The best French pharmacy beauty buys (and where to shop them)

These cult products have a certain je ne sais quoi

The cult French pharmacy brands you can buy online

by Bella Evennett-Watts |
Updated on

With France still on the red list, we’re missing our holidays filled with croissants, Côtes de Provence rosé, and most importantly, bargain beauty hauls in French pharmacies.

If you didn't already know, unlike UK pharmacies, French pharmacies are anything but ordinary.

Spotting the flashing neon green pharmacy sign is like striking gold. French pharmacies are the holy grail for skincare fanatics - not only are they cheap and affordable, but they're often well stocked with brilliant brands, offers and multi-pack deals.

But luckily for us, many French brands are now available to buy online. And while you might not feel like Emily in Paris – and you won’t get the buzz of saying ‘au revoir’ after check-out – you can still have your favourite French pharmacy products delivered to the UK.

Plus, by purchasing your favourite products online, you won't need to worry about squeezing ten bottles of cleanser and five tubs of night cream into your luggage. C'est bien!

SHOP: French pharmacy skincare 2021:

Just so you know, while we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this page, we never allow this to influence product selections.

Gallery

French pharmacy skincare 2021

Avu00e8ne Thermal Spring Water Spray 150ml1 of 9
CREDIT: Avu00e8ne

Avène Thermal Spring Water Spray 150ml

Ok, hear us out on this one. While water in a spray can sound a little odd, this award-winning spring water mist has natural soothing and anti-irritating properties and is great for dry, dehydrated skin. Not to mention, it feels lovely and refreshing.

Embryolisse Labatories Lait-Creme Fluide( 75ml )2 of 9
CREDIT: Embryolisse Labatories

Embryolisse Labatories Lait-Creme Fluide( 75ml )

Lait-Crème Fluide is the lighter alternative to the popular Concentré. This multi-tasker lotion can be used for both face and body as a moisturiser, soothing after-sun, after-shave and even baby care cream.

Bioderma Crealine H2O Micelle Solution 2 x 500ml3 of 9
CREDIT: Bioderma

Bioderma Crealine H2O Micelle Solution 2 x 500ml

This micellar water is no longer a well-kept secret. The cult product has graced our Instagram feeds for years, but even before it's rise to fame, it was a staple in skincare professionals and make-up artists' kits. The product with the pink cap is the regular version, but it also comes in formulations developed especially for sensitive and oily skin.

DECLu00c9OR Green Mandarin Night Balm 15ml4 of 9
CREDIT: DECLu00c9OR

DECLÉOR Green Mandarin Night Balm 15ml

This thick night balm does all the work for you. It's formulated with a blend of citrus essential oils, to deliver anti-fatigue and anti-ageing care, so you wake up with a radiant complexion after a good night's sleep.

Avu00e8ne Cleanance Cleansing Gel 200ml5 of 9
CREDIT: Avu00e8ne

Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel 200ml

Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel is great for tackling break-outs. Its soap-free formula utilises naturally active spring water to cleanse and purify blemish prone skin, without being too harsh on your face.

Cicabiafine Lip Balm6 of 9
CREDIT: Cicabiafine

Cicabiafine Lip Balm

Gwyneth Paltrow, who claims this brand 'always does the trick' when her daughter's lips become chapped. Skincare guru Caroline Hirons also said her own stash of Cicabiafine lip balm is long gone. She 'used it up at the beginning of lockdown', and its an 'instant comfort.'

VICHY Minu00e9ral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Hydration Booster 50ml7 of 9
CREDIT: VICHY

VICHY Minéral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Hydration Booster 50ml

Created using only 11 ingredients, including Hyaluronic Acid and Thermal Mineralising Water, Vichy Mineral 89 Serum has a fresh, light gel-like formula, which strengthens the skin's barrier to fight pollution and environmental aggressors.

Boiron - Homeoplasmine 18g8 of 9
CREDIT: Boiron

Boiron - Homeoplasmine 18g

An alternative to Vaseline, Homeoplasmine was originally designed to soothe the chapped nipples of mums who are breast-feeding, but it's since become a go-to for chapped lips. And it leaves a non-glossy, matte finish, so it's a perfect emollient to apply before lipstick.

Klorane Aquatic Mint Cleansing Shampoo 200ml9 of 9
CREDIT: Klorane

Klorane Aquatic Mint Cleansing Shampoo 200ml

While customers seem to have a love-hate relationship with the minty scent, most can agree that Klorane's Aquatic Mint Cleansing Shampoo leaves your hair and scalp feeling fresher. One happy customer also claimed the product helped their psoriasis. They said, "This shampoo has a cooling effect, which I really like, it leaves my hair feeling so fresh and clean! It also help soothe the very mild psoriasis I have on the front of my scalp."

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And when we can eventually go on French holidays again, having moisturised skin and sipping rosé in South of France will be at the very top of our post-lockdown to-do list.

If it's on yours, too, you'll be in need of a high protection SPF for your face. It's so important to apply SPF sunscreen to the face, neck and backs of ears, even on top of SPF moisturiser.

"SPF moisturisers are useful for short bursts of sun exposure but not suitable for longer stints outside as they may not give sufficient protection. This is because they are applied in a much thinner layer meaning that the SPF level may not be what is promoted on the bottle." says Consultant dermatologist for Stratum Dermatology Clinics, Dr Adam Friedmann.

He adds, "If you're wearing make-up and generally keeping out of the sun, then it might not always be practical to top up your SPF - that’s where an 8-hour SPF may be a preferred option.

"However, a once-a-day SPF will not survive a day of swimming, towel drying and sweating in the heat, so if you’re heading to the beach or out for the day, then reapplying an SPF to the face every two hours is essential."

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