I moved around (and traveled) quite a bit throughout my life and thus discovered the majestic nature of the French pharmacy pretty young. Over the 20ish years since my discovery, I have seen French pharmacy beauty go from an only-in-the-know thing to so omnipresent you can find many of the brands at your local drugstore.
The subcategory is now very hyped, overhyped in fact, I would say. Things are not good simply because they are French and affordable. That being said, it is hard to cut through the noise, but thankfully, not only am I cynical by nature, but also an incredibly discerning beauty editor. Below are the three main French pharmacy skin care products you need to concern yourself with, and they start at just $17.
Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré Priming Moisturizer
Amazon
To my knowledge, this is the first product of its kind—and if it’s not, well it’s still the gold standard. It’s a moisturizer with priming properties. When I was a tween, I was prone to rosacea flare-ups, and my mom would use this gentle moisturizer to soothe them and rehydrate my skin. As I got older and began wearing makeup, it was a godsend and routine streamliner, thanks to it also functioning as one of the best primers money can buy.
Bioderma Atoderm Lipid-Replenishing Shower Oil
Amazon
My very specific beauty take is that 85 percent of body washes should be oil formulas. Bioderma’s has the consistency of a gel mixed with a thin but incredibly rich honey-like oil. It cleanses skin and will have you stepping out of the shower feeling fresh, but it also cocoons your skin in a layer of moisture. It replaces the lipids you lose from exposure to hot water, as well as just everyday wear and tear, per the brand. It is perhaps the most important step of keeping my gams soft and silky.
Caudalie Vinoperfect Dark Circle Brightening Caffeine Eye Cream
Amazon
In the interest of honesty, nothing short of a medical breakthrough will ever completely erase my inherited dark circles. This eye cream doesn’t completely get rid of them but it gets me pretty damn close.
Dark circles have many causes, and Caudalie’s Vinoperfect Eye Cream targets all of them. Before we even get to the formula, the applicator is a ceramic curved tip that is cool to the touch and feels like a little massage, which has depuffing and circulation-improving effects. Inside the tube is a formula that includes caffeine and viniferine. The former lightens dark circles through a further boost of the aforementioned benefits. It also improves the firmness and texture of skin. The latter is a grape-derived ingredient that prevents further pigmentation while reducing the existing.
If you’re interested in French makeup too, below are some of my go-tos.
Violette_Fr Plume Feather Matte Lip Whip
Violette_FR
Dior Rouge On Stage Lipstick
Nordstrom
Guerlain Kiss Kiss Bee Glow Lip Oil
Nordstrom
