{"id":477227,"date":"2026-03-15T16:46:28","date_gmt":"2026-03-15T16:46:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/477227\/"},"modified":"2026-03-15T16:46:28","modified_gmt":"2026-03-15T16:46:28","slug":"why-french-women-age-better-skincare-expert-dr-marine-vincent-unlocks-the-secret-to-their-superior-complexion-the-products-under-30-they-swear-by-and-how-you-can-match-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/477227\/","title":{"rendered":"Why French women age better: Skincare expert Dr Marine Vincent unlocks the secret to their superior complexion, the products under \u00a330 they swear by – and how YOU can match them"},"content":{"rendered":"

Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more<\/a><\/p>\n

French women\u2019s biggest beauty secret? Their pharmacies.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Every community has one and in it will be a pharmacist who has had six years’ training and often a pr\u00e9parateur who has had three. They are the first port of call, before a doctor, for everything health related, from their children\u2019s earache to their mother\u2019s bad back to, yes, their own beauty and wellbeing needs.<\/p>\n

Different to us then. When we have a skin concern we will schlep around a big pharmacy chain staring at the heaving shelves trying to decipher what would be best for the spots around our chin or the dryness around our eyes. The choice is generally overwhelming and if you pluck up the courage to speak to a sales assistant, you\u2019ll a) most likely not be able to find one and b) if you locate them you\u2019ll realise they know even less than you.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In Britain, the pharmacy tends to be a tiny part of such stores and you feel you can only bother them with serious medical concerns.<\/p>\n

Dr Marine Vincent thinks this is a shame. Marine is a French doctor of pharmacy, founder of The French Pharmacy in London<\/a>\u2019s Marylebone and author of The French Skincare Bible<\/a> (out April 23). She has lived in the UK for decades and has spent years working with French pharmacy brands and listening to customers’ skin concerns. All of this gives her the inside track on products that really work.<\/p>\n

Dr Marine says that French women have a better chance of great skin because of both their access to pharmacists and their culture.<\/p>\n

Focusing on the former, she gives the example of a French mother bringing a teenager with mild acne to the pharmacist.\u00a0\u2018They can then advise on good products (Marine favours dermo-cosmetic brands such as Av\u00e8ne, La Roche Posay and Bioderma), maybe suggesting a product with salicylic acid that will regulate sebum.\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘Starting early with good habits and good formulas mean that French women have a head start. In the UK\u00a0it\u2019s harder to get access to a trained pharmacist and also to your GP, so the other option is \u00a3250 for a private dermatologist appointment which not many can afford.’<\/p>\n

\"Dr <\/p>\n

Dr Marine Vincent founded The French Pharmacy in London’s Marylebone. She laments the fact that good pharmacies are harder to find in Britain<\/p>\n

French culture also fosters good skin. \u2018We are focused on prevention and health, not the latest trend.\u00a0In the UK there is a lot of “more is more”. Women think “if this exfoliator works, I\u2019m going to use it three times a week rather than the recommended once”.\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘But we know that\u2019s going to compromise the skin barrier and lead to problems. French women know consistency is key, as are healthy eating habits.\u00a0I advise keeping it simple\u00a0\u2013 cleanser, serum, cream, SPF and remembering\u00a0there is no miracle.\u00a0If there was, we\u2019d all be using it.\u2019<\/p>\n

Sound advice indeed.<\/p>\n

Dr Marine\u2019s top ten French pharmacy buys\u2026<\/p>\n

Best for decongesting skin: Gallin\u00e9e Face Vinegar, \u00a325 at www.lookfantastic.com<\/a><\/p>\n

This is where modern dermatology meets French pharmacy heritage. It gently exfoliates impurities and regulates the sebum which causes breakouts, without compromising the skin\u2019s delicate microbiome.<\/p>\n

Best for hormonal or combination skin: La Roche-Posay Serozinc Face Toner Mist, \u00a39.60 at www.lookfantastic.com<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

A true under-the-radar pharmacy classic, it\u2019s a fine zinc mist that helps calm shine and redness without stripping the skin. I love it as a mid-afternoon reset especially over makeup or for bacne.<\/p>\n

Best for multitasking: Embryolisse Lait-Cr\u00e8me Concentr\u00e9, \u00a321.99 at www.sephora.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n

An icon for a reason. It works as moisturiser, primer and mask. It represents the ‘fewer, better products’ philosophy I discuss in my book: skincare that earns its place.<\/p>\n

Best for stressed out skin:\u00a0SVR Essence B3, \u00a329 at www.lookfantastic.com<\/a><\/p>\n

One of my favourites! It\u2019s the perfect bridge between toner and serum: hydrating, soothing and barrier-strengthening thanks to niacinamide. Ideal for London skin that feels tight, reactive or simply overwhelmed.<\/p>\n

Best for easy radiance: Bioderma Hydrabio Perfecteur SPF30, \u00a318.30 at www.notino.co.uk<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

This is very French in spirit: skincare that quietly does three things at once. It hydrates, perfects and protects, with light reflecting agents that leave skin luminous but natural.<\/p>\n

Best for people who ‘hate’ sunscreen: La Ros\u00e9e Sun Milk SPF50+ Face & Body, \u00a321.90 at\u00a0thefrenchpharmacy.co<\/a><\/p>\n

I genuinely can\u2019t go on holiday without it. It smells divine and the texture is unlike anything else\u00a0\u2013 light, silky and completely invisible. It makes daily SPF feel like a pleasure rather than a chore.<\/p>\n

Best for brightening dull complexions: Av\u00e8ne Vitamin Active Cg Serum, \u00a329.90 at www.lookfantastic.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Brightening without aggravating the skin is very important. This delivers luminosity in a way that respects even sensitive complexions. In France, we favour long-term skin health over quick, harsh results.<\/p>\n

Best for soothing flare-ups: Uriage Eau Thermal Water Spray, \u00a310.79 at www.facethefuture.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n

Mineral-rich and beautifully calming, thermal water is dermatology\u2019s\u00a0unsung hero and key to soothing skin post-treatment, post-sun or during sensitivity.<\/p>\n

Best for gentle but effective cleansing: Caudalie Vinoclean Makeup Removing Cleansing Oil, \u00a322 at www.spacenk.com<\/a><\/p>\n

My favourite face cleanser! This melts make-up and sunscreen without ever compromising skin\u2019s comfort. The French approach always begins with respecting the skin barrier.<\/p>\n

Best for delivering instant gloss and polish: Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse, \u00a323 at www.lookfantastic.com<\/a><\/p>\n

This is an iconic product that sits in every French bathroom. It gives skin a subtle sheen that looks expensive but never glittery. Effortless, sensual, practical.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":477228,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[11716,20086,52550,97,20045,102,2960,655,97954,56,54,55,95223],"class_list":["post-477227","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-healthcare","tag-affiliated","tag-commercebeauty","tag-commerceskincare","tag-dailymail","tag-editorial-impulse","tag-health","tag-healthcare","tag-lifestyle","tag-lifestylebeauty","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom","tag-you-mag"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/477227","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=477227"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/477227\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/477228"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=477227"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=477227"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=477227"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}