Ah, French skincare! It wouldn’t be a trip to France without stopping by one of the pharmacies and stocking up on some goodies. After living in France for a few years, I can confidently say that French skincare is elite. In the beginning, though, I struggled to identify which products were worth it. With a bit of time, research, and trial and error (and befriending my local French pharmacist), I’ve been able to narrow down the products that I’d buy again and again.
Since our needs change for the seasons, this blog focuses on skincare for the summer. If you’re looking for overall favorites though, I have a more general list of my favorite French skincare products here. With that all said, let’s get to it! Below is my list of French skincare essentials for the summertime:
Best French Skincare Products for Summer
#1 Caudalie Vinosun Protect
What is it? Caudalie’s take on sun care products is made to protect skin from UV rays. In milk, cream, or water, the collection comes in SPF30, SPF50, and SPF50+. Check out the entire line here.
Not sold in the US vs France price ~ 17.90€/50ml
Some of the best French skincare products come from Caudalie, so it is no surprise their line for the summer is impeccable. You can’t go wrong with any of their products, but my favorite is their high-protection cream. This rivals the cult favorite La Roche Posay Anthelios sunscreen, and is a good addition to your sunscreen rotation in the summer.
#2 La Roche Posay Eau Thermale
What is it? Water spray for rehydrating the skin or soothing the skin against any damage
US Price $13.99/150ml vs France price ~ 7.60€/150ml
Thermal water is a popular French skincare product you’ll see all over the pharmacy. It has natural minerals with healing properties such as selenium, silica, and calcium. Each mineral has a specific benefit for the skin, but in short, thermal water has anti-inflammatory and healing dermatological properties. I use thermal water as a precursor to putting on hyaluronic acid (since your skin is supposed to be a little wet before applying HA anyway). Thermal water is particularly popular in the summertime because you can stick it in the fridge and use it as a cooling, healing mist amidst the summer heat.
You can read more in-depth about the benefits of thermal water on La Roche Posay’s site here.
#3 UV. Skin
What is it? A dietary supplement with cell-protecting antioxidants for tanning. 1-2 capsules a day over 8-10 weeks can support and lengthen the duration of your natural tan and prevent sun damage.
Not sold in the US vs France price 29.99€/70 capsules
NHCO Nutrition® developed UV.Skin™ to support sun-exposed skin. The ingredients in each capsule stimulate tanning, protect, repair, and hydrate the skin. Briefly, I’ve listed the active ingredients (many of which are formulas built in NHCO Nutrition’s labs) based on their product description:
- ActiVmélanine™ complex aids in achieving a natural tan with precursors like tyrosine, along with antioxidants like Beta-carotene and Lycopene.
- Photoprotect-140™, which includes grape, green tea, and silymarin extracts, helps combat cellular damage and premature aging.
- UV.Skin™ also includes amino acids for collagen production, hyaluronic acid, and borage for skin repair and hydration.
- Skin Defense 2P™ complex, with prebiotics and lactoferrin, enhances skin defenses against UV damage.
#4 Respire Huile Démaquillante
What is it? Makeup remover oil that’s effective against waterproof makeup
Not sold in the US vs France price ~ 17.90€/150ml
Created in 2017 by Justine Hutteau, Respire is another company born out of the need for skincare made with 100% natural, safe ingredients for the French market. The main idea at Respire is to create products that boost the active ingredients that are already naturally present in the skin. Because of this, Respire claims to guarantee perfectly compatible products that guarantee performance and healthier skin.
I’m not a big fan of micellar water because it isn’t strong enough to remove my waterproof mascara with a few swipes. A mix of castor, almond, grapeseed, and sunflower oil, this cleansing oil from Respire is strong enough to remove even my most stubborn mascara.
#5 La Roche-Posay Effaclar Gel Facial Wash for Oily Skin
What is it? This gentle facial wash with zinc pidolate effectively cleanses away dirt and oil while respecting skin’s pH balance. Cleanses and purifies skin without over drying. Best for oily skin.
US Price $17/200ml vs France price ~ 12€/200ml
The whole Effaclar line is aimed at treating oily skin, but this face wash is the one that has gotten me through two summers in France with the climbing heat. Pretty much any Effaclar cleansing product will promise you squeaky clean skin without drying out your face — a common complaint among facial cleansers for oily skin. If you have particularly oily skin/you breakout during the summer, this cleanser is a must-have to get you through the hotter months.
