Crème Dermopurifiane

Biologique Recherche (BR) is a name that will make any skincare junkie foam at the mouth.

Nestled in a quaint little alleyway on the Champs Elysees in Paris, this spa is the point of origin for many cult status skincare products, namely the P50 chemical exfoliating toner range.

This summer I had the good fortune of fulfilling a lifelong fantasy of visiting Paris. I’m semi-embarrassed to admit that my preparation for the trip consisted of reading Caroline Hirons’ blog and watching Lisa Eldridge’s French Pharmacie Skincare video. Essentially every product they mentioned ended up on a rather hefty shopping list. I was on a mission to hit up as many French pharmacies as possible. I’m proud to say that I successfully accomplished my mission.

I made a beeline for the BR spa upon arriving and was immediately impressed. The ladies were very helpful, asked me about my skin type, and were kind enough to give me a couple of samples of the Crème Dermopurifiante.

Of course, I purchased the P50 toner, but I want to use it consistently for at least a month before writing a review on it. In the meantime, let’s talk about the Crème Dermopurifiante. This very thick cream moisturizer is intended for oily skin. It’s meant to calm, moisturize, and reduce oil in sensitive/oily/acne prone skin.

Crème Dermopurifiane
Crème Dermopurifiante

The instructions state that a “hazelnut” amount should be applied over the face following the application of the P50 toner. BR products are packed full of potent, yet semi-natural products including yeast, mimosa bark extract, and lactic acid. This cream is a triple threat in that it is a mild chemical exfoliator, calming treatment, and moisturizer all rolled into one. It’s very much dough-like in texture. It feels like you’re working cookie dough into your face, so the hazelnut size recommendation is excessive.

Availability/Store: BR store in Paris, BR store online (international), Rescue Spa (at spa and online)

Scent: mild apple cider vinegar, pungent

Color/Texture: dough-like, thick/mustard yellow

Size: 1.7 ounces

Price: $87.00

The Verdict: This is more of a treatment than a moisturizer. I’m not sure that I would recommend it for the price, but was happy with the product overall.