french cosmetics

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Everything French has long become a brand, synonymous with good taste, an ideal for millions of people around the world. The world-famous Eiffel Tower, exquisite clothes, incomparable croissants and, of course, cool French cosmetics for the face … Let’s touch the French chic together.

What is remarkable about French cosmetics for the face?

This country has been a trendsetter for 500 years, including in the beauty industry. All noble Europeans dreamed of being well-groomed like the French. Starting in the XNUMXth century, France “exported” perfumers, doctors and hairdressers to neighboring countries, where they received well-paid jobs and recognition. French perfumery and cosmetics are still highly respected in the world. What French brands offer us today:

  • innovative technologies plus many years of experience and knowledge of French cosmetologists and dermatologists allow us to create truly unique formulas and products. So, it was in France, in the laboratories of L’Oréal, that the proxylan molecule was developed, which showed effectiveness in anti-aging products. Proxylan – C-glycoside from beech bark – stimulates collagen synthesis, helping to make the skin more elastic and firm.

  • herbal ingredients and ingredients of natural origin – from Garnier (the brand has products that are 96% natural ingredients) to Biotherm with its thermal plankton from the sources of the Pyrenees and Yves Saint Laurent with an extract of a moon cactus that blooms for several hours a year.

  • aromas of the best perfumers, the most stylish things, the ability to appreciate beauty and art de vivre (the art of living).

Everything French has long been a brand …

List of the best French cosmetics brands

Of course, our top list is quite subjective, you may have your own preferences. But the fact that the Healthy-Food editors are happy to use the cosmetics of these French brands and consider them effective is the absolute truth.

What makeup do you need right now? Find out by taking our quiz.

L’Oreal Paris

“Because we deserve it” is the slogan of the French brand L’Oréal Paris on everyone’s lips.

One of the oldest French brands (she is 100 years old!) and certainly one of the most popular. Its founder, chemist Eugène Schueller, created a permanent hair dye in his kitchen. And he dubbed his brainchild L’Aureale – after the name of a hairstyle popular at the beginning of the XNUMXth century from curls neatly laid around the head. First, Schueller made paints, then opened a barbershop, where he trained stylists in coloring, and finally began to produce shampoos – more precisely, “hair champagne”, as they were then called. And then began a series of discoveries that turned the notion of skin and hair care. Eugène Schueller dreamed of “beauty for all”. And his dreams were destined to come true: there is probably not a single woman in Europe who has not used L’Oréal Paris cosmetics at least once in her life – “because we deserve it.”

Below are five of our favorite products from this brand.

Care paint without ammonia Casting Crème Gloss, L’Oréal Paris

Thanks to its effective composition, it not only colors the hair, but also cares for it, nourishes it, and gives it a natural shine.

Shampoo-transformation Elseve “Dream Length”, L’Oréal Paris

Contains keratin, vitamin B5 and castor oil, gently restores hair along the entire length and cares for split ends.

Sugar scrub for face and lips, cleansing, L’Oréal Paris

The scrub has a warming effect, which contributes to an even more comfortable and intensive cleansing of the pores. Three natural sugars are responsible for gentle exfoliation, kiwi grains are known for smoothing the skin, and peppermint oil softens and soothes the skin. The skin becomes soft, silky and as if shines with health.

Transforming face oil “Luxury nutrition. Extraordinary Oil, L’Oréal Paris

It contains as many as 8 oils. Lavender and chamomile oils are known to soothe the skin, rosemary, marjoram and orange oils have antioxidant and protective abilities, and nourishing jojoba and rosehip oils are also present in the composition. Amazing remedy!

Face and neck cream “Revitalift Filler [+Hyaluronic acid]. Anti-aging care. Day Volume Restorer, L’Oréal Paris

Thanks to hyaluronic acid and glycerin, it actively moisturizes the skin. The cream also contains rye seed extract, adenosine, caffeine and alpinia galanga leaf extract. Together, these components help to actively fight age-related changes.

Garnier

Garnier relies on the natural composition of the funds.

