15 French Beauty Products to Buy in Paris

15 French Beauty Products to Buy in Paris

Originally published by Jordan on September 2019 and updated by Vanessa on May 2023.

The French and Parisians in particular are famous for their flawless skin, and seemingly effortless beauty looks. Well, I’m here to tell you that there’s a reason for this! French women really know how to take care of their skin, and a lot of people in France prioritize a regular skincare and beauty routine. And of course, there are some excellent products out there, helping them to attain that “effortless glow”. Here are the top 15 French beauty products you should buy in Paris.

Read also; The best cosmetic stores in Paris

1. Bioderma – Sensibio Solution Micéllaire Peaux Sensibles

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A long and complicated name for a simple product you’ve probably heard of by now. This solution is an absolute must-have if you wear any kind of makeup. Bioderma’s cleansing micellar water is a cult favorite worldwide because of its amazing capability to remove even the toughest makeup and leave skin hydrated. A bottle is sold every second! You can find this in any Parisian pharmacy, and in most beauty shops.

2. La Roche-Posay – Anthelios XL SPF 50+

La Roche-Posay is one of the most loved French skincare brands worldwide, and for good reason. Their Anthelios dry touch gel cream sunscreen is an amazing option if you’re looking for high SPF (this one boasts 50+). It’s this incredible no-shine formula made for sensitive skin. Sounds too good to be true? It’s not! This stuff is mattifying, hydrating and provides excellent coverage. It can be found in just about any pharmacy.

3. Embyrolisse – Lait-Crème Concentré

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This hydrating cream by Embryolisse can be found backstage at any Paris Fashion show. Models and their makeup artists always have a tube of this stuff on hand. That’s because the cream’s thick texture hydrates skin profoundly, but without being at all greasy. You can use it just about anywhere from cracked elbows to chapped lips. It’s also gentle enough to use on your face! Look for this cream in any Parisian pharmacy or a parapharmacie (part of stores like Monoprix, etc.)

Read also; Where To Buy Bio Cosmetics in Paris

4. Nuxe – Huile Prodigeuse

Another cult classic, this dry oil from Nuxe really lives up to its reputation. Perfect for hydrating your skin after a day at the beach, or simply protect it from the city elements, the huile prodigeuse is multi-functional. It can be used on your face, on your body and even in your hair to give it an extra little glow. This is one of the easiest French beauty products to find in Paris, you can find it at almost any supermarket and of course in pharmacies.

5. Caudalie – Vinoperfect Serum

This serum from the highly-acclaimed French beauty brand Caudalie, is still somewhat of a French beauty secret. And while this serum hasn’t reached cult favorite status yet, there’s no doubt in my mind that it will be there soon. The serum is made from natural ingredients and helps smooth out your complexion, remove dark spots and just overall makes skin look younger and more radiant. An added bonus? It’s oil-free!

So the Vinoperfect serum is suitable for all skin types and can be found in most Parisian pharmacies. Personally, I love the Citypharma, they buy in bulk so the prices there are lower than anywhere else in the city. You’ll just have to come prepared to fight the crowds because this place is popular!

citypharma – 26 rue du four 75006

metro: mabillon

6. Klorane – Nettle Dry Shampoo

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Klorane is a household name in France, known primarily for their line of natural shampoo, conditioner and shower products. But in my opinion, the true star product from Klorane is their dry shampoo. Found in just about any Parisian’s medicine cabinet, this dry shampoo is a lifesaver when you’ve got a busy schedule. It refreshes your hair, and adds a bit of volume without being chalky or drying. And it smells great too! Perhaps the best part is they have a version specially made for dark hair, so you don’t have to worry about it not fitting your hair color. You can buy this at a Parisian pharmacy or online.

Read also; Best Parisian beauty products and where to buy them

7. Caudalie – Lip Conditioner

You may be wondering how a simple lip balm made this list, and that’s a fair question. Caudalie’s lip conditioner isn’t just your average lip balm, and in my opinion, it’s worth every centime of the €6,00 price tag. While in my experience, most lip balms are created equal, Caudalie’s is a step above the rest.

The thick, nourishing formula that doesn’t feel greasy or transfer your lip color. And it’s long-wear so you don’t have to re-apply very often. The weather and pollution in Paris can be tough on lips, especially in the winter, but this is the Parisian girl’s solution. Pick it up at any French pharmacy, or order online from their website.

