Skincare is essential because our skin serves as the body’s largest barrier against harmful external elements. The key, however, lies in creating a personalized beauty routine. With thousands of options available, your choices should reflect your skin type, your budget, and the amount of time you’re willing to dedicate each day. In this article, we’ll walk you through the main steps, offering ideas and tips to help you gradually build a routine that works for you.
Before purchasing new products, it’s crucial to identify your skin type—this ensures the best results and avoids unnecessary irritation. If you’re unsure, consider visiting a dermatologist or asking a pharmacist for guidance. Generally, skin falls into one of these categories:
Dry skin – Often feels tight, may appear flaky, and is prone to redness and fine lines.
Oily skin – Tends to look shiny, with larger pores and a higher likelihood of blackheads or blemishes.
Normal to combination skin – Typically oily around the T-zone (nose, forehead, chin) but normal or dry on the cheeks.
Sensitive skin – More delicate, easily irritated, and reactive to many cosmetic products.
In the beauty routine outlined below, we introduce several cosmeceuticals—cosmetic products enhanced with bioactive ingredients that are believed to offer medical or dermatological benefits. These products strike a balance between beauty and science, helping you achieve visible, long-term results.
If you are interested in discovering and buying French cosmetics, have a look at our special offer here.
The very first but essential step is cleaning your face. Cleansers remove the build-up of dirt, makeup, oils, dead skin cells… Morning and night, rinse your face with water and rub a small amount of gentle cleanser between clean palms. Massage face wash all over your face using gentle pressure, rinse and gently pat your face dry with a soft towel.
Micellar water is a good choice, especially for sensitive skins. for all skin types. Bioderma créaline H2O is one of the more famous micellar water in the world. To use it, soak a cotton pad then wipe it gently over your skin. Re-apply the micellar solution until the pad becomes clean. There is no need to use water to ‘wash away’ the micellar water.
If you wear makeup, you may need to double cleanse at night. First, remove your makeup with cleansing oil or micellar water. Follow up with a full-face gentle cleanse. Once or twice a week, you can exfoliate your skin to clean pores off dead cells for brighter and smoother skin.
A face toner provides additional cleansing by removing excess dirt, traces of oil and makeup. It also balances the pH of your skin and helps control acne, enhances the skin’s surface by unclogging pores. A toner makes sure your skin is ready to absorb the creams and serums that will follow. Toners are sometimes thought of as optional, but can be a good way for added replenishment to your skin.
NYM Fundamental Primer Lotion awakens your skin from the very first touch. Enriched with soothing neem leaf extracts, it revitalizes even the most delicate complexions, preparing the skin to fully absorb and amplify the benefits of your next skincare steps. Like an invisible shield, this essence doesn’t just hydrate — it strengthens your skin’s natural barrier, restoring balance while defending against daily aggressors. The result? A radiant, healthier-looking complexion with that coveted luminous “glass skin” glow.
Serums are a great tool for treating specific skin concerns (acne, skin aging, fine lines, hyperpigmentation, etc.). They penetrate deeper into the skin layers and deliver powerful ingredients directly to the skin.
Both effective and ultra-gentle on the skin, Caudalie’s Vinoperfect Radiance Dark Spot Serum corrects and prevents the appearance of dark spots for a more radiant complexion. It targets all types of dark spots (sun, acne, melasma, age) and is suitable for all skin types, even the most sensitive.
Daily moisturizing is vital for healthy skin, and helps Skin Stay Young: your day cream provides hydration throughout the day and it also serves as your ultimate defender towards environmental stresses, damaging sun, and pollution. It also seals in all of the products previously used, plumps up the skin, and smooths fine lines.
The Essential Day Cream is the ultimate ally for skin seeking both comfort and performance. Powered by naturally derived ingredients, its formula delivers toning and protective benefits thanks to neem and lindera, a potent dermal booster. This cream helps the skin defend itself against daily aggressors while strengthening the skin’s barrier. Healthier skin reveals its natural beauty, as lindera enhances hydration and radiance. Fine lines and wrinkles appear softened, elasticity is improved, and the complexion looks more even. With its luscious, melt-in texture, this cream offers as much pleasure in application as it does comfort for the skin
Applying sunscreen is a daily habit, not just for the summer: Sunscreen protects your skin from UV rays, reduces the risk of skin cancer, and helps prevent premature aging and wrinkles. However, not every sunscreen is suitable for your skin, especially if you have sensitive skin. You should use a sunscreen with SPF 50, which can block up to 98% of UVB rays.
The Vinosun Protect Invisible High Protection Stick SPF50 makes sun care simple. In just one swipe, it protects the face, lips, and sensitive areas — from scars and moles to tattoos — against UVA and UVB rays, without leaving a trace. Its formula, enriched with organic grape seed and buriti oils, nourishes the skin while staying light and non-greasy.
Fragrance-free, water-resistant, and suitable for adults as well as kids from age 3, it’s an easy, reliable SPF you’ll want to keep in your bag all year round. Also, don't forget to bring along a moisturizing lipstick. Ideal for daily wear, moisturizing lipsticks provide comfort and nourishment, helping to prevent dryness and cracking. Made from 99.6% natural origin ingredients, the Iconic Uriage Moisturizing Stick with Thermal Water moisturizes the lips and protects them from daily aggressions.
Skin supplements deliver the essential nutrients your skin needs to look and feel its best, promoting a radiant, flawless complexion from within. Designed to complement your daily skincare routine, they work in harmony with your favorite creams and serums for truly glowing results.
Ultra Anti-Age from the Brand Olivier Claire delivers high-performance, long-lasting action against the visible signs of aging, powered by:
-Marine collagen, clinically proven for its anti-aging benefits, helps smooth wrinkles and boost skin elasticity.
-Plant-derived hyaluronic acid is celebrated for its hydrating and plumping properties.
-Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), a key antioxidant enzyme, helping to preserve skin’s youthful beauty.
--Verbena extract supplies antioxidants that protect the skin from free radical damage.
Vitamin C supports normal energy metabolism, helps reduce fatigue, promotes collagen production for healthy skin function, and protects cells from oxidative stress, a key factor in cellular aging.
How to use: Enjoy one ampoule per day, diluted in a large glass of water (200 ml), preferably in the morning, for 28 days (one box). Shake well before use.
Perfect in any daily beauty ritual, Thermal Water can be used after cleansing to sweep away impurities, or before skincare to boost absorption. On hot days, it also doubles as a refreshing mist, instantly cooling and comforting while keeping your complexion balanced and hydrated.
Avène Thermal Spring Water Spray is a cult favorite for sensitive skin: this iconic mist is more than just water — it’s a soothing veil of comfort for skin that craves calm. Enriched by a journey of over half a century deep within the heart of Avène’s springs, this thermal water is naturally infused with an ideal balance of minerals, trace elements, and a unique microbiome signature that gives it its extraordinary skin-soothing powers. From the very first spritz, it instantly relieves irritation, redness, itching, and tightness — without ever drying the skin. Its natural silica content delivers a silky-soft touch, enveloping the skin in lasting comfort and well-being.
Cosmeceuticals are a French specialty, and once you arrive in magnificent Paris, you’ll find them in pharmacies such as Monge Beauty Shop—one of the city’s best, offering a wide variety of French beauty products. You can use the O'bon Paris coupon to shop there, Click here to see the details of our exclusive offer.
Words and Photographs by Thanh Thuy Phan
Parapharmacie Monge Notre Dame
Endereço: 78 rue Monge, 75005 Paris
Horário: Todos os dias das 8h00 às 20h00