One of my favorite things about living in France is the easy access to French pharmacies — and my now-well-stocked arsenal of French beauty products. It’s no secret that French pharmacies stock some of the best beauty products in the world, and now that I live here, I’m taking full advantage. I love browsing the shelves, trying new things, and asking the pharmacists for their recommendations — they really are a wealth of knowledge, so don’t be shy if you have a question!
After years of visiting France and now living here, I’ve narrowed down a list of my favorites. Here are the French beauty products that I will buy again and again, and also a few that I think are overrated. If you’re in the U.S., don’t despair — many of these products are available on Amazon for around the same price as what we pay here in France (and I’ve included links!).
1. La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+M
This product was a recommendation from a pharmacist when I got fed up with some hormonal acne that I could not get rid of. Within a day or two of applying this, it was starting to dry up! This cream helps to treat and prevent acne as well as scars, and I have been super impressed with it so far. I actually have loved everything I’ve tried from this brand — you can’t go wrong. Sadly, I can’t find this exact product on American Amazon, but here’s another La Roche-Posay acne cream that I also really liked.
There’s a reason you will see this dry oil included in pretty much every list of French pharmacy must-haves. This is an iconic French beauty product that smells amazing and works really well. Made with seven botanical oils, it nourishes and replenishes dry skin on your body or face as well as your hair. It’s available in several different formulations, including one with a bit of shimmer and one with a floral scent. I just keep going back to the classic because I love it so much! That said, it is a bit pricey, so I don’t use it every day.
Another cult-status French beauty product that’s widely available in the U.S., Bioderma is a gentle facial cleanser and makeup remover that is seriously so satisfying to use — it removes so much gunk. I bought the “Sebium H2o” formula, which is for oily or combination skin, and I’ve found that my favorite BB cream goes on much smoother afterward, with less shine.
I’ve tried a lot of dry shampoos over the years, and this is by far my favorite. French water can be hard on the hair, so it’s nice to be able to keep it looking clean for three or four days in a row, thanks to this spray. I like the ultra-gentle formula, made with oat milk. This is another one that you’ll find much cheaper in France!
5. Caudelie Vinoclean Foaming Cleanser
I picked up this cleanser on a whim soon after moving to Bordeaux, as it was on sale (for about half of what it is on American Amazon.) Just one pump offers a generous dollop of foam that gives my face a squeaky-clean feeling without drying it out. It has a subtle, pure scent that makes me look forward to washing my face every night.
6. Embryollise Lait-Creme Concentre
This moisturizer feels so smooth and luxurious on the skin, I actually can’t wait to slather it on my face and hands before bed. It can also be used as a makeup primer, makeup remover, and moisturizing mask. My son doesn’t even mind using it on his dry skin because it absorbs so quickly.
7. A313
Often compared to American prescription-strength retinols, A313 is only available behind the counter at French pharmacies — you’ll have to ask for it. I’ve just started using it so I can’t claim any results yet, but it’s not hard to find devotees all over the internet claiming that it’s reduced their wrinkles, erased dark spots, and generally plumped their aging skin. This is another one that’s much cheaper in France (I think it was under 10€ for a bottle), so stock up if you visit — and bring back a few tubes for your friends.
8. Le Petit Marseillais Body Milk
Honestly, I probably wouldn’t even recommend buying this online because it is so much more expensive than it is in France. Here, you can find this brand in most grocery stores for about 5€ a bottle. It’s a pretty standard body lotion, but I adore how it smells and it keeps my winter skin nice and soft on the days when I don’t use Nuxe (plus it’s way cheaper!).
So, which French beauty product is the most overrated?
I’ve been happy with most French beauty products I’ve tried, with one big exception: Klorane shampoo and conditioner. I’ve bought new bottles to try pretty much every time we’ve visited France over the last decade — and they’re not cheap! I kept finding that my hair felt dry and limp, and I assumed that the hard French water was to blame. But when we moved to Bordeaux, I skipped the expensive Klorane and opted for some cheaper Loreal Elseve shampoo and conditioner at Monoprix — and my hair looks and feels great! (I’m not linking it because it’s so much pricier in the U.S.) I’m now using that fancy Klorane conditioner to shave my legs because it does nothing for my hair.