15 Cult-Favorite French Pharmacy Products That Are Worth the Hype
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, racked up more than half a million views on her breakdown of the best French pharmacy products. Why are skincare products so great at French pharmacies? 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. Below, 15 cult-favorite French beauty products you can buy online.
This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
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Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse multi-purpose dry oil
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.
On the Wildside Contour eye balm
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 Sun Milk SPF 50
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 tinted serum
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.
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5
Another 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.
Aime The Simple Oil
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.
Clarins water lip stain
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.
Nuxe Reve de Miel lip balm
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.
Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentre
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.
Boiron Homéoplasmine
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.
Bioderma Sensibio H2O micellar water
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.
Caudalie Vinoperfect brightening dark spot serum
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.
A313 Vitamin A pommade
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.
La Roche Posay Anthelios hydrating cream
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.
