City Pharma Haul + Paris Highlights

I'm baaack! For those of you that don't follow my Facebook page (click the like button to the right) I've just returned from Paris. I got engaged there and this trip was to celebrate our wedding anniversary. It was great to return to the city, rediscover the places we previously visited, explore new sites, and eat delicious food.

I made it a mission to stop and peruse the French pharmacies, or pharmacie, which sell French brands like La Roche-Posay, Vichy, Avene, Bioderma, Caudelie, and Biotherm for a much more affordable price than in the U.S. Some were more expensive than others and I found City Pharma to be the best bargain of all. The store is located at 26 Rue de Four, 75006 Paris. It was about a 20 minute walk from our hotel in the Musee d'Orsay area. If you look at a map beforehand or use google maps you should have no trouble finding the store.

I read reviews on Yelp about the craziness inside City Pharma so I was prepared for crowds of people and long lines. It's best to go as early as possible but jet lag got the better of me. I made two trips to City Pharma in the late morning on a Thursday and Saturday. It is a little stifling in the store because the aisles are so narrow and people are bumping into you left and right. It's sort of like shopping in Times Square during peak hours. Saturday was much more peaceful to shop and the lines to check out were nothing. Yelp also informed me of the difficulty in getting any sort of assistance in the store. This was not the case for me. The staff wear white coats and they were readily available both times I was there.

I was a little taken aback when one of the staff literally gasped in horror when she saw my face. I've been pretty self conscious about my acne lately and one step away from booking an appointment with a dermatologist. Her reaction completely turned me off and I cut her off before she could even start her sales pitch of product recommendations. Hubby and I sort of joke about her reaction now but, yeah, let's just say it's a sensitive issue for me.

Anyway, here are some things to know before you shop.

1. Have a list of products so you don't end up wandering aimlessly around the store. You will be overwhelmed no matter what!
2. Go as early as you can. It opens at 8:30 on weekdays and 9 on Saturday. Closed on Sunday.
3. The checkout line upstairs is slightly faster.
4. Bring your passport if you plan to spend more than 175 euros.
5. If you spend more than 175 euros, ask for a VAT form so you can receive a tax refund. You'll submit the form at the airport when leaving Paris.

Now on to what I purchased at City Pharma. I'll list what the products are sold for here in the U.S. so you can see the price difference. The exchange rate was 1 USD=0,8658 Euro.

Nuxe Reve de Miel ($19 vs. 6.48 euros)

A lip balm with honey and precious oils is highly concentrated in ingredients that help to nourish, repair, soothe and protect even the driest and damaged lips. Thanks to its unique texture and subtle taste of refreshing grapefruit, it really is a beauty must have. At least 79.5% of the lip balm ingredients are natural. Paraben free formula to pamper your lips with high quality care.

I've seen this raved about so I wanted to know what the hype was about. As it turns out, the Nivea lip balm I brought with me to Paris wasn't moisturizing enough. The first two days were windy and colder than I thought it would be and my lips were suffering. The lip balm is packaged in a frosted glass pot. There is a stick version of this but I couldn't find it in the store. I couldn't figure out what it smelled like until I read the grapefruit part in the product description. It has a grapefruit and honey scent to it which I find very light and refreshing. You can taste a little bit of it when you put it on and it doesn't bother me at all. You have to warm up the lip balm and let it sink into your lips because of the balminess of the product. I like using this at night and I can still feel it on my lips the next morning.

Bioderma Crealine H2O Micelle Solution 250 ml ($13-$14 vs. 4.99 euros)
Water (Aqua), Peg-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Mannitol, Xylitol, Rhamnose, Fructooligosaccharides, PEG-40, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Plantago Major Leaf Extract, Ammonium Lactate, Propylene Glycol, Cetrimonium Bromide, Disodium EDTA [BI463]
Bioderma Sebium H2O Micelle Solution 250 ml ($12.95 vs. 5.95 euros)
AQUA/WATER/EAU, PEG-6 CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC GLYCERIDES, SODIUM CITRATE, ZINC GLUCONATE, COPPER SULFATE, GINKGO BILOBA LEAF EXTRACT, MANNITOL, XYLITOL, RHAMNOSE, FRUCTOOLIGOSACCHARIDES, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, CITRIC ACID, DISODIUM EDTA, CETRIMONIUM BROMIDE, FRAGRANCE [BI 442]
Bioderma Crealine H2O  ($16.69 vs. 6.99 euros)

