Rentrée, et plus de skin care

Not petit monsieur’s class

Well not rentrée in the literal sense, as we did not have four-to-five weeks of vacation in August, spent at some bucolic retreat. It’s been business-as-usual (and then some) around here.

But not-quite-so-petit monsieur (who’s had quite a growth spurt in the last few months) returns to school today, and we welcome a more predictable routine than the summer day camp which, while very enjoyable for p.m., observed a rather let’s-throw-a-dart-today method of activity planning and required a daily morning strategizing session between le monsieur et moi that went something like:

Field trip today?  Yes/No

  • If Yes, lunch money required?  Yes/No
    • If Yes, how much?
  • If Yes, blue camp shirt required attire? Yes/No
    • If Yes, is it still in the dirty laundry hamper?
  • If Yes, have all permission slips been filled out and returned? Yes/No (including the new one sent home the night before stuffed in the never-accessed pocket of p.m.’s backpack)
    • If No, why isn’t there a single &$%* pen in this house that works???
  • If Yes, is beach/swimming attire required?  Yes/No
    • If Yes, wear under street clothes or alone? Will anyone bother to reapply the sunscreen we put in the backpack? 
  • If Yes, is pickup time earlier or later than normal?
  • If No field trip, is bag lunch required or is it Random Pizza Day again….
Rinse and repeat daily (Sat/Sun excepted) for the month of August.
So, skincare. Two weeks ago I had my routine appointment with my dermatologist. (Skin cancer runs in my family, so I get a “spot check” twice per year.)  Toward the end of the appointment, my derm remarked, “your skin is looking really good! What are you using?” I told her what I’ve adopted since June, when Tish Jett from A Femme sent me home from Paris with some of her favorite skincare products (most of which are available there at Monoprix and the corner pharmacie, OTC). Tish has now dished, here and here about those products, so I may share with you as well.
This stuff is every bit as good as Tish says it is. It leaves the skin looking dewy and “plumped” and has SPF 15 (which isn’t enough protection by itself, but great when layered with an additional SPF product).  For those of you in the U.S. who have been frustrated by the lack of stock available here, I’ve sourced it for us:  Frenchcosmetics.net . I don’t know whether this is the best price you’ll see, but you *will* be able to get the product. (And shipping is free on all orders over $35.) This company doesn’t keep a lot of stock on hand, but rather places a weekly order directly to France, so delivery will take 2-3 weeks after orders are placed. I hope the folks at Eucerin realize the error of their ways and make this available here soon.
The Auriga Flavo C serum and moisturizer (which I’ve been using at night, after the prescription-strength Retin A) is also available from Frenchcosmetics.net, here and here. The vitamin C in these products is supposed to firm and clarify the skin and tighten the pores. 
Fortunately the Avene scrub and moisture mask Tish recommended are readily available in the U.S.  Drugstore.com carries a broad selection of Avene products.
All of these products are far less expensive than many of the over-hyped department store potions and seem to be quite effective. I think on our next trip to France I’ll be bringing an extra suitcase to fill up with skin care products to bring home! 
Do you have any favorite but difficult-to-source skincare products?  How do you keep yourself stocked?
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39 Comments

  1. Pseu,

    Cerave products — very, very highly recommended: 3 different types of ceramides + phytosphingosine. The cream is a small miracle, I cannot believe it is sold so cheaply at the drugstore: great for burns, psoriasis, and for radiant skin.

  2. I have very sensitive skin, so finding items that work can be quite challenging. For the last several years, I’ve been using Kinerase products. I particularly like the cleanser.

    Recently, for my bedtime moisturizer, I’ve been using the much less expensive Cetaphil cream. I slather it on my face, and by morning, it has disappeared!

    For daytime, on my face and neck, I’ve switched to the less pricey Dr. Lewinn by Kinerase Lift & Resculpt Anti-Wrinkle Night Cream, followed by Murad Dewy Finish Skin Perfecting Primer, and Clinique’s Pore Refining Solutions Correcting Serum (only on my nose).

    So far, so good! But the best thing I’ve done for my skin? Get yearly laser treatments!
    ~ Peggy
    http://peggyscloset.blogspot.com/

  3. You gave me the final push I needed to buy the Eucerin. After reading A Femme’s post about it a couple weeks ago, I attempted to buy it on Amazon, but it was sold out. Thank you for sourcing it for us. I love that French Cosmetics offers free shipping and you don’t have to spend hundreds to get it.

    I used a skincare line called Vivant for couple of years. It is sold by estheticians only and hard to find. I could sometimes find it online once in a while (for much, much less than what my esthetician was selling it for) but not anymore. Several months ago, I decided my skin is ready for something new anyway and have been trying different products. I’ve yet to find anything that makes a noticeable improvement so I am excited by your news of Eucerin.

