I've posted a few times before about my French pharmacy hauls (and I may have had one or two more since then), so I thought I would devote a whole post to the products I've discovered that have become some of my favorites, dare I say it, holy grail...yikes!! Lately, my favorite French website has been unable to complete orders. *tear* However, I've found some other websites that have had comparable prices and shipping - Escentual and Cocoon Center. I've probably been ordering more than I need and am actually making a super concerted effort to use up the products I have before ordering more. As a self-declared beauty addict, I am not very good at finishing products...I usually find something else I like and move on. But, that's changed...partly because I am just running out of space, and I just need to get in the habit of finishing things. (I actually finished two items today - a Batiste dry shampoo and my Body Shop cleansing butter - woohoo!)
I won't get into the ins and outs of what you can find in the US vs other countries. Check out my other posts if you want details on prices and shipping, just do your research - read to the end of this post and I'll explain my Effaclar Duo debacle. So, here's are some of my discoveries that have turned into my favorites! Allez, allez...keep reading!
Let me start by saying that since I've incorporated a lot of these skincare products into my routine, my face has been smooth, glowy, and almost blemish free.
Avene Thermal Spring Water (Eau Thermale) - A soothing spray for sensitive skin that contains the rich, thermal mineral water. I used this to cool my face during the summer heat, to prep my skin after removing makeup. It just provided a nice, fresh mist and helped keep my skin balanced, like a toner. This was a repurchase based off of a sample I coincidentally received in my Ipsy bag - it was on my French pharmacy wishlist.
La Roche-Posay Lipikar Body Milk (Lipikar Lait) - I purchased a small tube of this originally because I was intrigued...no real reason. It was a last minute add-on, but it was the first of all the products I immediately repurchased (an in a bulk package). I began using this after my shower and it made my skin remarkably smoother - even my husband noticed. I can tell when I go a couple days without it; it has truly become holy grail for me.
Klorane Mango Butter Conditioner - I wanted something tropical for a trip to the shore and I ended up loving the results. My hair felt smooth and light and sooo incredibly soft. It also reduced my frizz. I have since repurchased and also picked up the shampoo so I could try them together.
Bioderma Hydrabio Micellar Water - Obviously had to try this...it is the one product that everyone lists in the French pharmacy must-haves and so many bloggers, MUAs, models rave out this. I chose the formula for dehydrated skin and it has become a crucial step in my nighttime skincare routine. I'm very impressed with how thoroughly it removes my makeup (especially eye makeup). I put some on a cotton pad and will hold on my eyes for a few seconds to remove my eye makeup. I've repurchased the original formula to try that out.
Vichy Normaderm 3-in-1 Cleanser, Scrub, Mask - I wanted to try a face cleanser that would help reduce and prevent blemishes. I liked the versatility of this, it is gentle enough for me to use everyday, but gives me more options like a deeper exfoliating scrub or I've let it sit on my face to use as a mask. This will be a definite repurchase.
Caudalie Polyphenol C15 Serum - I'm about halfway through this gorgeous, green glass bottle, using it day and night. I feel like it makes my skin plumper and firmer and really preps my skin for my moisturizer. I pair it with the Polyphenol Detox oil as part of my nighttime routine. I truly haven't found a Caudalie product I have not loved, but this one stands out.
Homeoplasmine - A cult product with a texture between Vaseline and Aquafor. I use this exclusively on my lips before bed when my lips are feeling cracked or dry and I wake up to smooth, plump lips. There are lots of French lip products I really like - Nuxe Reve de Miel, Caudalie Lip Conditioner, La Roche-Posay Ceralips and I use them all, but this one has really impressed me with how quickly it worked for me.
Vichy Normaderm Hyaluspot - This is a blemish spot treatment of salicylic acid and LHA with hyaluronic acid which I found to be interesting. Since I was a fan of the Normaderm 3-in-1, I wanted to try this spot treatment. At first I was not impressed at all and even disappointed, but after having a particularly bothersome outbreak on my chin, I gave this another chance despite feeling that it was rather gimmicky. I applied this before bedtime, and where other products had failed, I woke up to a very noticeable difference without the dry, patchy results I've gotten in the past with other products. I was blown away and with continued use, my face was back to normal super quickly.
Now, this is why I say do research - my La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo debacle - when I tried to purchase Effaclar Duo with my first order, it was sold out. I was beyond ecstatic to see it in my local CVS on sale, I bought it without hesitation...also without reading. Here's where I made my rookie French skincare mistake - the formula for Effaclar Duo is different here in the US than it is in France. It is much more abrasive and contains harsher ingredients than the "Made in France" version. I never stopped to read my package to see that it said "Made in the USA" and slathered it all over my face, like the French version instructed me to do. Within a day or two, I'm pretty sure I had given myself a chemical burn. I could not apply other products or makeup without some pretty intense stinging, so I had to give my skin a break. I also only used my American Effaclar Duo as a spot treatment. I've finally got the French version sitting a drawer, but waiting until I use up the original before opening it up.
I'm always on the hunt for new French products to try! Do you have any favorites or recommendations??
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