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Sian Victoria © - French beauty products

French cosmetics: skincare, fragrances & haircare

It's no secret that the French are renowned for their beauty. No one does it better than the French multi-billion beauty industry creating flawless skincare to perfected makeup. With iconic brands like Chanel and Christian Dior to more accesable French Pharmacy brands like Phyto Paris and Caudalie.

The French beauty market is booming, and I’m pleased they have the desire to make more cosmetics sustainable and vegan friendly. But there is still a long way for them to go, but atleast many are beginning to make more positive changes.

With the market being so inundated with companies releasing new beauty products, it's hard to know where the true quality lies. So, through my trials of products over the last few years, I've compiled a list of what I believe are some of the best French beauty brands that make incredible products, from outstanding skincare and haircare to irresistible fragrances.

1. La Rosée

Sian Victoria © - La Rosée Sunflower seed oil shower gel

Formulated by pharmacy experts passionate about classically French natural beauty, this reasonably priced but majorly effective skincare line by La Rosée brings you quality products that are made 100% natural and can be used and loved by those with even the most sensitive skin.

Having nourished and healthy-looking skin has never been made simpler, with products meticulously designed for the face and body that break the long-believed myth that luxury skin can only be achieved by paying sky-high prices.

La Rosée ticks every box – with only the finest natural ingredients being used and all products being completely vegan and cruelty-free, what more can you ask for? When seeking a gentle cleanser for the face and body that cares for the skin and replenishes it, the La Rosée Sunflower Seed oil shower gel does just that.

Formulated for every skin type with an almost fully biodegradable formula that's approved by dermatologists, this unique product can be purchased for under £14 and takes advantage of the incredible benefits of pure and organic sunflower oil, known for its age-rewind qualities and to nourish the skin. Made with zero parabens or harmful ingredients, this product is destined to become a favourite in your morning routine.

It's no wonder that La Rosée is used by millions across the world and has won a multitude of awards for its products – having elegant skin has never been simpler with the range of reasonably priced products from this ingenious brand.

2. Avène

Sian Victoria © - Avène Thermal Spring Water

Founded in 1736, Avène has countless years of experience producing products that are specifically crafted for the needs of sensitive skin utilising the therapeutic qualities of the thermal waters from the south of France.

Used and approved by dermatologists and the everyday French person. The active formulations of thermal water in every product focus on giving your skin the A-list treatment for an affordable price by hydrating and nourishing it while tackling most skin problems and with almost all-natural ingredients being used.

The Avène Thermal Spring Water can be purchased for under £9 at Boots and Lookfantastic. It is a versatile skincare product that's bottled directly from the waters in France and delicately calms sensitive skin through its mineral properties.

Use as little or as often as you wish, from as soon as you wake up to after makeup application, with its indisputably useful spray bottle design allowing the product to be applied in a refreshing, lightweight mist to calm the skin and leave you feeling ready for the day ahead. Its neutral pH composition is carefully designed for sensitive skin types and helps soothe the skin by hydrating it at its core and refreshing the complexion.

Its zero-paraben, fragrance-free and vegan formulation means this product can be enjoyed by everyone with no harmful ingredients making sure you can reap the full benefits of this soothing product. When looking for skincare products that care for your skin's needs and help you embrace your natural beauty, Avène does just that.

3. Klorane

Sian Victoria © - Klorane Anti-pollution hair conditioner

Enjoy truly beautiful hair and skin with Klorane. Founded in 1965 by a French pharmacist eager to formulate natural products that epitomize French beauty without harmful ingredients. Every single product that hits the market from this cult classic brand is cruelty-free and made with plant-based ingredients in unique formulas that are 100% biodegradable and environmentally friendly, caring for both the planet and your skin and hair-care needs.

The Klorane Anti-pollution hair conditioner is under £10 and, through careful scientific research, has been conscientiously concocted to detangle hair with a minimal lightweight formula that protects even the most sensitive of scalps to replenish and revive hair right from the root.

