Here are the best French skincare brands to shop and their top products!
While everyone raves about the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, and the Seine being Paris highlights, we can’t get enough of the Parisian pharmacies. After all, Paris is famous for having great beauty shops.
They are every skincare enthusiast’s dream come true – stocked with an endless array of cult-favorite French skincare brands.
Skip the pricey plane ticket to Paris and come along on our journey, where we’ll guide you through the sector-leading French skincare brands, beginning with their rich history through to their top-selling cosmetic products.
Our guide includes a mixture of heritage and all-natural, contemporary French skincare brands to swear by.
There is a well-formulated French skincare product for every skin type and tone, be it dry, oily, acne-prone, combination, sensitive, or aging.
18 Best French Skincare Brands
Here are some of the best French brands that the French swear by.
1. Lancôme
It is impossible to talk about the best French skin brands without mentioning Lancôme.
Armand Petitjean, a visionary pioneer perfumer, founded Lancôme in 1935.
The French perfume brand quickly expanded to skincare in 1936 with Nutrix, an innovative multi-tasking repair cream.
L’Oréal quickly noticed the success of Lancôme and added the brand to its luxury skincare and beauty range in 1964, becoming one of the largest French makeup brands.
After over 85 years and two Nobel Prizes, Lancôme remains a world-leading luxury skincare brand, providing high-quality and efficient cosmetics.
Top Lancôme skincare products:
Absolue Revitalizing & Brightening Soft Cream
Rénergie Lift Multi-Action Night Cream
Tonique Confort Facial Toner With Hyaluronic Acid
2. La Roche-Posay
La Roche-Posay is a science-backed skincare brand with beginnings that trace back to the 1400s when a French nobleman discovered the healing properties of thermal springs.
However, the brand was founded in 1975 in La Roche-Posay, France (hence the name).
La Roche-Posay centers its brand on “enhancing the quality of life through skincare.” This top dermo-cosmetic French brand treats sensitive skin with mineral-rich thermal water.
La Roche-Posay offers various international best-selling products that promote smooth and hydrated skin.
La Roche-Posay strictly selects ingredients that are dermatology-tested and compliant with sensitive skin and can help soothe psoriasis and eczema.
In addition, the formulas are fragrance-free, paraben-free, hypo-allergenic, and non-comedogenic (it doesn’t clog pores). Many French beauty products are perfect for acne-prone skin because they are clean.
Top La Roche-Posay skincare products:
Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser
Hyalu B5 Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer UV
Effaclar Micellar Cleasing Water Toner with Thermal Spring Water – Every French girl’s favorite for healthy skin
3. Avène
Established by Pierre Fabre in 1990, Avène is a French pharmacy skincare brand made with pure thermal spring water with the aim of offering a product for sensitive skin.
Avène is one of the best-selling French skincare brands recommended by dermatologists across the globe.
Avène offers over 20 skincare collections intended for different skin conditions. However, known for its calming and soothing properties, Avène’s primary focus is to treat irritable and sensitive skin.
Avène’s skincare collection includes cleansers, toners, serums, moisturizers, eye creams, SPF, and more.
Top Avène skincare products:
XeraCalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Cream
Antirougeurs CLEAN Refreshing Cleansing Lotion
4. Bioderma
Bioderma is one of the three pillar French skincare brands of NAOS, one of the most significant independent French beauty companies.
In the late 1070s, Bioderma was founded by Jean-Noel Thorel, a visionary pharmacist and biologist with a unique approach to skincare.
Thorel compared the skin to an ever-evolving ecosystem, stating that we need to reinforce its natural mechanisms to function properly.
As a result, he manufactures high-quality skincare products that help our skin adapt to the environment by correcting the imbalances, allowing it to recover its natural functions.
Top Bioderma skincare products:
5. Sisley
Named after the impressionist painter Alfred Sisley, Hubert d’Ornano and his wife Isabelle launched Sisley in 1976.
Their focus quickly shifted from perfume to skincare, focusing on using natural ingredients to nourish and treat the skin effectively.
The French skincare brand was one of the first to develop cosmetics products based on phyto-cosmetology – skincare made from plant-based extracts.
Top Sisley skincare products:
Sisleÿa L’Intégral Anti-age – incredible anti-aging cream
6. Embryolisse
Embryolisse is the beauty secret of makeup artists and stars worldwide.
In 1950, Dr. Tricot, a Parisian hospital dermatologist, founded Embryolisse by creating a nourishing Lait Crème Concertante.
Today, Embryolisse is a cult favorite, selling one Lait Crème Concentré every minute.