8. Avène – Eau Thermale Water Spray

Avène is well-known for their products for sensitive skin, and this water spray is no exception. Formulated from mineral-enriched spring water, the spray helps to calm irritated skin, and even helps set makeup (I’ve seen lots of makeup artists using this backstage). This spray also fits the bill if you just want to refresh your face after a workout, or even sightseeing. Again a pharmacy is going to be your best bet for finding this, but most supermarkets stock it as well.

9. A313 – Pommade Retin-A

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Perhaps my favorite of all the French beauty products you should buy in Paris is A313. The name and packaging are simple, but the product inside does wonders. Basically, it’s a highly-concentrated vitamin A cream, which is used for everything from minimizing pores and fine lines to treating blemishes and dark spots. Dab a little on your face in the evening before bed, and wake up with flawless French-girl skin. Just be sure to read the instructions carefully, and be sure to double up on the SPF if you use it during the day time since the sunlight/retinol combo can be damaging to the skin. Now this one is a little harder to find, but I know for sure you can find this one at Citypharma, which I mentioned above. Or you can purchase it on their website.

Read also; Beauty secrets from a Parisian girl

10. YSL Touche-Eclat -Concealer

Photo by George Milton from Pexels

For years, French girls’ favorite concealer has been the YSL Touche-Éclat. You get a slight sheen wherever you apply this concealer’s wonders. It luminously illuminates the skin to highlight your features. This is a natural approach to achieving the French girl glow because it contains hyaluronic acid, which helps to enhance hydration and fill your skin. Additionally, it’s compact enough to fit in your bag and be reapplied as necessary. It should be applied around the lips, on the nose, on frown lines, and beneath the eyes, according to YSL. This concealer pen should only be applied occasionally.

11. Laura Mercier -Tinted Moisturizer

In recent years, Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer has gained a lot of popularity. The oil-free version is best for ladies with normal to oily skin, while the classic version is best for those with normal to dry skin. Both are organic skin enhancers! The key to flawless skin like a French girl is tinted moisturizer. It’s how they achieve that healthy glow without using the thick, cake-like foundation that Americans are infamous for wearing. A tinted moisturizer provides the skin with the lightest coverage possible to mask flaws without leaving any trace of the product itself. Additionally, it moisturizes and offers up to 24 hours of UV protection. You absolutely need to own this cult French cosmetic!

12. Lancôme Hypnôse -Mascara

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The go-to product for French girls who desire gorgeous lashes without going crazy is Lancome Hypnôse volumizing mascara. It is the ideal option for everyday mascara because French beauty is centered on complementing your natural characteristics. One of the best French cosmetic products to have is unquestionably this. The unique powerful brush, which thickens lashes from root to tip with bespoke volume you can regulate, is unaffected by sparse or nonexistent lashes. Additionally, without spreading, smudging, or clumping, the proprietary SoftSculpt product, enhanced with vitamin B5, wraps lashes one luxurious layer at a time.

Read also; The Finest Perfume Shops in Paris

13. L’Occitane -Lavender Hand Cream

This French Lavender essential oil from L’Occitane’s renowned Lavender Collection calms the senses while providing skin relaxation and well-being. Shea butter is added to the silky, light-textured Lavender Hand Cream, which helps to gently nurture the hands and leave them lightly scented. This thin hand cream, which is infused with lavender essential oil, will make you think of the Provence’s open fields. It may nourish your hands with a floral scent, removing dryness, and relaxing tense muscles because it contains lavender oil and plant ingredients try it out.

14. Klorane -Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk

Now this is a must since it’s one of our list’s most reasonably priced French cosmetic products. French women are aware that daily hair washing is a strict no-no. Instead, to give their hair natural volume and a new look, they spritz a few times with Klorane Dry Shampoo with oat milk. This non-sticky dry shampoo, which is made with plant-based chemicals, quickly absorbs oil and grime while eliminating odors. It does not leave any residue, and you can use your fingers to run any stray white powder into your hair.

15. Guerlain -Terracotta Sunkissed Natural Bronzer Powder

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Guerlain wins the prize for excellence in all things summary because they are consistently the finest at what they do. You can get the sunkissed glow that French women adore with Guerlain’s amazing Terracotta Sunkissed Natural Bronzer Powder! The powder has a lovely, tan-like scent. This top-selling bronzer is made up of natural ingredients. It has a natural finish and modest coverage. It will naturally warm up your skin. This powder is excellent if you want to keep your summertime glow after vacation!

Read also; Everything you need to know about Parisian pharmacies

French skincare products are recognized for their effectiveness, simplicity, and no-nonsense approach to beauty. In fact, French skincare products contain fewer, higher-quality chemicals, which results in better absorption into the skin.