Photo courtesy Camille Yolaine
Over the years, we have discovered a multitude of their favorite beauties in French pharmacies. Of course, as we cleaned up our beauty routines, our favorites changed (indeed, we wrote a review of a French pharmacy back in the early days and just one of the products in it meets our cleanliness standards today). But our love affair with French beauty – whether the products are actually French or simply reveal that unspeakable air of both mystery and common sense – remains as passionate as ever. From velvety orange skin balm and rich, elegant cream poured into resveratrol ( The French paradox an antioxidant compound found in red wine) to a styling cream for the brightest and smoothest hair ever, our obsessions inspired by a French pharmacy are all pure – and best in class.
1
SERUM
This skin lightening gel-serum combines the active ingredients found in wine (including resveratrol, an antioxidant The French paradox glory) with salicylic acid, rose water and essential oils. Hydrates, brightens and evens out the skin, making it smooth, refined and radiant. The serum refreshes and sinks immediately, and the dewy finish looks nice under makeup or on its own.
2
GEL-DO-MILK CLEANER
This raspberry-colored exfoliator brightens and hydrates like a dream. It is made from pumpkin, bamboo powder, salicylic acid and papaya to gently remove all traces of dirt and makeup, as well as squalane which helps to restore lipids on the skin. It is also a moisturizing face mask.
3
ANTIFREEZE STYLE CREAM
This secret hair weapon of the French woman from the Paris salon of the legendary colorist Christophe Robin gets rid of curls and nourishes your hair, leaving it smooth, silky and shiny. Use it on wet hair to moisturize, prevent curling and protect from heat damage (during styling) and fading. On dry hair, you can smooth out even the most stubborn curls or split ends, redirect cow hair or baby hair around the hairline and add a beautiful French texture. (Bonus: Moisture protection lasts forty-eight hours.) Whether you have a larger curl or just love it, it never fails grooming, this brilliant botanical life-changing formula is a big step forward in a clean hairstyle.
4
MICELAR WATER
This micellar water-essence sweeps away dirt and light make-up, leaving powerful herbal plants to work on the skin. It brightens the skin while cleansing and toning, making it a premium multitasking product and looking gorgeous in its high column bottle. Made from organic ingredients hand-picked on an amazing 800-hectare property in Sicily, you’ll use it multiple times a day – it’s such a pleasure – and your skin will be better for it.
5
HAIR PERFUME
Made from salts of Epsom, Dead Sea, Himalayas, and of course French sea salt, along with moisturizing coconut oil extract and essential oils of jasmine, geranium rose and ylang-ylang, this lightweight spritz infuses any type of hair with a sexy French texture. Apply it to wet or dry hair for effortlessly tousled hair on the beach that looks great with virtually any outfit, not to mention a subtle, long-lasting scent that is just great.
6
SHORT RED-POLISHED NAILS
The classic French look is best performed in a glossy nail polish that is shiny, incredibly long-lasting and more beautiful than chic. And use acetone-free nail polish remover pads to gently remove nail polish and clean your nails with incredible ease.
7
RESCUE BALM
This rich, velvety orange skin balm combines brandy, carrot and tomato seed oils with willow bark, pomegranate sterols and bisabolol to complement the skin with moisture and antioxidants, making it supple and incredibly soft. The opaque, weightless, skin-lubricating formula blends directly into the skin, smells faintly of vanilla and – amazingly – acts as a moisturizer, eye balm, face mask, and when mixed with water, even a product for cleaning.
8
HAIR COLOR
Our favorite temporary color at home (also French hair color star Robin) avoids most hair color problems: It’s made without PPD, one of the most common – and potentially most dangerous – hair color chemicals, and contains no bleach, so you avoid damage which discoloration usually causes over time. The formula also blends seamlessly, looks as natural as the color Robin would give you if you flew to his Paris salon, doesn’t smell, lasts seven shampoos before fading, comes in four shades and she likes it better as a hair treatment than for hair color.
9
Essential eye cream
This French gel-cream is full of the antioxidants resveratrol, hydrating hyaluronic acid and vegan collagen to strengthen and lose weight. Made from quinoa extract and peptides to lift and smooth the under-eye area, the rich but gentle cream also works on the eyelids for a well-rested look.
10
FACE BIFAS OIL
This shaking-activated face oil combines two concentrated formulas (water phase and oil phase), resulting in an absolutely excellent texture, and complements the skin with moisture and care ingredients. Each phase is full of organic plant ingredients, nutrients and antioxidants that help fight free radicals, brighten, deeply hydrate and tighten the skin.
11
PIB FOR LIPS
Scented with organic rose hips, peppermint and pink geranium, this super moisturizing lip balm leaves skin smooth, puffy and deeply hydrated. A blend of shea butter, olive oil, rare botanical waxes and sugar gently removes dry skin and smoothes the surface for your healthiest, most beautiful lips ever.
12
RICH GARDENER
This was already a cult favorite super moisturizer with amazing results – and now it’s clean. It is thick and rich, nourishes the skin, nourishes, smoothes, softens and deeply hydrates your skin. Made from argan, avocado and evening primrose oil to replenish the skin; omega-6 fatty acids and antioxidants that help fight free radicals; and a revolutionary complex of ingredients called TFC8 that contains amino acids, high-grade vitamins and synthesized versions of molecules found naturally in the skin, the cream deals with everything from thin lines and wrinkles to elasticity. It is especially great for dry skin and a harsh, dry climate – it smoothes it day and night for malnourished, silky skin.
13
FACE SPRITZ
This unique face mist is made from herbal plants grown on an organic farm in Italy, three different molecular sizes of hyaluronic acid, aloe vera and rose water. It is both soothing and moisturizing – apply it before applying a face cream or oil for skin that is radiant, full and fully hydrated.
14
TONIC FOR TREATMENT
This daily highly active pore cleansing treatment made from detoxifying malachite plus glycolic, phytic and fruit acids helps cleanse the pores and purify the texture. Hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, vitamin B3 and mineral-rich deep-sea water from France help to regenerate and soften the skin, and over time the pores become firmer and the skin becomes visibly clearer and more radiant.
15
HELLO, BARDOT
This brush (also from Robin) makes great, lively strokes at home incredibly easily. Great for medium to long hair, it has twelve rows of natural boar bristles – all curved to glide easily through the hair, adding body and creating loose large curls with the addition of warmth. The lightweight, ergonomic design makes maneuvering and shaping super easy.
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