Pores and skin like a Parisian’s with out the aircraft ticket? Oui, merci.
The French know a factor or two about superb pores and skin, so we got down to study their secrets and techniques, tapping specialists to search out out which merchandise they love most and why their formulation are so efficient.
“French manufacturers [operate under the] very strict regulation of the European Fee, which may be very rigorous with any elements which might be doubtlessly allergenic or endocrine disruptors,” Laure Seguin, a French wellness facialist, tells us.
“French ladies are typically attracted by merchandise which might be environment friendly [and] science-driven, however with pleasant scents and textures.”
- Finest Multitasker: Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré
- Finest Micellar Water: Yon-Ka Paris Eau Micellaire
- Finest Moisturizer: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Restore Face Moisturizer
- Finest Retinol: Pharma Développement A313
- Finest Serum: Vichy Mineral 89 Fortifying & Hydrating Day by day Pores and skin Booster
Under, peruse the highest French skincare and sweetness favorites to discover a line you love, add complementary merchandise and, voilà, you’ve constructed your private routine. (We even discovered a number of under-the-radar A-lister favorites.)
Plus, maintain studying (or click on right here) for extra of Seguin’s suggestions for constructing an optimum routine, in addition to ingredient insights from Dr. Jennifer Levine, MD, an NYC-based double board-certified facial plastic surgeon.
Embryolisse
Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré
Made with shea butter and aloe vera, this multifunctional under-$20 marvel can be utilized as a make-up remover, masks, primer or moisturizer. No marvel one tube reportedly sells each 8 seconds!
Scarlett Johansson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Girl Gaga and Karlie Kloss are among the many stars who’ve praised its powers — and it’s the one skincare product French icon Jane Birkin would permit close to her face, in accordance with her daughter, Charlotte Gainsbourg.
Other than the unique cream, the model makes extra variations, together with a hypoallergenic Lait-Crème Delicate and an anti-aging Lait-Crème Rétinol-Like.
Key Elements: Shea butter, aloe vera, soy proteins, beeswax
Embryolisse Lait-Crème Fluide+
Every part you’re keen on concerning the authentic Lait-Crème in a face and physique formulation. The skin-soothing properties make it a good selection after shaving or time within the solar.
Key Elements: Aloe vera, soy proteins, beeswax
Avène
Avène Thermal Spring Water
In summer time, it’s like a glass of water for pores and skin; in winter, it replenishes moisture misplaced to harsh circumstances.
Seguin additionally name-checked it, saying, “For mature pores and skin, you will need to maintain hydrated all through the day, and one ought to all the time have a mist, which may be very French too. Avène has an incredible one.”
Gwyneth Paltrow and Irina Shayk have each been linked to the formulation, and Spencer Pratt as soon as informed Refinery29 he spritzes it on about “5 instances a day.”
Avène model followers additionally embody Hailey Bieber and Sofia Richie, who each use the soothing Cicalfate+ Restorative Protecting Cream.
Key Elements: Postbiotic microflora, minerals
Avène Light Exfoliating Gel
Exfoliating recurrently isn’t just vital to encourage pores and skin cell turnover, but in addition “to make sure good absorption of the [skincare] merchandise,” in accordance with Seguin.
“French ladies love making use of merchandise with their palms and dealing their pores and skin with their fingers. There’s a type of exfoliation that may be very French known as gommage, and it makes use of your fingers manually to softly ‘erase’ impurities,” added the knowledgeable, who recommends exfoliating after a night cleanse.
Made with biodegradable exfoliating beads, Avène’s mild, sensitive-skin-friendly vegan formulation guarantees a brighter, smoother complexion — at a wallet-friendly worth of below $30.
Key Elements: Niacinamide, glycerin, jojoba esters
Avène Vitamin Activ Cg Radiance Concentrated Serum
Seguin suggests utilizing a focused serum every day within the morning, then ready 10 minutes earlier than making use of lotions.
Utilizing a concentrated type of vitamin C, Avène’s anti-aging serum is aimed toward boosting pores and skin radiance, smoothing wrinkles and lowering the looks of darkish spots.
Even a sensitive-skinned shopper who has seborrheic dermatitis gave this serum an enormous thumbs-up in her Amazon evaluation, writing, “My pores and skin appears to be like more healthy, my complexion is extra even, and I even have some colour again in my cheeks.”
