When you dream of a European holiday, sunshine, good food and exploring the local culture and way of living are probably the first things that come to mind. Some cities have bodegas, some have secret jazz bars and others have hole-in-the-wall wine vendors. Paris, on the other hand, has pharmacies.
I know, I know- why would anyone associate the City of Love with pharmacies, when it has so much more to offer? If you’re going to Paris for its je ne sais quoi feel, you’re about to find out there’s much more to it than romance. All it takes is typing “#frenchpharmacy” in your Instagram/TikTok search bar to see how the humble drugstores all over France have quickly catapulted to virality. For the locals, they have always been a cultural cornerstone, albeit an unlikely one. With the hashtag garnering over 150 million views, it’s clear that tourists have one more item added to their list to complete their cultural education of France.
I did some sleuthing over the long weekend (obviously after a binge-watch of the new season of Emily In Paris) to uncover the secrets behind Sylvie’s effortless, age-defying beauty and Camille’s cool-French-girl-coded looks. Read on for an up close and personal look into the vanities of everyone’s current favourite Frenchies.
Everything You Need To Get From A French Pharmacy
A class apart from pharmacies in the rest of the world, these French versions sell beyond just medication and essentials. They are akin to the gates of Heaven for skincare, beauty and wellness aficionados. You’ll be surprised at how easy it is to get your hands on the highest quality skincare products at general pharmacies. The French believe in only the best for their skin and it absolutely shows.
Brands like La Roche Posay, Caudalie, Avène, and Nuxe, which have gained such a reputation globally for their superiorly efficient products are so easily accessible and at great price points compared to anywhere else in the world! The sunscreens are especially popular among influencers and tourists as many of them run out in a jiffy in the USA and Asia. Rich and nourishing multi-purpose creams are another specialty and in my humble opinion, anti-aging products and undetectable makeup-skincare hybrids like these just cannot be found in any other part of the world. Other than this, supplements of the highest grade are also sold at great prices.
The Pharmacie du Cerf in Strasbourg is perhaps France’s oldest, having been established in the 13th century and from there begun a heritage of groundbreaking products. Citypharma in Saint Germain des Pres is a tourist favourite in Paris, owing to its bargain prices and abundance of products.
We’ve made a compilation of all the must-haves, so that you don’t feel lost on your trip to the pharmacy:
This water-light serum comprises 89% mineral-rich volcanic water from the region of Vichy, which will help your skin stay plump, hydrated and protected. The formula is also free from fragrance, parabens or any nasties. We bet this is Sylvie's go-to for a hot day!
This brand gets more popular everyday, and for a good reason. This milky serum makes use of grapevine extract, which is a more stable and gentler alternative to vitamin C, and dare we say, a more efficient one.
This is one of the few products that can take care of even the most sensitive, whimsical skin. Whether your concern is inflammation, swelling, dry patches or a damaged skin barrier, this comforting cream will soothe you.
Almost like magic revival water for your skin, this mist has only the one ingredient- and it's all you need to refresh and hydrate your skin. It is super gentle and can help against environmental aggressors.
If I could marry this product, I would. It's got the most luxurious feel to it and makes my skin baby soft. You can use it as a moisturiser, as well as makeup primer, as attested by many a makeup artists. If you're looking for flawlessly smooth skin like Camille, this is the product for you.
A true French classic, this oil is a must have in every French woman's toiletry kit. It's a multi-tasking star product that can be mixed with body lotion or used as is on your skin, it can be used for dry brushing, and even on the lengths of your hair for nourishment. Bonus: it smells like a cloud!
According to, well, everyone who's tried this dry shampoo, it is unlike anything available in the world and works wonders for greasy roots. It's also quite nourishing, owing to the presence of oat milk and nettle oil. Probably Emily's favourite product to achieve those gorgeous hairstyles.
I'd heard so much hype about the nourishing, thick quality of this honey lip balm and it absolutely works like a charm. It also dries down to a matte finish, which is perfect for people like me, whose lip balm vanishes embarrassingly soon.
This pharma creation is a gentler version of retinol and a godsend for those who want to harness the benefits of it, but cannot tolerate it.
This compilation would be incomplete without a classic, gold-standard, high-quality filter French sunscreen.
This mild cleansing oil can be used to double cleanse and remove makeup and emulsifies perfectly, leaving your pores squeaky clean. It can also be used as a body cleanser for dry skin. This has got to be the secret to Mindy's glowy long legs.
Beauty à La Française
For decades, women around the world have been fascinated by the effortless, chic, cool French girl. There have been innumerable attempts by all of us, whether we admit it or not, to replicate the classy French makeup and style quotient. However, the raison d’etre of the French girl aesthetic is their ever-youthful skin and the way they look after it. And I’m going to spill all the secrets on what it takes to channel your inner Brigitte Bardot.
French skincare is rooted in years of scientific research and experimentation, so you know you’re buying a genuinely effective product that does what it claims. Minimalism is a mainstay in French beauty routines, with a focus on a small number of potent ingredients and products that can be used to address a multitude of concerns, rather than a wide variety of products. Ingredients like thermal spring water, ceramides, shea butter, chamomile, grapevine and squalene are some favourites of the French.
Products are put through rigorous laboratory testing, making sure that they meet the highest standards of safety and efficacy. Combine that with Europe’s airtight policies and strict guidelines for the quality of ingredients used to make these products, and you have yourself pure-skin-and-hair-loving magic.
It’s easy to see why the French beauty philosophy is easy to love and I, for one, cannot wait to get started on my French skincare journey.
