My Sister Is Heading to Paris for a Month—13 French Beauty Products I'm Telling Her to Shop ASAP
Très chic, non?
My little sister is soon entering her Emily in Paris plotline. No, really, she’s relocating from Chicago to Paris for her marketing job for a few weeks. Being the wonderful older sister that I am, I’ve decided to crash her French escapades with a short stay of my own—but I’m a civilized houseguest, so I’d never show up empty-handed.
Reiterating my statement that I am, in fact, a wonderful older sister, I happen to be the Carrie Bradshaw to her Emily Cooper—meaning I have a team of editors well-versed in the art of French beauty to give her a comprehensive shopping guide for her impending stay. My colleagues are world travelers, having lodged in the ritziest of Parisian hotels and tested the chicest of skincare and makeup products available overseas. They also happen to have impeccable taste, which means that each pick below not only captured their critical eyes but also became a mainstay in their routine. (Which, if you didn’t know, is very rare for beauty editors with mounds of new product delivered to their doorsteps every day.)
But what makes French beauty different from American, you may ask? Due to the different rules and regulations regarding cosmetics in the European Union (EU), to which France belongs, there are several different types of formulas and ingredients not yet approved in the United States. Since the FDA tends to drag its feet on these grants, the best French beauty products are often ones that you can only grab overseas. But fear not: My cohort of editors pulled together a list of their French favorites that you can, in fact, snag in the U.S. in case you don’t have that flight to Charles de Gaulle booked yet.
Below are the French moisturizers, fragrances, and, of course, red lipsticks she’ll need to snag while working abroad.
A Beginner’s Guide to the Best French Beauty in Paris
“This is my all-time favorite lash serum (there, I said it). It’s been used for over 70 years in France and is trusted by some seriously chic Parisians to give them longer, more luscious lashes. It’s all thanks to a botanical complex that lengthens, strengthens, and even darkens lashes over time. I’ve been using it on and off for almost five years, and it never fails to give my lashes an extension-level look. Last time I was in Paris, I picked up three tubes from the pharmacy (along with the matching brow serum, which is equally as effective).” — Kaitlyn McLintock, beauty editor
“Fun fact: This apricot-tinted cream was such a viral launch in France that pharmacies literally could not keep it in stock. When even French beauty fans are clamoring to get their hands on a moisturizer—that’s when you know it’s worth the hype. Note, the ultra-hydrating gel-cream contains a touch of pigment—not to color correct, exactly, but just enough warmth to impart a healthy, light-reflective glow. My dullness-prone skin practically drinks it up.” — Jamie Schneider, senior beauty editor
While I’ve yet to step foot into Paris, I was transported there by way of a Yon-Ka facial at New York’s grand Printemps. The most pivotal moment of my tranquil skin transformation came with this baby pink toner—a glass bottle housing one of the most versatile, clarifying, and hydrating products for dry skin I’ve tested. This powerful mist contains nearly 100% natural ingredients, including a calming blend of glycerin, lavender oil, and rosemary leaf oil, to moisturize, balance, and tighten the skin without any alcohol. My ultra-sensitive skin sings when I use this mist before and after my skincare routine, and it’s gentle enough to use on irritated bug bites and itchy sunburns. Basically, this toner does it all.
“I have sensitive, redness-prone skin, so I keep a small stockpile of this iconic French pharmacy cream on hand at all times. Use it to soothe and strengthen damaged skin, as a moisturizer, or as a makeup primer à la Hailey Bieber and Sofia Richie-Grainge. It’s free of fragrance, sulfates, alcohol, and silicone. It’s noncomedogenic, which means it’s suitable for oily and acne-prone skin. And it’s so gentle that it’s accepted by the National Eczema Association (French mothers even use it on infants).” — McLintock
One of the most powerful ways to remember a trip is by investing in a special scent, and I won’t hesitate to recommend this woody, warm scent to mark my sister’s French autumnal escape. The perfume is described as “a silk scarf,” with notes of iris, sandalwood, cardamom, and amber twisting together like billowing fabric in the brisk October wind. This sensual scent dries beautifully on the skin, leaving the wearer with a sophisticated yet sweet scent that evokes the dark corner of a Parisian jazz club, calling for martinis.
“I’ve kept this product on hand at all times for the past 2 months, and I’m truly obsessed. I’m all for a midday pick-me-up, and this thermal water from La Roche-Posay gives my skin the refresh I need every single time. The high concentration of mineral salts and trace elements in the water soothes my sensitive skin while protecting it from free radicals. Plus, it’s noncomedogenic, so I never have to worry about it potentially clogging my pores or causing breakouts.” — Sabrina Talbert, assistant beauty editor
I’d be remiss to let my sister go to Paris without a red lip recommendation. WWW editors and I favor the painfully chic French beauty brand Violette for its clean makeup products, and I cannot impress the importance of the Bisou Balm on her enough. This comfortable formula leaves a sheer-matte finish that offers the romantic “just-kissed” look, which feels like a hallmark of the chic Frenchwoman. J’adore the shade Amour Fou for a buildable blue-red, though I also plan to pack the berry shade Bêtise for my trip overseas.
“Thick, cushiony, and luxurious, this little pot of lip balm saves my lips every fall and winter. The honey-infused formula is so moisturizing and lasts forever—even through eating and drinking! Last time I was in Paris, I picked up one for each of my friends, and now they’re obsessed with it too.” — McLintock
If you also have redness-prone, sensitive skin, you likely shy away from all things retinol. Though I’ve been inundated with these line-refining products that my complexion simply can't handle, Embryolisse’s plant-based retinol alternative cream claims to do the same job, just with Grand Trèfle (French big clover) instead. Once I gave the cream a shot, I was hooked. Within a week, I noticed my skin looking noticeably brighter, feeling smoother, and appearing generally more radiant. This one is definitely worth picking up as the French weather begins to cool in October.
“This product is one of Caudalie’s best-selling products, and with good reason. This gel cleanser is green lit for dry and combination skin types and contains hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, provitamin B5, and organic grape water. When mixed, they soothe your skin while strengthening the skin barrier. While the whole line is amazing, I really love how this specific product removes any dirt and makeup while remaining safe for sensitive skin.” — Talbert
“I was so, so bummed when I finally ran out of this skin-healing cream I picked up in Paris last year. While technically formulated for superficial wounds (cuts, scrapes, burns, and the like), it’s a barrier ointment, so it works wonders for keeping dry, chapped, wintry skin at bay. Countless derms swear by it for their own cold-weather skincare routines, and I’d say it’s the perfect time to restock as we head into fall. I wish I had brought home four bottles when I had the chance!” — Schneider
A French makeup product you’ll use every day, without fail? I’m glad you asked. Typology’s Brow Gel is an editor-favorite for several reasons: it has a subtle tint that fills the brows in a natural-looking way, it shapes the brows without making them hard or crusty, and the formula is infused with pea peptides and plant-based keratin for faster, thicker growth. This product is not only your one-stop shop for the chic French brow, but it also consolidates your products and makeup steps for travel.
Parfums de Marly is one of the most iconic Parisian perfume houses known to man, so I’d recommend popping by one of their lavish brick and mortars at the top of your trip so you can spritz yourself in Valaya Exclusif for the majority of your stay. French women are known for their simplistic beauty routines, which often include a signature scent, and this ultra-sophisticated fragrance is vying for that spot. The only way I can describe this perfume is the grand foyer of a Parisian chateau—elegant notes of bergamot, white flowers, and sandalwood blooming in every whiff. I guarantee you that the chic passerbys wearing head-to-toe Celine and Chloé will throw you a subtle nod of approval.
