what to buy in France - makeup and skin care

[ArieltheMermaid1720]

Hi all, am in France at the mo so have access to Sephora, Kiko and French pharmacies and am looking for advice on what I should be buying, so things I can't get at home (or are cheaper). I've already stocked up on some Nuxe products as they seem a good bit cheaper, but hoping for some recommendations on what's good to buy in Sephora and from Kiko (and anything else). Going into Paris on Thursday (child free!!!) so planning on doing my shopping then but scared about buying duff products! Thanks all!

Well it depends what you like. I would go to a 'parapharmacie' and have a look at pharmaceutical brands (Avene, La Roche Posay etc).

French sales ('soldes') start officially tomorrow so you may be able to bag some bargains.

Well I would be buying Eucerin 10% urea body moisturiser in 400ml bottles cos it's only a couple of pounds more expensive than 250ml bottles in the UK. It's excellent for softening permanent 'goosebumps' caused by excess keratin. Having said that I've just seen it's currently 3-for-2 in Boots so I'm off to get some!

The trouble with buying stuff abroad is that if you like something it can be difficult to buy replacements in the UK. I like Vichy mattifying facial sunscreen, although La Roche Posay do something similar which is easier to find in the UK.

Thanks both for your suggestions, good to know the sales are starting too. I got some la Roche Posay goodies in the local pharmacie and he also gave me a tester for a really lovely hyaluronic acid serum. Risky though as he did say that it is currently only available in France, so if I buy it I could be heartbroken (and haggard!) in a few months time.

Place-marking, as we go to France lets it usually only bring home wine & olives.

So do we.

Olives? I make it to wine only

Bioderma micellar water
Korres hair product range good
Agree Eucerin moisturisers good
Vichy also good skin care range
All cheaper than in UK

Adding Klorane hair products are nice too as well as is Phytologie (but best prices are in parapharmacie not a normal pharmacie!).

Guinot and Caudalie. Chanel makeup.

And go to shop called Les Cakes de Bertrand - it doesn't do makeup but really lovely quirky bags, jewellery, boxes, notebooks.

Clarins, my sister got me make up and said it was cheaper there.

EmGee What's the difference between parapharmacie and normal pharmacie?

Cerave face wash is great

I often find gems in the supermarkets (intermarche and E Le Clerc) - intermarche do their own range of makeup which is good. Also Nivea makeup that you can't get in UK.

Le Petit Marseillaise for everything from soap to shower gel to hair care.

Bioderma micellar water is great. I love Nuxe products too. I'm not mad keen on LRP, Avene etc but do like Klorane.

Parents have a holiday home in SW France never seen a parapharmacie in the 15 years they've had the house but going to ask when I'm there in August!

As you're in Paris also go to the Galeries Lafayette beauty counters.

There are discount pharmacies in various parts of Paris.

I did see a good new makeup store can't think of which one when I was over there before, can't think where but maybe near Jewish Quarter?

Also I think but not sure that Bourjois do more of their body range in France and of course if you like olive oil, lavender soap etc... Then that is easy to get and quite cheap, again supermarket I think.

The other things which I never get but my friend from Calais who lives in London gets are vitamin supplements, there are lots and they swear by them. Again in places like Carrefour, i think they do really good vitamin drinks too (not the ones we have more like Redoxon).

Caudalie is gorgeous and a bargain eg 200ml body lotion in SpaceNK here is £19, 400ml in France 19Euro, often with a free gift.

Chantecaille :)

Not exactly Beauty but Le Petit Marsellais Cuisine hand soap (from the supermarche). It's amazing for getting garlic smells etc from your hands.
DMIL sends over refills for us

Coleslaw

Pharmacie - you can get medicines/products on prescription as well as a selection of OTT/skin/hair stuff.

Parapharmacie - you can only get the OTT things. Generally a larger selection of hair/skin/OTT health products.

Sorry - OTC not OTT!!

Petite Marseillaise shower gel and detangler are cheap and good. Prolongs the holiday experience.....

You are all brilliant, thank you very much. I'm off shopping in the morning with a list as long as my arm!

My fav products are:
Avibon vitamin pomade
Avene cleanance gel soap less cleanser
Le Roche posay anthologies sunscreen
Bioderma creaking h2o
Embryolisse lair creme
Biafineact ointment
Let petit marsellais soaps x

Ariel beware of overwhelm , I've done what you plan and ended up frozen by indecision with everything available, come away with next to nothing!!

I would look out for make up forever. Great quality products, good value basics (eg face powder and concealer) that come in bigger quantities and last longer then the usual high end cosmetics offering, and lovely brushes. They also do crazier stuff - colours, glitter etc - that makes brands like mac look quite boring in comparison. My most favourite black eyeliner pot of all time comes from there.