In the products of this brand, you can often find ingredients of natural origin. Extracts of herbs, flowers, seeds and fruits, honey and vegetable oils – the brand’s experts manage to preserve their beneficial properties in gentle gels and foams, fragrant lotions and shampoos, delicate creams, balms and masks. The perfumer and hairdresser Alfred Amour Garnier invented and patented his first cosmetic product in 1904. It was a hair lotion (now we call such products shampoos) with cornflower extract – a common thing for us, but for the beginning of the XNUMXth century – a real breakthrough. Then there were other “revolutions”. And all – certainly with plant extracts and oils in the composition.

With a focus on recyclable packaging, sustainability, natural ingredients and natural fragrances, Garnier continues the “natural” concept. The new slogan of the company is “Naturally”. And this is in the spirit of our times.

The editors of Healthy-Food appreciate these brand products:

Steaming mask against blackheads and oily sheen “Clean Skin” series Skin Naturals, Garnier

Getting on the skin, the mask steams it, effectively cleanses the pores. Clay and zinc actively fight imperfections.

Micellar rose water “Cleansing + Radiance”, Garnier

Without excessive friction, cleanses the skin of the face, lips and delicate areas around the eyes. And its pleasant, light, feminine aroma will give real pleasure. The novelty is consumed very economically: for cleansing, you need only 2 ml and one cotton pad, a volume of 400 ml is enough for 200 applications.

Regenerating hand cream “Intensive care. Nutrition, Garnier

Cream with an unusually pleasant texture with allantoin, glycerin and shea butter takes care of dry skin of the hands, making it soft and tender.

Scrub for all types of facial skin “Apricot” series Skin naturals, Garnier

The formula means 89% consists of natural ingredients. Perlite, apricot kernel, apricot oil gently cleanse the skin, soften it, give it radiance.

Mask for dry and unruly hair “Macadamia. superfood. Smoothing, Garnier

Makes unruly hair soft and smooth, nourishes them, facilitates combing. Macadamia seed oil, which is part of the mask, is highly valued for its nutritional properties.

Vichy

The formulas of French cosmetics Vichy include mineralizing water of thermal springs.

In 1931, Prosper Allaire, a doctor at the Vichy thermal center, and the manager of the then-famous house Les Parfums de Grenoville (“Fragrances of Grenoville”) created the Vichy Dermatological Hygiene Society. The first result of their joint work is “Secrets of Vichy”, 8 care products for dry, very dry and oily skin based on thermal water. For almost 100 years, Vichy cosmetics have been sold in pharmacies around the world. Formulas are based on scientific research. The company’s archives hold hundreds of patents for discoveries and inventions. In almost all products of the brand, Vichy thermal water from the same sources from which it all started once plays an important role.

Well, we at Healthy-Food like these products the most.

Shampoo with a prokeratin complex that reconstructs the surface of the hair, for weakened and damaged hair and sensitive scalp Dercos Kera-Solutions, Vichy

If the hair is damaged and weakened, subject to frequent aggressive effects, the products from the Dercos Kera-Solutions line will help. All of them contain a complex of prokeratin, which acts on the protective shell of the hair and restores it along the entire length. Allantoin in the shampoo soothes the scalp. Shampoo and express mask of this series again make hair soft and manageable, give it shine and strength. Hair remains smooth even in adverse weather conditions.

Hyaluronic express mask LiftActiv, Vichy

Due to the high (1%) concentration of hyaluronic acid, it perfectly moisturizes, providing a smoothing and rejuvenating effect. Agave yeast extract tones the skin and stimulates the production of its own hyaluronic acid.

Scrub + washing gel + mask “Normaderm. Tri-active deep cleansing, Vichy

Three-in-one product for gentle and thorough cleansing of the skin. Salicylic Acid and Glycolic Acid with micro-particles and white clay are known for their ability to exfoliate and absorb impurities, remove oily sheen, leaving the skin smooth and matte.

