I'm in France. When I hit the parapharmacie what do I buy?

[KarlosKKrinkelbeim]

Last year I got Lierac Liftissisme serum which is great so defo getting it again. Also phyto hair mask. Any other hints and tips?

La Roche Posay sunscreen. Even with the exchange rate it's far cheaper. Also Uriage do two-packs of massive bottles of miceller water for about 12€.

That reminds me - bioderma also do a water-type shampoo which is lovely

Dodormyl if you need sleeping pills. They're OTC and type 1 antihistamine. Very effective.

But why the parapharmacie and not the pharmacie?

Claudelie shower gel.

Klorane Shampoos and conditioner. Really good value in France and lovely. Also the dry shampoo they do.

Oh following. I need this thread.

I always stock up on Nivea.

That toothpaste everyone goes mad for, what's it called?

And Biafine. No idea what it is but just buy loads of it.

Parapharmacies tend to be bigger and have more lovely stuff!
Going tomorrow - will report back on any good finds. Noted re klorane I like that too.

Following, we go in ten days and I was wondering what I should buy aside from a truck of nivea (and wine and cheese...).

Embryollisse moisturiser. £20 here and about €12 - 13 in France. Lovely, lightly-scented non-greasy. Biafine SPF 30 moisturiser. Bioderma crealine micellar water. Anything Nuxe (M&S sell it here but it's cheaper there). Homeoplasmine -great for skin irritations. Avenue eau thermale water spray. This is fab for cooling down on a hot day. You can get a huge can, but also a handbag sized version. I've just come back from France with about 5kg of French pharma!

I'm here too and pondering what to buy. Great ideas here. Keep them coming!

If you have time it's worth googling 'what to buy in French parapharmacies.' There are loads of articles and it may help to research what is available for your skin type, needs etc. That's what I do, as the parapharmacies can be quite large and intimidating. Enjoy!

The big supermarkets are good for a lot of these products. I got loads last year... jealous I wish I was there again this summer. Enjoy

I also like the Yves Rocher shops. Bought some great sunscreen and concentrated shower gels there on special offer this summer.

I LOVE Yves Rocher!

I was in Tkmaxx earlier and they have the double hefty bottles of the Uriage micellar water for fifteen quid, not sure how that compares with the usual cost.

Uriage sounds a bit like a medical specialism to me but each to their own :)

Apart from all the beauty products many of which I have bought and love, esp La Roche Posay, there is a fizzy paracetemol product +vit C that is AMAZING for winter colds back home. We swear by it and buy it by the bucketload.

It is called EFFERALGAN, and works very quickly. I highly recommend it.

Vichy cleansers, toners and moisturisers are wonderful.

Highly satisfactory visit! Avene have a cleansing oil I haven't seen in the uk so got that; plus lierac serum ( a new one) and the bioderma shampoo, also phyto pre wash oil treatment.
Then I remembered my bank manager and stopped.

The avene oil, is that the one in the rather large bottle that can be used to wash the body in the shower? Or is it just a face cleanser oil? If it's the former that's available I the UK. I hope ta the latter as love me a face cleansing oil and will be in France soon.

My mum buys that paracetamol vitamin c thing every time she's in Spain.

I always prefer the anonymity of a big supermarket. Even the big Eroski in Majorca entertained me for hours! Think I sniffed every shampoo in the place.

I was slightly miffed to see so much space devoted to brands we have here, but gems can be found.

My best purchase was actually a strawberry flavour toothpaste for DS, I bought two and am rationing it. Will buy a bigger stack next year.

I didn't think to look in the medicine bit but that's a whole new world for our next trip!

Is French pharmacy a thing in Belgium too? We're thinking of going back to Brugges at some point.

400ml bottles of La Roche Posay facewash for about €8!

I just bought la Roche posay face wash today €9 for a HUGE bottle. I'm going back for further stuff tomorrow!