But if we’ve learned anything from Parisian beauty experts, it’s that skin comes first. And there’s one cult skincare brand that French women have treasured for decades.
Enter: NUXE.
Established in 1990, the brand is all about helping women to achieve their best skin ever. Each of its skincare products — from face to body care — is formulated and manufactured in France to meet pharmaceutical quality requirements. The brand also makes the most of the therapeutic properties of plants, from intensely moisturising oils to antioxidants which protect skin against the environment, for example pollution.
If you haven’t tried NUXE yourself yet, you’re likely to have spotted it on ‘Best Of’ product roundups or ‘Makeup Artist Recommended’ lists. Its bestseller — the golden bottle of Huile Prodigieuse dry face, body and hair oil — is a classic, while dermatologists extol the virtues of the Rêve de Miel lip balm. You’ll find it in every pharmacy and in many French women’s skincare routines, with products often passed down from mother to daughter.
But what about the rest of NUXE’s lineup? I tried five of the brand’s bestsellers and here are all the reasons why you might want to add them to your skincare routine this summer. That French girl glow is imminent.
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Huile Prodigieuse® 100 ml, £29.50
If you’re going to try just one NUXE product, make it this. It’s the product that really put the brand on the map and one bottle is supposedly sold every 11 seconds. A dry oil with a velvety soft texture (so no oily, slick feeling afterwards), it’s packed with seven botanical oils and is designed to nourish and repair skin. Plus, it smells like a holiday in a bottle.
There are endless ways you can use this oil: as a post-shower moisturiser for silky soft limbs, as a cuticle oil after a manicure, as a hair mask or even a luxurious bath oil. Personally, I’ve been amping up my everyday moisturiser with a few drops for a real dewy glow and dabbing it on my wrists as a subtle perfume stand-in. The warm, sweet scent is addictive.
Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse® 100 ml, $, available at Nuxe
Night Recovery Oil Balm, Crème Prodigieuse® Boost 50 ml, £33
Packed with antioxidants and moisturising macadamia oil, this face balm is powerful. Left on overnight, it helps skin recover from everyday stressors like fatigue and pollution — perfect for city-dwellers. It sinks in instantly and the next day my skin felt silky smooth and much firmer. There’s quite a heady scent of jasmine, pink lychee and musk so keep that in mind if you’re fussy with fragrance.
Nuxe Crème Prodigieuse® Boost 50 ml, $, available at Nuxe
Anti-Puffiness, Anti-Dark Circles Reviving Eye Care, NUXE Organic 15 ml, £27
Eye cream is a point of contention among experts but I was excited to try this one. It’s made with organic buckwheat extract, which helps to reduce puffiness and supposedly dark circles. Honestly, I didn’t notice a great deal of difference in the discolouration around my eyes but I did in the skin’s smoothness and firmness. The cream is so moisturising that my concealer applied better and didn’t settle so much into fine lines.
Nuxe Anti-Puffiness, Anti-Dark Circles Reviving Eye Care, $, available at Nuxe
Ultra-Nourishing Lip Balm, Rêve de Miel, £11.50
As a nervous lip chewer, this ultra luxe lip balm is a dream. It combines honey, shea butter, sweet almond oil and beeswax to deeply repair dry and damaged lips. It really works its magic when applied underneath drying matte lipsticks or lip stains.
Nuxe Ultra-Nourishing Lip Balm, Rêve de Miel 15 gr, $, available at Nuxe
Lip Stick, Rêve de Miel 4 g, £7
If you love the Rêve de Miel lip balm but aren’t sold on the pot, this stick makes for a great on-the-go alternative. It combines honey, sweet almond and argan oil to moisturise and repair chapped lips fast.
Nuxe Lip Stick, Rêve de Miel 4 gr, $, available at Nuxe
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