The Cult-Favorite European Skincare Products You Need In Your Life

This blog post was originally published in February 2019. It was last updated in 2024.

Since I spent the holidays in Spain, I decided to write an overview of the best European pharmacy skincare products. Buying drugstore skincare products is a completely different experience in Europe, where seasoned pharmacists in white coats take a personal approach, offering tailored advice based on your skin type. Fortunately, even though many of these products aren’t available at an American drugstore, they’re only a few clicks away! If there’s a takeaway from this blog post, is that French products are miracle workers, and that if you go to Paris, please don’t forget to go to City Pharma or Pharmacie Monge to stock up on the most coveted French pharmacy products at a fraction of the cost! 

Note: If you buy something through the retail Amazon links, I’ll earn a small affiliate commission. 🙂

Here are my essentials:

Bioderma 

The mother of micellar waters. Bioderma was first introduced by makeup artists who swore by it due to effectively removing makeup on models and actors without a hint of irritation. I love how gentle it is – just one swipe across my face with a cotton pad and voila, most of my makeup is gone. And as a bonus, it acts as a great second-step pre-cleanser before proceeding with my gel based cleanser. It has a special effect that other American drugstore micellar waters don’t have. Bioderma is formulated with soothing ingredients that are targeted to sensitive skin, and even if you don’t wear makeup, it takes off the pollution and dirt of the day. I have sensitive skin and back in the day, I would use really irritating makeup wipes from Neutrogena that would burn my eyes. If you don’t have sensitive skin and you’re just ok using any other micellar water for a cheaper price, this might not be the product for you as there are tons of cheaper options out there. But in my opinion, no other micellar water holds a candle to Bioderma. Garnier is another famous drugstore dupe.  

NUXE Huile Prodigieuse Multi-Purpose Dry Oil

This dry oil is a staple in French and European pharmacies and is considered one of the top French beauty products. I found Nuxe through an online blog post that talked about cult-favorite French pharmacy products. The first warning is that it is heavily scented, which might put some people off. Think Chanel’s makeup line: expensive and luxurious. This multipurpose, so it can be used in multiple ways: ends of hair, body and face. I applied it on my face, but it was too much for my pores to the point where they felt congested; but it’s great for the neck! It heavily moisturizes the skin and since it’s a dry oil, your hands won’t feel sticky or greasy afterwards.   

Nuxe also has a gold shimmering oil, perfect to enhance your tan all over your body on those balmy summer days. If you want to know what it feels like to be chic, you need this product in your life. For those of you who want to do more in-depth research about Nuxe, their Reve de Miel lip balm is another cult-favorite product. Surprisingly, this oil is really hard to get in the US and it’s also really pricey compared to Europe, but you can get it on Amazon!

A313 Pommade

Ladies! If you’re over 25 and you’re a skincare junkie, retinols don’t need any introduction. Vitamin A is a powerful antioxidant known for increasing the skin’s cell turnover rate, which helps prevents wrinkles. My first retinol product was from Asarai, however, the instructions weren’t clear as to how to use it and I didn’t see any noticeable changes. I found A313 Pommade while I was going down the rabbit hole of European skincare products. This holy-grail retinol can be found at French pharmacies for the ridiculously low price of 12 euros. Additionally, A313 Pommade earned an Amazon’s choice award, endless praise by important beauty blogs, and a spot on the “Top 25 products of 2018” list . For those unfamiliar with Intothegloss, it’s like the beauty bible. Another sign from the universe that prompted me to get it, was when I was casually watching old Byrdie beauty episodes of the “Just Five Things” series, where models and celebrities talk about the most beloved beauty products in their arsenals. In one of the videos, plus-sized model Alessandra Garcia Lorido included this in her top 5 beauty essentials. 

A few caveats:

•When you apply this, make sure your face is completely 100% dry after cleansing. You only need a pea-size amount. 

