No Paris trip is complete without a trip to the pharmacy. Every time I travel across the pond, I make sure to carve time in my itinerary to saunter down the aisles of at least one shop (at least is the operative word here—I usually clock in around three). That quintessential neon green cross is my North Star.
Word to the wise: You can snag French pharmacy favorites (like Embryolisse, Bioderma, Nuxe, etc.) here in the states if you know where to look. The prices just tend to be much lower over in France, which is why I like to stockpile my favorite formulas whenever I’m there. However! Amazon’s Big Spring Sale has arrived in full force, which means a hoard of beauty products have been majorly discounted—including more than a few French pharmacy gems, much to my delight. I’ve been filling my own cart with said staples before the sale concludes on March 31 (!), and I’d be remiss not to share the best finds with my fellow Francophiles. Scroll ahead to score 10 French beauty holy grails.
10 French Pharmacy Staples From Amazon’s Big Spring Sale
Bioderma
Sensibio H2O Micellar Water
Micellar water—namely, this solution from Bioderma—is a French beauty routine staple. I pick up a bottle every time I’m in Paris (mainly because I forget to bring makeup remover, but it’s also just so classic!).
Pharma Development
A313 Retinol Anti Aging Night Cream
Ask any beauty editor their top French pharmacy picks, and chances are they’ll name drop A313. Is it the sexiest OTC retinol on the market? Not really, but it doesn’t need all the bells and whistles; the no-fuss formula smooths skin texture and fades dark spots like absolute sorcery. Plus, everyone I know who’s tried it has reported no dreaded retinol side effects, like flaking or skin purging. That’s a major win in my book! Something to flag: It does contain peanut oil, so if you’re allergic to peanuts you’ll want to steer clear.
Embryolisse
Lait-Crème Concentré,
Bioderma
Atoderm Shower Oil
Take it from me: You don’t realize how badly you need a shower oil until you finally try one for yourselves. What is it, you ask? Imagine a cleansing oil for your entire body. These silly, nourishing blends gently remove daily grime without stripping your skin of its precious oils. You know, that itchy, “tight” feeling you get post rinse? Shower oils mitigate that, stat, and this formula from Bioderma is certainly a safe bet. After all, it comes from the same cult-loved brand as the aforementioned micellar water cleanser.
Nuxe
Huile Prodigieuse Multi-Purpose Dry Oil
There’s arguably no French pharmacy product more iconic than this beloved dry oil. In fact, it was completely wiped from the shelves the last time I was in Paris (sob). Thankfully, I can still snag a refill from Amazon at just $21, so you better believe I’m adding it to my cart ASAP. Any time I catch a whiff of that famous orange blossom, magnolia, and vanilla scent, I just know someone has covered their limbs in this silky, moisturizing solution.
Nuxe
Huile Prodigieuse Shimmer Multi-Purpose Dry Oil
I’m also grabbing this golden formula while I’m at it for glowing summer skin. It features the same nourishing ingredients and scent, just with a bronzy, shimmery tinge.
Avène
Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Cream
Avène’s thermal water is well known for its skin-healing powers, but this recovery cream kicks the soothing power up a notch for hypersensitive skin. It not only strengthens the skin barrier over time but also calms redness, tightness, and itching in just 30 seconds. And as one Amazon reviewer notes, “It is the only moisturizer that doesn’t either irritate my skin or break me out.”
Avène
Xeracalm A.D. Lipid-Replenishing Cream
Why snag just one Avène hero when there’s multiple on sale? The XeraCalm line was formulated specifically with eczema-prone skin in mind, and it’s approved to use on newborns—so you know it’s super gentle. As a general rule, anything that’s safe to use on delicate baby skin is A+ for hypersensitive complexions.
VICHY
Mineral 89 Fortifying & Hydrating Daily Skin Booster
You can never go wrong with a Vichy serum, IMO. If I traveled to Paris and forgot to pack my skincare (gasp!), I’d make a mad dash to the pharmacy and grab all the Vichy I could find. It’s just such a staple. This hyaluronic acid serum is one of my favorites from the brand (and arguably the most popular pharmacy pick); it’s lightweight and non-sticky and has an immediate plumping effect on my skin.
VICHY
Mineral 89 72H Moisture Boosting Cream
This hydrating face cream is a close second when it comes to my Vichy favorites. Think of all the plumping effects you get from the HA serum, then multiply it by 10 when you layer it with this moisture-boosting formula. It’s lightweight and quick-absorbing yet somehow manages to fill every fine line I have with smooth, supple hydration.
