Fave Five: The Best Of Vichy

Who said that South Korea is the New France in skincare?

Judging from the emails and comments I get every day, you ladies are still very much into your French skincare and are dying to know what’s the best it has offer.

I hear ya. Korean skincare is a complicated mess. Who the heck has time for 10+ steps? It uses the weirdest ingredients (snails and jellyfish – really?). It’s often hard to get hold of.

French skincare brings it back to basics. It gives your skin only what it truly needs – no unnecessary bells and whistles. Some may go as far as to call it boring in comparison – but boring and basic is just what the doctor ordered for sensitive skin.

And if your skin’s sensitive or you’d like to treat it with some gentler loving care, one of the first brands I’d turn to is Vichy. So, here they are, the best skincare products from Vichy (in my humble opinion):

Best For Oily Skin: Purifying Pore Mineral Mask ($20.00/£15.00)

Forget the “purifying pore” nonsense brands love to use (seriously, what does that even mean?!). Purifying Pore Mineral Mask is a clay mask that absorbs excess oil from oily skin. Once the extra oil is out of the picture, your skin looks matte – just like it should. Plus, the excess oil can’t get stuck in the pores and cause breakouts. I don’t believe that masks are a must in a skincare routine but if you have oily skin, a clay mask a couple of times a week can certainly help keep your skin clear and shine-free.

Available at: Dermstore and Feel Unique

Don’t know how to layer your skincare products and what ingredients you CAN’T use together? Download your FREE “How To Combine Actives Like A Pro” to find out and get your skincare routine right once and for all:

Best For Sun Protection: Capital Soleil SPF 60 Soft Sheer Sunscreen Lotion ($30.50)

I admit I’m partial to mineral sunscreens because they’re gentler on the skin. But if you prefer synthetic ones, Capital Soleil SPF 60 Soft Sheer Sunscreen is a great option to try. One: it provides excellent broad spectrum protection. Two: it’s fragrance-free. Three: it has a creamy, lotion-like texture that applies like a dream and doesn’t feel heavy on the skin. And did I mention no white cast?

Available at: Dermstore

Related: 3 Reasons Why Mineral Sunscreen Is Better For Sensitive Skin

Best For Anti-Aging: Vichy LiftActiv Vitamin C Skin Brightening Skin Corrector ($28.50/£28.00)

Who else has a love/hate relationship with vitamin C? It’s an antiaging superstar that fights free radicals, boosts collagen and brighten skin. But, the pure form (L-Ascorbic Acid) irritates sensitive skin and goes bad quickly (who can finish a whole bottle before it goes brown?!). LiftActiv Vitamin C Brightening Skin Corrector has the perfect solution: it comes in a small bottle that only contains 10ml of product so you CAN actually finish it before it goes bad. Finally!

Available at: Dermstore and Feel Unique

Related: 5 Antaging Superstars You Should Use For Younger-Looking Skin

Best For Dry Skin: Vichy Mineral 89 Fortifying & Hydrating Daily Skin Booster ($29.50/£22.00)

Mineral 89 Fortifying & Hydrating Daily Skin Booster is a basic hyaluronic acid serum for sensitive skin (but everyone else can use it too 🙂 ). Hyaluronic acid is a moisture magnet: it attracts water from the environment and drops it into your skin, bringing its hydration level up a notch… or 10. It’s so powerful it can bind up to 1000 times its weight in water! I dare your skin to feel dry after that!

Available at: Dermstore and Feel Unique

Related: Why You Should Add Hyaluronic Acid To Your Skincare Routine

Purete Thermale 3-in-1 One-Step Cleanser ($19.50/£12.00)

Purete Thermale 3-in-1 One-Step Cleanser has no detergents. So how does it cleanse the skin? Mineral oil. I know that’s not what a lot of you want to hear but there’s nothing wrong with mineral oil. It may be derived from petroleum, but it’s been highly purified to remove all impurities – it won’t harm the skin. Instead, it attaches to the oils in your makeup and sunscreen, so they can rinsed away. Plus, it leaves skin very soft. It’s great for both dry and sensitive skin – for oily skin, not so much (it’s too rich).

Available at: Dermstore and Feel Unique

Related: The Truth About Mineral Oil: Is It Really Bad For Skin?

About Gio

Hi, I'm Gio. I'm a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever - every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what's worth the splurge and what's best left on the shelf - using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.