The dermatologically tested and approved formula fights against the consequences of pollution we face in everyday life to wash away the pollutants that cause discomfort and unwanted dryness, and instead encourage the growth of flawlessly healthy, hydrated hair.

For all your haircare and skincare needs, Klorane has it covered. Purchase from a reputable independent French Pharmacy or at Boots and Lookfantastic and be confident in the knowledge that you're supporting an authentically French company that not only cares for your every hair or skincare need but for the planet too.

4. Caudalie

Sian Victoria © - Caudalie Vegan collagen Resveratrol Lift

Founded in 1995 Caudalie is a beloved French skincare company recognised for its wine-making roots. Using vinotherapy techniques in the formulations of their award-winning products that utilise grape extracts, makes this brand all that more unique.

Just as the French are known for their natural beauty, each product that is carefully crafted by this brand uses 100% natural active ingredients that are paraben-free, cruelty-free and made with sustainability in mind, with the bulk of their products being suitable for vegans.

Despite the slightly higher-end price tag, Caudalie's Vegan Collagen Resveratrol Lift works wonders, magically transforming your skin into the personification of luxury making the cost more than worthwhile.

Suitable for normal, dry, or sensitive skin types, the Collagen Lift is perfect for those seeking an age-rewind product that stands up to its claims. The infusion of the plant compound resveratrol is recognised for its ability to fight the threat of ageing skin and improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles after just a few uses.

The combination of this antioxidant together with plant-based collagen means the firmness of your skin is made a priority, boosting the natural production of collagen in your body to repair its loss and make your skin appear both enviously youthful and smoother than ever. And it's made even better with vegan ingredients.

Caudalie is a staple brand in most French women's skincare routines and has produced products that have become cult classics in the country's booming beauty industry. So, although their products come with a slightly more luxurious price, the potential to achieve healthy-looking, truly beautiful skin is priceless.

5. Sanoflore

Sian Victoria © - Sanoflore Skin-perfecting botanical essence

Founded in 1993 and owned by major cosmetics company L'Oréal. Sanoflore delivers on its every claim with each product in its extensive beauty line loved by the French and those across the globe. This pharmacy brand has nailed the populated market of cosmetics. Made 100% naturally, formulas are created using plant-based and botanical ingredients straight from organic farms in the most exquisite regions of France.

Tested on sensitive and irritation-prone skin, Sanoflore uses the active properties of organic ingredients to give women the chance to utilise their favourite cosmetic products at no extra cost to the environment. The Skin-perfecting Botanical Essence is a best-seller amongst Sanflore's great line of products and works wonders for under £20.

Designed to help you embrace natural beauty by bringing radiance to oily, blemish-prone skin. Simply apply this fully vegan formula morning and night and watch as your skin gets purified, with organic peppermint oil rejuvenating the skin and cleansing sebum and oils from deep within.

Ultimately, Sanoflore is an outstanding alternative to conventional cosmetics, offering completely natural skincare products that prove flawless skin can be achieved without harmful chemicals and damage to the environment.

6. Cattier

Sian Victoria © - Cattier Green clay face mask

Since 1968, Cattier has created sublime cosmetics that capture French beauty with all-natural ingredients being used. With an immense variety of products stretching from face to full body skincare, Cattier formulates cosmetics that care for our planet – with every item manufactured organically, without animal testing and almost all products certified for vegans. It proves you can embrace truly beautiful, healthy-looking, and cared for skin without buying into the synthetic formulas of major cosmetic companies that dominate the market.

Cattier's line of face masks provides gentle treatments for a variety of skin types to infiltrate deep into the skin and soothe any sensitivity by restoring and stimulating its natural hydrating properties. A favourite of mine is Cattier’s Green Clay face mask, designed specifically for those who are prone to an oily t-zone, which nourishes skin by absorbing toxins with its organic peppermint and rosemary oil infusions and brightening the appearance of skin with anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.

Reasonably priced at under £7.00, simply apply it onto dry skin and leave it to sit for up to 10 minutes before rinsing off to reveal fresh, clean, and radiant skin.