#6 Nuxe Après Soleil Lait Refraîcher
What is it? an after-sun body lotion for skin repair and 24h hydration. It claims to help to prolong your tan for up to 2 weeks!
US Price $20.95/200ml vs France price ~ 18.90€/200ml
I can’t make a list of French skincare products without including Nuxe. Nuxe is really the smell of the summer in France, and their Nuxe Sun line expands into bronzing oils, shampoo and conditioner, and even perfume. I’ve listed this particular product because of its ability to preserve your tan. One of the main ingredients in this lotion is carob powder extract, a tanning stimulant extracted from the pulp of carob fruit. The scent of all Nuxe Sun products (as written on their site) is described as radiant harmonies of Sweet Orange and Petitgrain and notes of Coconut and Tiare Flowers, caressed by a sensual wave of Vanilla and Musk.
#7 SVR Eau Solaire
What is it? Literally translated, this is sunscreen water. It offers the same protection as regular sunscreen with a lighter, less stickier formula.
Not sold in the US vs. France price ~ 23.90€/200ml
You’re probably wondering what the heck is sunscreen water? We don’t have it in the U.S., but its benefits are no different than plain ol’ sunscreen lotion. The kicker is that sunscreen water tends to not feel as sticky on the skin compared to regular sunscreen.
You’ll see that the formula has separated within the bottle: the top, orange part, and the bottom clear part. The orange contains the sun protectant filters and the clear part is a water solution. To apply, shake the bottle so that both parts are mixed entirely. Mixing the formula creates that light and invisible texture that you don’t get with sunscreen creams or oils.
This is probably not scientifically correct, but I think of sunscreen water as a diluted, more powerful version of sunscreen oil. You get the benefits of a higher SPF with a less stickier formula. Win win!
#8 Cicaplast Spray B5
What is it? Soothing, anti-itching repair spray fit for all skin types
US Price $26.99/100ml vs France price 13.30€/100ml
If you’re a user of the beloved La Roche Posay B5 Baume, you’ll be delighted to know that it now comes in spray form! The B5 baume is a staple of French skincare, and is particularly good for the winter months. However, the cream formula is too heavy for everyday use during the summer. The spray formula allows for all the benefits you’d get out of the cream, but with a lighter application. I usually spritz this either in the morning before applying sunscreen or at night before going to bed. This is a great way to heal/support your skin barrier without making your skin too oily.
#9 La Rosée Stick Solaire
What is it? A sunscreen stick (SPF50) made with apricot oil, cocoa butter, and candelilla wax. The base is 100% natural origin and the formula is biodegradable and water-resistant.
Not sold in the US vs France price ~ 13.50€/18.5g
La Rosée is a relatively new skincare brand created by two French pharmacists in 2015. The goal was affordable, eco-responsible, and 100% natural cosmetics, and in just a few years, La Rosée managed to establish itself as a leading cosmetics brand in French pharmacies.
I’ll admit that this sunscreen stick is a little oily for my taste, but its size and product design make it a constant in my beach bag. The formula can be used on the face, lips, and any other sensitive areas. It’s even safe for use on kids as young as 3 years old! It’s best for no makeup days since the oiliness of the formula doesn’t allow for layering other products onto your skin. I highly recommend buying La Rosée in France as they don’t have distributors in the U.S. so the shipping fees are expensive. Other favorites from this brand are their 3 in 1 mask, SOS Baume, and my personal favorite, their plumping serum.
#10 Hydratis
What is it? Mineral tablets designed to fortify your water for further hydration. This is the French version of LiquidIV.
Not sold in the US vs France price ~ 10€/20 tablets
Okay, this is technically not skincare, but I couldn’t not mention Hydratis. Over recent years, the summer heat gets hot hot in France, all the way from Paris to the south. A little extra help in your water goes a long way. It helps that Hydratis has 8 different flavors – my favorite is fruits de bois. It’s not only useful on a hot day, however. I’ve used it when I got sick with food poisoning and this stuff was a lifesaver. Definitely will be keeping this stocked in my medicine cabinet from now on!
[…] If you want to learn more about the French pharmacy, including some inspo on what exactly you should buy, you can check out my blog on my favorite products in the French pharmacy. Visiting during the summertime? Here’s a blog on the top 10 French pharmacy products for the summer. […]