Pores and skin like a Parisian’s with out the airplane ticket? Oui, merci.
The French know a factor or two about wonderful pores and skin, so we got down to study their secrets and techniques, tapping consultants 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 can be doubtlessly allergenic or endocrine disruptors,” Laure Seguin, a French wellness facialist, tells us.
“French ladies are usually attracted by merchandise which can be environment friendly [and] science-driven, however with pleasurable scents and textures.”
Beneath, peruse the highest French skincare and wonder favorites to discover a line you like, add complementary merchandise and, voilà, you’ve constructed your private routine. (We even discovered a couple of under-the-radar A-lister favorites.)
Plus, preserve studying (or click on right here) for extra of Seguin’s ideas 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 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 13 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 enable close to her face, in response to her daughter, Charlotte Gainsbourg.
Except for the unique cream, the model makes further variations together with a hypoallergenic Lait-Crème Delicate and an anti-aging Lait-Crème Rétinol-Like.
Key Substances: Shea butter, aloe vera, soy proteins, beeswax
Embryolisse Lait-Crème Fluide+
Every part you like in regards to the unique Lait-Crème in a face and physique system. The skin-soothing properties make it a good selection after shaving or time within the solar.
Key Substances: Aloe vera, soy proteins, beeswax
Avène Thermal Spring Water
In summer season, 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 preserve hydrated all through the day, and one ought to all the time have a mist, which may be very French too. Avène has an ideal one.”
Gwyneth Paltrow and Irina Shayk have each been linked to the system, and Spencer Pratt as soon as instructed Refinery29 he spritzes it on about “5 occasions a day.”
Avène model followers additionally embrace Hailey Bieber and Sofia Richie, who each use the soothing Cicalfate+ Restorative Protecting Cream.
Key Substances: Postbiotic microflora, minerals
Avène Light Exfoliating Gel
Exfoliating frequently isn’t just essential to encourage pores and skin cell turnover, but in addition “to make sure excellent absorption of the [skincare] merchandise,” in response to Seguin.
“French ladies love making use of merchandise with their arms 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 light, sensitive-skin-friendly vegan system guarantees a brighter, smoother complexion — at a wallet-friendly worth of underneath $30.
Key Substances: Niacinamide, glycerin, jojoba esters
Avène Vitamin Activ Cg Radiance Concentrated Serum
Seguin suggests utilizing a focused serum each 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 geared toward boosting pores and skin radiance, smoothing wrinkles and decreasing the looks of darkish spots.
Even a sensitive-skinned shopper who has seborrheic dermatitis gave this serum an enormous thumbs-up in her Amazon overview, 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 Substances: Vitamin Cg, niacinamide, bakuchiol
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, defend 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 Type’s overview: “I’ve by no means cherished 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 essential in my each day ritual.” — Erica Radol, Web page Six Commerce Reporter
Key Substances: Sea lavender, polysaccharides, sodium PCA (a humectant), rose and chamomile important oils for soothing
Yon-Ka Paris Lotion Phyto-Fragrant Remedy 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,” whereas one in every of over 360 five-star Amazon reviewers wrote that it “smells divine” and is “tremendous refreshing for drained pores and skin.”
Although this one’s designed for dry or delicate pores and skin, there’s additionally a model for shiny or mixture complexions.
“Smells divine, balances pores and skin PH, tremendous refreshing for drained pores and skin,” reads one five-star overview.
Key Substances: Glycerin, important oils, together with lavender, geranium, rosemary, cypress, and thyme
Yon-Ka Paris Hydra No. 1 Masque
Relying in your pores and skin kind, Seguin additionally recommends utilizing a “hydrating or purifying masks thrice 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 gives Masque 105 for oilier/mixture pores and skin, and the vegan Glyconight 10%, an anti-aging in a single day peel.)
The French system has an almost excellent 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 advantageous strains across the eyes and higher lip. The outcomes have been wonderful for only one in a single day use. My advantageous strains have diminished. I couldn’t cease gazing myself within the mirror. I’m in awe.”
Key Substances: Humectants together with Imperata cylindrica, aloe vera, PCA, glycerin
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 scale back wrinkles, smoothes irritated pores and skin and prevents zits breakouts — and whereas it may be troublesome to search out in America, it’s out there on Amazon.
Key Substances: Retinyl palmitate, arachis hypogaea (peanut) oil, tocopherol (vitamin E)
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Restore Face Moisturizer
From Christie Brinkley to Anne Hathaway, a protracted listing of A-listers use La Roche-Posay sunscreens — however my fellow skincare Francophile, Sarah Jessica Parker, could also be its largest well-known fan, telling Right this moment in 2018 that she’d been utilizing Toleraine Double Restore for “not less than 10 years.”
“It’s mild, unscented and simply the best moisturizer I’ve ever discovered,” she raved. “My youngsters use it as nicely. It’s wonderful.”
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 consumers who’ve rosacea and eczema.
Key Substances: 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 sorts — and each variations have earned tens of hundreds of five-star scores.
Key Substances: Thermal water, ceramide-3, niacinamide, glycerin
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 instructed Grazia she loves it, saying, “It’s like a glass of water for the face.”
Among the many 25,000+ five-star scores, one devotee raved it’s “light-weight, hydrating and excellent for delicate pores and skin,” whereas one other wrote, “It makes my face glow with out inflicting any points.”
