THESE are the French pharmacy products you need to stock up on if you want perfect skin, according to dermatologists
Designed to suit even the most sensitive skin, these French pharmacy skincare products are coveted by everyone from the biggest models in the biz to the experts backstage. With more uses than you’d think, these are the dermatologist-recommended staples to add to your skincare routine...
1 The cult classic
A firm fixture in any French woman's bathroom cabinet, this multi-purpose dry oil contains seven precious plant oils and is made from 98% natural ingredients. With sweet almond, Camellia, Borage, Macadamia and Tsubaki oil, plus vitamin E, Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse is the ultimate go-to to hydrate, soften and repair. An absolute must if your outfit shows ANY skin - legs, arms, toes, hands - to enhance and add sheen. We like to use it on everything from our feet to our hair for an unmistakable glow. RRP: £28.00 allbeauty price £18.95 A firm fixture in any French woman's bathroom cabinet, this multi-purpose dry oil contains seven precious plant oils and is made from 98% natural ingredients. With sweet almond, Camellia, Borage, Macadamia and Tsubaki oil, plus vitamin E, Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse is the ultimate go-to to hydrate, soften and repair.
An absolute must if your outfit shows ANY skin - legs, arms, toes, hands - to enhance and add sheen. We like to use it on everything from our feet to our hair for an unmistakable glow. RRP: £28.00 allbeauty price £18.95
2 The multi-purpose 'use it for everything' cream
The go-to for anyone with sensitive skin, prone to irritation or suffering from dry, cracked skin and lips. La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 is suitable for the whole family, and can even be used on babies! Superbly comforting, it can literally be used for anything - chapped lips, dry skin, redness, small cuts and skin irritation caused by shaving. A non-greasy double action formula, this baume contains thermal spring water, shea butter and panthenol 5% (vitamin B5) to replenish and calm skin. allbeauty price £6.75 RRP £7.50 The go-to for anyone with sensitive skin, prone to irritation or suffering from dry, cracked skin and lips. La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 is suitable for the whole family, and can even be used on babies! Superbly comforting, it can literally be used for anything - chapped lips, dry skin, redness, small cuts and skin irritation caused by shaving.
A non-greasy double action formula, this baume contains thermal spring water, shea butter and panthenol 5% (vitamin B5) to replenish and calm skin. allbeauty price £6.75 RRP £7.50
3 Your skin's daily dose of strength
An astonishingly low-key product, the VICHY Mineral 89 serum contains just 11 ingredients and has just about everyone singing its praises. Made to hydrate, plump and protect skin, it is a powerful combination of natural hyaluronic acid and VICHY Mineralising Water to instantly strengthen your skin's barrier function and protect against free radical pollution. Don't be put off by its gel-like appearance, thanks to its water base this product glides over skin easily and is so light-weight you'll probably forget that you've applied it! allbeauty price £15.40 RRP £22.00 An astonishingly low-key product, the VICHY Mineral 89 serum contains just 11 ingredients and has just about everyone singing its praises. Made to hydrate, plump and protect skin, it is a powerful combination of natural hyaluronic acid and VICHY Mineralising Water to instantly strengthen your skin's barrier function and protect against free radical pollution.
Don't be put off by its gel-like appearance, thanks to its water base this product glides over skin easily and is so light-weight you'll probably forget that you've applied it! allbeauty price £15.40 RRP £22.00
4 Your vitamin C boost
This bright orange serum boasts a whole concoction of antioxidant vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, C, E, B5 and B6, zinc, manganese and calcium (plus hyaluronic acid) and is often referred to as the 'Mesolift cocktail' to those in the know... Designed to actively fight signs of fatigue by re-energising, toning and plumping deep skin tissue, skin is left looking radiant and more youthful. A slightlier pricier French pharmacy favourite, but still a total steal compared to other serums on the market that deliver less, Lierac Mesolift Serum also contains blood orange extract to energize and detoxify skin in need of a pick me up. allbeauty price £33.95 RRP £44.00 This bright orange serum boasts a whole concoction of antioxidant vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, C, E, B5 and B6, zinc, manganese and calcium (plus hyaluronic acid) and is often referred to as the 'Mesolift cocktail' to those in the know...
Designed to actively fight signs of fatigue by re-energising, toning and plumping deep skin tissue, skin is left looking radiant and more youthful. A slightlier pricier French pharmacy favourite, but still a total steal compared to other serums on the market that deliver less, Lierac Mesolift Serum also contains blood orange extract to energize and detoxify skin in need of a pick me up. allbeauty price £33.95 RRP £44.00
5 The award-winning beauty elixir
Inspired by the ancient 'elixir of youth' loved and used by Queen Isabelle of Hungary, Caudlie's Beauty Elixir was created almost 20 years ago, and hasn't been changed since. It's award-winning formula is made from 99% natural ingredients, including rose, orange flower oil, peppermint, balm mint and grape to tone, soothe and brighten skin. Use as a toner-serum combo under moisturiser, or use it to set make up and refresh during the day. With a roster of celebrity fans including Sarah Jessica Parker, Victoria Beckham and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, we can't think of a single reason not to add this to your skincare routine! allbeauty price £12.00 Inspired by the ancient 'elixir of youth' loved and used by Queen Isabelle of Hungary, Caudlie's Beauty Elixir was created almost 20 years ago, and hasn't been changed since. It's award-winning formula is made from 99% natural ingredients, including rose, orange flower oil, peppermint, balm mint and grape to tone, soothe and brighten skin.
