If there’s one thing the French do better than anyone (apart from fashion and fine wine), it’s beauty. From their effortlessly tousled hair to their “no-makeup” makeup, their beauty routines are the stuff of legend and interest around the world. Another area the French excel in? Skincare and bodycare. And there’s one brand that you will consistently see in the baskets of every person in a French pharmacy, it’s Nuxe.
Beloved by Parisians and beauty editors alike, this cult French skincare brand has quietly become a staple in the routines of those in the know. Whether it’s the brand’s iconic Huile Prodigieuse dry oil or honey-infused lip balm, Nuxe strikes the perfect balance between nature- and science-inspired formulas that exude French luxury, all while remaining accessible. It’s the kind of beauty insider brand your chicest French friend might reluctantly share—if you’re lucky.
If you’re not heading to France anytime soon, fear not. I’ve been testing out some of the best Nuxe products, from the iconic body care staples to skincare and perfume heroes that you can get your hands on in the UK—no Eurostar ticket required.
Best Nuxe Products
1. Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Multi Purpose Dry Oil
Nuxe
Huile Prodigieuse Multi Purpose Dry Oil
If you only know one Nuxe product, it’s most likely that you have heard of the Huile Prodigieuse. This is the brand’s most iconic beauty product, and I can see why. This multi-purpose oil can be used on the skin, body and hair to leave you with a subtle lustre head to toe. My favourite way to use it is as a body oil—and because it’s a dry oil, it’s featherlight and never sticky, so it sinks in immediately. You simply mist it on and it will give your skin a glossy glow while leaving your skin feeling like satin.
As for the scent, it’s absolutely divine. The fragrance is like an expensive French suncream and sun-kissed skin after a day at the beach. It’s subtle, but it will leave you with a solar halo wherever you apply it. It contains seven different botanical oils, including tsubaki, argan, macadamia, borage, camellia, hazelnut and sweet almond to leave your skin, hair and body feeling nourished. Recently, Nuxe has also introduced Huile Prodigieuse Roll-On (£26), which is great for travelling with.
2. Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse® Or
NUXE
Huile Prodigieuse® Or Shimmering Multi-Purpose Dry Oil
If you want an extra dose of radiance, the Huile Prodigieuse Or contains the same brilliant formula, but with a bronze shimmer finish. It adds a subtle bronzy glow to the skin that isn’t glittery, but is instead sheer and radiant. I like to use this one in the evenings on my legs, arms and décolletage as a body shimmer to give dull skin a glow, or all over on holiday after a day spent at the beach to enhance sun-kissed skin. Huile Prodigieuse also comes in other variations, including Huile Prodigieuse Florale (£22) (which has a pretty floral scent), Huile Prodigieuse Or Florale (£22) (the same scent, but with a rose gold shimmer) and Huile Prodigieuse Néroli (£33) (a soft citrussy fragrance).
3. Nuxe Baume Levres Reve De Miel Honey Lip Balm
Nuxe
Baume Levres Reve De Miel Honey Lip Balm
I’m putting it out there, this may be one of the best lip balms out there—especially if you’re someone who likes a thick, cosseting formula. I’d actually liken it more to a lip mask, as the texture is luxuriously velvety and long-wearing as you sweep it over your lips, creating a shielding barrier that genuinely lasts for hours. I also appreciate the matte texture (because not everyone wants an ultra-glossy balm), which almost makes it invisible on the lips—great if you’re prone to chapped or dry lips and want to apply it beyond the contours of your lips too. It’s enriched with honey and shea butter, which leave your lips feeling incredibly soft and nourished.
4. Nuxe Crème Fraîche De Beaute Multi-Purpose 3-In-1 Cream
Nuxe
Crème Fraîche De Beaute Multi-Purpose 3-In-1 Cream
Most French pharmacy beauty brands have their version of a do-it-all cream (Think La Roche-Posay’s Cicaplast, or Avene’s Cicalfate), and this is Nuxe’s. Deliciously marketed as crème fraîche for your skin, this luxurious frothy cream melts onto the skin with a complexion-soothing silkiness that I just adore. It really is a sensorial experience, so I love that it can be used in multiple ways.
You can apply a small amount as a moisturiser, a little more as a plumping face mask, or you can also use it as a gentle makeup remover to melt away the day. Whichever way I use it, my skin is left feeling soothed, soft and hydrated. After testing too many skincare products (a beauty-editor sin), I applied this to my inflamed and hormonal skin overnight and awoke to a much calmer complexion come the morning. It’s earned a place on my skincare shelf.
5. Nuxe Sun Delicious Fragrant Water
NUXE
Sun Delicious Fragrant Water
If you’re not yet sold on the name alone, allow me to describe just how gorgeous this scent is. It’s like the French Riviera, bottled. In a world of beachy perfumes that are overly sweet and brashly coconuty, this scent strolls past, wearing a straw sunhat and basket bag as she makes her way to an exclusive beach club in Saint Tropez. It includes a zesty twist of sweet orange, a touch of creamy coconut, vanilla and gardenia. If you like the scent of the original Huile Prodigieuse, then you’ll like this slightly more sun-drenched scent. And because it’s a fragrance water, it’s very light, so you can liberally douse yourself in it without ever applying too much. It’s one of my favourite summer perfumes.
6. Nuxe Rêve De Miel Ultra-Comforting Body Cream
Nuxe
Rêve De Miel Ultra-Comforting Body Cream
While I’m still lamenting the discontinuation of the Nuxe Melting Honey Body Oil Balm (Nuxe, if you’re reading this, please bring it back), the Rêve De Miel Ultra-Comforting Body Cream has softened the blow—and my skin. It has an almost balmy texture that feels instantly moisturising and soothing on parched skin, yet sinks in immediately to a velvety finish. Like the rest of the Rêve De Miel range, the hero ingredient is honey (which is delicately scented along with powdery mimosa) to replenish and nourish while shielding skin. I always come back to this https://www.whowhatwear.com/beauty/skin/best-body-creams in the winter when my skin needs an extra layer of hydration.
7. Nuxe Rêve De Miel Honey Lip Care
Nuxe
Rêve De Miel Honey Lip Care
Have you seen a cuter lip oil? Didn’t think so. Also in the Rêve De Miel lip collection is this honey-infused lip oil, complete with a beehive-inspired lid. It applies as a silky veil with a glossy shine, leaving lips hydrated but never sticky. It smells deliciously of honey, and it’s a real treat each time you swipe it on. My only gripe is that it doesn’t last long on my lips, but when it’s this enjoyable to use, I don’t mind reapplying it. Alongside nourishing honey, the formula also contains camelina oil, which is rich in omega-3 and 6 to leave your lips feeling super soft.
8. Nuxe Sun Oil Shimmering Gold SPF 30
Nuxe
Sun Oil Shimmering Gold SPF 30
As body sunscreens go, it’s hard to find anything as chic as Nuxe’s. This SPF oil is luxuriously silky and contains tiny golden particles that bestow a healthy-looking gleam to your skin, all with SPF 30 protection. It’s great to use on beach days when you want a little more of a glow, but it also doubles up as a body shimmer come evening, too. As for the scent, it’s just as wonderful as the other Nuxe products, with sweet orange, creamy tiaré flower and subtly sweet vanilla. If you want to feel like you’re on a super-yacht in the French Riviera, then this is the SPF for you.