The French Pharmacy: Clean Edition
We’ve discovered many of our favorite beauty essentials in French pharmacies over the years. Of course, as we’ve cleaned up our routines, those favorites have changed, but our love affair with French beauty—whether the products are actually French or simply give off that ineffable air of both mystery and common sense—remains as passionate as ever. From a firming serum infused with resveratrol (the “French paradox” antioxidant compound found in red wine) to the most effortless tinted lip balms to a frizz-smoothing hair perfume, our French-pharmacy-inspired obsessions are all clean—and best in class.
1
Skin Serum
Caudalie Resveratrol-Lift Instant Firming Serum, $79This gel-serum is made with active ingredients found in wine (including resveratrol) to hydrate and firm skin, leaving it smooth and refined—and the dewy finish works beautifully under makeup or on its own.
2
Overnight Exfoliating Treatment
goop Beauty GOOPGLOW Dark Spot Exfoliating Sleep Milk, $98/$89 with subscriptionThe French believe gentle is always best—and the time-released alpha hydroxy acids and special moisture complex in this serum make its intense exfoliation gentler on your skin. The results (both short- and long-term) are next-level.
3
Gel-to-Milk Cleanser
Okoko Beauté Majestique Cleanser, $116Brighten, balance, and revive dull skin with this raspberry-colored cleanser that detoxifies pores and smooths roughness with a genius blend of exfoliating salicylic acid and papaya, as well as bamboo powder (a physical exfoliant) and moisturizing squalane.
4
Antifrizz Oil
goop Beauty GOOPGLOW Restore + Shine Hair Serum, $55/$44 with subscriptionThis intensely smoothing preshampoo treatment is the secret to effortless French-girl texture. The shine-boosting blend of cuticle-sealing vitamin C and nourishing botanical oils silkifies frizz and helps detangle, leaving hair smooth and lustrous—no matter your hair type.
5
Micellar Water
Furtuna Skin Acqua Serena Micellar Cleansing Essence, $78Cleanse and nourish skin with this clarifying essence that sweeps away makeup, dirt, oil, and the day. Made with organic ingredients and hand-harvested botanicals, this multipurpose water luminizes and tones—and looks gorgeous in your bathroom.
6
Hair Serum/Perfume
Ranavat Fortifying Hair Serum: Mighty Majesty, $70Made with just three ultranourishing ingredients—vitamin-C-rich amla, sunflower, and jasmine oils—this gorgeous hair serum smooths flyaways and smells like a tangle of wild jasmine. It’s incredible for zhuzhing unwashed hair into something gently mussed and French, or for leaving on overnight as a moisturizing mask.
7
Sexy Liquid Eyeliner
ILIA Clean Liquid Liner, $28The classic French cat-eye is best rendered in inky eyeliner—this one is sleek and water-resistant and doesn’t smudge. (Or etch it along your lash line to create subtle—and face-energizing—definition.)
8
Rescue Balm
Okoko Sublime Balm, $83We don’t know what’s more luxurious: this supple-skin miracle’s rich texture—the plumping blend of carrot and tomato seed oils feels so cushiony against your skin—or the way it triples as moisturizer, eye balm, and even cleanser (just mix it with water).
9
Hair Color
Christophe Robin Temporary Color Gel, $35Our favorite temporary color from French hair-color star Christophe Robin blends beautifully, looks as natural as the color you’d get at Robin’s Parisian salon, lasts for seven shampoos, and—crucially—is made without bleach or PPD, one of the most potentially dangerous chemicals in hair color.
10
Essential Eye Cream
Caudalie Resveratrol-Lift Eye Firming Gel Cream, $59This French gel treatment is loaded with antioxidant resveratrol, cooling hyaluronic acid, firming peptides, and vegan collagen to lift and depuff. We love how seamlessly it melts in—and how it revives tired eyes almost instantly.
11
Plum Face Oil
Le Prunier Plum Beauty Oil, $72Le secret weapon for brilliant, baby-soft skin is this plum seed oil (the sole miracle ingredient). Swirled with antioxidants, omegas, and polyphenols, it deposits the prettiest healthy-looking sheen—on skin, body, and hair—and smells incredible.
12
Tinted Lip Balm
goop Beauty GOOPGENES Clean Nourishing Lip Balm Trio, $48Each sheer shade flatters any skin tone—you get a subtle rose, a translucent garnet, and the OG clear one—and leaves lips cocooned in moisture for hours. The coconut-and-jojoba formula feels silky on and works as beautifully for day as it does for nights out.
13
Rich Moisturizer
Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream, $280Rich and plumping, this supermoisturizer smooths, deeply nourishes, and fortifies skin. Made with replenishing oils and a groundbreaking ingredient complex called TFC8 that contains amino acids, the cream targets fine lines and wrinkles, texture, elasticity, and more.
14
Face Spritz
Tower 28 Beauty SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray, $28This deeply soothing mist (the magic comes from hypochlorous acid, an ingredient surfers love for helping to calm skin) deposits the dewiest sheen—and is just brilliant for refreshing energy-less midday skin.
15
Skin-Brightening Tonic
goop Beauty GOOPGLOW Flower Acids Resurfacing Toner, $45/$40 with subscriptionExfoliating flower acids combine with aloe and glycerin in this gently retexturizing toner that also drenches skin in moisture. Smooth it on after washing your face for silkier, glowier, healthier-looking skin.
16
Hello, Bardot
Christophe Robin Pre-Curved Blowdry Hair Brush 12 Rows, $103This brush (also from Robin) glides through hair and makes styling—voluminous blowouts, bouncy texture, sleek pulled-back looks, epic waves—amazingly easy. The 12 rows of natural boar bristles smooth tangles, add body, and leave hair beautifully shiny.