One of the pleasures of being in France is browsing in a pharmacy. Even small provincial towns usually have one or two beauty/wellbeing emporiums where the pharmacist is a mine of information on everything from herbal medicine to skincare. Worth remembering that French girls are brought up from early teens to take skincare very seriously.

As things stand, we can’t pop over there but here’s an idea we rather love: lets take a trip to The French Pharmacy online, which offers the best of French skincare and beauty products chosen and curated by Marine Vincent, a Docteur en Pharmacie (sounds so much more elegant than pharmacist, non?).  

Below you will find the cult products that chic French women swear by, according to Dr. Vincent. And many of them are super-affordable.

Cattier Green Clay mask /£5.99 for 100ml

Dr Vincent says: ‘This amazing quality green clay never fails to do the job. It is the very first mask I remember putting on my face.’

Tip: Never let a clay mask ‘crack’, always keep it damp by spraying thermal water 

Avène Thermal Spring Water Duo Pack /£14 for two x 50ml

‘This mineral rich thermal water helps combat skin-damaging free radicals and has incredible soothing properties for irritated or sensitive skin. Most French women have one in the bathroom cabinet and one in our handbag.’

Bioderma Sensibio H2O micellar water /£11 for 250ml

‘Bioderma is the first dermatological laboratory to have introduced micellar water in the market and Sensibio is now the world number one micellar water.’ 

Tip: If you’re actually in France (we wish!), remember to ask for Crealine H2O and not Sensibio.

Klorane Dry Shampoo Oat Milk /£9 for 150ml

‘Still the best dry shampoo on the market. I don’t know any French hairdressers who don’t use one. It’s effective without being drying or leaving any residue. I have never found anything better.’

La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume /£14 for 100ml

‘La Roche Posay is a French pharmacy cult and I could have chosen the whole brand. Cicaplast was one of the first reparative multi purpose balms on the market and I don’t know any French person without it in their bathroom.’

Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum/£46 for 30ml

‘Caudalie is one of my favourite skincare ranges. Natural, effective, patented formulations backed by Harvard University, with amazing fragrances and texture at a great price point. The Vinoperfect serum is the ultimate hydration boost for every type of skin and forever a French cult.’

Filorga Time-Filler Eyes Correction Cream /£47 for 15ml

‘Filorga is the No.1 anti-ageing range in pharmacies in France. Thanks to their background in aesthetic cosmetics, their products are the most effective to fight signs of ageing. Time Filler cream and Time Filler eye contour are now iconic products in this category.’

Prize Draws