6 French pharmacy products that always come home from Paris
Since I can remember, I have been found in Paris at least once a year. Besides being one of the most beautiful cities, it is also one of the best shopping cities in the world. Not only can you find the crème de la crème for clothing, interior, and food, but I also stock up on a number of products in the pharmacy. In my opinion, nothing beats French skincare... Over the years, I have collected a number of favorites that I still use almost daily. More and more brands are also available in the Netherlands, but in the French pharmacy, most products are about half the Dutch price and the selection is much larger. It is always an experience to wander through the narrow aisles and discover new products. Here are a few of my holy grails:
Biafine
Biafine is really one of those products for which there is no alternative. The cream was initially developed for burns, but it also works perfectly against dry skin, skin irritation, or if you have been burned in the sun. Every French household has a tube of Biafine, and it is also incredibly affordable: you pay about €6.50 for the largest tube. It contains squalane and avocado oil, and the active ingredient is trolamine, which has a soothing effect and keeps the wound or skin hydrated.
Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse
My favorite body oil on the market. Not only for the scent, because it is simply summer in a bottle, but also for how convenient it is to use. No bottles where too much oil comes out or that easily spill, but a glass bottle with a spray cap. I have dropped mine several times, but it remains sturdy and nice to travel with. The oil dries and gives a glow but does not feel greasy on the skin.
Jonzac Rehydrate 24H Freshness Deodorant
The spray from Jonzac is the product that inspired me to write this article, as it is truly miraculous. These are the products that you will really only find in France, because there is simply so much more choice. Personally, I don't really like most natural deodorants, but those aerosol sprays often contain junk. This is really the perfect solution: it does not cause irritation, and it does not mask body odor with a strong perfume but addresses its formation.
Caudalie Instant Detox Mask
Although I have mainly used sheet masks in recent years and have somewhat moved away from clay masks, they do something that sheet masks cannot: deeply cleanse the skin. This mask from Caudalie is the perfect reset if you are struggling with impurities, and it does not leave the skin feeling tight.
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+
For dry and sensitive skin, this is really a must-have: the Cicaplast cream from La Roche-Posay always helps me through the winter months. I always reach for this when I notice that my skin barrier is damaged.
La Roche-Posay sunscreen
In the Netherlands, you really have to search for La Roche-Posay products and you pay double the price, but in France, almost all products are under €15. So definitely stock up. In the article about the editorial team's favorite sun protection, I was already very enthusiastic about the Anthelios Face Mist with SPF 50, but all sunscreens from this brand are great.
The list could have been even longer, as I rarely bought anything in the pharmacy that I felt did not work well. In fact, the list for my next visit to France is already ready.