The magic of Embryolisse lies in its “no fluff” formulation. Its innovative blend of priority natural ingredients, vitamins, and fatty acids is ultra-gentle on the skin, leaving it soft, hydrated, and supple.
Embryolisse is approved by dermatologists, chemists, and makeup professionals.
Top Embryolisse skincare products:
Filaderme Emulsion – Face Lotion Dry Skin
Lait Crème Concentré – Daily Face and Body Cream
7. Caudalie
In 1993, Mathilde Thomas and her husband, Bertrand, met with Dr. Joseph Vercauteren, a doctor and laboratory director from the University of Pharmacy in Montpellier, who happened to mention that grape seeds contain potent antioxidants.
Two years later, the couple launched three innovative skincare products containing grape seed polyphenols: Premieres Vendanges, Moisturize Recovery Cream, and dietary supplements.
Next, the couple set out to sell the product to French pharmacists, who seemed impressed with the efficacy. And that was the start of Caudalie.
Top Caudalie skincare products:
Vinoperfect Radiance Dark Spot Serum Vit C Alternative
Vinopure: Natural Salicylic Acid Pore Minimizing Serum
8. Vichy
In 1931, Prosper Haller founded Vichy Laboratoires with the quest for skin health as her mission.
She was the first doctor to lay the foundations of French dermo-cosmetics, combining health and beauty.
Vichy is grounded in science and dermatologically recommended. The basis of Vichy’s formulas consists of volcanic thermal spring water that naturally reinforces the skin’s natural defenses.
Top Vichy skincare products:
LiftActiv Supreme 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid Face Serum
LIFTACTIV SUPREME: Anti-Wrinkle and Firming Moisturizer
LiftActiv 15% Vitamin C Serum – vitamin C is a key ingredient for an even skin tone and flawless skin
Aqualia Thermal UV Daily Moisturizer with SPF 30
9. L’Occitane
The rich history of the L’Occitane cosmetics brand dates back to 1976 when Olivier Baussan created treatments and natural fragrances inspired by Mediterranean cultures.
As a result, the brand incorporates famous Provencal species in its products, including essential oils, lavender, verbena, shea butter, and honey.
L’Occitane is one of the best French skincare brands to date.
Some of their skincare products, like the Immortelle Overnight Serum and Immortelle Divine Cream, sell one and three every minute across the globe, respectively.
Top L’Occitane skincare products:
Immortelle Overnight Reset Oil-in-Serum
Immortelle Divine Anti-Aging Youth Hand Cream
Aqua Réotier Water Gel Cleanser
10. Melvita
“Mel” for honey, “Vita” for life, Melvita is a French skincare brand created in 1983 by the beekeeper and biologist Bernard Chevilliat.
Inspired by bees, the brand creates “nectars” of beauty by only blending the purest raw ingredients.
Melvita is the largest organic beauty brand in France and boasts a wide range of products, over 400, to be more specific. L’Occitane bought the brand in 2008.
Melvita is one of the most recognized pioneering organic French skin brands. Melvita was one of the first brands to achieve the ECOCERT label as a certified organic health and beauty product.
Top Melvita skincare products:
Floral Bouquet Eye Make-Up Remover
11. Biotherm
Biotherm’s history dates to 1952 when the French doctor Jos Jullien discovered the miraculous healing properties of the plankton in the mineral thermal spring waters.
Jullien found that the thermal plankton could promote healthier skin.
Today, thermal plankton remains the brand’s DNA and is a critical component in every Biotherm skincare formula.
Biotherm is the worldwide #1 Premium Men’s Skincare brand to date. It is also one of many French skincare brands that belong to the iconic L’Oreal company.
Top Biotherm skincare products:
Aquapower Advanced Gel – Normal to Combination Skin
Deo Pure Antiperspirant Roll-on
12. SVR Laboratories
SVR Laboratories is a French skincare brand founded in 1962 by two visionary pharmacists, Simone and Robert Véret.
The couple strived to formulate skincare products containing exceptionally high active ingredient concentrations that benefit the skin without affecting its tolerance.
Their experimentation leads to a world-recognized cult French skincare brand that offers unrivaled effectiveness and tolerance. In addition, SVR has various product ranges to target specific skin concerns.
Top SVR Laboratories skincare products:
Hydraliane Legere Moisturizing Cream
13. Clarins
Jacques Courtin started Clarins, one of the oldest luxury French skincare brands, in 1954. Today, Clarins is a cult favorite among women across the globe.
Clarins was one of the first skincare brands to experiment with phyto-cosmetology, combining the fantastic benefits of plant extracts with impressive research, leading to a luxurious skincare brand that really works!
Clarins was one of the first cosmetic brands to stop testing on animals. The brand has been cruelty-free since 1987.