Cattier is a popular brand in the gradually growing market of organic skincare and cosmetic companies, formulating products that prioritise the appearance and nourishment of skin without the inclusion of harmful ingredients.

7. Phyto Paris

Sian Victoria © - Phyto Paris 7 plants hair cream

Sian Victoria © - Phyto Phytoplage Protective Sun Veil

PHYTO is one of the most beloved brands on the market for creating impeccable hair care products for over 50 years. While allowing you to feel luxurious with beautifully soft, rejuvenated hair. PHYTO recogniSes the importance of a healthy scalp and the need to care for hair right from its roots. A cult classic amongst hairdressers, the brand was developed in France using solely the power of botanical and plant-based ingredients – reinforced in the brand name, translating to ‘plant’.

Amongst the lengthy line of transformative hair care products formulated by PHYTO lie the Paris 7 Plants Hair Cream and the Phytoplage Protective Sun Veil, both available for a reasonable £10-£12. With the 7 Plants Hair Cream, you can replenish even the driest of hair with this conditioning formula. Using the essence of seven natural plant extracts, apply this cream to your hair to promote nourishment and moisture. Leaving your locks completely rejuvenated and with a beautiful soft sheen that’s guaranteed to attract compliments.

Exemplify the amazing benefits of this hair cream with PHYTO's Sun Veil. Shield hair against the damaging UV rays with this lightweight SPF treatment that protects against the discolouration and drying effects of sun overexposure with natural ingredients hydrating hair as soon as it's sprayed. A hair saviour for beach days, but essential for any warm-hot days and before using heated styling tools to prevent hair damage.

After trying products from PHYTO, this brand will soon become your go-to for all your hair care needs. Every single hair type is catered for with its line of products and promises to give your hair the luxury treatment it needs.

I’ve been using Phyto Paris since early 2017. Their products for damaged hair were some of the first of many cosmetics I’ve used by them. I was also chosen as a UK ambassador for the brand at the Phyto Summer Festival in 2018 so it’s a premium hair care brand I have a lot of love for and highly recommend.

8. Chanel

Sian Victoria © - Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum

Founded by infamous fashion designer Coco Chanel in the early 20th century, Chanel is a timeless brand that personifies French beauty with every product they create. From avant-garde fashion pieces to glamorous beauty products and gloriously intoxicating signature scents, Chanel stands tall as one of the most recognisable designer brands on the market today. With every product this brand puts out, authentic French beauty is reflected.

The debut Chanel perfume Chanel No5 that hit the scene in 1921 changed how the world saw perfume, and truly encapsulated femininity and delicate beauty. And, following this, every fragrance created by Chanel follows in the footsteps of this infamous scent, with each perfume bringing a sense of luxury and a to-die-for aroma that will take pride of place on a woman's vanity.

The Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum is the perfect example of this. This fragrance is an ageless classic that captures the essence of female empowerment, with a floral, vibrant citrus scent that evokes bold sensuality and femininity with longevity after just one application. With prices stretching from £62.00 to £120 for a full-size bottle of this irresistible fragrance, it's no wonder that this perfume has been a hit since its launch in 2001.

Ultimately, Chanel as a brand is truly the epitome of the luxury that France is renowned for, and with a name recognisable by all, no brand does effortless beauty quite like it.

9. La Roche-Posay

Sian Victoria © - La Roche-Posay Effaclar Clarifying Toning Lotion

Founded in 1975, La Roche-Posay is perhaps one of the most popular pharmacy brands in the UK. Trusted and used by dermatologists, their expertly formulated skincare line is suitable for all skin types from sensitive to ageing skin. Every product is innovative and will get to work addressing your specific skincare needs, leaving you feeling transformed after just one use.

The reasonable price of La Roche-Posay is brilliant considering the luxury feel of the products, letting you step out of the house with effortlessly beautiful skin by simply incorporating any of this brand's effective products into your skincare routine.

If acne-prone and generally oily skin is your concern, look no further than the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Clarifying Toning Lotion. Largely recognised as one of the best skincare brands for acne-prone skin, it's no wonder that this product receives raving reviews. As seen in my reviews too, dating back to 2017 reviewing the Clarifying toner and in 2015 using the Zinc Sulphate spray.

