Having lived in south-west France for six years, I consider French pharmacy beauty (and its less documented sister, French supermarché beauty) my specialist Mastermind topics. It’s now that time of year when I have a steady stream of FaceTime calls from all over la Belle France as friends dial in from the aisles with burning questions, from SPF to micellar water, face creams to shampoo. Whilst many French beauty brands are now readily available here in the UK – La Roche Posay, Avene, Nuxe – here are nine of my less well-known favourites to look out for on your summer travels.

The French Pharmacy


A313 Pomade, £25
A313 Pommade 50g

An over-the-counter, ruthlessly effective retinol that was once my most requested beauty haul to bring back to the UK for friends and family is now happily available via The French Pharmacy website here.


La Petit Marseillais


Orange Blossom Shower Gel, £6.50
Le Petit Marseillais - Bio Orange Blossom Shower Cream 250ml

Whilst it is much more expensive here and the choice of scents limited, La Petit Marseillais is a cult French supermarket brands that makes gorgeous holiday fragrance shower gels and soaps. A niche buy, but their ‘cuisine’ hand wash is designed to eliminate food smells on your hands, and it works brilliantly.


Mixa


Intensif Lait de Corps, £12
Mixa

Another French supermarket staple that is more expensive here, but worth the investment is Mixa. Their body lotions are the best I’ve found, especially for extra dry summer skin; it’s the only lotion that I can still feel working 24-hours later. If you do find yourself in a French supermarket, stock up (its dual-phase eye make-up remover is excellent too).


The French Pharmacy


Mustela Wipes, £4.95
Mustela - Cleansing Wipes

I raised two boys in France and loved the whole range of baby skincare from Mustela. Their no-rinse cleansing waters are much kinder on skin than wipes for nappy changes and their high protection SPF gentle enough even for sensitive little ones.


Klorane


Quinine and B Vitamins Shampoo, £11
Klorane - Quinine And B Vitamins Shampoo  Copy

Klorane’s haircare range covers all hair types, and the Quinine shampoo was kindly recommended to gently care for, and help thicken, a family member’s hair whilst they went through chemo. I have subsequently bought numerous bottles for others going through similar treatment and all reported good results. For my own locks, I love the mango deep conditioner and the oat milk dry shampoo.


Boiron


Homeopolasmine, £7.50
Boiron - Homeoplasmine 18g

Every French home has a tube of this secreted somewhere, whipped out to soothe skin irritations, bumps and bruises.


Gallinee


Face Vinegar, £7
Gallinee - Face Vinegar

Weird name, I know, but this toner from Gallinee helps reduce bad bacteria that can cause breakouts, whilst the probiotics help feed the good bacteria to strengthen skin resilience and AHAs gentle exfoliate for a smoother, brighter complexion.


Filorga


Micellar Water, £22
MICELLAR SOLUTION - Hydrating Micellar Water For Face & Eyes 400ml  Copy

Micellar waters from Bioderma et al are readily available in the UK now, with many global brands doing their own version of the once ‘must-have’ French pharmacy buy. I still find Filorga’s the only one that suits my sensitive eyes and gets rid of stubborn waterproof make-up without a trace.


Institut Esthederm


Photo Reverse Protective Unit Dark Spot Stick, £50
Institut Esthederm - Photo Reverse Protective Anti Dark Spot Stick 10g

All of Institut Esthederm’s SPF range is top-notch, but this handy stick is great for applying to any pigmentation or dark spots before sun exposure to stop them darkening any further, and gradually over time, helping them to fade too.