is its sun milk: It offers SPF 50+ broad spectrum protection and can be used on both the face and skin.
Typology is a French B-corp skincare brand known for its vegan, cruelty-free products. One of its top-performing products is its tinted serum. The hybrid serum offers a hydrating boost while giving skin some light coverage. The lightweight formula is user-friendly and ideal for those who want something in between makeup and skincare.
A TikTok favorite from La Roche Posay is the Cicablast Balm B5. The soothing and reparative balm was designed to heal and protect sensitive or irritated skin. With ingredients like panthenol (vitamin B5) and madecassoside, it helps speed up skin recovery and calms inflammation. It can also be used to help repair damaged skin barriers after too much exfoliation.
The Simple Oil from Aime is a versatile, nourishing blend designed to hydrate and soothe your skin and hair. Rich in natural oils, including jojoba and sweet almond, it offers deep moisture and softens the skin. The oil can also be used as a cleanser and makeup remover or even as a hair oil to add a shine.
France is no exception when it comes to the growing popularity of lip stains. This Clarins lip stain lasts up to eight hours and has a buildable formula that gets deeper with every application. The formula is made with 77 percent water, aloe vera, and raspberry extract, giving it a light feeling that leaves lips softened and moisturized.
Struggling to keep your lips moisturized? This nourishing French lip balm works wonders on dry lips when used as an overnight lip mask. With ingredients like shea butter and lavender honey, it is especially helpful for locking in moisture in the winter months. The intensive balm can be used on your cuticles or as a base layer underneath drying lipsticks.
This facial cream is a French cult classic with multiple usages. It’s recommended by makeup artists as a makeup primer, makeup remover, and moisturizing face cream. Those who use it say it works well for both dry and oily skin. Because the cream is thick, a little goes a long way. It can also be used at night as a face mask.
Many of the best French pharmacy products can help trim down your packing list: Homéoplasmine is a popular multi-purpose ointment found in French pharmacies. The ointment is a cold-weather staple thanks to its rich, emollient nature. It can be used similarly to Vaseline to soothe irritated skin or chapped lips. It dries on matte, making it a good base for lipstick, too. Because of its mildly antiseptic properties, it’s also handy to help heal burns.
You may recognize this French brand at your local drugstore as it has become an extremely popular brand of micellar water in North America as well. The Sensibio H2O micellar water can be used to cleanse the skin. It’s also used as a gentle but efficient makeup remover that doesn’t leave your eyes stinging. The micellar water is unscented and mild, making it well-suited for those with sensitive skin.
Formulated with Viniferine, an extract made from grapevine sap, this serum is a French favorite for lightening dark spots and acne scars and improving skin tone. The Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum is non-photosensitive in contrast with products that include vitamin C (another ingredient for brightening the complexion), meaning you can apply it during your morning routine.
While not as powerful as retinol, this over-the-counter vitamin A cream is an affordable topical treatment with similar benefits. The cream reduces fine lines and hyperpigmentation while increasing collagen production and cell turnover. Palermino recommends it to those who may not be able to tolerate the full strength of retinol, but still want some of the anti-aging benefits.
The Anthelios Hydrating Cream is another Palermino-recommended product, as it has a beautiful formula. The SPF 30 sunscreen cream from La Roche-Posay has a non-greasy formula that dries down well. The hydrating components make it a pleasant sunscreen option for those with dry, sensitive skin.
This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
