France has bestowed some of the best consumer goods upon us. Within the upper echelon of high-brow French products, skincare lines — like Bordeaux wines — have status classifications. The undisputed first growth of the skincare world is Biologique Recherche. While beauty editors are inundated with a daily deluge of samples and free products, Biologique Recherche, or “BR” as it’s commonly known among insiders, is the one brand editors will continually purchase without media discount or scrutiny.

Created in the 1970s by a French family of biochemists, Biologique Recherche still maintains its founding quality control and the typeface of a decades-old floppy disk —despite the brand’s United States expansion. Due to his firm stance on the dangers of external pollutants and his dedication to daily skin pH balance, Dr. Philippe Allouche, the founders’ son, is often compared to Professor Snape, the fictional Defense Against the Dark Arts professor in Harry Potter. The philosophy is simple: the skin’s pH must be balanced. One of the reasons for the plethora of products is the idea that the skin is ever-changing, and it needs to be treated differently based on your individual circumstance — something that changes daily.

With hundreds of luxury body, skin, and haircare options available, navigating the chemistry-class-like names and French descriptions can both intimidate and confuse a new or timid user. Take heed; the learning curve is short. Here is a breakdown of the must-have products, and exactly how they’ll help you achieve the best skin of your life.

Forbes Magazine / Tanya Akim