We're all wildly familiar with (and envious of) French women's style, which is famed for its timeless, effortless vibes. But French women's beauty routines are worthy of equal attention. Unlike the beauty aisles of Boots or American drugstores, which are fathomless infernos of too many products, the French pharmacie is a place of modest wonder—offering just a handful of affordable skincare, makeup and haircare brands that help French women keep their skin clear and their hair healthy without overspending or too much fuss.
Aspiring to approach drugstore beauty like a French girl, we hit up a handful of our favourite French fashion influencers and asked them this: If you were to walk into a pharmacy and buy two or three beauty products, what would they be? Keep scrolling to find their answers.
French women like Ellie of @slipintostyle are collectively obsessed with this iconic makeup remover, which has a super-gentle, vitamin E–rich formula—perfect for sensitive skin.
Aloe vera and shea butter are a couple of the key ingredients in this impossibly light, milky moisturiser, which protects the skin's moisture barrier without clogging pores.
This moisturiser for dry feet and cracked heels is an unexpected French-girl staple: The nourishing, anti-inflammatory formula is packed with shea butter, lipo-aminoacids and vitamin A.
Related: The One Bag French Girls Will Never Buy
French women swear by this classic face mist for its soothing, skin-softening action. Spritz this stuff after cleansing (before moisturising) or at any point throughout the day to reap its complexion-calming benefits.
Consistently delivering high-performance formulas, drugstore skincare brand La Roche-Posay has a place in almost every French beauty guru's arsenal. This ultra-moisturising day cream is a staple in Parisian influencer Barbara Malewicz's routine.
This multi-purpose combination of plant oils and vitamin E can be used on the face, body or hair as a nourishing, repairing treatment. Its smell alone is worth the purchase.
Parisian influencer Monica de La Villardière calls this shampoo-conditioner combo "super nutrition for your hair."
For only £8, this ridiculously rich conditioner repairs dry and damaged hair, leaving it soft and bouncy in that nonchalant French-girl way.
It's so hard to find a non-greasy, non-chalky, non-stinky sunscreen at the drugstore—that's why this featherlight, non-comedogenic, fragrance-free formula is such a gem.
No need to spend £50 on a face scrub—this little-known dermatologist-approved formula uses both physical and chemical exfoliation to keep the skin bright and breakout-free.
This super-healing, balm-like moisturiser for dry and sensitive skin has a permanent place in Paris fashion girl Franny Fyne's medicine cabinet.
Next up, the 5 shoe trends that define Parisian style.
-
French Women Just Showed Me 5 Flawless Ways to Wear Jeans and Boots This WinterNow you know.
-
Gwyneth Paltrow Just Wore the Classic Trouser Trend That French Women Live in Every WinterI can see why they love it.
-
I Just Spent 4 Days in Paris—7 Items Everyone Was Wearing That I Now Need TooThe perfect Parisian capsule.
-
5 Chic Anti-Trend Colours French Women Have Added to Their Autumn WardrobesThe ones to know.
-
Forget Sambas —Everyone in Paris Is Wearing This '90s Trainer Trend Right NowCool kicks.
-
7 Cool Fashion Trends You’ll See All Over Europe This AutumnNotebooks at the ready.
-
If You Love the '90s and French Style, These 8 Outfits Will Speak to YouThe best of both worlds.
-
4 French Vs 4 Scandi Jacket Trends That Prove You're in the Know This AutumnChoose your tribe.