Compensating complex, Neovadiol day care cream for normal and combination skin during menopause, Vichy

Contains hyaluronic acid & proxylan to boost collagen production. Reduces wrinkles, has a pronounced lifting effect, correcting the oval of the face.

Care-mask for intensive skin hydration “Night spa care Aqualia Thermal”, Vichy

You sleep and he works! Thermal water, hyaluronic acid, aquabioryl molecule and nourishing shea butter are the heavy artillery in a formula that effectively moisturizes, comforts and literally revitalizes the skin. It becomes fresh, soft and radiant.

La Roche-Posay

The La Roche-Posay range includes cosmetics for sensitive and problematic skin.

The history of the brand is connected with the thermal spring of the same name – it supplies water to the town of La Roche-Posay and gives special properties to popular cosmetics. Its waters are rich in selenium, a well-known antioxidant that fights premature aging of the skin, strengthens its protective barrier and has a calming effect. The slogan of the brand is “A better life for sensitive skin”. Therefore, a special place in its assortment is occupied by products for sensitive skin, skin prone to allergies (including sun exposure), oily skin, problem skin and children’s skin.

“Our cosmetics are created with the participation of dermatologists,” pharmacist René Levier, who worked for the company in the 70s of the last century, was fond of saying. And indeed it is! For many years, products based on La Roche-Posay thermal water were available only to visitors to the resort, and only 30 years ago they began to be produced for mass use.

Our top five favorite La Roche-Posay products look like this.

Micro-exfoliating cleansing gel for skin with severe imperfections Effaclar, La Roche-Posay

It can be used both for the face and for the body – a rare, by the way, opportunity that is greatly appreciated by those who have acne and post-acne on the shoulders and back. Gel with salicylic acid, zinc and glycerin thoroughly cleanses the skin. As a result, the number of acne and traces of them gradually decreases.

Antioxidant serum for skin renewal Vitamin C10 Serum, La Roche-Posay

Contains vitamin C in a very high concentration and actively fights the signs of aging. Askorbinka is helped by salicylic acid – it is famous for its ability to gently exfoliate dead cells and thereby accelerate renewal processes. And neurosensin and thermal water soothe even very sensitive skin, give it a feeling of comfort.

Means for restoring skin density and facial oval for normal and dry skin Substiane, La Roche-Posay

The active ingredients of the cream are the molecule proxylan and linactyl, which restore the density of the skin, tightening it, serine and arginine with their moisturizing properties, beeswax, apricot and shea butter, which make the skin softer, protected, nourish it.

Lip balm Cicaplast, La Roche-Posay

Remedy for dry, chapped lips. Contains MP-lipids, panthenol, shea butter, which soothe and soften the skin of the lips, strengthen its protective properties.

Soothing shower gel for sensitive skin Lipikar Gel Lavant, La Roche-Posay

Cleanses without damaging the skin’s protective barrier. The gel contains an intensely moisturizing and skin-softening shea butter derivative and niacinamide, which soothes and relieves discomfort. The gel soothes dry and atopic-prone skin.

Biotherm

Thermal plankton and seaweed extracts are the active ingredients of Biotherm products.

The secret of the thermal spring in the French Pyrenees (its water is used for the production of Biotherm cosmetics) was revealed in the 30s of the XX century. A balneological resort has already been built nearby, where people come to treat skin diseases all year round. But no one could explain what, in fact, is in this water, why it heals, accelerates healing after burns and injuries, helps with dermatitis and psoriasis. One day, one of the employees of the resort, Jos Julien, noticed a strange substance on the surface of the water. He took samples, examined them under a microscope – and found a colony of wonderful microorganisms, which later became known as thermal plankton. Together with Jeanine Marissal, a cosmetologist from Monaco, he was able to obtain an extract of thermal plankton in the laboratory and created the company Biotherm (from bio – “life” + therm – “thermal water”). The first Bio-Mains product appeared in 1952. And now in her arsenal – several dozen amazing products for the face and body, which invariably contain thermal plankton that strengthens and rejuvenates the skin.

Here are the top 5 best of them, according to the editors of Healthy-Food.