• If it’s your first time, I would recommend only applying it to specific areas of your face as opposed to your whole face to see how your skin reacts, especially if it’s your first time with retinols. That’s what I did and so far, no side effects. Although, my second time, I think I overapplied it and I could feel a slight burning sensation ; nothing major but just be very light-handed with this!

• Retinol can’t be used on the same day that you apply AHA’s, BHAs or other exfoliators. 

Although you can use it in the morning, retinol and sunscreen don’t bode well so use it at night for maximum results. 

When I woke up the next morning the results were visible. The texture of my skin was as soft as a baby and one acne scar that I have close to my eyebrow was significantly diminished. All I can say is I can’t wait to see the results after more uses. With retinol, you won’t see the results right away, which is why it’s so important to be consistent. It retails for $20 on Amazon, so not as dirt-cheap as in France, but still affordable. 

 Weleda Skin Food Moisturizer

This is the $12 moisturizer that celebrities like Rihanna, Victoria Beckham, Gwyneth Paltrow Adele and other A-list makeup artists swear by. The green tube is also prominently seen on beauty blogs like Into The Gloss and many other skincare IG accounts I follow. Last year, model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley uploaded a series of pictures where she was getting glammed up on her IG stories. In one of the stories, a very well used aluminum green Weleda Skin Food tube moisturizer could be seen sitting on her makeup table. It is super odd that Weleda, which is a Swiss brand originally targeted their products at pregnant women and babies! 

I was almost out of my moisturizer in LA, so I brought the Dr. Jart moisturizer mini-size with me to Spain. While Weleda is in almost every pharmacy and beauty department store in Spain, it was a mission to get the Skinfood moisturizer. As I walked the streets of Madrid, I entered 4 different pharmacies that carried the whole line, but they were all out of the Skin Food moisturizer. I finally walked into one pharmacy that only had one left! After putting it to the test in an actual cold climate, I can confidently say that Weleda Skin Food successfully got me through the cold weather in Spain! It is very buttery and super thick, so you might want to rub it in your fingertips first. Coming from LA to a colder climate, I could clearly see the effect cold weather had on my skin. Once it’s fully layered on your face, it will look like you’re wearing highlighter. The emollient, oil-filled ingredients work beautifully and give you that lit-from-within glow, which is why many makeup artists use it to prep the skin before makeup. If you’re in a cold climate, Skin Food will be your hands’ best friend! 

If you’re curious to see the multiple ways celebrities use this moisturizer, read this 

Rihanna requests the moisturizer to be applied on her cuticles before her manicure. Julia Roberts uses it as a hand cream, and Victoria Beckham mixes it with coconut oil as an all-over moisturizer. Given the immense success of this particular product, Weleda announced in October that the launch of their new Skin Food collection products will include a moisturizer with a lighter formula, a body butter cream and a lip balm. Each product is under the $20 price-point. You can either purchase them at the official website or national retailers. 

Marvis Toothpaste

I never thought in my wildest dreams that another toothpaste could win my loyalty from Colgate. Yes people, when you think of high-end skincare products and makeup, a toothpaste is the last thing to come to mind, but luxury oral care is a trend now. The hashtag Marvis alone has over 66K tags on IG, where thousands of people photograph their medicine cabinet with the vintage style tube artfully arranged alongside other skincare and makeup brands. In the US, Marvis is pricier than the average toothpaste and is sold in high-end beauty departments at stores like Nordstroms, whereas in Italy, it can be found at any pharmacy and even grocery stores. I picked one up in Madrid for 4 euros.

This toothpaste was created in 1958 in Florence and was intended to be a smoker’s toothpaste. The effective results at whitening the teeth have stood the test of time. From personal experience, after a few uses, my teeth were as clean and white as if I had just walked out of a dentist appointment. My teeth felt much cleaner and the freshness lasted much longer throughout the day than with my regular Colgate toothpaste. Another bonus point is that it doesn’t turn into a thick foam. With this being said, Marvis definitely performs at a higher standard than your average toothpaste. While I certainly don’t see myself consistently repurchasing this every time I run out of toothpaste, Marvis is an occasional treat to pamper myself. If you haven’t tried it, do it for the experience. I know it’s just toothpaste, but I can guarantee the aesthetic of your medicine cabinet will multiply by a thousand. It comes in seven different flavors including liquorice, jasmine and traditional mint! My personal favorite is the aquatic mint.