Top Clarins skincare products:
SOS Hydra Refreshing Hydration Mask
Extra-Firming Neck and Décolleté Cream
14. Nuxe
Nuxe was founded by Aliza Jabès in 1989 and reached cult status within two years of its launch.
This French skincare brand is a leader in natural cosmetology, celebrating the power of nature and science.
Nuxe offers a range of iconic and irresistible daily skincare products infused with orange blossom fragrance to pamper the skin and senses.
Nuxe’s Huile Prodigieuse oils are a true icon in the global beauty sector, with one bottle selling every 11 seconds.
It is a 98% natural and lightly fragranced moisturizing product adapted to all lifestyles and all women.
It contains seven 100% botanical oils that nourish, repair, and beautify the face, body, and even hair with unparalleled results.
Top Nuxe skincare products:
Nuxellence Eclat Anti Aging Care
Reve de Miel Hand and Nail Cream
15. Yves Rocher
Yves Rocher, a French businessman’s passion and knowledge of botanical plants, inspired him to invent Botanical Beauty and launch his namesake company Yves Rocher.
Yves Rocher cosmetics give all women access to caring for their natural beauty with plant-based creams and products.
The exclusively plant-based and affordable products set it apart from other French skincare brands.
Top Yves Rocher skincare products:
Fortifying Anti-pollution Daily Serum
Hydra Vegetal Moisturizing Gel Cream
16. Collosol
In the 1950s, Parisian women already understood the significance of removing makeup and cleansing their skin.
As a result, a pharmacist in Place des Vosges invented the cult-favorite Collosol skincare range.
Without any advertising, Collosol’s Milk Cleansing Lotion Eau de Lait became an icon in French women’s bathrooms for removing makeup, cleansing, and achieving beautiful skin.
Seventy years later, Collosol remains one of our favorite French skincare brands because of its unique texture, intrinsic fragrance, and undeniable efficacy.
Top Collosol skincare products:
No Rinse Cleansing & Softening Milk
Huile Extra Makeup Removing Oil
Mi-Eau Mi-Lait Makeup Bi-Phased Remover for Eyes & Lips
Chantilly Makeup Remover & Face Cleansing Foam
17. Seasonly
Founded by Fany Péchiodat, Seasonly is a clean French skincare studio born out of the desire to offer simplistic, clean, and effective beauty products for real women that aren’t born with seemingly perfect skin.
Seasonly’s formulas are short yet efficient, with traceable active and ethically sourced ingredients. In addition, the skincare brand offers cleaners, serums, lotions, and face tools.
What sets it apart is that Seasonly offers customized skincare products that focus on a specific skin problem, geographical location, and the season – hence the name.
So hop over to their website for an online experience that tailors cosmetic products to your skincare need.
Top Seasonly skincare products:
18. La Provençale Bio
The L’Oréal group launched La Provençale Bio, an entirely new brand, in 2018.
To create the brand from scratch, L’Oréal tapped into the expertise of Sanaflore, an organic beauty brand part of their active cosmetics division.
La Provençale Bio is certified organic. At the core, these products are enriched with Provence-sourced extra-virgin olive oil, rich in vitamin E and polyphenols.
Top Yves Rocher skincare products:
L’Extract De Juuvence Natural Anti-Aging Serum
Redensifying Youthful Gold Cream Mature Skin
Final Words on French Beauty Brands
The French are famous for having a simplified skincare routine, and even celebrities such as French model Camille Rowe swear by their simple routines and French pharmacy products.
On top of that, most French beauty brands are well-known for their high-quality ingredients and no-nonsense approach to beauty.
We hope this guide to French products will help you create a handy shopping list for your next trip to Paris! Bisou!
Did you enjoy reading about these French skincare brands? Then share it with your friends!
18 Best French Skincare Brands
1. Lâncome
2. La Roche-Posay
3. Avène
4. Bioderma
5. Sisley
6. Embryolisse
7. Caudalie
8. Vichy
9. L’Occitane
10. Melvita
11. Biotherm
12. SVR Laboratories
13. Clarins
14. Nuxe
15. Yves Rocher
16. Collosol
17. Seasonly
18. La Provençale Bio
Don’t Forget About Travel Insurance!
Before you leave for France, make sure you have a valid travel insurance policy because accidents happen on the road. We have been paying for Safety Wing travel insurance for a little over a year now, and we happily recommend them to our family and friends.
If you get sick, injured, or have your stuff stolen, you'll be happy to have the ability to pay for your medical bills or replace what was stolen.
Because, for just a couple of dollars a day (depending on how long your policy is for), you're going to get lots of things covered. Be smart and get travel insurance.