When You Can't Have Crealine H20....

There's always Caudalie's Cleansing Water - another French alternative offered in the US of A (because, sadly, Bioderma's Crealine is not).

Like Crealine H20, Caudalie Cleansing Water is a water and rinse-free face wash that removes dirt and makeup. It is gentle, non-irritating, soothing and can be used on the most sensitive of skins.

I have a serious obsession with Crealine H20. Whenever a friend from France travels to the states, I beg them to bring over a jumbo bottle of the solution. While I use it mainly as a makeup remover - it is so sensitive I have absolutely no adverse reaction - it's also a great face wash supplement for skin types that are overdryed by washing too often.

The bummer of it all is that Crealine is impossible to find in the states. And I just ran out of my last bottle. Sadly, my only friend traveling from abroad was flying via carry-on and the bottle didn't make the trip. Hence, my need to find the alternative...

And I'm not mad at Caudelie's take on the water-free wash. While this formula does contain fragrance so it's not a mild (in my opinion), it still gets the job done. It removes my makeup effortlessly, doesn't irritate my eyes or skin and makes washing my face post removal, seamless. Again, the second wash in unnecessary. You could just leave your skin happy with the cotton pad removal of dirt, makeup and grime, but I'm a stickler for a little water love, so I do the double duty service.

Compare Caudalie Cleansing Water review to Crealine H20 review by clicking here! And if you find yourself in France, do bring back a bottle for moi, s'il vous plait?

PRICE TAG: $26.00

French Find: Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre

A photographer friend of mine in Paris turned me on to this wonder cream. A Parisian secret, Embryolisse Lait-Creme is a must-have on photo shoots, says my friend. Apparently, makeup artists use Crealine H20, which I discovered last year on my trip to Paris, click here for a recap, then prime the skin with a dab of the Lait (meaning milk) cream before applying makeup.

The face cream is suitable for all skin types, packed with essential fatty acids and vitamins and dermatologist recommended. It plumps, soothes and softens the skin while creating a satiny finish. All this and it actually moisturizes!

Naturally, I had to try the cream for myself. So I ventured into one of those fantastic parisian pharmacies and asked in my broken french for a tube of Embryolisse Lait-Creme. The consistency is quite nice -- not too thick nor too thin, rather in the middle. It is definitely hydrating but not overly moisturizing on my normal skin type. And it totally left my skin glowing to the point where my American friend asked if I was wearing makeup and I gave her the cream to try... now she, too, is hooked! I am stocking up before my return stateside.

Composition: Emollient oil and natural active ingredients: shea butter, beeswax, aloe vera and soy protein. Symdiol 68T paraben-free preservative complex.

PRICE TAG: About 15 Euros/ $18.00 in France
To buy online, click here. $25.00

J'adore French Pharmacies

One of the most amazing things about Paris is the pharmacies. Okay, the fashion's pretty incredible, as are those sexy accents, but nothing compares to the style and substance of a french pharmacy.



The greatest products, organized to perfection with lovely french pharmacists in white lab coats. You can literally find the most delicious, high-end products or obscure homeopathic remedies and it's only skin, hair and body products. No random candies or aisles of school supplies like the U.S. This is purely beauty.


It's all such an experience. I can't help but walk in every time I see the blinking green Rx sign. It may actually be more addictive than Sephora.



Brands they carry (and I adore):
Caudalie - Obsessed with the face mist (beauty elixir). They have a great vine peach shower gel as well.
Weleda - Calendula cream is my must-have
Klorane - Their dry shampoo is genius.
La Roche-Posay - The most incredible sunscreens available on the market with UVA and UVB protection
Avene - Great skin products for sensitive types
Phyto - My stylist lives for their hair growth pills
Nuxe - The oil with golden specks makes for a wonderful body bronzer
Muestela - Love the baby body mist (hydra spray)

Have any favorite french product lines?
Let us know so that we can grab some samples before leaving!

French Find: Crealine H2O

Leave it to the French to sell bottled water specifically for the face... for over $15.00! But, wow, this stuff is awesome.

While most French beauty companies make a similar product, Bioderma's Crealine H20 was the first of its kind. A face wash without the need for water. Apparently, Parisian water is harsh on Parisian complexions. Bottled face water/ solution is all the rave over in France.

Of course, I had to try the goods and I'm beyond impressed. Works impeccably as a makeup remover (safe for eyes too) and it actually does clean the skin. I poured a bit onto two cotton pads, rubbed each side of my mug and that was that. Clean skin, no irritation. The solution is soothing and emollient, soap-free, fragrance-free and PH neutral.

Fatty acid esters, both emulgatory and filmogenous, enables dirt to be emulsified and surface hydrolipidic film to be reconstituted, says the site.

Basically, this stuff is perfect for anyone with sensitive skin (not just Parisians), as it does everything that soap will do but without the harsh and drying effects of soap and water. The solution comes in two other formulas, one for very dry skin and the other for oily complexions.

Hey, the French have great skin. Consider this their best kept secret (or one of them)...

French Find: Homeoplasmine

There's nothing like a French pharmacy, with all of those amazing brands and incredible products stacked on top of one another. It can be so much fun and slightly overwhelming.

Luckily, I walked into the place with a purpose: Pick up a tube of Homeoplasmine: a product that my friend, Jessica Stam, said is a must-have. I trust Jess' picks so I uttered in my broken French, "Homeoplasmine, s'il vous plait?" And the grumpy French pharmacist handed me a box of the ointment.

Mind you, I had NO IDEA what this stuff was... I just knew that my gorgeous, supermodel friend who gets beautified for a living implored me to stock up. She said it's the most amazing product for dry, cracked skin, sunburn and lips. She continued that every French makeup artist has a tube of the ointment in his/ her beauty bag...

Okay, tried and tested and I'm obsessed.

Basically, Homeoplasmine is the French version of our Elizabeth Arden's 8 Hour Cream and Japan's Yu-Be. It's a multi-purpose ointment that soothes, protects and moisturizes the skin. A little bit like Aquafor, sans the sheen and more natural. What I love about this stuff is that it's not at all greasy like 8-Hour cream. In fact, it kind of has an au naturel, matte finish. And it is KILLER for dry lips, literally reattaching the flakey skin and filling in the cracks for hydration without the sheen. Perfect to use prior to makeup for a smooth, silky palette. So great for all flaky, dry areas including sun or wind burn. A little goes a long way and the ointment penetrates for hours.

Click here to buy! You can't find in the US (I don't think...)