When one is lucky enough to steal away to France for an early autumn sojourn, one must make the time to purchase some French skin care products (particularly if one happens to be a beauty fanatic). I recall the lovely Lisa Eldridge detailing time spent browsing French pharmacies for endless beauty treasures, so I dipped into a little pharmacy to do some searching of my own. Unfortunately, I only had a few minutes before racing to catch the Eurostar, so I picked up only a few (but fab!) items.
1. Bonne Mere Gentle Milk Body Wash by L’Occitane (UK: £22 for 600 ml, USA: $34 for 20.2 fl oz)
Ingredients: White mallow milk
Tested under ophtalmological and dermalogical control, this hypoallergenic body wash is perfect for all skin types, including sensitive skin.
Product Description: “Enriched with moisturising and soothing white mallow milk, this smooth, cleansing shower cream melts onto the skin. Ideal for the whole family*, this creamy formula leaves the skin soft, hydrated and lightly scented. Tested under ophtalmological and dermalogical control, this hypoallergenic body wash is perfect for all skin types, including sensitive skin”.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I’m a huge fan of L’Occitane. Their Milk Shea Butter Extra Gentle Soap is my go-to soap bar. In fact, I almost snapped up another, until I saw this uber cute body wash. I utterly adore the packaging: it has the charming French vintage look that L’Occitane does so well, and it’s made from sturdy plastic with a convenient little pump popping out the top. The smell is deliciously fresh. It reminds me of just-washed cotton sheets billowing in a summer breeze. The texture is creamy and a small amount lathers up very well. It leaves my skin soft but also squeaky clean, which is a difficult balance for moisturizing body washes to master.
2. NUXE Cleansing Milk with Three Roses, Hazelnut Oil and Orange Blossom (UK: £27 for 400 ml, USA: $22 for 6.7 oz)
Ingredients: Rosa Damascena (rose floral water), cotton seed oil, coconut oil, vitamin E, macadamia oil.
94,1% ingredients of natural origin. No Parabens.
Product Description: “NUXE Demaquillant Aux 3 Roses Cleansing Milk is an ultra soft, simple, efficient and perfect addition to your daily morning and evening beauty ritual. Suitable for all skin types and ages”.
This is a wonderfully gentle and soothing cleanser full of nourishing ingredients. It’s silky and has a faint, sweet yet fresh smell. The packaging is secure and clean: the lid screws off and you can squeeze a generous, yet tidy blob out of the top. No mess, no stress. Directions advise you to apply it with cotton pads and remove it with toner, so no rinsing is a gentler option if your skin is easily disturbed. I’ve used it this way, and also rinsed it off with water after using my Clarisonic. Both ways work excellently, but gently wiping it off with toner-soaked cotton pads is more hydrating if your skin needs an extra boost. My skin looks less red after I use this cleanser, and feels plump and soft. And it doesn’t irritate my eyes, either. It’s a lovely addition to my cleansing regime.
3. Bioderma Crealine TS H2O Micelle Solution
Ingredients: Aqua, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Propylene Glycol, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Fructooligosaccharides, Mannitol, Xylitol, Rhamnose, Disodium EDTA, Cetrimonium Bromide.
Product Description: A gentle cleansing water, suitable for eyes and sensitive and fragile skin.
I’ve not tried this yet, but I grabbed two bottles that were on offer in a little pharmacy. As far as I know, you can’t purchase this in stores in the USA or UK, so I would advise trying Amazon or Ebay. This is the makeup remover of choice for tons of makeup artists, including Lisa Eldridge. It’s meant to effectively remove makeup without distressing even the most sensitive skin. I’m partial to cleansing waters for removing eye makeup because of my seriously sensitive eyes, so I have no doubt that I’ll be using up both these bottles in the next few months. And then I’ll have to scramble to find replacements on the internet because this lovely product is so hard to get your mits on unless you’re in France.
lipstick hero 