'I just flew to Paris. Here are 9 products I snapped up that you can buy in Australia.'

When some people think about shopping in Paris they may think of buying designer handbags, vintage fashion or expensive wine, but as a beauty writer… I think of skincare. Specifically, skincare found in French pharmacies. 

If you are on the right side of TikTok, you can find haul after haul of people’s recommendations and the *not so* best-kept secrets from the French pharmacy. 

But if you haven’t heard of any of these, then I’m about to introduce you to the products you may want to put on your skincare wishlist. 

The best part? You can snap them up in Australia, too.

1. La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+ Balm Cream, $40.95.

This multi-repairing hydrating balm is my dry skin saviour. It has a rich, nourishing texture that delivers intense hydration to the skin. 

Now, this is something I initially purchased because of TikTok but I was also recommended it by a tattoo artist in Paris to heal my tattoos because of its reparative qualities. This balm works to nourish dry patches, flaky skin and post-procedure skin with ingredients that support skin recovery and maintain skin health. 

All I can say is thank goodness you can get your hands on this in Australia! (And yet, I still bought two tubes of this to bring home).

2. A313 Vitamin A Pommade, $34.95.

I bought three tubes of this product to bring back home. That’s how much I love it. I had initially bought one tube of this on my first night in Paris (after acquiring multiple unwanted breakouts and having dry, flaky skin from flying) and after using it that night, the next morning my skin had noticeably improved in texture. 

So I rushed out and bought two more tubes that very same day. This miracle product is a pharmaceutical-grade retinol product sold over-the-counter, and it’s known as one of France's “best beauty secrets”. The vitamin A concentration is only 0.12 per cent, making it super gentle while still delivering astounding results.

3. Marvis Matcha Tea Toothpaste, $14.95.

If you are a matcha addict (just like I am), then you will LOVE this toothpaste. Not only does it have super cute packaging but the toothpaste itself has a rich and creamy texture with the flavouring that (I’m not joking) literally tastes like you’re drinking a creamy matcha. 

It makes me excited to brush my teeth every day! Marvis also offers so many exciting flavours like Black Forest, Orange Blossom Tea and Ginger Mint that all sound delicious.

Watch: Mamamia's beauty contributor Teresa McNamara shares her thoughts on the popular Westman Atelier Vital Skincare Complexion Drops. Post continues after the video.

4. Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Multi-Purpose Dry Oil, $42.99.

Supposedly this is THE French girl scent. This product has become my favourite dry oil. It is a super fast-absorbing oil that leaves my skin feeling moisturised without feeling greasy and smells like summer! It has a blend of repairing, soothing and nourishing botanical oils and its antioxidant-rich formula helps to protect skin and hair from environmental aggressors and pollution. 

5. Nuxe Reve de Miel Honey Lip Care, $34.

I’m not going to lie, this purchase was heavily influenced by the adorable packaging. But once I tried the formula I was instantly hooked (I even bought a second tube to bring home). This has a beauty blend of lavender honey and camelina oil that nourishes and protects your lips. It has a lightweight, non-sticky finish and is now my go-to lip oil!

6. Biafine Emulsion Multipurpose Healing Cream, $31.95.

Supposedly this has been a French medicine cabinet must-have for over 25 years! It is a multi-purpose water-based cream and was originally formulated to heal burns but is now used for many different things. 

It heals the skin after sunburns, minor scrapes, first and second-degree burns and post-cosmetic surgery, laser peels and dermabrasion. I can also attest to its healing abilities — after a day of applying this to my sunburn it was gone. I definitely stocked up on this multi-tasking product.

7. Caudalie Vinoperfect Glycolic Peel Mask, $48.

Over the years, I have been gravitating towards chemical exfoliants so this mask was definitely right up my alley, and it did not disappoint. After rinsing this mask off, my skin feels super smooth and has a beautiful radiance to it. The formula is a creamy, non-drying mask infused with glycolic acid. If your skin is feeling dull and you are looking for something to add radiance back to your skin, then look no further!

8. Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum Complexion Correcting, $104.

Much like the mask, this product is perfect for anyone looking to brighten up their dull skin. It has been the number serum in French pharmacies since 2008 for a very good reason. It has a super lightweight, fast-absorbing texture, and it brightens and evens skin whilst correcting dark spots. 

9. Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Eye Cream, $67.

This purchase was a happy accident. I was actually intending to buy the previously mentioned serum and accidentally picked up the eye cream instead (in my defence everything was in French and I was extremely jet lagged). I decided to give it a try anyway and was very pleasantly surprised. 

The applicator is super comfortable to use and adds a cooling effect that is very welcomed in the mornings. The formula has a lightweight consistency and doesn’t irritate the eyes. It’s fast-absorbing and has caffeine in it to visibly reduce dark circles.

And there we have it! The nine products I purchased from the French Pharmacy (and would definitely purchase again!). 

Now I need to book a flight back to Paris before my A313 supply runs out…

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Have you been to Paris before? What were your favourite beauty buys? Share with us in the comment section below.

Images: Supplied.