Filorga: The Cult French Pharmacy Brand Making Waves

It’s well known that French pharmacies are a treasure trove of skincare finds. They are also a launch pad for the success of major beauty brands internationally. In France, women buy most of their cosmetics at the chemist, and there are strong ties between doctors, dermatologists, pharmacists and the skincare brands. This means that the products must be science-backed and particularly efficacious. I was lucky enough to get my hands on the latest Gallic chemist import just moments after it landed in Australia: Filorga.

Developed by dermal doctor Michel Tordjman in 1978, Filorga had its beginnings in the first French aesthetic medicine laboratory (hence the brand’s full name: Laboratoires Filorga). Tordjman, who was known for his pioneering work with injectables, wanted to make his handiwork more accessible to women everywhere. The line trail blazed a new category in France known as “Medi-cosmetiques”.

The marriage between cosmetics and dermal medicine is nothing new in Australia. In fact, as a nation, we are big spenders when it comes to aesthetic procedures.

“Cosmetic surgery is popular worldwide, but Australia ranks in the top 10 countries spending the most money on anti-wrinkle injections, followed closely by dermal fillers,” explains Natalija Hallert, National Trainer for Filorga Australia.

“There is a huge market in Australia for alternatives to the injectables. As well as products which will help enhance, heal and regenerate the skin for those who do inject. There is nothing like Filorga in our Australian market currently, that is so renowned in Europe and Asia.”

Not only are Filorga’s products inspired by the industry, they were also formulated to smooth, plump and hydrate in a similar way these non-surgical treatments. All the products contain a complex created by Tordjman called NCEF that builds on the hero ingredient hyaluronic acid with more than 50 active ingredients, such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants.

One of the brand’s cult products is the Meso-Mask Smoothing Radiance Mask, which sells one every minute in China alone. The thick white cream is painted on the skin and left for between 15 and 30 minutes. It contains plumping collagen and elastin along with rhamnose polysaccharide to reduce redness and to brighten up the skin.

Another stand out is the Time Filler Eye Cream, which, contrary to most eye creams can be used all over the eyelid and even rubbed gently into the lashes. It contains pro-vitamin B5, which stimulates the healing process of the skin and lashes and a peptide called matrikine, which helps the health and growth of your lashes. “This is popular in France for Chemo patients, Alopecia and people who have damage from eye lash extensions,” says Natalija Hallert, National Trainer for Filorga Australia.

With its crisp black and white branding, Filorga has all the trappings of a luxury brand, but is at a more accessible price point. The brand is launching exclusively in selected Myer stores across Australia this month, and to celebrate, Filorga are offering 15-minute facial treatments, so you can have a chance to experience the products first hand. They will also be offering one-hour facials, which will be redeemable on product.

The jewel in Filorga’s crown is the Time Filler range, which the company says will halve wrinkles in 2 months. Big assertions, yes, but the brand ensures they are substantiated. Filorga is known for undertaking extensive third party clinical trials to ensure their products will deliver the promised results and will not launch a product until they’re satisfied.

Fittingly, there’s evidence of happy customers all over the internet, and Filorga’s Amazon page has over 75% five star reviews. Although the brand isn’t yet available in the US, there are countless tales online of devotees discovering the while traveling and falling in love. And with news that Filorga was recently acquired by Colgate (for a cool $1.69 billion USD) we expect to see even bigger things on the horizon. World domination? Mais oui!

Words by Sigourney Cantelo. Photography by Clare Wallman. In Association with Filorga.