Embryolisse Lait-Crème

Another really hard-to-get French pharmacy product in Madrid! This product is the pinnacle of French skincare, beloved by pharmacists, dermatologists and makeup artists. It was created in 1950 by a Parisian dermatologist who specialized in skin diseases.

Embryolisse Lait Crème is a moisturizer, primer and even makeup remover. It’s a must-have in every makeup artists’ kits for a reason. Even Pat Mcgrath, the most iconic makeup artist of our time, swears by it! I love how the French have a more minimalist approach to skincare. They use cheap, yet effective multi-purpose products as opposed to the US, where people use a gazillion different products and fall victim to the latest skincare trends and releases (aka me).

The milky texture of the cream is very lightweight, fast-absorbing without any greasiness or breakouts and will leave your skin silky smooth! For many years, this cream was the best-kept beauty secret backstage during Paris Fashion Week thanks to its gentle formula (shea butter, aloe vera, soy proteins, beewax), and for being non-irritating —making it suitabe to use on every models’ skin types. It’s also paraben-free and unscented. Don’t be afraid to try it out! Despite being super emollient, I can assure you it won’t clog your pores or break you out. Embryolisse Lait Crème is widely available in US beauty stores and retails for 15 euro in Paris, but if you’re not planning on going to France anytime soon, you can get it on Amazon. Beware of fake sellers! The secret is out because every time I walk into a specialized beauty store here in LA, they either have very limited stock or are completely sold out!

Note: Embryolisse recently changed their logo.

Caudalie Beauty Elixir

Caudalie Beauty Elixir is a French cult-favorite product with a large following of celebrities and makeup artists! The brand was founded in 1995 by a married couple, Mathilde and Bertrand Thomas at Mathilde’s family vineyard in Bordeaux. Caudalie has grown to establish itself as an international powerhouse, becoming a staple in French pharmacies.

Caudalie was ubiquitous in every beauty store/pharmacy in Madrid, and many of their popular products were exclusively sold in gift sets. The full-sized bottle retails for $59, but of course, you can buy it in Europe for a much cheaper price. The travel-sized bottle retails for 11 € in Europe, as opposed to the $20 price tag in the US. Did you know that the Beauty Elixir is the best-selling face mist in Sephora? (Sorry Tatcha). According to Caudalie, twenty-two bottles of Beauty Elixir are sold every hour in the United States.

So what’s the hype behind it? It was inspired by an “elixir of youth” that Queen Isabelle of Hungary used in the 16^th century. Legend has it, that her youthful complexion enchanted the King of Poland, who was 55 years her junior. Mathilde Thomas (founder), wanted to create an inspired modern version of the formula used by Queen Isabelle and in 1997, Caudalie’s Beauty Elixir was born. 

The smell is very herbal but super subtle. On top of being a face mist, it has other amazing skincare properties, like calming and clearing your skin from any redness or flare ups. Beauty Elixir tightens your pores, sets your makeup, acts a toner and provides your skin with an instant boost of hydration. It’s infused with toning rosemary, astringent mint (which is great for acne and breakouts), and a soothing grape rose organic essential oil. 

Caudalie has its own hotel/spa in a beautiful chateau in the vineyards of Bordeaux, the birthplace of the brand.

If you go to France, please pack me in your suitcase!

Beauty Elixir is 100% natural and plant-based.

Biologique Recherche Lotion P50

Last but not least, the Rolls Royce of French luxury skincare with the most loyal cult-following, and the mother of all exfoliators: Biologique Recherche P50. This is not a drugstore product by any means but since it’s French, I wanted to talk about this miracle product. Biologique Recherche is the best-kept skincare secret.