Key Substances: 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 advantageous strains and brightening pores and skin.
Key Substances: Hyaluronic acid, volcanic water, caffeine
Sothys Vitality Cleaning Milk
Micellar water is good within the morning or as a part of a double cleanse; nonetheless, Seguin instructed us, “Within the night, [do] a extra thorough cleaning to get rid of all impurities (make-up, air pollution), utilizing a richer cleaning milk to deliver softness.”
She recommends Sothys’ model, which cleanses, brightens, tightens pores, and moisturizes pores and skin.
Celeb 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 yr on the Cannes Movie Competition. (When in France …)
Key Substances: Grapefruit extract
Sothys Restructuring Youth Cream
A preferred youth cream that tackles a number of indicators of getting older, together with wrinkles and darkish spots, this vegan system deeply moisturizes pores and skin. The model’s Glow Protection Serum can also be a French favourite, formulated to guard pores and skin towards blue mild and environmental aggressors.
“I’ve been utilizing Sothys for a few years and my pores and skin all the time appears to be like fantastic with a radiant glow,” raved one Amazon reviewer.
Key Substances: Marine exopolysaccharides, saffron and sophora flower extracts, peptides
Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Multi-Goal Dry Oil
This multi-purpose dry oil is so in style that the model additionally gives floral and shimmer variations — the latter of which one reviewer known as “summer season in a bottle.”
The cult-favorite discover is made with botanical oils to appease the face, hair and physique; we love that it’s now provided 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 Substances: Argan, macadamia, borage, camellia, hazelnut, candy almond
Nuxe Rêve de Miel Extremely Honey Lip Balm
Even the driest, cracked lips may benefit from this honey and beeswax balm with a light-weight citrus scent.
“I’ve chronically dry chapped lips, however after 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 pretty. Every little jar lasts not less than two years.”
Key Substances: Lavender honey, propolis, beeswax
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 lately instructed Web page Six Type it “resets your complete temper.”
The system’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 Substances: Grape extract, orange blossom water, lemon balm oil, rosemary oil, mint oil
Caudalie Resveratrol-Raise 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 underneath make-up or alone. Pair with the road’s Firming Night time Cream for a complementary set.
Key Substances: Resveratrol, hyaluronic acid, shea butter, vegan collagen
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.
1000’s of consumers rave about this repairing, vitamin E-infused physique milk, which helps a wholesome pores and skin barrier and is alleged to offer 48 hours of intense hydration whereas absorbing rapidly.
One fan wrote, “My pores and skin stays easy and tender and plump for days. You may really feel it instantly.”
Key Substances: Biotech plankton, vitamin E, lipids
Lierac Physique-Slim Firming Focus Beautifying & Slimming
Kristin Scott Thomas was as soon as the face of Lierac, a widely 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 Substances: Peptides, caffeine, ginger
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 gives head-to-toe skincare for any complexion kind and concern, however this intimate wash is probably the most extremely rated on Amazon.
“Uriage Gyn-Phy is without doubt one of the finest intimate washes I’ve tried. It’s tremendous light, non-irritating, and retains every thing feeling contemporary with out drying the pores and skin,” one reviewer wrote.
Key Substances: Thermal water
Violette_FR Bisou Balm Sheer Matte Lipstick
With glowing pores and skin, minimal however stylish make-up is a should. And quintessential French “It” lady and Guerlain Artistic Director Violette Serrat gives simply that along 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 mild however hydrating.”
The simple spray-on system is designed to hydrate and rebalance the pores and skin barrier.
Key Substances: Squalene, hyaluronic acid
French Skincare FAQs
French Skincare Routine Suggestions
In line with French wellness facialist Laure Seguin, French ladies usually observe a really strict four-step skincare routine: make-up elimination, exfoliation (to make sure excellent 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 a superb day cream and evening cream particular to your pores and skin wants.
- Within the night, conduct a extra thorough cleaning utilizing a wealthy cleaning milk to get rid of impurities and take away make-up.
- Exfoliate not less than as soon as every week after your night cleaning.
- Use a hydrating or purifying masks (relying in your pores and skin kind) as much as thrice every week, particularly in winter.
French Skincare Substances Overview
Curious in regards to 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 preserve the pores and skin wholesome and maintains pores and skin barrier well being. These merchandise might help keep that and likewise refresh the pores and skin noon.”
- Hyaluronic acid: “HA is a naturally occurring substance within the pores and skin and is what offers the pores and skin its hydration.”
- Lipids: “Lipids are fat [that] assist retain the pure moisture of the pores and skin.”
- Niacinamide: “It could possibly brighten and strengthen the pores and skin barrier.”
- Glycerin: “A humectant and an alternative choice to HA; some even want it to HA.”
Why Belief Web page Six Type Buying
This text was written by Erica Radol, Web page Six Commerce Reporter. From figuring out the prime anti-aging skincare secrets and techniques the celebs belief to pinpointing the season’s subsequent massive trend developments to discovering an ideal deal on the entire above, Erica has a knack for reporting on – and even testing – Hollywood’s bestselling trend and wonder merchandise. Earlier than becoming a member of Web page Six in 2025, she wrote about leisure, way of life and procuring developments for Us Weekly, The Day by day Beast, Leisure Tonight, Nicely+Good and Hearst.
