The 16 Best Lesser-Known French Beauty Products, According to Makeup Artists and Beauty Bloggers

Multitasking breastfeeding products are big in general for beauty purposes. Makeup artistHelene Vasnieruses this lanolin, sheep-derived breastfeeding salve from Lansinoh on her lips, too. “It’s without perfume, of course, and magical!” she says. We also spotted it in one of Glossier museCoco Baudelle’s Instagram stories, which she described as “magic for painful dry patches on skin.”

Vasnier also loves Saeve, which formulates their products with all-natural ingredients and without essentials oils, a positive for those with sensitive, acne-prone skin. She likes the brand’s hydrating serum in particular, which she uses on her face and neck. “It’s full of moisturizing ingredients and antioxidants, which give me a boost of hydration before I apply my moisturizer,” she says.

The French are always partial to products without fragrances or chemicals, which is whyMayia Alleaumerecommends this soothing Avène moisturizer for sensitive skin: “This cream calms any irritation, so I wake up with baby-soft skin. I love to use it as a mask and sleep with it all night long. And because it lacks fragrance, you won’t suffer any allergies or reactions.”

If you’re a fan of Skyn Iceland’s eye patches (a Riofavorite), here’s something similar from France you may not know of. Makeup artistSabrina Bedranisays these Talika eye therapy patches are ideal for soothing tired, puffy eyes: “After 15 minutes you can see the difference, and it makes makeup application so much easier.”

These Klorane eye patches are a favorite of content consultantEstelle Lubino. “They reduced my under-eye puffiness on my with just one use,” she says. She also recommends sticking them in the freezer for ten to 15 minutes before application to enhance their efficacy.

Les eaux florales(water extracted from plants and flowers) is another French beauty staple that Alleaume brought up. “We love to use it in our daily skincare routine. It regulates sebum (the oil in your skin that keeps it naturally moisturized). There is flower water for every type of skin-care need: rose water for anti-aging, lavender for combination skin, bleuet [cornflower] for irritated skin,” she says. “My favorite is thefleur d’oranger, which helps soothe dry skin.”

BloggerClaire Mostalso likes Sanoflore, and recommends this hydratingtoner, which she says makes her skin feel “incredibly fresh and clean.” The peppermint, floral water, and rosemary leaf gives the toner a slight scent that isn’t too overpowering, and it hydrates and soothes the skin.

For acne-prone skin, blogger Anastasja ofSea, Glow & Sunsays she can’t live without this Caudalie serum, which relies on the brand’s signature grape-derived resveratrol to brighten and even out skin tone. “This serum hydrates, helps to reduce acne scars (or any hyperpigmentation), and makes you look radiant. I like to apply it under the moisturizer in the morning and at night. It’s probably the best serum I’ve ever tried,” she says.

“This is my favorite cleanser,” says Lubino, adding, “it’s ideal for double cleansing.” The balmycleanseris good for removing sweat, dirt, and makeup, while also helping with any redness. Plus, she says, “the coconut smell is absolutely amazing.”

And though we’ve already praised Saforelle’sprobiotic tamponsbefore, Violette says this philosophy on healthy feminine care products should extend to body hygiene products as well. “I am a bit shocked by how terrible women’s hygiene products are in the U.S. And how poor education is on this topic,” she says. “I buy all my soap from Saforelle, and even my tampons, which are loaded with probiotics to help with my natural flora. The quality is much better.”

Lubino loves Lebontoothpaste, which is free from parabens, flouride, and artificial sweeteners and dyes, and instead relies on natural Papaya extract to gently whiten teeth. The brand’s unique flavors, like mango mint and cinnamon, make Lubino “excited to brush [her] teeth,” she says.

Our beauty writer Riolives forBiologique Recherche’s P50 exfoliating lotion, but for something more calming and moisturizing, writerMonica Ainleysays not to miss the spa’s luxurious creams either: “The BR spa on the Champs-Elysées is a legendary destination for in-the-know Parisiennes. A lot of their techniques involve the mysteriously effective massaging of creams into one’s cheeks, after which you come out looking (no-joke) at least five years younger and fresher. For at-home use, I am a particular fan of their Creme VIP moisturizer.”

This face oil from Darphin is designed to do a bunch of things, including smooth wrinkles, firm skin, and boost radiance. It uses theessenceof eight different flowers (immortelle, iris, and jasmine to name a few), and is packed with antioxidants. “The fragrance is divine and very comforting,” says Lubino, adding that the silky texture makes it perfect for use during a facial massage.

The French tend to keep it very natural when it comes to makeup, and this light bronzer is one of Bedrani’s essentials for thatno-makeup makeuplook. “This has been a favorite of mine for years, even before bronzing and contouring were such a trend. It’s a very fine powder with a beautiful pigment — not too red or orange. It gives the perfect sun-kissed glow in a very natural way,” she says.

And Bonnot says this volumizing, organicmascarafrom Avril is one of the must-haves in her makeup kit: “It is composed of açai extract and beeswax, so it protects and strengthens eyelashes for a breathtaking thickness. It’s very long lasting, too.”

Lubino particularly polishes this non-toxic polish from Kure Bazaar. They’re formulated with natural ingredients like wood pulp, cotton, potato, maize and wheat, and have “a wide range of great colors,” says Lubino, adding that the polishes are really durable and last a long time.