The Best French Pharmacy Beauty Buys...That You Can Get Stateside

CLEANSER: LA ROCHE-POSAY MICELLAR WATER ULTRA

Due to France’s notorious hard water, many French women seek no-rinse alternatives to cleansing their skin, which explains why micellar water has been a long-time go-to French beauty product. Lucky for us Americans, drugstore aisles in the States are stocked with must-have micellar waters, including this antioxidant-rich formula by La Roche-Posay. Using micelle technology, La Roche-Posay Micellar Water Ultra features small, round cleansing molecules that can lift dirt, oil, makeup, and pollution off the surface of skin with no harsh rubbing or rinsing necessary. The result is skin that’s perfectly cleansed, hydrated, and refreshed.

La Roche-Posay Micellar Water Ultra, $14.99 MSRP

MOISTURIZER: VICHY AQUALIA THERMAL DYNAMIC HYDRATION RICH CREAM

Most French gals will agree that the secret to youthful, radiant-looking skin is hydration. When your skin is dry, it can appear rough, dull, and lifeless. Not to mention, dry skin can accentuate the appearance of wrinkles and other visible signs of aging. As such, it’s important to hydrate your skin daily with a formula that doesn’t mess around in the moisture department, like this rich facial cream by Vichy. Formulated with aquabioryl and hyaluronic acid—an ingredient able to hold up to 1000x its weight in water—this innovative moisturizer helps distribute and lock water in all facial zones so skin appears radiantly healthy-looking with a velvety soft finish.

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Dynamic Hydration Rich Cream, $31 MSRP

SPF: LA ROCHE-POSAY ANTHELIOS 60

Prolonged and unprotected sun exposure can have devastating effects on skin in the form of wrinkles, fine lines, dark spots, and even some cancers. To help protect your skin, broad-spectrum SPF 15 or higher is a must for everyone regardless of the weather. French pharmacy favorite La Roche-Posay is a pioneer in sun protection research for over 15 years, and is trusted by dermatologists worldwide for its advanced formulations in UVA protection. This particular formula—with multi-patented CELL-OX SHIELD XL filtering system—delivers broad-spectrum and antioxidant protection in a breakthrough texture that’s fast-absorbing and non-greasy. Plus, it includes a reduced number of ingredients in a fragrance- and paraben-free formula adapted for even the most sensitive skin.

La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60, $35.99 MSRP

SERUM: VICHY IDÉALIA LIFE SERUM

Meet Vichy’s first ideal skin complex with LR2412 + LHA, ingredients known to promote skin resilience against external damaging factors and to restore a healthier-looking skin appearance. The formula is ultra-light, non-greasy, and non-sticky so it can be worn alone or underneath your daily moisturizer. The result? Instantly, skin looks radiant and fresh with a more even tone and a brighter complexion. With continued use over time, skin recovers a better quality and pores are visibly tightened.

Vichy Idéalia Life Serum, $39 MSRP