I'm sure you've seen all the tiktoks of people who travel to Paris and go to a French Pharmacy to pick up French skincare. Since I have no immediate plans of traveling to Europe I found a USA based store that sells French brands called French Pharmacy. I've placed a couple orders from them based on everyone's recommendations so I wanted to share with you what I've tried. France has advanced sunscreen filters that we don't have in the USA. it's a big deal because we haven't had a new chemical filter in awhile and this improves the level of UVA blockage so much more! The filter is called Mexoryl UV Mune 400. Overall the French love homeopathic remedies and perfumed skincare, so that's what you will find on my list.
A313 The name sounds like an airplane. lol I use it as a neck cream but I saw Sienna Miller say her face glows after using it. This Vitamin A pomade is a blend of three different retinol esters and very gentle. It can improve collagen synthesis, strength the deeper layers of our skin, improving the look of wrinkles and fine lines, and can help with hyperpigmentation. It gives an instant gratification effect because it gives you a glowy appearance the next day. It's a thick cream in an oiler base so you only need a little bit and don't put it on right before bed. It's very tacky so it won't make your skin dry. I'm halfway through the tube.
RetRx 314 If retinol has been too harsh for you, this is a serum based retinol that is very gentle. Pro strength retinol that also has vitamin A/ Granactive, retinoid 3%, vitamin E and Squalane. This is 3x stronger than A313 which may make you a little itchy. Use it on dry skin. Helps with plumpness, elasticity, firmness, it unclogs pores, it helps skin shed and regenerate itself. The texture of your skin will look good. It sells out often so have a backup available. I finished the bottle.
Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentre A cult favorite, created in the 50s by dermatologists. A lot of makeup artists say they use this as their primer for makeup so that's what I bought it for as well. It's a thick moisturizer that has beeswax, shea butter and aloe leaf. It's extremely rich in mineral oil which is a great emollient that helps prevent water loss. The sensitive version doesn't have fragrance.
Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Multi-Purpose Dry Oil Everyone raves about this dry oil made from Tsubaki oil, Argan oil, sweet Almond oil, Camellia oil, Borage oil, Hazelnut oil, Macadamia oil and Argan oil. It helps with dry skin and gives your hair some shine. I bought the sample pack so I got all 4 scents and hated the smell of all of them. The fragrance is giving "chic French grandma".
Nuxe Honey Lip Care Oil Rêve De Miel Clear lip oil with a strong honey scent. The container has a wooden honey spoon stopper. The ingredients include Honey, Camelina Oil, Rosemary Leaf Extract, Castor Seed Oil and Sunflower Seed Oil.
Caudalie Instant Detox Mask Vinergetic C+ a pink clay mask that draws out excess oils and leaves luminous skin. Made with Papaya Enzymes to brighten and invigorate. I finished the whole tube already. I've heard that Caudalie products in France are much cheaper than at America Sephora.
Bioderma Crealine H2O Original Micellar Water for cleansing sensitive skin. The most famous French Pharmacy product. It easily lifts off dirt, and oils, and removes makeup without the need to rinse. Do not confuse this with Garnier Micellar water, they look identical because they both have a pink top but Bioderma is superior. Great to get that first layer of makeup off to quickly remove eye makeup. It makes your skin feel soft and not stripped.
There are so many excellent sunscreens in France. One of the popular options on the market are these two La Roche products.
American sunscreen is held back from using the latest greatest ingredients by the FDA as the US sunscreen filter hasn't been updated since 1999! European sunscreens, which are banned in the USA, have the latest technology in ingredients. Released in 2022, only La Roche Posay has the new patented filter. These two La Roche Posay sunscreens (which are not sold in the USA) have the latest innovation in terms of sunscreen! This new filter can protect deeper from UVA rays, thus it has more coverage than any other sunscreen. No white cast, absorbs really quickly, and not greasy. It's water, sweat and sand resistant. One of the most powerful anti-aging products on the market right now because of the innovation of the filter for protecting against the longer UVA rays; so it's great for people who deal with hyperpigmentation. It is the best of the best, this sunscreen has 8 UV filters so you get max protection!
La Roche Posay Anthelios UVmune 400 SPF50+ Fragrance-Free
The formula is a liquid, not a cream, so they describe it as a fluid-like texture with an invisible finish and no white cast. This also comes in a scented version, a tinted version and an oil-free version. According to reviews the tinted version is meant for a European summer tan, it would be too dark for my skin tone.
La Roche Posay Anthelios UVmune 400 Hydrating Cream SPF50+
The texture of this cream is non-sticky, non-greasy, and it does not leave a white cast.
La Roche Posay Sunscreen Stick SPF50
This is great for reapplying sunscreen over makeup or applying around your eyes since it doesn't sting.
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