Key Elements: Vitamin Cg, niacinamide, bakuchiol
Yon-Ka Paris
Yon-Ka Paris Eau Micellaire Micellar Cleaning Water
Spa model Yon-Ka Paris’ skincare is used for facials on the legendary Printemps spas, and its micellar water is formulated to lure impurities, tone pores and skin, shield from free radicals and supply anti-aging advantages. It additionally has a fragile scent of chamomile, geranium, lavender, rose and thyme.
In line with the model, Martha Stewart and Tracee Ellis Ross are among the many well-known followers of its merchandise.
Web page Six Fashion’s evaluation: “I’ve by no means beloved a micellar water till now. Yon-Ka’s doesn’t go away any residue, but softens and brightens my delicate pores and skin — and it really works shockingly nicely at eradicating impurities. It’s now a must have in my every day ritual.” — Erica Radol, Web page Six Commerce Reporter
Key Elements: Sea lavender, polysaccharides, sodium PCA (a humectant), rose and chamomile important oils for soothing
Yon-Ka Paris Lotion Phyto-Fragrant Therapy Mist
Made with soothing botanicals, this 99% natural-origin mist is a French skincare mainstay and multitasker, promising firming, hydrating and radiance whereas additionally working as a make-up setting spray.
Seguin calls it a morning and night “important.” Although this one’s designed for dry or delicate pores and skin, there’s additionally a model for greasy or mixture complexions.
“Smells divine, balances pores and skin PH, tremendous refreshing for drained pores and skin,” reads one five-star evaluation.
Key Elements: Glycerin, important oils, together with lavender, geranium, rosemary, cypress, and thyme
Yon-Ka Paris Hydra No. 1 Masque
Relying in your pores and skin sort, Seguin additionally recommends utilizing a “hydrating or purifying masks 3 times every week, particularly in winter.”
She’s a fan of this intensely hydrating masks for the face, neck and décolleté, which rejuvenates uninteresting, wrinkled and parched pores and skin. (Yon-Ka additionally affords Masque 105 for oilier/mixture pores and skin, and the vegan Glyconight 10%, an anti-aging in a single day peel.)
The French formulation has a virtually good 4.6-star common on Amazon proper now, with one devotee writing: “My new love potion, wow! 5 stars! I’m 62 and have dry, delicate pores and skin with nice strains across the eyes and higher lip. The outcomes had been superb for only one in a single day use. My nice strains have diminished. I couldn’t cease looking at myself within the mirror. I’m in awe.”
Key Elements: Humectants together with Imperata cylindrica, aloe vera, PCA, glycerin
Pharma Développement
Pharma Développement A313
The balmy texture of A313 comforts pores and skin that could be delicate to retinol. Celebrities like Sophia Bush, Sienna Miller and Alexa Chung stockpile the cult-favorite French skincare product whereas in Paris.
A313 helps cut back wrinkles, smoothes irritated pores and skin and prevents zits breakouts — and whereas it may be tough to search out in America, it’s out there on Amazon.
Key Elements: Retinyl palmitate, arachis hypogaea (peanut) oil, tocopherol (vitamin E)
La Roche-Posay
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Restore Face Moisturizer
From Christie Brinkley to Anne Hathaway, an extended listing of A-listers use La Roche-Posay sunscreens — however my fellow skincare Francophile, Sarah Jessica Parker, could also be its greatest well-known fan, telling At this time in 2018 that she’d been utilizing Toleraine Double Restore for “at the very least 10 years.”
“It’s gentle, unscented and simply the best moisturizer I’ve ever discovered,” she raved. “My kids use it as nicely. It’s superb.”
The sensitive-skin soother has niacinamide to tame redness, prebiotics to revive the pores and skin barrier and thermal spring water to assist rebalance the pores and skin microbiome. It’s additionally earned over 53,000 five-star critiques on Amazon, together with from buyers who’ve rosacea and eczema.
Key Elements: Niacinamide, prebiotics, thermal spring water
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser
This non-drying, fragrance-free, bestselling facial cleanser is formulated to take away extra oil with out stripping pores and skin. The model additionally makes a Toleriane Hydrating Light Face Cleanser for drier pores and skin varieties — and each variations have earned tens of 1000’s of five-star rankings.