Available at most reputable beauty stores and retailing for £13, give your skin a luxury treatment by applying this toner with a cotton pad after cleansing. It works by unclogging deep pores to give you that effortlessly French smooth skin texture, leaving your skin feeling soft to the touch and gently removing excess oil to ensure acne will no longer be a problem with continued use. Specifically designed with sensitive skin in mind, this transformative product can be used by all skin types.

Approved by French women for decades, La Roche-Posay's skincare line is the perfect example of the fastidious yet effortless skin the French are known for. Doing exactly what they claim to do without being overpriced.

10. Dior

Sian Victoria © - Dior Backstage Foundation & Diorshow Mascara

Sian Victoria © - Dior Addict Stellar Shine Lipsticks

Another big name dominating the French beauty scene is Dior. Founded in 1946, this luxury fashion house is instantly recognisable, with sleek, designer products allowing you to feel truly elegant and opulent, whether it's with a statement handbag or a deluxe makeup item. Known for revolutionising French beauty, Dior's products have an almost unimaginable influence on the cosmetics world.

Amongst the world of makeup, Dior has managed to become renowned for its production of products that have become cult favourites in a community inundated by competing brands and are approved by both the everyday makeup wearer and celebrity makeup artists.

Retailing for just under £30, the Dior Backstage Foundation is the secret to achieving flawless skin. With easily buildable coverage, this waterproof product can be applied to even the oiliest of skin – with a matte finish that's sure to become your holy grail foundation.

The £29 Diorshow mascara is perfect when seeking fluttery lashes. Used by celebrities and on the catwalk, this volumising mascara is enriched with microfibres to transform your lashes, lasting up to 24 hours of wear and with a cotton nectar infusion to ensure the quality of your lashes remains a priority.

The £27 Dior Addict Stellar Shine Lipstick range, enriched with natural beeswax to nourish and moisturise, smoothly glides onto lips to give 8 hours of shine with a range of envious finishes. With micro-pigments creating a luminous appearance, wear this product day or night and you’ll be sure to turn heads.

11. Vichy

Sian Victoria © - Vichy Minéral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Hydration Booster Serum

Owned by cosmetic giant L'Oréal, skincare brand Vichy intertwines a passion for skin health and appearance, with products recommended and used by dermatologists worldwide. Founded in 1931, Vichy harnesses the essence of the minerals and nutrients found in the waters of the Auvergne Volcanoes in France. As a key ingredient in the formula of each product, properties within the thermal water strengthen and rejuvenate the skin by reinforcing its barrier.

The thermal water's outstanding qualities can be found within Vichy's Minéral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Hydration Booster Serum, making up an unbelievable 89% of its composition and retailing for £25, designed to hydrate and moisturise the skin from deep within and strengthen the complexion.

Suitable for even the most sensitive of skin types, this lightweight serum can be applied to cleansed skin and leave your skin feeling quenched, radiant, and plumped with the benefits of hyaluronic acid. Perfect for dry or acne-prone skin, this serum will allow your skin to feel soothed and hydrated, calming any redness or irritation promptly after use. And, with a formula of 11 natural ingredients that are 100% vegan, improving skin health is at the root of this product.

Perfect for those with sensitive skin, Vichy's skincare will transform irritated, dry skin by giving it a boost of hydration, leaving you feeling completely refreshed and ready for the day. For more on Vichy, check out my Minéral 89 serum review.

12. Lancome

Sian Victoria © - Lancôme Cushion Blush Subtil

Luxury cosmetics company Lancôme produces high-quality fragrances, makeup and skincare products that will elevate your beauty routine to the next level. Created in the early 20th century, Lancôme encapsulates French beauty with products approved by major makeup artists, with products designed to make women feel truly glamorous and luxurious.

Lancome's makeup line creates lavish products from flawless skin bases to volumising mascaras, with a luxurious price point that reflects the glamour they radiate. The £15 Lancôme Cushion Blush Subtil, minimally packaged in an effortlessly sleek design, allows you to apply as little or as much colour to your cheeks as you wish with a soft cushion applicator included.

