5 French skincare secrets you need to know
From thermal water spray to a holistic approach, this is how the French get such enviable skin. By Prudence Wade.

Thereās a reason the French look is held to the highest standard in beauty.
Everyone wants a piece of that effortlessly cool aesthetic, and French beauty products are some of the best in the world.
Dr Marine Vincent, founder of The French Pharmacy, notes the French approach favours āa more minimalistic and effortless lookā.
She says: āFrench women lean towards a more natural aesthetic, prioritising a prevention-focused and holistic approach to beauty.
āFrench women value taking care of their skin as a form of self-care and overall wellbeing. They understand that healthy skin is a reflection of a healthy lifestyle.ā
Plus, Vincent says āembracing your individuality and cultivating self-confidence are key elements of French beautyā.
If you want to get more of a Parisian glow, take a look at some of these French skincare secretsā¦
1. Adopt positive habits early on
āIn French culture, skincare is indeed ingrained from a young age, and I believe it comes again from the wellbeing and holistic approach to beauty,ā Vincent reflects. āWe see it as part of our self-care, not as an option.ā
She says she learned the āsignificance of using quality productsā growing up, and her mother ātaught me to cleanse, moisturise and protect my skin from an early ageā ā with her first moisturiser from classic French pharmacy brand AvĆØne.
āTime has passed and I now gave the same advice to my 12-year-old daughter,ā Vincent adds ā now adding sunscreen into that list, which is āone of the most effective anti-ageing skincare toolsā.
Part of forming these positive habits is consistency, which Vincent says is ākey in skincare, as it helps to maintain the skinās balance and prevents common issues such as acne or premature ageing, so starting early will allow you to establish good habits early on, making it easier to maintain them in the long-termā.
2. Use French pharmacy products
āIf youāre looking for effective skincare without all the fancy marketing and high price tags, French pharmacy beauty products are definitely worth exploring,ā says Vincent. āTheyāve got a solid reputation for a reason.ā
One of the reasons theyāre so good is they āfocus on simplicityā, Vincent suggests.
āFrench skincare brands often prioritise using key active ingredients that are known to work wonders for the skin. Itās all about delivering visible results without any fuss.ā
Look out for brands like La Roche-Posay, AvĆØne, Caudalie and Bioderma ā helping you get science-based, effective products without breaking the bank.
Bioderma Hydrabio Serum, £20, Escentual
Caudalie Vinopure Moisturizing Mattifying Fluid, £25
3. Try endermologie
This secret is a bit pricier than pharmacy skincare products, but many French women swear by it.
Endermologie is a treatment where a therapist uses a machine with various settings on your body or face.
āIt is very renowned for its amazing results, primarily on cellulite, sagging skin [and] body contouring,ā suggests LPG Endermologie ambassador Nathalie Paradis.
She says itās āpowerfulā in āincreasing firmness, but at the same time very respectful of the skin, especially when itās fragileā.
Endermologie isnāt quite a household name in the UK, but is much more prominent in France where thereās a more holistic approach to beauty. Paradis says: āWe are facing a new era where beauty cannot be separated from health, and where people can benefit from this technology to reach their goals of wellbeing in an increasingly stressful environment.ā
Becoming increasingly popular in UK salons, it can also be used to treat scars or scar tissue.
4. Get the āFrench touchā
Vincent says thermal water spray is the extra āFrench touchā you can add to your beauty bag and use āall year longā.
According to Vincent, some of the best uses of thermal water spray are before applying hyaluronic acid serums (you āneed moisture to be effectiveā, she says), to āfix your make-upā, to refresh your face in summer and āto layer in between your skincare steps and add an extra layer of hydrationā.
Avène Thermal Spring Water Spray for Sensitive Skin, £15.50, Boots
Vichy Mineralizing Thermal Spa Water, £9, Look Fantastic
5. Use a secret weapon
Is cica cream in your routine? This is the nickname for centella asiatica creams and ālong before [it was a] TikTok trend, all French women have one in their beauty bagā, Vincent says.
According to Vincent, itās useful for any skin irritation (cracked lips, burns, baby rashes, etc), dry areas (like elbows or knees), after sun, as a skin recovery mask and as a moisturiser.
La Roche Posay Cicaplast Balm, £10, Boots
Bioderma Cicabio Pommade ā Repairing Ointment, Ā£8, Escentual