The Best French Skin Care Brands for Women Over 40

Navigating a beauty industry that constantly churns out products and favors a 10-step skin care routine can be challenging — especially for women over 40. That’s because all the popular exfoliant-heavy items and active-rich ingredients may work better for younger skin. According to celebrity esthetician Kristin Gunn, founder of Halcyon Skincare, more mature skin types should focus on protection, repair, and hydration for strong, healthy skin without irritation. 

If you’re shopping for skin care, board-certified dermatologist Azadeh Shirazi, M.D., has a few tips. First, she suggests creating a routine that addresses hydration, collagen support, and protection against environmental damage. As skin loses elasticity and moisture with age, hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and glycerin are essential to maintain plumpness and suppleness. To support collagen production and reduce the appearance of fine lines, incorporating gentler retinoids or peptides into your routine is a good place to start. Antioxidants, including vitamin C, niacinamide, and resveratrol, also help brighten the skin, reduce dark spots, and shield against free radical damage. BHAs (beta hydroxy acids), such as salicylic acid, may be too harsh on your barrier, but alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), including glycolic acid, can improve skin texture without stripping your face.

Fortunately, there are a ton of beloved French skin care brands on the market that align with a simpler, gentler approach. Estheticians and dermatologists think the French really have it down — especially for women over 40. “[The] French beauty philosophy has always emphasized a natural, radiant glow rather than overly complicated routines or drastic transformations,” Gunn says. “They have spent decades fine-tuning products to enhance, not mask, your beauty.” Shirazi adds that French brands often collaborate with dermatologists and scientists to create innovative, cutting-edge solutions to common skin aging concerns.

While there are definitely some incredible luxury options, there are also many cult-loved French pharmacy staples that don’t cost an entire paycheck — another thing they’re doing right. We’re sharing a few expert-loved French skin care brands you can pick up here, below.

La Roche-Posay

This classic drugstore brand is loved in both France and the U.S. Gunn and Dr. Shirazi say this particular line is great for sensitive skin, has high-quality products, is dermatologist-tested, and has a great reputation overall. It’s also affordable, with many of its formulas coming in at under $50, including Dr. Shirazi’s barrier-repairing favorite Toleriane Double Repair Moisturizer. “I have used many [La Roche-Posay] products, but my favorite is probably the Redermic R Retinol Cream,” Gunn adds. “This is a gentle but effective retinol cream for smoothing fine lines.”

Clarins

Clarins is another classic French brand that has been around for years and features high-performing, plant-based ingredients backed by science. It takes a targeted approach to aging with many skin care items designed to cater directly to mature skin types. Dr. Shirazi touts this brand as a favorite and loves the Extra Firming Day Moisturizer. Gunn swears by the brand’s Double Serum because it boosts hydration and firms the skin. She uses it herself and noticed a huge difference in the quality of her skin.

Biologique Recherche

This prestigious French brand is carried by almost every luxury spa in the states — and for a good reason. Estheticians often recommend it for its innovative and customizable approach to skin care. While it’s most known for its unrivaled products for aging skin, the brand also carries some top-notch formulas for acne and hyperpigmentation. Gunn considers the brand’s exfoliating toner Lotion P50 a star product because it brightens skin, preps it for other treatment serums, and promotes cellular turnover by exfoliating. Lotion P50 also comes in several different versions, so you can choose the best one for your particular skin type.

Avène 

Avène is the brand to beat when it comes to sensitive skin care. Both Dr. Shirazi and board-certified dermatologist Teresa Song, M.D., recommend the gentle formulas. Avène incorporates soothing thermal spring water from the village of Avène in France and works especially well for reactive and eczema-prone skin. While the brand still uses powerful youth-enhancing ingredients including retinaldehyde, it incorporates them in a gentler way to work with a sensitive complexion.

Vichy

Similar to Avène, French drugstore brand Vichy has a hero ingredient it incorporates into all of its products — mineral-rich volcanic water. It’s dermatologist-formulated, affordable, and packed with many essential vitamins and minerals. Its volcanic water strengthens skin’s natural defenses against environmental damage and floods the skin with antioxidants. 

A313

A313 offers one of France’s best-kept secrets — its Vitamin A Retinol Cream. You may have seen skin care experts talk about this French pharmacy staple on social media and praise it for its effective yet gentle formula. The star ingredient is retinyl palmitate, which is a gentler retinoid. Luckily, it’s now available in the U.S. via Amazon.

Embriolysse 

Makeup artists swear by Embriolysse’s classic French moisturizer because it’s so hydrating, creates the perfect base for makeup, and is great for sensitive skin. The brand has inspired a cult following over the years with its simple, effective formulas that work to protect the skin. It’s perfect for mature skin types with its gentle, no-frills approach.

Caudalie

Caudalie is another French brand that masterfully mixes “cosmeceuticals” with potent organic ingredients. It’s recommended by Dr. Song. The brand started by incorporating grapeseed polyphenols into its formulas in the ’90s, which it still does today. Polyphenols can protect the skin against UV damage, a main component of skin aging. Its plant-based formulas are also designed to promote youthful, radiant skin while still being noncomedogenic, meaning they won’t clog your pores. Dr. Song’s favorite offering from the brand is its Vinoperfect Serum, a vitamin C-rich formula that helps reduce dark spots.