The Cushion Blush is available in a range of vibrant yet naturally radiant colours, – inspired by authentic French beauty - brighten your face with a delicately blushing look. And finish with Lancôme's Juicy Shaker Lip Oil. With a unique and fun packaging design, this lip-gloss will nourish and moisturise lips while bringing a touch of natural colour with a non-sticky formula. Choose from 13 shades and use them every day, with longevity after application meaning your lips will look and feel beautiful all day long.

Makeup aside, the Lancôme Visionnaire Advanced Skin Corrector Serum is designed to perfect the look of skin by penetrating throughout all the layers of the skin’s epidermis. Making the Lancôme Visionnaire a cult favourite, a skincare hero I’ve come back to many times since first reviewing it in 2016.

13. Uriage

Sian Victoria © - Uriage Eau Thermale Skincare

With a name derived from a spa town in France, Uriage's natural skincare products are infused with the mineral and nutrient-rich thermal water that travels through the French Alps, allowing you to reap the multitude of skincare benefits. As a brand, Uriage are 100% paraben-free, with various products being suitable for vegans also, reflecting their claims to support the skin's health by reinforcing its natural barrier and restoring radiance.

Embrace truly hydrated skin with Uriage's Eau Thermale Skincare water spray for under £10. Apply as often as desired to any part of the body and soothe and moisturise any skin type through the high concentration of calcium and magnesium salts found in the thermal waters within its remarkable formula. With the crucial ingredient silicon, the skin's barrier is strengthened, and hydration is promoted.

As a wholly natural product, this miracle mist can even be used by babies to calm their sensitive skin. Allow your skin to feel the benefits of thermal water by following the application of the facial spray with Uriage's face serum. With this product, the skin's epidermis is moisturised and rejuvenated through the water's mineral qualities, giving your skin a radiant, glowy appearance that simply oozes natural French beauty.

Carry on giving your skin the luxury treatment with the Uriage's Eau Thermale Silky Body Lotion. Apply a generous amount to the skin and feel the moisturising benefits. Perfect for dry skin types, this product's formulation of shea butter, hyaluronic acid and, of course, thermal water, promotes nourishment and hydration to give you truly illuminating and silky-smooth skin.

Uriage’s products are a shining example of how outstanding skincare products can be created without the use of harmful chemicals or synthetic materials, and instead how we can harness the goodness found on the earth and use it to enhance the health of our skin.

14. Yves Saint Laurent

Sian Victoria © - YSL Black Opium, Blur Primer, Lip Perfector & Lipstick

French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent founded this luxury fashion house intending to revolutionise beauty. Lavish skincare, makeup and fragrances lie amongst the multitude of luxurious products created by this enviable brand and evoke sleek, sophisticated beauty with a clear touch of French inspiration.

While being renowned for countless products as cult-classics within the beauty industry, perhaps YSL's Black Opium perfume is its most notorious creation. A timeless classic in the fragrance world, this instantly recognisable bottle contains a perfume with a scent that reflects true femininity. Made with the key undertones of black coffee and intertwined with sweet vanilla and delicate florals, there's no wonder this fragrance is a signature scent amongst many to indulge in its aroma of mysterious seduction and captivating femininity.

Enhance your makeup routine by incorporating YSL's Couture Brow Kit range into it. Choose from a variety of expertly crafted products, from brow pencils to powders and gels, specifically designed to help you shape your brows any way you like. Available in a range of shades, the buildable formula of YSL's brow products allows the high pigment colour to glide on smoothly and exemplify the natural hairs for £23.

A fierce competitor amongst other luxury French cosmetic brands, Yves Saint-Laurent can't be faulted for its efforts to create beauty products that capture authentic French beauty while remaining modern and innovative in their designs.

15. Lierac

Sian Victoria © - Lierac Hydragenist skincare range

Founded in 1974, dermo-cosmetic brand Lierac was developed in laboratories and creates innovative skincare products specialising in anti-ageing skin problems and promoting the natural radiance and beauty of healthy skin. With almost all products being suitable for vegans through formulations made naturally and paraben-free, those with sensitive skin can utilise products created by this ingenious company and feel the benefits without fear of irritation.

