Whenever I Go to Paris, These Are the French Pharmacy Products I Stock Up On
A trip to the Louvre, a train to the French countryside, or a stroll down the Seine aren’t the only reasons to visit France. The French pharmacy is an equally enticing reason to travel across the pond. French cosmetics, in particular, have captured my attention for being insanely gentle yet nourishing. It’s pretty well-known that European cosmetics standards are more thorough than that of the US. The European Union has banned or limited more than 1,600 ingredients in cosmetics, whereas the United States restricts only 11. This means that the products formulated for the European market must adhere to stricter standards and are often formulated with ingredients that are better for your skin.
La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water Spray
- Price: $19
- Key Ingredients: La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water
- Why I Love It: In retrospect, I’m not sure what I did before I started incorporating thermal spring water. Its uses are plenty. I reach for it to quickly refresh my skin before makeup or on a hot summer day.
Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Shimmer Multi-Purpose Dry Oil
- Price: $45
- Key Ingredients: Tsubaki oil, argan oil, macadamia oil, borage oil, camellia oil, hazelnut oil, sweet almond oil
- Why I Love It: I’m more excited about a shimmering body oil this year more than ever before, so I expect to get a lot of use out of Nuxe’s glimmering formula.
Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré
- Price: $29
- Key Ingredients: Shea butter, beeswax, soy proteins, aloe vera
- Why I Love It: There’s truly a face moisturizer for anyone at la pharmacie française, and this one by Embryolisse is a true crowd-pleaser.
Avène Tolerance Extremely Gentle Cleanser
- Price: $27
- Key Ingredients: Avène Thermal Spring Water, D-sensinose (post-biotic extract), arginine
- Why I Love It: I wanted to highlight this gentle cleanser. Described as a “no-rinse cleansing gel” this is designed to lift away dirt, oil, and impurities.
Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water
- Price: $13
- Key Ingredients: Micellar technology, xylitol, cucumber fruit extract
- Why I Love It: Yes, I am always in the market for a new bottle of micellar water. This uses micelles to remove makeup and expertly cleanse the skin.
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5
- Price: $16
- Key Ingredients: La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water, vitamin B5, shea butter, glycerin, dimethicone, madecassoside
- Why I Love It: As someone who must always be prepared for anything, I’ve found that I need a versatile cream with me at all times.
Klorane Smoothing & Soothing Eye Masks
- Price: $26
- Key Ingredients: Centaurea cyanus flower water, hyaluronic acid, dextran sulfate
- Why I Love It: When jet lag has me looking as tired as I feel, I’ll pick up the Klorane Smoothing & Soothing eye masks with a quickness.
Vichy Dry Touch Roll-On Deodorant
- Price: $20
- Key Ingredients: Vichy Volcanic Water, zinc gluconate, perlite, allantoiin
- Why I Love It: I became a natural deodorant girlie by accident. But when aluminum-free options are as good as Vichy’s Dry Touch, it’s hard not to be converted.
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Light Fluid Face Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 60
- Price: $33
- Key Ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, homosalate 10%, octisalate 5%, octocrylene 7%, vitamin E, La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water and Cell-Ox Shield Technology
- Why I Love It: I liken La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios Light Fluid sunscreen to its UV Mune Elixir, which has a milky, serum-like texture that’s satisfying to apply.