French Pharmacy Skincare Products You Can Buy in the US
Being the kind of traveler who likes to pack light, I find it challenging to stock up on French pharmacy products when visiting France. Luckily, I can find some of these products in the US at Walgreens, Sephora or department stores.
Personally, I have had good luck finding basic French pharmacy skin care products at Walgreens, and I am happy to say the formulas of most of these products (with the exception of the Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Cleansing Makeup Remover Foaming Gel) are pretty much the same as those purchased in France. They offer a good selection of Bioderma, Avène and La Roche-Posey. I have purchased the products below at Walgreens and replenished them a few times already.
La Roche-Posay Anthelios AOX - Daily Antioxidant Serum with Sunscreen SPF 50
I have tried several sunblocks from La Roche-Posay and other brands, and this is hands down my absolute favorite. Since it is a serum, it is not greasy and great all year round, especially in the summer. It is weightless and light so on days when my skin feels extra dry, I like layering it with my favorite face moisturizer. Not only does it protect your skin from the sun, it also contains a powerful antioxidant complex of Baicalin, Vitamin C and Vitamin E.
Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water Makeup Remover
This cult favorite makeup remover can be found at pretty much any French pharmacy in France. When I first learned about it many years ago, I could only find this on Amazon. I am so happy Walgreens and Target now sell this product. It is more expensive in the US than in France, but it is totally worth it in my opinion. It gently removes eye make-up without stinging my eyes. When in France, I like to buy a few mini ones as it is the perfect size to carry when traveling.
Bioderma Sensibio Light Cream
I find this moisturizer perfect for my dry skin. While it is soothing, it is also non-greasy which makes a great base or primer for foundation. People with sensitive skin will love this formula as it is fragrance-free and non-comedogenic. I have bought this a few times already as it only comes in a 40 ml container.
Bioderma Hydrabio Hydration Booster Serum
This hydration serum is great in the summer as it is non greasy. It is lightly scented which is refreshing without being overpowering. I do like to layer some moisturizer on top of it because I have super dry skin in general. My Bioderma Sensibio Light face lotion was out of stock at my neighborhood Walgreens store that day so I decided to give this a try.
Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Cleansing Makeup Remover Foaming Gel
I have tried so many brands of face wash. The ones I like were overpriced so I was very happy when I found this product. I bought a mini size in Paris and compared to the one I bought at Walgreens, the one purchased in Paris is slightly less drying than the formula I bought back home. Even so, it is still more gentle than other brands I have tried.
Sephora also carries some French beauty brands such at Claudalie, Chanel, Clarins, Dior, Givenchy, Guerlain, and YSL. I have tried some products from Claudalie, Clarins, and Chanel, but I find the fragrance in their products too overpowering. My skin does not quite love the formulas but some people absolutely rave about them. Hope you’ve enjoyed reading this post. If you have a favorite French pharmacy product, feel free to share in the comments below.