Top 10 French Beauty Products You Really Need
Annie Atkinson is the beauty maven behind the popular blog, She’s In the Glow. Before diving headlong into her site, Annie worked in beauty marketing at Chanel Beauty & Fragrance and did fashion styling for Michael Kors. She started She’s in the Glow as a way to document what inspires her most: all things beauty.
Even through the cloud of glitter backstage at fashion week, you can see a handful of beauty products, that continue to pop up again and again—and no surprise here, that many of these are French. Everyone knows that French women possess a certain je ne sais quoi that sets them apart from the rest of us, and they wear less makeup in favor of an au naturel appearance. Everything about their look just seems effortless, simple, chic, and beautiful. French women also celebrate their imperfections…take Vanessa Paradis’s gap for example.
In terms of skincare, French women are obsessed. I mean think about it…if you’re going to go makeup free, your skin better look damn good. French woman are extremely loyal to the brands that they know and trust, and interesting enough, many of these products are sold in French pharmacies (and are conveniently starting to pop up in drugstores here in the US). I pulled together a list of the top 10 French products. Not only do French women love and use them, makeup artists and beauty editors adore them as well. Want to know the art of French beauty? Here it is.
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My On-the-Go Beauty Essentials
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Darphin Aromatic Renewing Balm: This best-selling balm contains 12 essential oils from medicinal plants, spices, and flowers that give you healthy-looking skin and a more even complexion. It also banishes blemishes and makes your skin super-glowy. I often use this at night, because I love the glow that I have the next morning. (Added perk: It doubles as a lip balm!)
(Darphin Aromatic Renewing Balm, $70, Available at Space NK)
Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk: These cornflower-packed eye patches sooth and soften the skin around your eyes, and feel amazing after you apply it. Not only are these patches refreshing, moisturizing, and brightening, they reduce puffiness and smooth fine lines. I will never travel without these again. They can be used every day for tired eyes.
(Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk Non-Aerosol – $20, Available at Net-A-Porter)
Photo:
Net-A-Porter
Avene D-Pigment Rich Dark Spot Lightener: This spot lightener works wonders on my skin. I’ve been applying it on my chest every night since Labor Day and the texture and appearance of my skin has become more even. It’s enriched with plant-based oils to keep your skin super soft and smooth.
(Avene D-Pigment Rich Dark Spot Lightener, $49, Available at Drugstore)
Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk: This dry shampoo is the ultimate secret weapon when it comes to cleaning your hair without water. It also adds amazing volume. You never know when you’re going to need a little boost in the greasy hair department, and this non-aerosol version is gentle and non-drying.
(Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk Non-Aerosol, $20, Available at Net-A-Porter)
Bioderma Créaline: Part makeup remover, part skin-perfector. This liquid gold is super refreshing, doesn’t clog pores, and is very gentle on the skin. You can’t go backstage without seeing bottles upon bottles of Bioderma. Models swear by it.
(Bioderma Créaline, $17.50, Available at Amazon)
Avibon: It’s pure vitamin A, with a Vaseline-type texture. This multi-functioning wonder can be used everywhere—on super-dry spots, lips, cuticles (I use it everywhere). It can also help prevent scaring, wrinkles, and fine lines. It even doubles as a luminizer. I like to mix it with my Nars Luminizer for the ultimate glow.
(Avibon, $35, Available at Avibon)
Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentrate: Makeup artists and beauty editors swear by this rich moisturizing lotion’s skin-priming and softening abilities. Packed with shea butter, aloe, and soy proteins, it’s the ultimate treatment for parched skin. I love using this cream before a night out, because it provides the perfect pallet for my foundation and gives me a real (non-greasy) glow. It also doubles as a makeup remover.
(Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentrate, $16, Available at Net-A-Porter)
Caudalie Beauty Elixir: This is part toner, part serum mist designed to condition, hydrate, soothe, and balance your skin. The best part is that it can be applied liberally throughout the day for a dewy, healthy glow. Warning: It’s highly addictive.
(Caudalie Beauty Elixir, $49, Available at Space NK)
NUXE Huile Prodigieuse Dry Oil Golden Shimmer: This multi-purpose shimmering dry oil is one of my favorites. It can be used on your face, body, and hair for that radiant, sexy look. It’s a dry oil, so it’s not greasy, and the smell is to die for.
(NUXE Huile Prodigieuse Dry Oil Golden Shimmer, $39, Available at Space NK)
Avène Eau Thermale Water Spray: This mineral rich water is amazing for softening and relieving irritated skin. I love to keep the mini bottles in my handbag for a little glow-on-the-go. Many makeup artists swear by this water to help blend and set makeup. I like to spritz it on my face while applying foundation to help everything blend seamlessly.
(Avène Eau Thermale Water Spray, $19, Available at Net-A-Porter)
