Best French Beauty Products to Buy in Paris
Part 2
What Parisians Actually Buy (Not Just TikTok Favorites)
My name is Joleen and I am a makeup artist. I was professionally trained in Paris and have been working here and around the world for over 15 years. Today, I’m here to tell you what French women, and makeup artists, are consistently buying – the tried and true OG French beauty products that stand the test of time. In Part 1 of Best French Beauty Products to Buy in Paris I covered the fan favorites, the viral products, that are actually worth your money! Today, I’m going to tell you about some lesser known products that you’ll definitely want to be taking back home with you.
These are three easy to find products that are genuinely worth buying in Paris.
The Pore-Perfecting Treatment Everyone Underrates
Bioderma Sébium Pore Refiner
This is one of those products that doesn’t get as much attention as Bioderma’s micellar water but probably should. 
Designed for combination to oily skin, it works to visibly tighten pores, smooth texture, and reduce shine throughout the day. It makes a good makeup base, and is definitely worth a try at only 15€. But even without makeup, the effect is noticeable. Skin looks more refined, less shiny, and more even overall.
I talk more about Bioderma in my series Discovering French Beauty Brands, if you’d like to learn more.
Price comparison:
- 🇫🇷 France: €13 – €15
- 🇺🇸 US: $25.99
If you want to pick it up to try before your trip to Paris, or bought it in Paris and can’t live without it you can pick it up here at a slightly higher price point: Bioderma Sébium Pore Refiner
The Cult French Lip Balm
Nuxe Rêve de Miel Honey Lip Balm
Every Top 10 list of viral products to buy in Paris will include Nuxe Dry Body Oil, but did you know that they also have an amazing lip balm amongst their other various products?
The Nuxe rêve de miel honey lip balm is rich, repairing lip balm with a signature matte, non glossy finish. It’s thick and nourishing and smells absolutely divine. It’s closer to a treatment rather than a cosmetic lip balm or gloss. It won’t make your lips shine or play particularly well with your lipsticks (leads to bleeding lipstick) but if applied at night before going to bed, you’ll be sure to wake up with soft plump lips!It’s the kind of product people buy once in Paris… and then keep repurchasing forever.
I would also recommend purchasing any other the shower gels, shampoos or lotion in the same scent!
Price comparison:
- 🇫🇷 France: €10 – €13
- 🇺🇸 US: $22 (you can purchase it here)
The Effortless Hair Staple
Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk
Moving away from skincare for a moment, Klorane’s Dry Shampoo is another one of my kit’s staples. It is lightweight dry shampoo that refreshes hair while adding soft volume and texture. It absorbs oil, refreshes the hair, and adds that soft, slightly undone texture that feels very “French”.
My professional insider opinion it to purchase the bottle that has loose powder that you squeeze out, and avoid buying the aerosol version. It’s easier to control and work with.
It’s great for those no-wash days, but also applied at the hair roots for extra lift and volume. Also great if you want to add a little grit or texture to your hair for that ‘Parisian girl’ effect.
Even if you don’t usually use dry shampoo, this is worth trying for travel alone.
Price comparison:
- 🇫🇷 France: €8–€10
- 🇺🇸 US: $25 (you can purchase here)
Why These Are Worth Bringing Home
What all three of these have in common is simple: They’re not flashy. They’re not trend-driven. And they’re not always the first thing influencers mention.
But they work, and they’re the kind of products people actually finish.
The best part of shopping French pharmacies isn’t just ticking off a list you found on TikTok. It’s finding the products you didn’t plan to buy, the ones that become essentials once you get home.
Why you should come shopping with me!
I didn’t discover these products all at once and definitely not from a single “top 10” list. As a professional Makeup and Hair stylist, I buy and try so many products. I’ve lived in Paris since 2007 and have seen how the pharmacies have blown up on social media since I’ve lived here. That’s great for the pharmacies and the brands, but I was purchasing them all before they went viral. I know what’s worth your money and your time.
Since the social media explosion, pharmacies like Citypharma (the most popular pharmacy in the city) can feel overwhelming. It’s iconic, yes, but also crowded, fast-paced, and packed with hundreds of nearly identical-looking products. And unless you know what you’re looking for, it’s easy to walk past them. You could absolutely go in and pick things at random. But you might miss the ones that are actually worth it.
That’s where I come in. If you’re coming to Paris, I can take you beyond the “grab the viral products and go” experience.
Think:
- Walking into the right pharmacies (not just the most famous ones)
- Knowing exactly what’s worth buying, and what isn’t
- Finding products that suit your skin, not just a generic list
- And leaving with a routine that actually makes sense for you
I turn what can feel overwhelming into something much more curated and honestly, a lot more fun! Just like shopping with a Parisian girlfriend!
The goal is never to buy more, but to buy better. I apply the same rule for makeup shopping, but more to come on that later!