Key Elements: Thermal water, ceramide-3, niacinamide, glycerin
Vichy Laboratoires
Vichy Laboratoires Mineral 89 Fortifying & Hydrating Day by day Pores and skin Booster
Vichy makes use of volcanic water on this hydrating hyaluronic acid serum, which guarantees to plump and hydrate pores and skin for a pure glow. English actress and mannequin Poppy Delevingne informed Grazia she loves it, saying, “It’s like a glass of water for the face.”
Among the many 25,000+ five-star rankings, one devotee raved it’s “light-weight, hydrating and ideal for delicate pores and skin,” whereas one other wrote, “It makes my face glow with out inflicting any points.”
Key Elements: Hyaluronic acid, volcanic water
Vichy Laboratoires Minéral 89 Eye Serum
With a light-weight gel texture, Minéral 89 Eye Serum reduces under-eye puffiness and hydrates, minimizing nice strains and brightening pores and skin.
Key Elements: Hyaluronic acid, volcanic water, caffeine
Sothys
Sothys Vitality Cleaning Milk
Micellar water is right within the morning or as a part of a double cleanse; nevertheless, Seguin informed us, “Within the night, [do] a extra thorough cleaning to eradicate all impurities (make-up, air pollution), utilizing a richer cleaning milk to convey softness.”
She recommends Sothys’ model, which cleanses, brightens, tightens pores, and moisturizes pores and skin.
Movie star make-up artist Mary Wiles, who works with Sadie Sink, Ana de Armas and Naomi Watts, additionally used it on Diane Kruger’s pores and skin earlier this 12 months on the Cannes Movie Pageant. (When in France …)
Key Elements: Grapefruit extract
Sothys Restructuring Youth Cream
A well-liked youth cream that tackles a number of indicators of getting old, together with wrinkles and darkish spots, this vegan formulation deeply moisturizes pores and skin. The model’s Glow Protection Serum can also be a French favourite, formulated to guard pores and skin in opposition to blue gentle and environmental aggressors.
“I’ve been utilizing Sothys for a few years and my pores and skin all the time appears to be like great with a radiant glow,” raved one Amazon reviewer.
Key Elements: Marine exopolysaccharides, saffron and sophora flower extracts, peptides
Nuxe
Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Multi-Goal Dry Oil
This multi-purpose dry oil is so fashionable that the model additionally affords floral and shimmer variations — the latter of which one reviewer known as “summer time in a bottle.”
The cult-favorite discover is made with botanical oils to assuage the face, hair and physique; we love that it’s now supplied in a travel-ready roll-on bottle for straightforward software.
Jennifer Aniston, Scarlett Johansson and Eva Mendes are all rumored to be followers of the model.
Key Elements: Argan, macadamia, borage, camellia, hazelnut, candy almond
Nuxe Rêve de Miel Extremely Honey Lip Balm
Even the driest, cracked lips may gain advantage from this honey and beeswax balm with a light-weight citrus scent.
“I’ve chronically dry chapped lips, however once I bear in mind to place this balm on earlier than mattress, it really works miracles in a single day,” raved one happy Amazon reviewer. “It’s thick and opulent with a barely citrusy scent that’s beautiful. Every little jar lasts at the very least two years.”
Key Elements: Lavender honey, propolis, beeswax
Caudalie
Caudalie Magnificence Elixir
An extended listing of A-listers swear by Caudalie’s Magnificence Elixir, together with Keke Palmer, Margot Robbie, Zöe Kravitz and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.
Bethenny Frankel even known as it “glorious” on Instagram, whereas Paige DeSorbo not too long ago informed Web page Six Fashion it “resets your complete temper.”
The formulation’s pure botanical extracts and floral waters work as a toner to tighten pores, enchance glow, set make-up and provides pores and skin a dewy end.
Key Elements: Grape extract, orange blossom water, lemon balm oil, rosemary oil, mint oil
Caudalie Resveratrol-Elevate Firming Cashmere Cream
A vegan, cruelty-free daytime cream to agency pores and skin and reduce the look of wrinkles, this additionally has mineral pearlizers to offer pores and skin a right away glow below make-up or alone. Pair with the road’s Firming Evening Cream for a complementary set.
Key Elements: Resveratrol, hyaluronic acid, shea butter, vegan collagen
Biotherm
Biotherm Lait Corporel Anti-Drying Physique Milk
David Beckham and Leighton Meester have each been ambassadors for this luxe French skincare model, which may fortunately be shopped on Amazon.