Aqua/Water, Polysorbate 20, Pentylene Glocol, Mannitol, Xylitol Rhamnose, Fructooligosaccarides, Allantoin, Cetrimonium Bromide, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance [BI516]

I've been on a cleansing water kick so it was a good time to pick some up. I didn't realize there was one geared towards oily skin so I can try it out in the warmer months next year. Don't worry I checked expiration dates, it's good until 2017.

La Roche-Posay Micellar Water sensitive skin 400 ml ($15.74-$20.99 vs. 8.90 euros)

HEXYLENE GLYCOL, POLOXAMER 184, GLYCERIN, DISODIUM COCOAMPHODIACETATE, DISODIUM EDTA, CITRIC ACID, DIHYDROCHOLETH-30, SODIUM CHLORIDE, SODIUM DIGLYCOLATE, SODIUM GLYCOLATE, POLYAMINOPROPYL BIGUANIDE, PARFUM / FRAGRANCE

Obviously I couldn't control myself with cleansing water since I have enough to get me by for quite awhile. Expiration date 4/18.

La Roche-Posay Effaclair Lotion Astringente Micro-Exfoliante  ($19.99-$23.99 vs. 7.50 euros)

Effaclar Toner micro-exfoliates skin and helps visibly reduce the size of pores. LHA provides micro-exfoliation to help visibly tighten enlarged pores while refining skin texture.
Water, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Sodium Citrate,  Propylene Glycol, PEG-60, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Disodium EDTA, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Citric Acid, Salicylic Acid, Fragrance

This does have alcohol in it but it's geared towards oily skin. I meant to pick up the Effaclar Clarifying Solution but I also didn't see it on the shelves.

La Roche-Posay Serozinc Zinc Sulfate Solution (4.90 euros)

Purifies and soothes the skin's surface irritations.

I saw this listed in a few of my favorite YouTubers and the zinc in it helps with blemish prone and troublesome skin. It comes in an aerosol spray can and you use it after washing the face. This seems to be very hard to find so I have no price comparison for you.

La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 ($14.99 vs. 5.95 euros)

This soothing multi-repairing balm favors the recovery for sensitive skin after irritative dermatitis and epidermic alterations thanks to its formula associating Panthenol 5% with Madecassoside with a highly-cosmetic texture. Suitable for the entire family: babies, children and adults.

This is a multi purpose product which can be used on the body, face, and lips. I thought this might be good for my husband to use since he has a bizarre skin condition around the eye area. It looks like eczema and he's constantly scratching the area which looks irritated, flaky, and dry. He's fine everywhere else. It doesn't have much of a scent and leaves the skin really soft.

Vichy Deodorant Anti-Trace ($14.75 vs. 11.99 euros for 2)

A 48 hour effective roll on that leaves no white marks or yellow stains. Vichy Deodorant is suitable for sensitive as it is paraben and alcohol free. On application gives special fresh texture and a fruity freshness that stays the whole day long, that feels very good. Its working stays till 24 hours from application. Against smells, extra fresh, no white stripes on the skin.
Water, Aluminum Chlorohydrate, Aluminum Sesquichlorohydrate, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-33, Dimethicone, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, PEG-4 Dilaurate, PEG-4 laurate

This is for hubby as well. We were in the checkout line and I asked if he wanted to try some deodorant. To my surprise, he said yes. I'll have to ask him if it's really effective for 48 hours. $14.74 is expensive for a small roll on deodorant so it better be good.

I give myself a pat on the back for not going completely crazy inside City Pharma. There were so many brands and products that are difficult or impossible to buy in the U.S.. I thought about buying hair products like the Klorane dry shampoo or from the Rene Furterer line but manged to restrain myself. I highly suggest a trip to City Pharma if you're in Paris and a beauty lover!

Thanks for stopping by,
Jennifer