Last week I shared my love for all things Paris, particularly the wonderfulness that is the French pharmacie. These places are absolute treasure troves for the skincare product lovers out there! With their value on simple ingredients, light scents, products that work, and a general ‘less is more’ philosophy, I haven’t been disappointed by any product I’ve tried, some of which were instantly elevated to ‘essential’ status.
After filling my suitcase with pharmacie finds during that first trip in Paris, I was dying to get back to Paris in general, but I particularly couldn’t wait for another skincare spree. I was thrilled to find out that, as part of France, Martinique – my last minute summer vacation! – had French pharmacies! The next-best-thing to Paris, Martinique was wonderful in every way {check out the trip HERE}, and being able to stock up on more French skincare goodies was certainly a highlight!
I fell in love with Nuxe, which – sadly – isn’t *really* available in the US anymore {seriously, I want to cry}. I was able to find some work-arounds though, with British companies that ship to the US {often, for free!}. I just placed my first order, so I’ll share if there are any issues!
A few favorites:
Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse: This is a do-everything oil that smells amaaaazing! I use it mostly as a body oil {it’s ‘dry,’ so it’s not greasy, especially in this hot weather}, but I’ve also used it to smooth my hair, and it’s pretty fabulous. I bought one bottle in Martinique, and have gone through two more bottles since then – but that was over a year ago, and I wear it almost every day. A little goes a long way!
Nuxe Prodigieux – Le Parfum: The perfect complement for the oil, especially if you really love this scent {which I do!}. As it’s a little lighter than my typical perfume, I love this scent for the summertime, and it has come to instantly remind me of that post–after-the-beach shower time, when we’re usually snacking on some snacks and enjoying a cocktail or two!
Nuxe Gel Demaquillant Fondant/Melting Cleansing Gel: This face wash has the gentle scent of rose petals, which is pretty much the most relaxing scent ever, and it also gets the job done! I use it in the shower {after I’ve taken my eye makeup off} and the smooth texture and light lather makes washing your skin feel fabulous during and after.
Nuxe Rêve de Miel Gel Lavant Surgras Visage et Corps/Face and Body Ultra-Rich Cleansing Gel: This shower gel {sometimes I use it on my face} has the most heavenly scent – sort of like the Huile Prodigieuse, and sort of like the lip balm I talked about in my first post. Your skin is left super soft and smelling lovely, and even the post-shower bathroom smells of the lingering scent. {read about that face-cream in my first post, too!}
Nuxe Lotion Tonique Douce/Gentle Toning Lotion with Rose Petals: Over the past year or two, I’ve been much better about using a post-wash toner – a step that I previously thought was unnecessary. My skin has never felt smoother, and it’s pretty unreal {and kinda gross} at what you’ll see on that cotton pad even after you wash your face – this step shouldn’t be skipped! And it doesn’t hurt when the toner is so gentle and smells as good as this stuff does!
MUJI Makeup Facial Soft Cut Cotton Unbleached Pads: Just a little Japanese skincare product tip in the midst of all this French stuff..these are the perfect cotton pads to use with that – or any! – toner. They are really absorbent and distribute the toner on your face evenly, leaving no cottony residue behind. I just use these for toner {not nailpolish remover or anything} so the pack lasts for a while, making it totally worth spending a little bit more for such a great product.
