11 More Beauty Products to Buy from French Pharmacies (or Amazon)

French beauty products are some of the most sought after in the world, and not just international brands such as L’Oréal, Clinique, and Clarins. Skip the department stores, because in France, there’s a whole host of brands that line the shelves of pharmacies. Consider the green cross that flashes above the entrance of all French pharmacies a beacon of beauty. Last summer, I compiled a list of 12 beauty products to buy from French pharmacies. Well, nine months have passed, and I’ve got another basket of beauty products for you to buy from French pharmacies {or Amazon}.

Beauty Products to Buy from French Pharmacies

Marvis Toothpaste

Technically this toothpaste comes from Italy, but it is widely sold in French pharmacies. Don’t let the vintage packaging fool you. It’s totally contemporary in terms of fluoride, whitening, and all that jazz. So, what separates Marvis from its competitors? It’s the imaginative flavors!

 

 

Ginger Mint and Jasmine Mint are two of my favorites. Aquatic Mint, Cinnamon Mint, Whitening Mint, and Classic Strong Mint are some of the more traditional flavors. The only one I’ve not tried is Amerelli Licorice, because I abhor licorice. Occasionally, Marvis comes out with limited-edition flavors, such as the Wonders of the World set that is currently out.

NUXE Crème Prodigieuse Enrichie Cream

Perhaps my favorite French product is the Huile Prodigieuse dry oil from NUXE, so it should come as no surprise that I also like other products from the brand. I use this as a day moisturizer in the winter and a night moisturizer in the summer. It’s rich, hydrating, and full of anti-oxidants. Bonus: it smells like the Huile Prodigieuse dry oil I love so much. According to the NUXE website, the brand is pulling out of the US market, so French pharmacies or Amazon will be the best places to buy their products.

NUXE Crème Prodigieuse Nuit Cream

Meant to accompany the product above, the NUXE Crème Prodigieuse Nuit Anti-Fatigue cream is a night moisturizer. It’s anti-aging, hydrating, and encourages cell renewal. I smear it around my neck and face during the winter, and dab it on around my eyes and forehead in the summer.

Avène Eau Thermale Cleansing Foam

Avène is another brand that I love. Slowly but surely, I’ll make it through their entire skincare line. I’m a big fan of foam cleansers, and the Avène Eau Thermale is spot on, especially in the warmer months. It’s soap free and is made for normal or combination skin. My skin tends to get a bit oily in the T-zone, so this is a great cleanser/make-up remover for me. It contains glutamic acid, which leaves the skin with a matte finish and has shown an immediate oil reduction of 54% on a single application.

 

 

Avène Eau Thermale Hydrance Cream

As someone who’s had a couple of bouts with skin cancer on her face, I use the Avène Eau Thermale Hydrance Optimale Hydrating Cream as my first line of defense against the sun. Containing a broad-spectrum SPF 25, this daytime moisturizer also has an antioxidant to battle free radicals. I apply this on my face and neck every day, no matter the season.

 

 

Avène Eau Thermale SPF 50+ Sunscreen

As I mentioned before, I’ve been treated for skin cancer on a few occasions. I blame my pale skin and years of baking in the sun, along with tanning bed use. I’m trying to do better, but old habits die hard. I recently bought Avène Eau Thermale SPF 50+ Hydrating Sunscreen in anticipation of the French Open. Paris was unseasonably warm and Rolland Garros is famous for being boiling hot. I slathered on this broad spectrum UVA/UVB SPF 50+ sunscreen once at home and twice at the tournament. Despite sweating like a pig, I had no burn to speak of. The hydrating lotion protects for up to 80 minutes in water.

 

 

Galénic Pur Oxygenating Exfoliating Gel

It’s quite difficult to find an exfoliating product from a French line. It’s not really something they do, opting for more gentle ways to remove dirt, make-up, and dry skin. After a good 15 minutes of scouring the shelves at my neighborhood pharmacy, I found Galénic Pur Oxygenating Exfoliating Gel. With its exfoliating micro beads, I use this creamy cleanser 2-3 times per week, depending on the season. It contains melilotus floral water, which supposedly helps eliminate skin toxins and keeps the skin from becoming irritated. I really love that it smells like jasmine and lily of the valley, two of my favorite flowers.

 

 

Galénic Pur Cleansing Mousse

Another foam cleanser I love is Galénic Pur Cleansing Mousse, which comes from the same line as the exfoliating gel. The light cleanser also contains melilotus floral water and the fragrance of jasmine and lily of the valley. I use it morning and night to remove makeup and the day’s impurities.

 

 

SVR Sebiaclear Active Acne Cream

Who doesn’t get a pimple every now and then? If you don’t, well then, I pretty much hate you. Any-hoo, I didn’t buy this specifically for my post-pubescent pimple problem, because those are few and far between. I did, however, buy this because I have a problem with clogged pores on my nose. It drives me nuts! Not only does SVR Sebiaclear Active Acne Cream clear up a pimple over night, it also helps combat blackheads and excess sebum. The cream contains gluconolactone, which works as an anti-inflammatory and naicinamide for controlling bacteria production and regulating sebum produced by sebaceous glands. It’s oil-free with no allergens. I put it a thin layer on my nose at night and have noticed a considerable difference.

 

 

Rene Furterer Volume A Spray

I have a lot of hair, but it’s quite fine. A true Texas girl, I like a little volume in my hair. Before blasting my blow dryer, I douse my limp locks with Rene Furterer Volume A Spray. Pulling triple duty, this spray works as a volumizer, conditioner, and detangler. With scents of lemon, rose, and thyme, it smells like a garden on the Côte d’Azur.

 

 

Rene Furterer Style Finishing Spray

Another French hair product I use is Rene Furterer Style Vegetal Finishing Spray. The satin finish in this aerosol spray is light, so your hair still looks touchable. No crunchy coifs here! The pleasant scent has citrus notes, as well as lily of the valley. I’m a big fan of Rene Furterer products for my hair, using the their shampoos and conditioners for color treated hair.

Make sure to check out my post from 2016 that’s filled with more beauty products to buy from French pharmacies {or Amazon}. In that post, I enlisted the opinions of some of my favorite American expats in Paris. If you’re in Paris, check out my favorite pharmacy, City Pharma in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Pack your patience, but it really does have an outstanding variety and the best prices. If you can’t get to France, check out my purchase links on Amazon.

Note: There are affiliate links in this post, meaning I make a small commission if you make a purchase through my links. It costs you nothing more, but helps keep me stocked in French wine {and a roof over my head}.

Another Note: Photos of products are property of the respective brands.