5 MUST TRY French Skincare Brands.
All things skin that I'm currently obsessing over in Paris!
This week I wanted to share with you a few of my favorite French beauty brands that I’m currently obsessing over. Some are well-known, while others are so good I’m shocked more people aren’t talking about them!
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First up, my absolute FAVORITE. Erborian. Now, this is a French-Korean brand. That’s right, it’s the best of both worlds as far as skincare is concerned. They have a highly curated line of skincare and skin perfecters. I will be the first to admit that their full skincare line-up isn’t exactly a match for my ‘mature’ skin, but that said I do love their cleanse and tone lineup! I habitually double cleanse with the Centella Cleansing Oil and the Centella Cleansing Gel. I follow that up with the Yuzu Double Lotion. I absolutely love this cleansing ritual! But this isn’t what I’m obsessing over, it’s their skin perfecter category. Why is no one talking about these? After using them, the texture of my skin is absolutely transformed into nothing I have ever experienced. The instant improvement is like magic!
Here’s what I use: After cleansing, toning and moisturizing I then move on to my skin perfecters (1) Skin Hero, 7 Day Transformation and a transformation it is! I then follow it up depending on what my skin needs that day (2) I use the CC Red Correct, if I have more redness in my skin or I switch to the CC Dull Skin when I need a little pick-me-up in my skin or CC Water for a boost of plumpness and hydration (3) Once my skin texture has been ‘perfected’ I then move to the Super BB Cream for added coverage. Now, I’ve used many BB creams at the height of their popularity, but trust me when I tell you this is nothing like you have experienced. This thing is like magic, it's unreal. Remember a little goes a long way! It’s also super buildable (4) Don’t forget the eyes. The BB Eye Concealeris an all-in-one - an eye cream, a concealer and a ‘baby effect’ (that’s what they call it, cause your skin looks so smooth after using it). This product is so easy to use and it instantly vanishes dark circles and smooths all imperfections under the eye. You seriously can’t believe your eyes after using this!
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Next up is the brand called Embryolisse and its tagline is “Secret de Maquilleurs,” which means Makeup Artists’ Secret. As it suggests, the products are amazing for skin prep for makeup. Here are a few of my favorite products from this line (1) The Lait Crème Concentrate is what the brand is known for and it’s one of the best priming moisturizers I have used. It’s light, but highly nourishing. It grabs the makeup and really provides the best skin texture for a flawless makeup application. (2) The Concealing Corrector in pink perfectly diminishes the dark circles and creates a perfect canvas for me to apply additional concealer if needed on top…for those really rough morning afters :/ (3) The Radiant Eye Stick is a great way to cool and prime the eye area before makeup, I wouldn’t recommend this as your only eye cream, I only use this prior to makeup application. (4) The Radiant Complexion Cream is their latest launch and it’s absolutely beautiful. It’s a nice kick of moisture with a radiant glow, I absolutely love this product.
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This next one should not be a surprise. La Roche Posay. The line is massive here in Paris, it’s huge not only in name but also in product offering. They have a few splattering of offerings in the US, but here in the French Pharmacie they are walls upon walls of products to discover, and discover I did. First off, my favorite of all time is Cicaplast Baume B+ I love how my skin feels when I use this moisturizer. It feels deeply nourished and it looks healthy, plump and glowy. The moisturizer easily penetrates my skin, I don’t feel anything sitting on top of my skin. Toleriane is an unbelievable moisturizer, the entire franchise under that name is fantastic especially if you have sensitive skin. The other franchise that I cannot live without is Anthelios solar care, aka sunscreen. My daily use is the Invisible Fluid Sunscreen, which is an unbelievable texture, weightless, breathable. They also have a plethora of serums, but the one I love is the Pure Vitamin C10 Serum. It does leave a yellow/orange stain on clothes, so I would refrain from wearing light colored turtlenecks on days you apply this serum. Finally, I LOVE the Physiological Deodorant, but I prefer it in the spray format.
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Bioderma is my go-to for makeup removal. Hydrabio Lait, Crealine H2O, Crealine H2O Yeux. I own multiple of these products in every single size available. These are the only no-rinse cleansers I use. The only other franchise that I really love is Sebium. It’s great for a starter phase for teenagers. It’s been a savior to helping XJ manage his skin. It’s easy to navigate and has highly efficacious products that suit him and his needs in this phase.
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If you haven’t heard of Biologique Recherche you’re missing out! They have a spa here in Paris, which is an absolute must to try! I recommend it. I’m an avid user of the P50 Lotion. There are many wannabes but honestly no one comes near their performance. Now, it feels and smells like you are putting a highly concentrated expired vinegar on your face, but the after effect is so gooooood! It’s a must try if you haven’t yet. This is also another product that I own multiple of in various sizes. I cannot live without this thing. The entire line is beautiful, but honestly it’s really overwhelming to navigate. Unless you go get a facial to really understand what meets your skin’s needs, it’s difficult to recommend universal products, other than, of course, the classic – P50.
BONUS
While this recommendation isn’t quite skincare, it’s definitely worthy of note. It’s called LEBON toothpaste! Now, I know what you’re thinking, I wouldn’t trust the French when it comes to toothcare, but trust me, they know texture, they know scent and they know whitening (they have to given all the smokers they need to tend to!). This one is so beautiful that you almost want to brush your teeth 4x a day…ALMOST!