The award-winning Hydragenist range of products by Lierac have hydration at the heart of their skincare claims, harnessing components to oxygenate the skin to encourage the activation of skin cells. The £30 luxury Moisturising Serum within this range can be applied morning and night. With the high concentration of vitamins and minerals within its composition, this product has age-rewind qualities by promoting the oxygenation of skin cells and smoothing out fine lines to restore youthfulness, with hyaluronic acid replenishing skin with much-needed hydration and moisture.

The Hydragenist range is ideal when seeking truly radiant and glowing skin that brings back the fresh, youthful appearance that can be lost with ageing. In particular, the smoothing eye gel formula helps to smooth out fine lines with an anti-puffiness effect, while continuing to boost hydration and nourishment with oxygen components and a variety of minerals and vitamins specifically designed to promote the health of skin with cellular oxygenation. With long-lasting hydrating effects, any product within this range should be a go-to if you're longing for something to reduce the appearance of ageing.

Lierac's skincare is created with scientific research backing the manufacturing process, so you can be confident that you'll get exactly what the product claims when buying from this luxury French brand.

16. Novexpert

Sian Victoria © - Laboratoires Novexpert Paris Skincare

The brand I can’t recommend highly enough and should certainly be a top contender to consider adding to your skincare regime is Novexpert. Their HQ is a research centre run by scientists who formulate high concentrations of active ingredients from 100% natural origin so that they are effective while also being safe for those with sensitive skin and pregnant women.

Studies have shown our skin absorbs the cosmetics we apply to our skin and the ingredients can be found polluting our bloodstream, urine, and breast milk. It’s difficult to say how long these chemicals stay in our bodies and what damaging effects these toxic molecules can do on us, some studies show they are hormone-changing and cancer-causing.

For this reason, the scientists at Novexpert avoid using certain chemicals in their skincare formulas and use only biodegradable ingredients that are vegan and cruelty-free so you can be confident knowing your skincare is safer to use than most cosmetics in the industry while also being more effective as they contain more active ingredients and no added extras such as allergens that can cause hypersensitive skin.

Two holy-grail products I’ve used and quickly noticed a difference in the appearance and texture of my skin are the Booster Serum with Hyaluronic Acid and Booster with Vitamin C. Both items are made in France and formulated by doctors. The HA promotes firmer and smoother skin while the Vitamin C reduces free radicals and encourages a radiant complexion.

17. Lancaster

The premium Sun Beauty range from the brand Lancaster is a great choice if you’re seeking luxury skincare. With clean formulas that are respectful to the skin, coral reefs, and oceans and mindful of plastic consumption it’s a brand to consider adding to your upscale beauty routine.

Founded in 1946, Lancaster is a cosmetics company made in Monaco on the border of France so they’re not exactly a French brand. However, they are owned by Coty Inc. which is a French American multinational beauty company and France is one of their biggest stockists. It was while wandering duty-free in Paris Airport that I first discovered Lancaster beauty products as I was choosing sun lotion ahead of staying at the beach resort Hotel Marinca.

Lancaster is best known for its sun care range although they do have anti-ageing, cleansing and skin repair products too. Their dedicated Sun Beauty range is formulated for those with sensitive skin, a ‘sports’ collection for those always on the go and products for those wanting to bake in the sunshine, glow, accelerate and maintain their tan.

Their Sublime Tan Face Cream is available in an SPF 15, 30 and 50 so there’s a level of sun protection that’s suitable for your needs. The creamy lightweight and non-greasy formula absorb quickly and without leaving behind any white traces that can often be experienced with facial SPF lotions.

To conclude

And there we have it. Some of the best French cosmetic brands that perfectly encapsulate the meaning of effortless beauty, producing incredible skin, hair and body products that can't be flawed. Let me know in the comments if there are any more brands, I should try. If they stand true to their claims, they’ll be added to this list.

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