All the Best French Beauty Products (That We’ve Written About on the Strategist)

When we asked experts about thebest face washes,Ami Dalal, a certified physician assistant with Schweiger Dermatology Group, recommended this La Roche-Posay cleanser for drier skin types because it contains glycerin, which “helps hydrate your skin without the overproduction ofoil,” she says. The formula also boasts other active ingredients, such as moisturizingceramidesto repair the skin barrier and soothingniacinamideto treat irritated skin, dermatologist Dr.Yunyoung Claire Changsays. Chang says she also likes that the creamy texture gently removes makeup as you cleanse.

As seen in our guide to the bestface washes for acne, this foamy formula was crowned the best foroily skinbecause it containsexfoliatingsalicylic and alpha-hydroxy acids. These ingredients work to reduce excess oil and unclog pores, and in turn, increase cellular turnover, saysDr. Sonia Batra, dermatologist and co-host ofThe Doctors. And becauseoily complexionscan also be acne-prone, Batra says the acids also work to rid skin of concerns such as pimples andblackheads; meanwhile,Tess Adams, a facialist and co-founder of New York’sTake Care Spa, says they “can be imperative for healing cystic or severe acne.”

The Cut’s former beauty director Kathleen Housaysthis Embryolisse cream is often the onlymoisturizermakeup artists carry backstage because it won’t irritate models’ skin. It doesn’t contain much fragrance, and the milky consistency makes it soothing for all skin types, Hou says. The formula also contains soy proteins, which firm and tone, leaving a soft finish that primes the skin for makeup. Makeup artistHelene Vasniereven says it’s her favorite for prepping men’s skin (which is thicker than women’s) because of its creamy texture. French British actress Charlotte Gainsbourg alsotold the Cutit was the single beauty product her late mother Jane Birkin used.

Designed specifically foraging skin, this cream is a favorite of dermatologistDr. Karan Lal, who likes that it’s deeply hydrating while targeting fine lines and wrinkles. It contains a blend of water-attracting glycerin and shea butter, plus dimethicone, which creates a barrier to stop moisture from leaving the skin, Strategist writer Tembe Denton-Hurstsays. But the main ingredient is Pro-Xylane, a sugar-protein molecule, which prevents future visible signs of aging while boosting elasticity and fortifying the skin’s matrix, dermatologistDr. Marnie Nussbaumsays. This is key for mature skin that produces less collagen over time, Denton-Hurstsays.

“This is basically an upgraded version of the already belovedToleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer, boosted withSPF protection,” saysDr. Tiffany Libby, director of Mohs micrographic and dermatologic surgery atBrown Dermatology. Beyond blocking harmful UVA and UVB rays, this cream doesn’t contain fragrance but has a host of skin-barrier-supporting ingredients, such as ceramides, glycerin, and niacinamide,Dr. Marisa Garshick, a dermatologist atMDCS Dermatology, says. This makes it a great option if you’re dry or sensitive, because the formula soothes, repairs, and rebalances parched skin, Strategist contributorBaze Mpinjasays. And according to theproduct description, it’s also noncomedogenic, so it’s a safe bet foracne-prone skin.

Bioderma’s micellar water — a cleansing liquid infused with “micelles,” or small balls of oil — is ourtop-rated makeup removerbecause it works on all skin types by drawing out imperfections without stripping skin, NYC-based dermatologistDr. Hadley Kingsays. On top of being “lightweight and nongreasy,” the formula is alcohol-, fragrance-, and paraben-free, dermatologistDr. Y. Claire Changsays. Dr. Lily Talakoub, founder ofDerm to Door, uses it and says it won’t leave skin feeling tight post-wash. It’s also the only product that can take off her hard-to-remove mascara “without losing any precious eyelash hairs,” Talakoub says.

This “beauty elixir” comes recommended byNicole Scherzinger, along with two dermatologists —Dr. Stacy ChimentoandDr. Paul Jarrod Frank— who both like theface mistbecause it can perform double duty as a primer for makeup or as a setting spray. Frank says it gives a healthy-looking glow because it contains essential oils, including moisturizing grape extract, toning rosemary, soothing rose, andantisepticpeppermint, which “helps to tighten pores and reduce inflammation andbreakouts.”Scherzingerdescribes the formula as “illuminating” and says it has a tingling sensation to “wake up” the skin. “I use it when I’m tired, especially when I’m done flying and need to freshen up,” she says.

Dr. Michelle Park, a dermatologist atWashington Square Dermatology, prefers this single-ingredientmistbecause it’s gentle enough for sensitive skin and can be used onrosaceaor eczema, thanks to its thermal mineral water that “calms inflammation and restores the skin barrier,” she says. Although the formula lacks nutrient additives (unlike the mist above), its neutral pH gently hydrates skin, Park says, but she recommends “using afacial moisturizerafter spraying this to lock in the moisture.”

In ourguide to the best night creams, theVichy LiftActiv Supremeis our favorite affordable firming option.Dr. Elizabeth Bahar Houshmand, owner of the Dallas-based practiceHoushmand Dermatology, says it’s great for those “with sensitive skin who are looking for effective anti-aging solutions at a reasonable price point.” The moisturizer contains vitamin C and glycerin for hydrated, brighter-looking skin, Denton-Hurst says, while Houshmand points to rhamnose, a naturally derived plant sugar, as the crucial ingredient because it effectivelyplumpsand firms. “With continued use, the cream visibly reduces wrinkles” and produces a more even texture, Houshmand says.

Celebrity makeup artistDaniel Martinlikesthe versatility of thisblendableDior concealer, which has full coverage and can be worn in place of foundation. The formula, which is infused with iris extract for hydration, is thick and creamy, so a little goes a long way, Strategist contributor Garrett Muncesays. But Munce’s favorite part is that it truly lasts: “I applied this stuff first thing in the morning, and it was still in place when I got home 14 hours later,” he says. It can also be used to even skin tone under the eyes or in the T-zone,saysmakeup artistLucy Halperin, who’s a fan of the product’s wand formess-free applications. Halperin also appreciates the brand’s extensive color range, which includes 30 shades.

While passing through a European airport, Strategist contributor Sadie Steinuncoveredthis Clarinslip stainand was informed by a duty-free employee that the nondrying, water-based formula “would last for 300 kisses,” Stein says. Now, it’s become a step in her daily beauty routine as a quick way to appear more polished, Stein says. Like Stein, I’m also a fan oflipstains, but this is my favorite because it’s ultrapigmented yettransferproof. I also like blotting it on my cheeks for a flushed look, but when applied to my lips, it lasts all day, and, as Stein puts it, “When it does fade, there’s no ring around your mouth: It fades all at once.”

Since she was a teenager, Strategist contributor Susannah Edelbaum hasusedthis Bourjoismascara, which her mom says is made in the same factory as Chanel. Edelbaum says it only takes two swipes to create a “dramatically better version” of her owneyelashesthat never smudge, flake, harden, or clump. And when it’s time for removal, Edelbaum says the formula easily washes off. She also says it’s proven to be a great gift because it’s “high-quality,European, and unfamiliar.”

Makeup artistAmanda Shackletonsays this L’Oréal mascara is the most dependablewaterproof optionin her kit, which is why she uses it on clients “when there’s even a remote possibility of tears,” like at weddings. Makeup artistJen Mylesand actressSanaa Lathanbothpraisethe budgeproof formula for building volume and thickness that “almost makes you look like you have false eyelashes on,” Lathan says.