The French Pharmacy Must Haves
- JJH
- Aug 21, 2017
- 6 min read
Let me start off by telling you, make sure you leave room in your luggage to bring back the list of products I am about to tell you about. I wish I had brought an empty luggage with me to France because the deals are so amazing, I wanted to bring back more than I did. Prices are unbelievable and incomparable to anywhere in the world. The products themselves are of the best quality and come at a much higher cost back in North America, so prepare yourself to want to bring back all these products and more.
Parisians women are some of the most beautiful women in the world and can easily be picked out of a crowd. These women have perfected the art of beauty and is the reason why women around the world are trying to learn their secrets. For years I have used numerous French beauty products, from Nuxe, Biotherm, Vichy etc, but since my most recent trip to France, my life changed and so has my makeup bag. From no name brands like A313 to Biafine I have found luxuries which have changed my skin and made me look younger and dewier then I could have ever hopped for. I hope you can find your own secret little gem in this list of French beauty products.
If you only buy one product from the French Pharmacy, this is it. This is one of the best products I have ever purchased in my life. It's beyond hydrating and is a dream on helping with sun burns and post dermatologist cosmetic procedures. I also like using it as a hydrating face mask at night when my skin starts to get dried out, I slather this all over my dehydrated skin and sleep with it, waking up to hydrate dewy skin. This goes for on average $10.00 euros in the Pharmacy, once back in North America, you can find the products online for around $38.00 a tube.
Prior to visiting the French Pharmacy I did some research and discovered this gift. A313, which is what replaced Avibon, is a vitamin A cream which will help you with your wrinkles, uneven skin tone, bumpy skin texture and so much more. This is comparable to Retin-A creams but is a lower dosage, which won’t cause the annoying flakiness you typically see from a cream like this. You will definitely notice the difference after the few first applications; I am in shock that such a low priced cream can make such a difference.
I have used everything from the top beauty brands out there and none have given me the results this Vitamin A pommade has. It is also an amazing blemish treatment, if you have a zit coming in simply apply this at night and you’ll wake up to amazing results. The key to using this cream is, wash your face well then let it dry very well minimum 30 minutes, apply a pea size amount to your face. Always use the pommade at night, as Vitamin A looses it potency once it comes in contact with the sun. You don’t need to put anything else on your face as this cream works best on its own.
Make sure you use a good sunscreen after using the A313 pommade to ensure you don’t burn. In general you should be using a good sunscreen on your face every day to prevent wrinkles, but in this case, it’s essential. ** Note: the texture of this pomade is similar to Vaseline, so rube it between your fingers to warm it up before putting in on your face, and remember only a pea size needed as it goes a long way.
This is very popular with magazine editors, make-up artist and models who love this balm for its moisturizing properties and mate finish. Originally designed to soothe sore nipples for breastfeeding mothers you will most likely be questioning yourself right now why Parisienne women love this product. But think of it, it must be a good product if babies put their lips on it.
I had the worst chapped lips when I arrived in France, I bought this and the next day my lips were fabulous. An added bonus, this balm goes on matte and makes it easy to add your favorite lipstick on top. The price will also shock you, 2.75 euros for a balm. You will never be able to live without this product once you try it.
Klorane is known by most for its amazing dry shampoo, but did you know they have the most amazing hair care line around? We all need to wash our hair, so why not indulge in Klorane’s amazing line of shampoos and conditioners. I am all about a good shampoo and conditioner, one that moisturizes and doesn’t strip my hair of the natural oils and if it smells good at the same time, makes shower time even better. I bought the Mango Butter, which is known for its nourishing properties and restoring moisture. (Side note: I have beach wave style hair that has never been dyed or treated. If you need a seriously hydrating product try the Dessert Date line, I’ve never tried it but the pharmacist in France recommended it for very dry hair and said it smells amazing).
The whole line of Klorane products is; Sulfate Free, Paraben-free and Silicon-free and is a Biodegradable formula, which is Vegan. What more amazing things can I say about this brand other then you will definitely want to make room for it in your luggage to bring it back with you. The price is much higher outside of France, an example in the U.S. the 400ml Mango Shampoo cost $20.00 and the 300ml Mango Conditioner cost $20.00 a bottle online. I paid 8.97 euros for the Shampoo 7.95 euros for the Conditioner.
You will find this in every supermodel, beauty editor and makeup artist’s makeup bag the world overs. One of the best makeup removers and skin brightening toning waters, this product is both gentle and nondrying. I use this a minimum of twice a day and it helps keep my skin clear. After reading about this product online and how supermodels like Miranda Kerr use it to wash their face in the morning I changed my routine and this has changed my skin. I use a makeup pad with a little Hydrabio on my skin in the morning and then put my moistures on.
There is a variety of micellaire solutions, one for dry skin, one for oily and another for hydrating. I personally bought the hydrating one and since first using it in France I have bought two more bottles. Take note, this is so cheap in France, costing $17.00 euros for two big bottles, upon returning to Canada I automatically wished I had bought more in France as it is way more expensive here with one bottle going for $25.00. You will love this product and I can guarantee it will become a staple in your makeup bag for the rest of your life.
This was a random find for me; I have always been a Nuxe girl but after a long flight and drive from Milan Airport to Dijon my skin was upset with me and dryer than dry. I walked into the pharmacy looking for something to help me and the lovely lady brought me straight to the Bioderma line. She handed me this serum and said this would hydrate my skin and OMG it did that and so much more. If you want a serum that hydrates and leaves you waking up with dewy skin this is the must have in your cosmetic bag. Bioderma is designed to have no harsh fragrance or anything that might bother sensitive skin. This is one of my favorite finds from the Parisians Pharmacy. I paid 12 euros and got the must have Hydrabio H2O micelle solution with it for free. If you buy it in North America you’re looking at spending around $29.00 for this serum, but it so worth the price.
I have been buying this for years, growing up in Quebec Nuxe has been a staple in the local pharmacy and my makeup case. I use this oil for everything from your face, body, and hair, it really makes your hair so shinny and soft and bonus it smells amazing. You can follow in the footsteps of the Parisienne women and spray it on your hair brush and brush this intoxicating sent through your hair.
If you want to add a little shimmer to your summer tan, buy the Gold Sparkle edition, you can sprinkle it all over to add a summer sparkle. Sad note, if you live in the US you can’t buy this product in the US, you used to be able to order it online but recently they pulled the product completely. You can always plan a trip to the north to purchase this oil for $45.99 in Canada or look to buy it in France for as low as 17 euros a bottle. I was shocked at the price difference and bought two while visiting Dijon.
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