Skin
Jun 27, 2020

A French Girl Walks Into a Drugstore—Here Are the Beauty Products She Buys

by Amanda Montell

We're all wildly familiar with (and envious of) French women's style, which is famed for its timeless, effortless vibes. But French women's beauty routines are worthy of equal attention. Unlike the beauty aisles of American drugstores, which are fathomless infernos of too many products, the French pharmacie is a place of modest wonder—offering just a handful of affordable skincare, makeup, and haircare brands that help French women keep their skin clear and their hair healthy without overspending or too much fuss.

Aspiring to approach drugstore beauty like a French girl, we hit up a handful of our favorite French fashion influencers and asked them this: If you were to walk into a pharmacy and buy two or three beauty products, what would they be? Keep scrolling to find their answers.

1. Bioderma Sensibio H2O

Bioderma Sensibio H2O ($15)

French women like Ellie of @slipintostyle are collectively obsessed with this iconic makeup remover, which has a super-gentle, vitamin E–rich formula—perfect for sensitive skin.

2. Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentre

Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentre ($28)

Aloe vera and shea butter are a couple of the key ingredients in this impossibly light, milky moisturizer, which protects the skin's moisture barrier without clogging pores.

3. Akileine Nutri-Repair Dry Foot Cream

Akileine Nutri-Repair Dry Foot Cream ($21)

This moisturizer for dry feet and cracked heels is an unexpected French-girl staple: The nourishing, anti-inflammatory formula is packed with shea butter, lipo-aminoacids, and vitamin A.

4. Avene Thermal Spring Water Spray

Avene Thermal Spring Water Spray ($14)

French women swear by this classic face mist for its soothing, skin-softening action. Spritz this stuff after cleansing (before moisturizing) or at any point throughout the day to reap its complexion-calming benefits.

5. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer ($20)

Consistently delivering high-performance formulas, drugstore skincare brand La Roche-Posay has a place in almost every French beauty guru's arsenal. This ultra-moisturizing day cream is a staple in Parisian influencer Barbara Malewicz's routine.

6. Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Multi-Purpose Dry Oil

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Multi-Purpose Dry Oil ($48)

This multi-purpose combination of plant oils and vitamin E can be used on the face, body, or hair as a nourishing, repairing treatment. Its smell alone is worth the price tag.

7. Klorane Shampoo With Desert Date

Klorane Shampoo With Desert Date ($15)

Parisian influencer Monica de La Villardière calls this shampoo-conditioner combo "super nutrition for your hair."

8. Klorane Conditioning Balm With Desert Date

Klorane Conditioning Balm With Desert Date ($9)

For only $9, this ridiculously rich conditioner repairs dry and damaged hair, leaving it soft and bouncy in that nonchalant French-girl way.

9. La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid SPF 60

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid SPF 60 ($30)

It's so hard to find a non-greasy, non-chalky, non-stinky sunscreen at the drugstore. That's why this featherlight, non-comedogenic, fragrance-free formula is such a gem.

10. Eucerin Dermo Purifyer Scrub

Eucerin Dermo Purifyer Scrub ($12)

No need to spend $50 on a face scrub—this little-known dermatologist-approved formula uses both physical and chemical exfoliation to keep the skin bright and breakout-free.

11. Avène Cicalfate Restorative Skin Cream

Avène Cicalfate Restorative Skin Cream ($28)

This super-healing, balm-like moisturizer for dry and sensitive skin has a permanent place in Paris fashion girl Franny Fyne's medicine cabinet.

12.Avène Mineral Fluid Sunscreen

Avène Mineral Fluid Sunscreen ($28)

You'll spot this potent mineral sunscreen on vanities across Instagram, too. It's lightweight and non-greasy, so you won't run the risk of clogging your pores.

13. Klorane Floral Water Make-Up Remover

Klorane Floral Water Make-up Remover ($16)

This oil-free eye makeup remover is gentle and nourishing for sensitive skin types, but also totally effective at removing every stitch of makeup. No wonder it's a French beauty regimen staple.

14. Klorane Smoothing and Relaxing Patches

Klorane Smoothing and Relaxing Patches ($24)

Soothing cornflower can also be found in these eye patches, which go to work on dark circles and under-eye bags in a Parisian minute.

15. Vichy Aqualia Thermal Rich Face Cream

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Rich Face Cream ($25)

The dermatologist-developed HA booster is like a drink of water for parched skin.

16. Talika Lash Conditioning Cleanser

Talika Lash Conditioning Cleanser ($19)

If you enjoy a coat or two of mascara like your favorite French beauty icons, then you need to get familiar with this thorough eye makeup wash. It won't cause burning or stinging, but it will remove stubborn eye makeup without fail.

Up next, we're rounding up products for the perfect French beauty capsule.

This article was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.