I was incredibly excited to hear all about Etat Pur when they first landed in the UK. They are really quite different to any other skincare brand that I’ve tried. Firstly, they exist only online. (For the UK, anyway – there is a concept store in Paris where you can play with product and watch demonstrations, but for everyone else Etat Pur is strictly an internet shopping experience.) Secondly, and because they exist only online, their product prices are incredibly reasonable. Thirdly, despite the fact that the prices are incredibly reasonable, the products are brilliant. So, just to recap: brilliant products, low prices.

Definitely different…

Just add to that little list the fact that Etat Pur’s products are developed, tested and manufactured by the Naos group, who own Bioderma and Institut Esthederm, and I’m ready to have a small heart attack. Could this brand get any better?

Yes! They have come up with a brilliant system for identifying skincare problems and then finding appropriate solutions – the personalised skincare prescription! You just fill in a number of questions about your skin and specify what your own concerns are and then you’re given a customised list of products. For someone like me, who loves filling in questionnaires, this idea is a dream come true!

I identified my skin as combination and I cited “First Wrinkles”, “Expression Wrinkles” and “Dark Circles” as my primary concerns. In the photograph above you can see a few of the products that were suggested on the prescription. I have been giving them a try and they are all brilliant. Etat Pur get you started with a solid, basic cleansing and moisturising routine to suit your skin type (I have the Detoxifying Cleansing Foam and the Micellar Water followed by two different light/oil-free moisturisers) and then they add in little targeted “shots” of skincare to treat specific concerns. So I had A06, Hyaluronic Acid, to treat lines and A08, Apegenin, to treat undereye circles.

I think that this is a very clever system – your skin as a ‘whole’ receives a very simple, balanced regime, whilst problem areas receive an extra ‘shot’ of treatment. Cleansers start from around £7.50, and my moisturisers are £7.80 each, which is so well-priced. The treatment vials start at about £8.50 for 15ml, but they are really concentrated formulas so you only ever need to tap on a few drops.

What do you think about this type of skincare system? I’m going to be reviewing products separately in the future, but I can tell you that I really love the way that you can apply products to different zones or areas of your face rather than treating the face in its entirety. Very novel!

If you’re looking for well-formulated skincare and you don’t want to be forking out for all of the extras like advertising budget and fancy packaging, then you’ll definitely love Etat Pur. The range of products is big but comprehensive (at any rate, you’re helped along by the questionnaire) and perfect for those who can’t hop across the channel to get to a Pharmacie!

The Etat Pur website is here: ETAT PUR

(Watch this space for a VERY exciting giveaway – you’ll be put out of your misery on Monday!)