You don’t get very far in Paris without seeing a print ad for Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse at bus stops, or beautiful bottles of the stuff displayed proudly in pharmacy windows.

Many well-known Parisians such as Louise Follain have noted it as being essential to their beauty routines. But what is it, exactly? And how can it be used to maximum potential?

I decided to do a little investigation – which, of course, ended with my buying a bottle of this magical dry oil!

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Ingredients

Nuxe’s famous multipurpose dry oil is made up of a concentration of six precious oils: borage, sweet almond, camellia, St. John’s wort, hazelnut, and macadamia. All of these work together to soften the skin, improve texture, rebuild collagen, and deliver essential vitamins, such as E, A, B1, B2, and B6.

It contains no preservatives and is made up of 98.8% natural ingredients.

It is worth noting that it does have a subtle (but pleasing) scent.

Where and How to Use It

Nuxe’s Huile Prodigieuse advertises itself as the perfect hydrating dry oil that promises to nourish, repair, and soften any problem areas you may have. It claims that with regular use it will soften the skin, make hair soft and shiny, and and reduce the appearance of stretch marks.

You can use Nuxe’s dry oil on any part of your body, including your face and hair. How you use it is up to you. It can be used as a hair mask 10 minutes before you pop into the shower, on dry or split ends, on your face or body during the skin-dehydrating summer months… The uses are endless!

All that said, a little goes a long way. Rather than directly spraying the oil onto your body, face, or hair, it is recommended to spritz a pump or two into your hand and then apply with your fingers, so as to avoid over-application.

Price of Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse

The cost of Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse depends on the size of the bottle, whether it’s a limited edition or not, and if you buy it inside or out of France.

At a typical French pharmacy you can purchase it for around €14.50 for a smaller bottle and €24 for a larger one. Prices are only slightly more expensive via the official Nuxe website.

While it will cost them quite a bit more, those outside of Paris are in luck: You can purchase the Or version on Amazon starting at $22 per bottle.

Or vs. Originale

There are two different kinds of multipurpose dry oil in the Huile Prodigieuse line by Nuxe: Original and Or.

The original kind is the one you see most often in shop windows. It’s honey-coloured and comes in a square bottle with a gold cap. It comes in both 50 ml and 100 ml versions.

The Or version, meanwhile, is a deep bronze colour and contains gold flecks that swirl around in the bottle. These flecks leave a subtle shimmer wherever you apply it – great for the summer months or if you want to draw attention to a certain area. It is also available in both a smaller and bigger size bottle.

You are also likely to see special edition bottles from time to time that have a special design on the bottle, from polka dots to flowers. However, the core ingredients remain the same.

My Thoughts

After reading so much about the Nuxe dry oil, and seeing it so prominently displayed throughout the city, I decided to pick up a small bottle of the original version at my local pharmacy and give it a go.

As has been my experience with other French beauty products, Huile Prodigieuse delivered on its promises. Over the course of a few weeks I tried it on three different areas: dry spots on my skin, the tips of my strands of hair, and my face.

There were noticeable improvements in my hair’s texture and appearance after only a few applications. I used it only after I showered to smooth my hair and get rid of frizz, but heard that it’s a great hair mask as well, and will definitely be giving that a go in the future.

As for my skin, my face was brighter and soften after only a week of regular use. To be fair, I credit the appearance to not only the dry oil, but a good daily skincare routine using French pharmaceutical products. But the Huile Prodigieuse certainly didn’t hurt!

It hasn’t worked any wonders on stretch marks at the time of writing this article, but I hope that with continued use I’ll see a difference over time.

Anyone who’s worried about the potential oiliness of dry oil shouldn’t fear, as it is quickly absorbed by skin and hair following application. However, this is only if you use a small amount, as was described earlier in this review. I made the mistake of directly spraying it into my hair after I’d already showered and dried my locks, and was left with an unpleasant greasy feeling for the rest of the day. Never again!

So, final point: Do I now consider Nuxe’s Huile Prodigieuse an essential part of my beauty repertoire?

Oui !

It smells lovely, absorbs quickly, brightens and softens my skin, and gives my hair a smooth finish. Not only that, but given how little you need to use to reap the benefits of the product, a tiny bottle will last you ages, making it very cost-efficient. I’m definitely going to continue using it – and definitely recommend it to anyone who’s curious to give it a try!