Best French pharmacy skincare brands, and the products to try

We have been testing French pharmacy products for weeks, to bring you a list of the best brands to shop (The Independent)

Pay a visit to a pharmacy in France and you’ll find more than just headache tablets and plasters lining the shelves – these one-stop shops are also havens for lovers of skincare, with a host of no-nonsense products that are staples in the regimen of millions of people worldwide.

As you’d expect, IndyBest has tested hundreds of skincare products, across a range of categories – from eye creams to retinol serums and from cleansers to men’s SPF moisturisers – and there are some top-performing brands that consistently earn spots in our reviews.

The reason French pharmacy skincare brands are so popular is they often have a strong range of core products that are reasonably priced, with ingredients-focused formulas that address a variety of skincare concerns.

Brands tend to stay away from gimmicks, trends and nasty extras and have instead fine-tuned their product ranges. Packaging is usually chic (in typical French style) and a lot of brands have cult products that are now ubiquitous on bathroom shelves across the UK and beyond.

We have been testing French pharmacy products for weeks, to bring you this list of some of the best brands to know and the products you need to try.

How we tested the best French pharmacy skincare brands

We have been using French pharmacy skincare products for three months, and have selected our hero products from each brand to highlight below. From cleansers and moisturisers to eye creams and SPFs, our skincare routine has come to consist almost exclusively of these tres chic from across the channel. We selected the top brands that are typically found in French pharmacies with some newer cult brands that have emerged in recent years. We introduced products slowly into our routines to ensure we could notice any specific changes.

Best French pharmacy skincare brands 2024

La Roche-Posay

Dermatologists consistently recommend La Roche-Posay thanks to its products being moisturising and barrier-repairing. Its story began with thermal water that was effective for people who suffered from eczema. You can still buy the thermal spring water (from £9, Cultbeauty.co.uk), which contains selenium for skin protection and is a great toner to use before moisturising. Meanwhile, the cicaplast baume B5 repairing balm (£18.90, Cultbeauty.co.uk) has done the rounds on social media and has become known for looking after the skin barrier and reducing scarring. The toleriane dermallergo soothing eye cream (£21, Cultbeauty.co.uk) is perfect for sensitive skin and feels nourishing for dry eyes. Another cult favourite is the anthelios uvmune 400 invisible fluid sun cream (£20, Cultbeauty.co.uk). Overall, this brand stands out thanks to its commitement to addressing skin concerns.

Visit La Roche-Posay now

Darphin

Both research and high-quality ingredients make this premium French brand a must-know if you’re looking for skincare that penetrates deep into the skin. The packaging is luxurious and will look great in your bathroom cabinet. Our highlight product has to be the éclat sublime 8-flower golden nectar youth oil (£118, Lookfantastic.com), thanks to its hydration and nourishing feeling. Plus, the glow it creates is impressive.

Visit Darphin now

Embryolisse

The French pharmacy wonder cream from Embryolisse is the secret to many people’s skincare routines. Loved by make-up artists and other industry professionals, lait-crème concentré moisturiser (£16.59, Lookfantastic.com) is made up of fatty acids and vitamins to calm skin and avoid irritation, even after shaving. The thick, creamy consistency provides a decent hit of hydration at the end of your routine, and it can also be used as a face mask – we’ve even kept it on overnight.

Visit Embryolisse now

Avène

Avène uses thermal water in its product ranges to help reduce issues faced by people with sensitive skin. Look at the ingredients and you’ll see a short, minimal list, with the brand focusing on formulas that soothe sensitive, eczema-prone skin. There are several ranges available, such as the hyaluron activ B3 series, which encourages cell renewal. Try the niacinamide day cream (£38, Cultbeauty.co.uk) or the soothing radiance mask (£16.25, Lookfantastic.com), which left our skin moisturised and glowing. If you suffer from dry hands, turn to the cicalfate range (£11.75, Lookfantastic.com), we found it worked wonders, with hands feeling smooth and soft.

Visit Eau Thermale Avène now

Bioderma

Colour-coded by skin concern, Bioderma’s products have rightfully earned themselves cult status. For removing make-up, nothing beats the sensibio cleansing micellar water (£18, Lookfantastic.com), which comes in a variety of sizes, including a mini one that’s perfect for travel. We also love the sensibio defensive serum (£32, Lookfantastic.com), which is soothing and calming on sensitive skin. Finally, sticking with sensitive skin, a huge 1l bottle of the atoderm shower oil (£22, Lookfantastic.com) offers a gentle way to protect your skin, compared with harsher shower gels.

Visit Bioderma now

Caudalie

Having started life on a French vineyard in the Nineties, Caudalie skincare has been harnessing the antioxidant powers of grapes for nearly 30 years. Made with green grapes and essential oils, the brand’s beauty elixir (from £18, Lookfantastic.com) is a must-try – it can be used to set make-up, giving a dewy glow to the skin, and it reportedly tightens pores. Meanwhile, the SOS hydrating hyaluronic acid serum (£33, Caudalie.com) is light yet moisturising and can be layered under moisturiser. Last but not least, the vinosculpt lift and firm body cream (£29, Lookfantastic.com) has a lovely subtle scent and left our skin glowing and moisturised.

Visit Caudalie now

Filorga

The founder of Filorga is obsessed with the science of skin, cells and medical aesthetics – the brand’s range of products is formulated with 50 ingredients that target fine lines and wrinkles. We tested the time-filler 5xp correction cream (£68.50, Filorga.co.uk) and the anti-wrinkle eye cream (£54, Filorga.co.uk) for a month, and found both creams were quick to absorb, as well as being moisturising. Most importantly, our fine lines looked visibly reduced.

Visit Filorga now

Vichy

Founded by a doctor in 1931, Vichy – which sells products “powered by volcanic minerals” – is a brand focused on skin health from a dermatological perspective. We love the mineral 89 range, which plumps and hydrates the skin – standout products from the collection include the hyaluronic acid booster (from £22.40, Lookfantastic.com) and our new favourite high-strength retinol: the liftactiv 0.2% pure retinol serum (£34, Sephora.co.uk). The capital soleil UV age daily sunscreen (£18, Lookfantastic.com) is completely weightless, even when layered and we found it to be great for sensitive skin.

Visit Vichy now

Typology

One of the more recent additions to the French skincare scene is Typology, a direct-to-consumer business focusing on simplicity, good ingredients and affordability founded by Ning Li (who also co-founded Made.com). We’ve tested a variety of the brand’s products, and keep returning to the vitamin C serum (£29.90, Typology.com). Our skin was left glowing after using this product in both the morning and evening. Another great option to combat texture and smooth the complexion is the 12 per cent niacinamide serum (from £17.90, Typology.com).

Visit Typology now

Institut Esthederm

One of the preeminent leaders within French skincare, Jean-Noël Thorel is a pharmacist and cellular biology expert –  who also founded Naos, the parent company of Bioderma, ëtat pur and Institut Esthederm. The latter aims to create products for repairing and protecting skin on a cellular level. The age proteom advanced serum (£86, Sephora.co.uk) uses a microorganism extract to promote regeneration and leaves the skin soft and glowy. Meanwhile, the osmoclean face cleansing gel (£25.50, Lookfantastic.com) is a super-gentle cleanser that has rapidly become our go-to for sensitive skin.

Visit Institut Esthederm now

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