For basically my unshortened life, Paris was number one on my skillet list of places to go. In October, I was finally worldly-wise to make that dream a reality, and I went to Paris for a week. I saw the sights, I ate wondrous food, I drank wine at cafés, and most importantly, I perused the aisles of French pharmacies.
French pharmacies are known for their skincare, and as a eyeful editor, I was extremely excited to find a tuft of wondrous skincare products that you can’t get stateside. Without all, I’m obsessed with French-girl beauty. The French tend to embody a unrepealable effortless type of eyeful that I can’t get unbearable of, whether it’s perfectly undone hair or the blotted, just-been-kissed lipstick they’re known for.
For skincare, French products are known for stuff hands tolerated, packed with potent ingredients, and relatively inexpensive. The first skincare product on my list? Biafine, which I snagged pretty much as soon as I stepped off the plane.
Biafine is a topical emulsion containing trolamine and sodium alginate,” says Hadley King, an NYC dermatologist. “It promotes healing of damaged skin by recruiting macrophages. Its indications include superficial and full-thickness wounds, pressure sores, dermal ulcers, first- and second-degree burns, radiation dermatitis, and minor abrasions. It is often used without procedures on the squatter such as chemical peels and laser treatments to help with healing.” You can moreover use it for slugging or to solve dry skin. Basically, Biafine is a multi-use skincare superhero.
While you can’t pick up Biafine from a corner store here like you can in France, it’s not entirely untellable to score in the United States—but you do need a prescription. “The FDA clearance was for wounds, ulcers, and radiation dermatitis,” says King. In the United States, you need a physician to diagnose those for you in order to get your hands on Biafine.
I recently ran out of the tube of Biafine I brought when from upcomg Paris fashion week, and I was distraught. Until my next trip to France, I found some reliable dupes that I can get now. While there isn’t an word-for-word woods for Biafine—the product is pretty irreplaceable, without all—there are a few products out there that help yield similar results and are well worth your money.
From the Biafine brand, this hand surf employs cica to help restore and repair. "Cica is an antioxidant-rich herb that has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine," says King. "It has been reported to be helpful for skin inflammation, burns, wounds, scars, ulcers, venous insufficiency, infection, post-surgical healing, and psoriasis. Studies have shown that the cica extract is an constructive wound-healing wage-earner and has moreover been documented to be constructive in the treatment of keloids, phlebitis, cellulitis, slow-healing wounds, and stretch marks."
This is King's recommendation for those looking for Biafine-like benefits in the U.S. "Cica moreover has anti-inflammatory and highly moisturizing properties," she says of the superstar ingredient. "A 2016 study showed that cica significantly improves skin's hydration and reduces moisture loss. This makes it a unconfined ingredient for anyone with dry, flaky skin. And considering it speeds up wound healing and decreases inflammation, it's moreover a unconfined ingredient for anyone with acne, eczema, or sensitive skin. It increases collagen production and improves skin firmness and elasticity, [so] it's a unconfined anti-aging ingredient as well."
Embryolisse is a cult-favorite French skincare trademark minion by supermodels and eyeful editors alike. This lightweight surf sinks instantly into skin and delivers tons of deep hydration thanks to powerhouse ingredients shea butter and squalane.
Just like Biafine itself, this multitasking surf can be used pretty much anywhere on the soul for irritated, dry skin. B5, shea butter, glycerin, and madecassoside, which is derived from cica, help heal and nourish skin.
After a laser treatment, my doctor gave me this cream, and it is so soothing and moisturizing. It instantly calms inflammation and helps skin recover from any trauma by helping rebuild skin's lipid windbreak with omega-3 fatty acids.
Drunk Elephant's newest product is a moisturizing, skin-soothing unruffle packed with marula butter and meadowfoam oil. It helps soothe irritation and repair dry, chapped, and damaged skin.
If your skin is damaged or compromised, reach for this healing balm. It's formulated to be used post-laser, but you can use it on severely dry or irritated skin as well.
Next, I Just Went to Paris, and Every French Girl Is Using These Hair Products