Revitalizing face serum Blue Therapy Accelerated Serum, Biotherm

It literally melts on the skin – the texture of the serum is even lighter than the gel, closer to the essence. The skin tone is evened out, it becomes softer and velvety, the facial contour is tightened.

Roll-on antiperspirant deodorant without ethyl alcohol Deo Pure Invisible, Biotherm

Suitable even for sensitive skin and skin after epilation. Does not contain alcohol, does not leave marks on clothes. But the main thing is that it controls perspiration, leaving no chance for an unpleasant odor.

Moisturizing body milk Lait Corporel, Biotherm

Intensively moisturizes the skin. Contains vitamin E and thermal plankton extract, leaves the skin soft, smooth and well-groomed. Additional pleasure gives juicy citrus aroma.

Cream for 48-hour skin hydration for normal and combination skin Aquasource, Biotherm

The product with the magical aroma of lily and narcissus literally dissolves on the skin, saturating it with moisture. A healthy glow returns to the skin, the feeling of dryness and tightness disappears.

Lip balm Plump & Glow Lips, Biotherm

The balm not only cares for the skin of the lips, but also visually increases their volume, emphasizes the natural color. Hyaluronic acid in the composition of the product moisturizes and smoothes the skin.

Lancôme

The history of French cosmetics Lancôme is inextricably linked with the rose.

After the end of the First World War, private Armand Petitjean entered the service of the great perfumer Francois Coty. He always said that the success of a perfume or cream depends on the quality of the composition, the flawless bottle and the reasonable price. And also – from the aroma, which is impossible to forget and to which you want to return again and again. Time will pass, and Petitjean will definitely remember the secrets of the master. In the meantime, he is making a successful career, becoming the director of the Coty house. And he secretly dreams of his own company, which would return France to the glory of a perfumery power (at the beginning of the XNUMXth century, the United States became such a power).

In 1935, his dream comes true. At his home in the suburbs of Paris, he sets up a rose garden and founds the Lancôme cosmetics company, which immediately acquires legends. One rose – the one that curled around the castle of Lancosm in the Brenn forest – gives the company a name. From the name of the castle, Petitjean removes the extra “s”, and puts a “very French” diacritical cap over the “o”. Another rose – from a watercolor by the Belgian artist Redoute – becomes the symbol of the company, a graceful golden flower, which has been present on all posters, boxes and bottles of Lancôme from the very beginning. And the third rose was bred by the Delbard florist house especially for the Lancôme brand, which by that time had gained popularity all over the world. Now in the brand’s portfolio, in addition to legendary fragrances and decorative cosmetics, there are several dozen amazing, luxurious skin care products.

Of these, in our opinion, the following stand out:

Mask with rose petals to restore and nourish the skin Absolue Precious Cells, Lancôme

Fresh, rich gel with rose water and rose extract instantly moisturizes and soothes the skin, leaving it soft and silky. The skin tone is evened out, it literally glows from the inside.

Gel-foam for removing makeup and cleansing the skin of the face Miel-En-Mousse, Lancôme

The honey, slightly viscous texture of the gel, when combined with water, turns into a delicate foam. And this foam literally melts on the skin, turning a banal make-up removal into a spa ritual. And what a scent it has!

Revitalizing and nourishing body cream Nutrix Royal Body, Lancôme

When there is no foot cream on hand, this remedy will be a real salvation. With squalane, shea butter, corn butter, royal jelly and almond proteins, it hydrates and nourishes dry skin.

Advanced Génifique Youth Activator, new formula, Lancôme

A new complex of 7 pre- and probiotics strengthens the skin microbiome. Already after 7 days, the skin becomes smoother and more elastic, its tone evens out, and wrinkles are reduced.

Renergie Multi-Lift Ultra Multiactive Anti-Aging Fluid, SPF 25, Lancôme

It works in several directions at once – moisturizes and nourishes the skin, making it soft and supple, fights wrinkles and pigmentation. The contours of the face become clearer, as after a lifting procedure.

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