Winter Skin SOS: The French Pharmacy Staples That Actually Work

Who doesn’t suffer from dry skin in winter? Whether it’s your first visit to France or your fiftieth, a stop at the local pharmacie is always worth it to discover the latest in French skincare. From head to toe, here are a few très français essentials to keep your skin supple and happy all winter long. 

La Roche Posay Nutritic Intense Riche

This emollient face cream is ultra-hydrating, thick, and unscented — perfect for winter but gentle enough for year-round use. With zero greasy residue, it banishes that uncomfortable “tight skin” feeling. I’ve gifted it to friends and never heard a single complaint. 

Tip – Between cleansing and moisturizing, spritz on a toner to “bridge the gap” between damp and dry skin. I use the Clarins Lotion Tonique Hydratante, but the thermal water sprays — from Vichy, Avène, or Evian — are also wonderful and refreshingly simple. 

Uriage Bariéderm-Cica Baume Lèvres Protecteur

Keep one of these in your pocket at all times. This thick, gelée-like balm glides on smoothly, stays put, and hydrates without feeling overly glossy. With three types of wax and glycerin, it’s more “treatment” than gloss. 

Barrier Creams 

Barrier creams are becoming more common outside France, but they remain the cult favorite among pharmacie devotees. Perfect for when your skin is compromised — think windburn from skiing in the Alps — or as an overnight treatment for hands and face to fortify the skin while you sleep. 

BIAFINE® Emulsion

Biafine is the original burn crème with its active ingredient trolamine. It is considered a medicinal product and is approved for use on first and second degree burns (think radiology, tattoos and laser treatments, as well as smaller sunburned areas). It comes in a metal tube which makes it easy to squeeze out and slather on glops of the stuff! 

Avène Cicalfate Crème Réparatrice Protectrice

Avène’s Cicalfate is most similar to a traditional cold crème, with a rich and slightly oily texture, though dries to a matte finish. Enriched with copper and zinc sulfates, it delivers a “bandage effect” that soothes and protects damaged skin. 

Tip: The Cicalfate line also includes a gentle, hydrating cleansing bar — perfect when your skin is feeling especially sensitive.

Practically every french skincare brands has one of these barrier crèmes, and for a slightly lighter option that is closer to a thick lotion than a cold cream, try La Roche-Posay’s Cicaplast Baume B5. 

Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc Baume Corps Protecteur

Rich and velvety without being heavy, this balm has the perfect “in-between” texture — more substantial than a lotion, less dense than a cream. Its light blue tint evokes glacial water, and any fragrance largely imperceptible. It leaves a soft, smooth finish and works beautifully on both body and hands (and yes, it’s gentle enough for the face in a pinch). 

SOS — Beyond the Crèmes 

Good health in winter isn’t just about what you slather on. Try adding these pharmacie staples to your toolkit: 

• Voyage to the seaside every morning with an Eau de mer nasal spray to keep sinuses clear and fend off colds. 

• They might be made by a British-Dutch company, but don’t Strepsils throat pastilles sound better in French flavors like miel-citron and menthe glaciale? 

• Vicks Toux Natura –  Sirop Toux Sèche et Grasse – Goût Miel with marshmallow, plantain, and grindelia roots — a natural remedy that’s surprisingly pleasant (the secret might be that it’s 95% cane sugar).