The complete collection of what I purchased in Paris!
Since my days as a teen, when I would stroll drugstore aisles for hours on end, visiting a chemist has always been an adventure for me as I stock up on favourite items and discover new ones to try. And while so many French brands can now be found around the world, there are always some items awaiting discovery.
On this trip, I revisited the ever-popular City Pharma in the Saint Germain district. In this cult site, I was surrounded by fellow skincare junkies. This shop has plenty of favourite French brands in larger sizes or on 2-for-1 offers. As if this wasn't enough, there are always loads of brands that aren't in the UK, adding to the excitement of my journey. I also discovered that they are partially through a store renovation, which makes the check-out process a bit more pleasant, even if the aisles are still very crowded.
While this pharmacy was key among my tourist stops for the trip, this didn’t prevent me from wandering into several others as I came across them. I tried to take in a combination of small, medium and large shops, each one revealing special treats.
I noticed Pharmacie de la Mairie coming back from dinner one night and when I bee-lined into it the next day, I found the glycolic cleanser for which I had been searching. In this shop, most items are displayed in locked glass cabinets so although I have effective restaurant French, I was relieved (and fortunate) to find knowledgeable staff whose English-speaking abilities outweighed my French. I was introduced to a few completely new (to me) brands, which I am currently testing out.
Curious about what I bought? Here are some of my favourite finds from this trip:
Bio Beaute Vitamin-Rich Detox Mask. With a lovely orange scent, this gel mask is a great wake up for the face with a boost of vitamins. It also transforms texture completely when you rinse it off.
Dermaceutic Foamer 15. A glycolic cleanser that’s perfect when your skin needs a quick pick-me-up. Provides that satisfying tingle.
Pschitt Masque Nouvelle Peau. Not so sure it’s the best chosen name, but this foam cleanser reveals cleaner, brighter skin without glycolic acid.
Sampar Equalising Foam Peel. With lavender, geranium, sage, peppermint and thyme oil as ingredients, it smells gorgeous. This detoxifies and renews skin.
Biocyte Cryo-Mask. The French have jumped on the Korean-inspired sheet mask bandwagon, so I thought I’d give this one a try.
Marvis Toothpaste. Ok, it’s Italian by birth, but the flavours are great and the smaller tubes are perfect for travelling.
Klorane Eye Patches. When I fly, my eyes get puffy, itchy and red. I love these for in-flight or post-flight use.
Cornflower Water. This resides in my fridge for when I need a calm, cooling eye mask. Apply to cotton wool and lie down to relax, eyes closed. For extra cooling effect, douse the pads in the water, then put into a plastic bag in the freezer. When you take them out, shake for a few seconds to lose a bit of chill and then apply to tired eyes.
What’s your favourite French (or other) pharmacy find?