This exfoliating lotion is praised by celebrities, fashion icons and industry experts. Peek into any celebrity or influencer medicine cabinet and you’ll be guaranteed to see a P50 lotion as well as other BR product. P50 is a gentle exfoliator and balancing toner that does it all. People also like to call this a facial in a bottle to which I can attest. After I came back from Hawaii last year, my skin was super congested and in dire need of a good facial. Needless to say, I invested in P50 instead and the results were an overnight success. The blackheads on my nose were gone and my skin felt smoother in less than a week of daily night use. 

In one quick google search, you will find a common thread on P50: rotten vinegar smell and extremely bad tingling sensation. 

P50 softly exfoliates and tones while helping regulate the sebum secretion and balancing the skin’s PH, hence the slight burning sensation. It’s formulated with exfoliating ingredients like lactic acid and cider vinegar, which help slough off the dead skin for a more even complexion. 

This godsend product is not available at French pharmacies or any beauty supply store. BR is exclusively available at selected spas in certain cities worldwide, so it’s not like you can waltz into a Sephora and buy it. Only known by beauty connoisseurs, Biologique Recherche does a great job flying under the radar and keeping a low profile on the Internet. Additionally, you can’t see the prices online unless you make an account on the spa website. Yes, it truly feels like you’re actually joining a cult. When you go to the spa, an esthetician will give you a free consultation and recommend the best P50 lotion based on your skin’s needs. If there’s not an authorized spa seller in your area, you can make an account and get a free consultation online. Just type on the Google search bar your city/country + Biologique Recherche!

The first thing that will strike you is the strong vinegar smell, but in all honesty, it wasn’t as bad as described, and the tingling sensation was very minimal. Take into account that I’ve been using P50, which is the gentler version than the original formula: P50 1970. The latter is the strongest of all of them and contains phenol, an active ingredient that is only recommended to apply in small doses. For a more thorough breakdown of each P50 product, click here 

A few weeks after I wrote this, I switched to P50 1970! I also got the BR cleanser Lait Vip O2, which is a beautiful oxygenating cleansing milk that removes makeup and impurities from the day. I highly recommend it if you’re looking to invest in a cleanser. It pretty much feels like you’re putting silk on your face! Update: I’m writing this two weeks after I bought the Lait Vip O2 cleanser and my skin is glowing! I tried almost every cleanser available at Sephora but foamy cleansers make my face tight and dry. If you have super sensitive skin like me, get the Lait Vip O2, not the Lait U, which is more suitable for all skin types. I could swear that Biologique Recherche was created by the angels of skincare.

A really nice dupe for P50, is Glossier’s Solution, which was actually inspired by P50. I used that one every night before jumping onto the P50 bandwagon, but after having tried both, P50 is the winner on my list. 

Biologique Recherche has been around for 40 years and is ten times cheaper in Europe. Because I was in Spain for the holidays, I took advantage of this and got my hands on the hard-to-get Masque Vivant face mask. If only I could fly across the pond every time I needed to stock up on Biologique Recherche… If you happen to be in Paris and you’re a skincare junkie, a visit to the Biologique Recherche spa in the luxurious Champs Elysees Avenue is a total must. Here’s an article from Refinery29 that delves deeply into the crazy Biologique Recherche’s P50 obsession.

If you’re looking for a serum, Biologique Recherche has a wide array of them. I was surprised to see that the small sizes (0.3 oz) are between $50 to $80. It is weird for such a prestigious skincare line like this to have such relatively affordable prices. Whether you want to brighten your skin, hydrate, or heal acne scars, it is 100% guaranteed that all your skin concerns will be solved by the angels of French skincare. Here’s the full list of serums, just click on any of them to read the full description. The most popular is the Placenta serum but I’m currently using Oligo-Proteins Marines.

Stay tuned for more upcoming blog posts! What are your favorite European skincare products?