Excuse me while I mourn the fact that I am not still in Paris right now. I spent four days this past week galavanting around my favorite city, eating copious amounts of cheese and butter, sipping French wine, and basking in everything the City of Light has to offer. That, of course, means I spent an hour wandering the aisles at City Pharma, the biggest and most iconic French pharmacy in Paris. With more brands than my mind can even comprehend, I could feel the tension releasing from my jet-lagged shoulders as I selected my favorite beauty products from the shelves. For context, my skin is currently battling an eczema flare, so it’s crazy dry, sensitive, and reactive, which is why the tenets of French skincare—gentle, hydrating, and beautifully simple formulas—are the perfect match for my stressed epidermis.
Of course, not everything that you can find in a French pharmacy is available stateside (although most cities have specialty stores that import the good stuff from overseas), but there’s always a stellar dupe to be found when I run out and my skin is crying out for moisture. So, whether you’re curating your beauty shopping list for your next visit to France or hoping to snag a few iconic French staples for your daily routines, this is everything I love to buy when I’m browsing a Parisian pharmacy.
Mais Oui, Moisture
The French don’t mess around when it comes to skin hydration, which is why their moisturizers are so iconic (and exceptional). There’s no shortage of options in this category, and I’m always eager to pick up one of the below—often multiple bottles—to restock my beauty cabinet.
Embryolisse
Lait-Crème Concentré Multi-Function Moisturizer
The ultimate French girl moisturizer, this formula is beloved by beauty newbies and makeup artists alike for its hydrating power and smooth skin prep base for makeup.
Eucerin
Replenishing Skin Relief Face Cream (with 5% Urea)
When I tell you I hoard this face cream like gold, I am not exaggerating. It’s the perfect, no-fuss, ultra-hydrating moisturizer, and you can finally buy it in the States.
Repairing Balms, Bises
If your skin needs a little bit of extra love (I know mine does right now during these frigid temperatures), a thicker balm is a staple that you should never pass up in a French pharmacy.
Avène
Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream
Every beauty editor, and your dermatologist, will tell you this is the ultimate repairing cream if your skin is dry and stressed. I never travel anywhere without it, and my complexion is grateful.
La Roche-Posay
Cicaplast Balm B5
This barrier repair moisturizer has gone TikTok viral many times over, and it’s the same case in France—there’s usually only one or two tubes on the shelves. The added cica soothes irritation and the dimethicone helps to lock in moisture for supple skin all day long.
Salut, Serums
The French skincare ethos is all about perfecting your canvas so you don’t need a heavy base. That’s why these serums are a must-have in my Parisian shopping cart.
Caudalie
Vinoperfect Brightening Dark Spot Serum
I’m consistently impressed by how well this iconic French serum works, especially as a gentler vitamin C alternative. Post-acne marks fade at lightning speed and sunspots are nowhere to be found after a few weeks of use.
Vichy
Mineral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Face Serum for Stronger Skin
An affordable hyaluronic acid serum that hydrates and repairs your skin barrier? Leave it to the French to do both with this cult-favorite formula, which is forever a staple in my routine.
Targeted Topicals
Acne and fine lines are inevitable, but of course, the French have figured out the most effective solutions for both. This duo is definitely the Parisian secret to a flawless complexion.
Dab a bit of this serum onto a juicy pimple (or an ingrown hair) and it’ll minimize the inflammation and redness overnight.
Retinol (a derivative of vitamin A), is a must for youthful, glowing skin, and the French have formulated one of the most effective on the market. Ulta now has a partnership with French Pharmacy to import the real stuff so you don’t even need a plane ticket to snag it.
Ooh La La, Occlusives
These are some of the first-ever pharmacy products I picked up in Paris, and I remain a loyal fan to this day. Plus, an oil and balm are both occlusive superstars, meaning they’re going to lock in moisture for all-day skin hydration.
Nuxe
Huile Prodigieuse Shimmering Dry Oil
This is definitely the most well-known body oil in all of French beauty, and I understand why—the dry oil formula sinks into the skin so well and it has a gorgeous botanical scent. I’m partial to the shimmer option for a sun-kissed effect, even in the winter.
Aquaphor
Healing Ointment Advanced Therapy Skin Protectant
Although my favorite repairing balm, Homeoplasmine, has yet to come to America, this tried-and-true formula is also beloved by the French and is a staple in pharmacies across the country. I have the gigantic bottle in my cabinet for nighttime slugging all winter long.
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