The Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentre Fluide ($39, Beauty Boutique) is the lightweight version of the cult-favourite, and one of the top French pharmacy favourite beauty buys, Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentre ($36, Beauty Boutique) which I used to stock up on religiously when my travels took me to Paris and the immediate French pharmacy area.
Seeing the Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentre Fluide at Beauty Boutique on sale when I needed to pick up my prescription was a lovely surprise. I didn’t realize they had released a lightweight version of their popular product which honestly was the only moisturizer I felt loyal enough to repurchase during my travels. Even though the brand is now readily available in Canada, I still can’t deal with the price difference – the Creme Concentré version retailed for only €11-13 in Paris (which roughly translates to CAD$20-22) and I probably definitely snuck one too many tubes coming home to Toronto!
The Mother of all French pharmacy, City Pharma
If you only do one thing in Paris, make sure to pop by a French pharmacy (you can spot them by the neon green “plus” sign) – they may not look like the glitzy and fancy Galeries Lafayette or Le Bon Marche but it is a treasure trove of skincare goodies that you would normally find at a Sephora or department store here in North America.
French pharmacies are ubiquitous and most have very similar offerings but the very best one? City Pharma on 26 rue du Four, 75006 Paris, France (Check out my 2015 haul post here). From Caudelie, Bioderma, Embryolisse, Nuxe, Vichy – this is the store (they’re always very well-stocked) and they’re well-accustomed to tourists visiting with a long list and shopping in droves.
Back to the review though, the Fluide version comes in a generous 500ml pump bottle and similar to many French skincare formula, the lotion can be used on the face and body as well as being gentle enough for adult, and children. Even more than just a moisturizer, the Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentre Fluide bills itself as a makeup remover, after-sun lotion, beauty mask, and after-shave lotion which is a very impressive list of features and extra uses.
I’ve been using the Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentre Fluide mostly at night as a night cream/moisturizer; although it bills itself as a lightweight version (and it is far more viscous than your regular lotion), I like that it still hydrates and keeps my skin moisturized through the morning without feeling greasy which is typically what you get with the Creme Concentré version and most night cream.
In the 7+ years I’ve been using the original Creme Concentré and the Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentre Fluide on and off, I’ve never had any issues with breakouts and the scent is something you eventually get used to. I’m glad Beauty Boutique carries this now because it’s such a fantastic product that was only accessible if you were travelling through France. It’s too bad the price difference is way too steep otherwise you can bet I’d be repurchasing this far more regularly!
Have you tried the original Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentre? What do you think of the newer, lighter Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentre Fluide version?