Hundreds of consumers rave about this repairing, vitamin E-infused physique milk, which helps a wholesome pores and skin barrier and is alleged to supply 48 hours of intense hydration whereas absorbing rapidly.
One fan wrote, “My pores and skin stays easy and delicate and plump for days. You’ll be able to really feel it instantly.”
Key Elements: Biotech plankton, vitamin E, lipids
Lierac
Lierac Physique-Slim Firming Focus Beautifying & Slimming
Kristin Scott Thomas was as soon as the face of Lierac, a well known luxe French pharmacy staple.
This slimming physique focus is designed to assist agency pores and skin and sculpt contours. It will get rave critiques, together with this little bit of five-star suggestions: “J’adore.”
Key Elements: Peptides, caffeine, ginger
Uriage
Uriage Gyn-Phy Intimate Hygiene Refreshing Gel
Skincare wants don’t cease on the neck. Uriage makes use of thermal water from the French Alps in its merchandise, that are stated to have soothing, anti-inflammatory properties. The model affords head-to-toe skincare for any complexion sort and concern, however this intimate wash is essentially the most extremely rated on Amazon.
“Uriage Gyn-Phy is likely one of the greatest intimate washes I’ve tried. It’s tremendous mild, non-irritating, and retains every part feeling contemporary with out drying the pores and skin,” one reviewer wrote.
Key Elements: Thermal water
Violette_FR
Violette_FR Bisou Balm Sheer Matte Lipstick
With glowing pores and skin, minimal however stylish make-up is a should. And quintessential French “It” woman and Guerlain Artistic Director Violette Serrat gives simply that together with her namesake magnificence model.
Bisou Balm is a semi-opaque matte lipstick that is available in eight shades and is supposed to look alluringly imperfect on lips — such as you’ve simply been kissing.
Key Ingredient: French-girl vava voom
Violette_FR Boum Boum Milk
This vegan moisturizer has additionally earned a cult following, together with each magnificence editors and facialist to the celebs Joanna Czech, who calls it “very gentle however hydrating.”
The simple spray-on formulation is designed to hydrate and rebalance the pores and skin barrier.
Key Elements: Squalene, hyaluronic acid
French Skincare FAQs
French Skincare Routine Suggestions
In line with French wellness facialist Laure Seguin, French ladies typically observe a really strict four-step skincare routine: make-up removing, exfoliation (to make sure good absorption of the merchandise) and hydration, adopted by anti-aging care and face therapeutic massage.
Seguin recommends the next:
- Begin with a micellar water cleanse within the morning.
- Apply a skin-needs-specific serum, and wait 10 minutes earlier than making use of cream.
- Use a toner within the morning and night, adopted by day cream and night time cream particular to your pores and skin wants.
- Within the night, conduct a extra thorough cleaning utilizing a wealthy cleaning milk to eradicate impurities and take away make-up.
- Exfoliate at the very least as soon as every week after your night cleaning.
- Use a hydrating or purifying masks (relying in your pores and skin sort) as much as 3 times every week, particularly in winter.
French Skincare Elements Overview
Curious concerning the ingredient lists? We requested Dr. Jennifer Levine, MD, about the advantages of the next French skincare elements:
- Postbiotic microflora and minerals, thermal waters: “The microbiome for the pores and skin/useful micro organism helps maintain the pores and skin wholesome and maintains pores and skin barrier well being. These merchandise will help preserve that and in addition refresh the pores and skin noon.”
- Hyaluronic acid: “HA is a naturally occurring substance within the pores and skin and is what provides the pores and skin its hydration.”
- Lipids: “Lipids are fat [that] assist retain the pure moisture of the pores and skin.”
- Niacinamide: “It might brighten and strengthen the pores and skin barrier.”
- Glycerin: “A humectant and a substitute for HA; some even favor it to HA.”
Why Belief Web page Six Fashion Buying
This text was written by Erica Radol, Web page Six Commerce Reporter. From figuring out the highest anti-aging skincare secrets and techniques the celebs belief to pinpointing the season’s subsequent massive vogue traits to discovering an incredible deal on the entire above, Erica has a knack for reporting on – and even testing – Hollywood’s bestselling vogue and sweetness merchandise. Earlier than becoming a member of Web page Six in 2025, she wrote about leisure, way of life and purchasing traits for Us Weekly, The Day by day Beast, Leisure Tonight, Effectively+Good and Hearst.