Use as a toner-serum combo under moisturiser, or use it to set make up and refresh during the day. With a roster of celebrity fans including Sarah Jessica Parker, Victoria Beckham and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, we can't think of a single reason not to add this to your skincare routine! allbeauty price £12.00
6 Most-loved sun defense
When it comes to SPF, there's no brand more trusted and less relied upon than La Roche-Posay. Created by dermatologists with sensitive skin in mind, the La Roche-Posay Anthelios range contains exclusive Cell-Ox Shield® technology plus antioxidants and UVA/UVB protection to keep skin looking good and feeling protected all year-round.Our favourite is the Anthelios XL Anti-Shine Tinted SPF 50+ , which contains micro-pigments that adapt to every skin tone for a fresh, luminous complexion. A non-greasy formula, it's perfect for those with oily-combination skin, and is even safe for acne-prone skin. What's not to love?! allbeauty price £15.30 RRP £17.00 When it comes to SPF, there's no brand more trusted and less relied upon than La Roche-Posay. Created by dermatologists with sensitive skin in mind, the La Roche-Posay Anthelios range contains exclusive Cell-Ox Shield® technology plus antioxidants and UVA/UVB protection to keep skin looking good and feeling protected all year-round.
Our favourite is the Anthelios XL Anti-Shine Tinted SPF 50+, which contains micro-pigments that adapt to every skin tone for a fresh, luminous complexion. A non-greasy formula, it's perfect for those with oily-combination skin, and is even safe for acne-prone skin. What's not to love?! allbeauty price £15.30 RRP £17.00
7 Time-proof your eyes
Have you ever seen a French woman with puffy eyes and crow's feet? Nope, us neither! But then again, if we could pick up a pot of Filorga Time-Filler Eyes at the same time as our toothpaste then neither would we! Fortified with unique plumping spheres and peptides, this light, fast-absorbing formula has actual, miracle botox-like effects, reducing the appearance of wrinkles, lines, dark circles and under-eye hollows. Sound too good to be true? See it to believe it! allbeauty price £37.90 RRP £47.00 Have you ever seen a French woman with puffy eyes and crow's feet? Nope, us neither! But then again, if we could pick up a pot of Filorga Time-Filler Eyes at the same time as our toothpaste then neither would we!
Fortified with unique plumping spheres and peptides, this light, fast-absorbing formula has actual, miracle botox-like effects, reducing the appearance of wrinkles, lines, dark circles and under-eye hollows. Sound too good to be true? See it to believe it! allbeauty price £37.90
RRP £47.00
8 For delicate hands
A must have for any handbag, L'Occitane En Provence offer an array of delightful scents, but this is perhaps the most special - and French! - of them all. L'Occitane Roses Et Reines Hand and Nail Cream combines Shea butter and vitamin E with tradition rose extract for a delicate, velvety scent. Hands are left feeling nourished and nails are protected, helping them to grow long and strong. And that packaging! allbeauty price £7.20 RRP £8.00 A must have for any handbag, L'Occitane En Provence offer an array of delightful scents, but this is perhaps the most special - and French! - of them all. L'Occitane Roses Et Reines Hand and Nail Cream combines Shea butter and vitamin E with tradition rose extract for a delicate, velvety scent.
Hands are left feeling nourished and nails are protected, helping them to grow long and strong. And that packaging! allbeauty price £7.20 RRP £8.00
9 The anti-blemish cream for sensitive skin
When a brand appears on a 'cult favourites' list twice, you KNOW they're something special. And this wouldn't be the first time that La Roche-Posay have taken home the award for 'best in French pharmacy' . Not surprisingly, Effaclar Duo - aka 'our #1 can't live without it- cream has been specifically designed to target acne on sensitive skin. Literally incredible (basically a miracle) when it comes to treating blemishes and unclogging pores, it contains Benzoyl Peroxide to help control oily skin and prevent breakouts. A little goes a long way, so start small and used only when needed. allbeauty price £14.40 RRP £16.00
When a brand appears on a 'cult favourites' list twice, you KNOW they're something special. And this wouldn't be the first time that La Roche-Posay have taken home the award for 'best in French pharmacy'. Not surprisingly, Effaclar Duo - aka 'our #1 can't live without it - cream has been specifically designed to target acne on sensitive skin.
Literally incredible (basically a miracle) when it comes to treating blemishes and unclogging pores, it contains Benzoyl Peroxide to help control oily skin and prevent breakouts. A little goes a long way, so start small and used only when needed. allbeauty price £14.40 RRP £16.00
10 The colour-preserving shampoo
A daily shampoo that *doesn't* strip the colour from your hair? Sign us up! There's nothing worse than spending a fortune getting your hair coloured at the hairdressers, only to have it wash away down the drain the next time you lather, rinse repeat.
But Phto Phytocitrus shampoo actually helps to lock in colour pigment, adding shine and preserving colour. With grapefruit extract to preserve the natural PH of your scalp, and antioxidant-rich sea buckthorn oil to moisturise and add shine, treat it like a hair treatment - use every time you wash hair for the first two weeks, and sporadically afterwards to maintain. allbeauty price £10.95 RRP £13.00
