Don’t get us wrong, we can’t get enough of our own homegrown beauty brands, but there’s just something about what the French do with their beauty products and regimens that has us pining for a taste of Parisian beauty. The lit-from-within skin, swollen red lips, rumpled hair – the je ne sais quoi – it’s all part and parcel of being chic, and we want our share.
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From glowing skin to mastering the art of bed hair like the gamine femmes on the streets of Paris, these are the very best products made by the French, that are nothing short of très magnifique!
L’OCCITANE
If you’ve ever heard someone say, “You can tell a lot about a woman by her hands”, you’ll know that French women treat their hands with effortless elegance. Non-greasy and enriched with almond milk to nourish and soften the hands, there’s no questions this is the product that sparked the famous saying.
Carven
Floral and feminine, this eau de parfum bursts with top notes of mandarin blossom and white hyacinth and a heart of sweet pea, jasmine and ylang ylang. Almost as fragrant as Monet’s Garden… almost.
Christophe Robin
Volumizing Shampoo
A darling of the haircare world, the principal active ingredients found here are formulated using musk rose oil, centifolia rose water and baobab leaf extracts. Together, they gently cleanse while giving volume for beautifully chic hair à la French favourite Clémence Poésy. How to be Parisian: Part one.
Lancôme
A French beauty is enough to make anyone blush, but it’s her sweet rosy cheeks that are her secret weapon. Add some warmth to your skin and highlight your cheekbones for a flushed complexion that’s so French, so chic.
Yves Saint Laurent
No French beauty list is complete without the addition of a red lipstick. From the iconic French label YSL, this lippy is super luxe and a favourite among the crème de la crème of fabulous ‘It Girls’. When a French woman wears lip colour, she skips everything else. Now all you need is a striped tee – one of the best things, in our opinion, to come out of France.
Chanel
No. 5
Coco Chanel once said, “A woman who doesn’t wear perfume has no future.” Well, we don’t know about that, but we do know that in France (the country of perfume), you’re never fully dressed until you’ve applied your fragrance. While the French do love a signature scent, we say be bold – and don’t hold back. You can never have too many. And as one of the bestselling fragrances in the world, we figure this is a good place to start…
Klorane
French girls don’t fuss with their hair – they shy away from blow-drys and straighteners, and focus more on getting that natural gritty texture that’s confident and oh so femme. The secret? Refrain from washing your hair every day – instead, opt for dry shampoos like this one, which leave your hair soft and full of French girl texture.
NUXE
Confession: Yours truly is biased when it comes to a year-round glow, having spent all her life by the seaside. Picture yourself on the south-coast of Nice, enjoying long summer days in free-flowing dresses that bare your tanned limbs. This multi-use oil can be used on the face, body and hair, and will help you out with two things: a subtle shimmer and skin soft to the touch. The only thing we need to work on now is how to get ourselves to Nice…
Avène
We’ll clue you in on a little secret: The fountain of youth does not exist in your bathroom sink. In fact, you’ll find it right here. If the two adjectives which come to mind when you picture the French are ‘fresh’ and ‘dewy-faced’, then you’re on the right track. Start using spring water to join their ranks.
Darphin
Vitalskin Anti-Fatigue Dynamising Serum
Are you curious to know where the French get their natural beauty from? Well, wonder no more. Enriched with extracts of Polynesian noni, caffeine, vitamin C and botanical concentrate, this serum supports the skin’s natural energy for a more radiant complexion.
La Roche-Posay
Fun fact: This skin care brand was named after the French town where the miraculous thermal water was initially discovered. Among their hero products, there’s the Thermal Water, but this sunscreen oil is a personal favourite. While nourishing your skin, the oil offers high UV protection with a satin finish. The good news is you no longer need to travel to France to experience it for yourself.
BIODERMA
It’s a well known fact we love micellar water – which might be heavily due to our love of all things French. Avoid splashing your face with tap water which can be too harsh for some skin types, instead try something soothing on the skin, like this ultra-gentle solution. It captures dirt, residue, oil and make-up for a smooth and fresh face, très bien!
None have impressed me. Only one from all the ones trialed over the years… and have purchased the product. Bioderma's sunscreen photoderm that I'm not allergic to and can work with.
I love Instant by Guerlain wish I could afford to buy it and wear it every day.
I love some of these brands!
I wish I had a larger disposable income.
love!
I do enjoy French brands!