11 French Drugstore Products That Are SO Damn Good

French girls are known for their effortlessly chic makeup look, gently tousled locks, and unbelievably simple yet effective skincare routines – all thanks to a handful of iconic drugstore products.

The French pharmacy is like a skincare haven, full of hidden gems that will transform your skin. From the staple Bioderma Micellar Water to our skin savior, the Embryoilisse Filaderme moisturizer, the french it-girls have it on lockdown. We can proudly say our routine is also certified ‘en francais’ and our skin is loving it! But don’t worry, there’s no need to grab your passport, these 11 products are available online. Here are all the deets:

1. The Skincare Staple: Bioderma Micellar Water, $15

Source: Bioderma

Unless you live under a rock, you’ve probably heard of micellar water. It’s a beauty-editor and supermodel’s fave thing to talk about. Micellar water contains micelles, which are made of surfactants that act as a magnet to attract dirt, makeup, and sebum, lifting impurities from the skin without stripping away natural oils, making it a super effective makeup remover. The Bioderma Micellar Water was the OG formula that sparked a huge skincare trend. Just soak a cotton pad in micellar water and gently wipe it across your face and use it as the first step of your nightly double cleanse.

2. For Girl’s On The Go: Avène Thermal Spring Water, $19

Source: Avene

Before facial mists were THE trending new product to stash in your tote, all French girls carried this in their Chanel 2.55’s. This clean, natural formula boosts skin with a refreshing surge of hydration. It’s infused with trace minerals and silica that help reduce irritation from external factors while leaving a layer of moisture as further protection. It’s super gentle with a natural pH balance of 7.5; so if you have sensitive skin this is a great way to balance your skin, and it’s also paraben-free, derm-approved and hypoallergenic. If you ever find yourself sunburned (ouch), a spritz of this is the ultimate relief.

3. For Dry Skin: Embryolisse Filaderme Emulsion, $33

Source: Embryolisse

If you have dry skin, this super hydrating moisturizer is about to change your life. The formula helps smooth imperfections, fine lines, and wrinkles while hydrating your skin to give it a youthful glow. Packed with hydrating superheroes like aloe vera, shea butter, and squalane, it boasts an omega-rich hit of hydration that helps boost levels of elasticity in the skin. It also contains soy proteins that can help the appearance of pigmentation and even out skin tone. Plus, it’s rich in vitamin E and fatty acids, so it helps to strengthen the skin barrier so that it maintains the optimal pH level. To put it simply, it’s the bomb.com.

4. For Very Dry Skin: Aquaphor Healing Ointment $7

Source: Aquaphor

Made by French fave, Eucerin, this extremely hydrating ointment is both a French pharmacy staple and has a cult celeb following – even Princess Meghan Markle swears by it. The ointment is formulated with 41% petrolatum; a potent emollient that keeps the skin hydrated by reducing moisture loss. It also contains mega-hydrators like glycerine and panthenol, which are humectants, so they’ll help draw moisture back into the skin. Find out how the celebs are using Aquaphor.

5. For Oily Skin: Caudalie Vinopure Natural Salicylic Acid Pore Minimizing Toner, $28

Source: Caudalie

No French roundup would be complete without Caudalie. Yet another model fave, mega babes like Rosie Huntington Whitely and Miranda Kerr use this toner daily. Powered by 100% natural salicylic acid, it penetrates deep into your pores to unbind the glue the causes blockages and dead skin build-up that lead to breakouts. The formula is further enriched with grape seed polyphenols, which help prevent oil in your skin from oxidizing or turning black, aka it prevents blackheads. Use this every night after double cleansing and you can say au revoir to large pores.

6. For Thirsty Skin: Vichy Mineral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Face Serum Moisturizer Daily Skin Booster, $30

Source: Vichy

We’re always on the hunt for amazing serums that won’t break the bank, so this Vichy Serum is top of our list. With just 11 ingredients, its main ingredient is mineralizing thermal water (89%), that’s enriched with 15 essential minerals to hydrate and plump your skin, plus hyaluronic acid. It’s perfect for all skin types as it’s free of alcohol, fragrance, oil, and parabens. We love to use this after we’ve toned for a hit of hydration before our other serums or moisturizers.

7. For Acne-Prone Skin: Institute Estaderm Intensive Propylsysee Serum, $37

Source: Institut Esthederm

This unique formula contains natural skin-healer, propolis. Made by bees, Propolis contains over 300 healing compounds and has been used for thousands of years to treat wounds thanks to its antifungal, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. For acne, it works like an antiseptic to stamp out bacteria lingering in the skin while healing pimples more quickly. Use this serum consistently every morning and night.

8. For EVERYONE: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid Extreme, Spf 60, $30

Source: La Roche-Posay

If there’s one skincare rule the French understand and implement, it’s the importance of wearing sunscreen daily, and the La Roche-Posay sunscreen is a classic. The dual-protecting formula protects your skin from both UVA and UVB rays with broad-spectrum SPF 50. The advanced filtering system delivers long-wearing protection while their unique Cell-Ox shield combats environmental damage. The lightweight formula applies and absorbs like a dream and is also non-comedogenic, so it won’t block pores.

9. For An Airbrushed Finish: LeClerc Pressed Powder,  $41

Source: T. LeClerc

This pressed powder is France’s best-kept secret for flawless, airbrushed makeup. The formula uses rich starch to mattify the skin, talc for an extra fine texture, zinc oxide to control oil and special pigments to conceal blemishes. There’s also a range of 12 shades from fair to deep to choose from.

10. For On-The-Go Protection: Filorga UV-Bronze Anti-Ageing Sun Mist SPF50, $29

Source: Filorga

Not only does this SPF-infused mist shield your skin from the damaging effects of the sun, but it’ll also hydrate your skin with cooling micro-encapsulated glacier water. It also helps enhance your tan with a boost of vitamins and polysaccharides for a radiant, glowing complexion.

11. For Acne-Prone & Congested Skin: Sanoflore Aqua Magnifica Peppermint Skin-Perfecting Purifying Toner, $23

Source: Sanoflore

This powerful formula is clinically proven to reduce blemishes, tighten pores and give you a goddess glow. Made with 99% naturally-derived ingredients, like organic Peppermint oil and hydrosol, nine organic essential oils and oil-fighting salicylic acid, this toner soothes inflammation and helps to even skin tone and unclog pores. The big bottle lasts for months and definitely makes a noticeable difference to pores while gradually boosting skin brightness.

Have you guys ever used these products? Let us know in the comments below.