    Thanks again and have a great week!
    xo, A

  4. I love your summer camp checklist and can relate (8 & 10 year olds.)

    I would add, “did anyone wash the dam beach towels from the last swimming day?”

  5. Wow, what a month!
    About skin care – I just might try the Eucerin creme, as we have it here.
    The thing that´s bothering me, is the immense quantity of different skincare products.
    So far, I have been faithful to only one line = 2 products.

  6. Beauty products are so subjective! What works for one person is another’s no!

    I try to stay natural so I use REN, Arbonne and also I like the really active ones like Dr Murad (expensive & out of my league but I get samples occasionally!) and Environ.

    xx

  7. Hello:
    We always feel in awe of your knowledge of skincare products which leave us at the starting post with a warm flannel and a bar of soap. For some strange reason Eucerin has made an appearance on the cosmetic shelves of certain Budapest stores so we might give it a try.

    Organising pm over the summer sounds to have been worthy of an army campaign. You surely now deserve a holiday to get over the holiday!!!

  8. The daily get-ready-for-camp routine made me dizzy and brought back memories of packing two kids off for day camp during the work week. How do we all do it?

    Thank you for the skin care tips!

  9. @metscan It was *quite* a month and we’re relieved to be done with it. It’s true, there’s such a plethora of products and claims out there, it’s hard to know what’s real and what’s just hype.

  10. @Luna Several commenters have mentioned Cerave before, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen this line in my local drugstore. I will keep an eye out for it, though. It does sound like a good product and a good value.

  11. I looked for the Eucerin cream over the weekend…I am a little frustrated that it is not more available. I will have to wait for the next paycheck, but I am going to order it!!

  12. @Make Do Style That’s so true! I once received some Murad samples and remember liking the products, though I’ve never purchased them. We have a Murad spa not far from where I live, and I have been tempted to schedule a facial there.

  13. I myself won’t be trying the Eucerin because I’ve got oily skin and don’t use moisturizer, but I am ALL about cosmetic/skin care skepticism. It sounds like a great alternative.

    In far too many cases (as is similar in the world of household cleaners etc.), people end up paying huge premiums for stuff they don’t need or could get purer and far more cheaply.

    Sorry if this is a repeat of something I’ve commented earlier, but I once informed a beauty blogger that instead of paying for high-end facial cleanser that was nothing more than basic extra virgin olive oil, she could just go to the grocery store. She actually argued that her super overpriced version HAD to be better. Sure…overpay if you insist! Mais nous sommes les plus savantes.

  14. There is much to be said for a reliable routine!
    As for skin care, I do use a night and a day cream, and an eye cream, but rely most of all on our moist temperate climate. I would love to fit regular facials into my days, but there never seem to be enough hours.

  15. I feel fear about the stuff the baby will need in the future. At present he requires only a clean nappy (which you’d call a diaper), a bottle, and a dummy (which you’d call a pacifier). God help me when he needs special outfits and (crosses self) Money.

    I like an Australian rose hip brand called Kosmea. It smells gorgeous but cheap it is not.

    Can I just thank you for sending so many lovely commentors my way? So many say they found FF via you. Nice work xxx

  16. @Faux Fuchsia You have a few years before you have to worry about the intricacies of summer camp. 😀 It all falls into place as you go along. I love the fragrance of rose hip. You’re very welcome; your blog is so enjoyable and I love sharing what I enjoy.

  17. Thanks for sourcing the Eucerin…I’ve been wanting to try it, but my husband was balking at bringing me back a few jars from his next London trip (since he only does carry-on).

    Your story about summer day camp reminded me of my very hectic working-mother years. I often worried that the only thing my kids would remember from their childhoods was being told, “hurry up! We’re going to be late!” They are 18 and 16 now and seem to have survived without noticeable emotional trauma 😉

  18. @Jill Ann Yes, the only way to carry this back from Europe is to check bags; one has to be prepared to do that. I think we’re far more traumatized than our kids when it comes to hectic schedules and feeling like there’s never enough time.

  19. @Chanterelle We’ve had various Eucerin products available here too since I can remember, but it’s been my understanding that this particular product with the Hyaluron isn’t sold in the U.S. If that’s changed, yippeee!!

  20. A school field trip is a “sortie scolaire”. Gee, I miss them! My DD is now a sophomore in college.
    Karen in Paris

  21. Yup, quite sure it’s the same thing–I copied the name from A Femme’s blog post and noted the packaging. It’s true that there are FAR more Eucerin products at Monoprix, including 4 or 5 more in the Hyalurin line. I really feel like a kid in a candy store when I browse all the beauty lines.

    The Duane Reade chain seems to be installing cosmeceutical sections in their larger stores. Perhap Walgreens will roll this out nationwide.

    As I mentioned, the Eucerin is more than half again as pricey in NYC as in Paris. But the Talika Lipocils is significantly cheaper in NYC. Go figure…