The reason behind the French pharmacy obsession
If you’ve been living under a rock, you may have missed the hundreds of videos filling social media about The French Pharmacie.
If you’re one of the thousands of Aussies who have ditched the winter chill for Europe or you’ve been on TikTok at any point in the last few weeks, there is no doubt you’ll have heard of The French Pharmacie.
Thousands of videos on TikTok show women heading straight to cult stores, with the most iconic being CityPharma in Paris, to stock up on skincare products that aren’t available Down Under or are on offer for a cheaper price.
American TikToker Elizabeth Victoria Clark referred to CityPharma as the most important landmark in Paris – even more important than the Eiffel Tower.
Another TikTok user, Steph Flockhart, took to the social media app to reveal she had just arrived in Paris and immediately headed to the pharmacy to stock up on skincare.
One described the store as their “happy place”.
So, what makes this one of the Meccas of skincare around the world? Well Rohan Widdison, the CEO of cosmetic manufacturing brand New Laboratories, said there are a few reasons.
“First, there’s a certain allure attached to the idea of French beauty – their philosophy is very much ‘less is more’ and they were the original skin-obsessed minimalists before the rest of the world caught on,” Mr Widdison told news.com.au.
“The quintessential ‘French girl’ look is naturally radiant and effortless and her method of achieving this is equally fuss-free. In France, pharmacy brands have a reputation for being reliable and high-quality yet reasonably priced.
“There’s an emphasis on natural ingredients, skin health, multi-tasking products, and timeless formulations which address both beauty needs and wellbeing.
“These dermocosmetic skincare products have been clinically tested and designed to correct a specific skin concerns like eczema, redness, or ageing.”
He said while both Aussie and French skincare products aim for healthier skin, they are driven by different philosophies and environmental factors.
For instance, Australia is centred around the performance of “our rich native landscape while French skincare is renowned for its focus on maintaining a natural look, simplicity, and long-term skin health”.
Meanwhile, French skincare usually involves a few steps with the idea focused on keeping the skin balanced and healthy while not overdoing it.
Mr Widdison said this is why French skincare is known for products such as soothing moisturisers, thermal spring waters sprays and micellar water.
He said some cult favourite French products include La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser, Bioderma Sensibio H2O and Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse.
“Thanks to online shopping platforms, most of the heavy-hitting French pharmacy products can be obtained in Australia. These days major brands like Bioderma, Uriage and Nuxe, La Roche-Posay, and Avene are also available in Australian pharmacies as well. If you can’t get a product it may be because of the differing regulation standards between markets.”
He added that when it comes to skincare, the first thing that needs to be determined is what skin type you have.
“Also consider what your concerns are. Common skin issues like acne, sensitivity, redness, hyperpigmentation, and ageing all have products that are specifically designed to target them,” he said.
“Look for active ingredients that are scientifically proven to correct your skin concerns. For example, retinol is known to help with ageing, salicylic acid helps clear acne, and niacinamide can help with redness and pigmentation.”
He added that product formulation is also important, and to remember that all skin care comes down to the individual.