Best Of The French Pharmacy

Every Summer there's one place I always end up - back in the Pharmacy Anglo-Francaise in Cannes. Aisles and aisles of wondrous products, an entire section on Bioderma alone and so many secret balms and creams that I end up leaving with the most moisturised hands on the planet. Every couple of months my excuse to visit Paris differs but one remains the same at the back of my mind - the City Pharma (26 Rue Four). Two of my favourite places and here's the low-down on what's been tried, tested and repurchased multiple times... 

The Handy Balms

A bit of a backstage beauty favourite Homeoplasmine adornes many a station at Fashion Weeks for its hydrating qualities. Dry patch on your face? Not after it's received a dollup of this! Something I reserve for bedside beauty - cuticles, lips, even mix a little bit in with my handcream for ultra hydration. 

One of the best lip balms I've ever come across is Dermophil. Soothing, hydrating, calming - it does it all and more. A thick white layer overnight to heal and moisturise for baby soft lips come morning. If you buy one thing it has to be this!

Say goodbye to sticky lips with Nuxe Reve De Miel, a perfect day-time appropriate matte lip balm, which works a treat under drying lipstick formulas like Mac. 

Body & Hair 

Phyto 7, a favourite of Lisa Eldridge, this botanical hair treatment is perfect for hydrating crusty locks without making them greasy or weighing them down. My in-flight companion for stepping off the plane with fresh locks!

When by the beach in summer and hair tends to get a little salty and unmanageable Klorane Leave-In Spray With Magnolia comes to the rescue. Everything I would need in a detangler, hydrating, non-sticky or greasy and totally undetectable - plus it smells incredible. 

For someone who burns easily Biafine is an absolute saviour, something that I wouldn't be on a sunny holiday without. A thick layer over sunburned skin soothes and calms making painful sores bearable again. 

Not only does Nuxe Huile Prodigeuse Dry Oil smell like absolute heaven (just thinking about it makes me want to have a sniff) it's the perfect multi-tasking oil that I'll slap in my bag for some on-the-go hydration, use whilst tanning, post-tanning, on hair or just as a regular moisturiser for dry limbs. Huge skin improvement housed in one tiny bottle? Yes please. 

The Skincare

Another backstage makeup artist favourite is the micellar water, Bioderma Crealine H20. Infamous for removing a full face of makeup in seconds. Even though this is now readily available in the UK (coming to most pharmacies soon!) it's a lot more reasonable in France and the product range is larger. Another favourite of mine is their Sebium Mat range, especially the face mask which works wonders on pesky blemishes. 

La Roche Posey Serozinc & Cattier Clay Mask & Lierac Tonique Eclat

All Caroline Hirons recommendations but my favourite has got to be Serozinc, which saves red, inflamed skin (full post here). Coming up a close second is face mask Cattier which is a good old fashioned clay mask, removing impurities and leaving me with fresh looking brighter skin. Another CH recomended toner is Lierac Tonique Eclat, a fresh brightening toner, but Serozinc is still the top of my list. 

Caudalie Micellar Water has got to be one of my favourites (and believe me I've tried them all - post here). Fresh, does it's job, even with eye makeup, and is perfect for sensitive skin as it's non-irritating.

Embryolisse Hydra-Mask & La Roche Posey Hydraphase Intense Mask are two of my favourite clear hydrating face masks, which I apply for 20 minutes for a skin boost. Embryolisse is my preferred but I'm actually out at the minute!

Haircare 

There are only two products worth knowing about when it comes to haircare -  Phyto Volumizing Shampoo and Klorane Conditioner. Phyto shampoo is one of the best I've ever come across, doesn't leave the hair feeling dry of brittle just cleansed and lifted and the Klorane Conditioner leaves ends feeling as though you've slept in a hair mask. It's that good. My favourite is the conditioner with pomegranate. 

PS - the products that aren't worth the $ are - Caudalie Body Scrub & Bioderma Hair Mask & Lierac Micellar Water.