Nuxe Hits: Famous finds from the french pharmacie
Nuxe (pronounced "noox") is an intimidating brand to explore because of its French origin, luxe-looking packaging, and fancy product names. Sometimes when I go to one of their counters at Beauty Bar I cringe a little before I check the price tag but you know what - it's actually pretty reasonable! Nuxe is a pharmacie brand in France after all, and while it's not exactly on the low end of the price spectrum, many of their entry-level products are under P1,000.
Recently I got to try the Nuxe Rose Petal line, which focuses on cleansing the face gently yet efficiently. French women know that the key to good skin is thorough cleansing - sleeping with traces of makeup on is a huge no-no! - so Nuxe has formulated products for different skin types. Each one is non-drying, smells like a bouquet of roses freshly picked from the garden (no overly chemical notes as far as I can tell), and leaves skin feeling nice after the end of a long day wearing makeup. Here are the functions and how to use them!
Micellar Cleansing Water with Rose Petals (P895). If you have oily skin and don't like the feel of having oily residue on your face after removing your makeup, you'd love this micellar water. It smells fantastic and it's probably the gentlest I've ever used. I've been using this since last year actually, but I like reserving it for special occasions or when I need to kind of wind down after a long day. It's still more expensive than my daily micellar water but if you want your makeup removal to be more of a relaxing ritual than a chore, this is a good option!
How to use: Soak a cotton pad with the micellar cleansing water and pass it over your face to dissolve makeup. Repeat until you get everything out! I usually use two cotton pads, and they're enough to remove most water resistant makeup. You can go right to sleep after this; it leaves skin feeling so smooth and bouncy.
Melting Cleansing Gel with Rose Petals (P875). The first cleansing gel I've ever tried is from Tokyo and so I thought that it was an exclusively Japanese thing. But Nuxe has their own too, apparently, and it's been around for a while! This gel breaks down the makeup and allows it to be rinsed off. I'd recommend this for combination skin since you get a balanced amount of moisture and gentle cleansing. This is soap-free and good for sensitive folks.
How to use: This can be used two ways. Massage it on your dry face, focusing on where makeup is thickest, and then rinse it off. You can also massage it on wet skin! I use it in two stages, first the dry application, rinse, then the wet application. This is a milder cleanser compared to the micellar water so if you wear a lot of makeup, you won't be able to take it all off in one go.
Comforting Cleansing Milk with Rose Petals (P895). If you have dry skin, then you can use this cleansing milk as if it were a cold cream. This is a rich cleanser that feels like a soothing mask as it breaks down makeup; it is the most powerful as it can remove tougher, highly water-resistant formulas. This is something I would use in colder weather!
How to use: Massage the milk on your dry face, then tissue it off before rinsing it with water. Another way is to tissue it off and then go straight with the Gentle Toning Lotion to remove all traces of gunk on the skin.
Gentle Toning Lotion with Rose Petals (P875). This alcohol-free toner removes whatever's left of your makeup. It helps to balance and refresh the skin as it prepares the surface for the rest of your skincare routine!
How to use: Soak a cotton ball and then swipe it all over your face. This catches anything you might have missed earlier!
Aside from these cleansing products, Nuxe has another superstar: the Huile Prodigieuse (P1750/ 100ml and P995/ 50ml). I've raved about this before, so please read my review on this multi-purpose, non-greasy, great smelling oil. It's so good. If you're curious about how French women use this cult favorite, here's a video to guide you on how best to apply it on your face, body, and hair.
I've had my 100ml bottle for almost a year now and I'm not even halfway through! A little goes a long way per use, so you're sure to maximize each pump. Just store the glass bottle properly and decant whatever you need in a plastic container if you want to bring it around.
So there you go, a quick rundown of the best from Nuxe! If you're interested in trying out their other skincare plus a sample of the dry oil, we've got an exclusive set in the Project Vanity Wanderlust Kit (just a few left!) that we're sure you'd love to travel with. <3 Get it today from the purchase link on the sidebar.
Have you tried Nuxe? Which products are your faves?
Photography by Samantha Gonzales
