French pharmacy - what goodies to buy

[whysorude]

Hi, am holidaying in France. The local pharmacy stocks so many lovely creams, lotions and potions but I've not a clue what to buy. I em-ed and er-ed over Roger & Gallet(?) perfum, Nuxe perfumed oil and loads ovely skincare brands but got nothing in the end.
For reference, I'm extremely low maintenance and intolerant to perfum. I normally wash with perfum free soap, followed by a prefum free face/body oil (Deborah Neill's Pure or an unbranded jojoba) and a tinted moisturiser. Sometimes I remember to use toner. I can use some perfumed items but sparingly and not every day as can cause a rash and flare up my palmpholyx.

TIA for any assistance offered.

I like Nuxe and find La Roche Posay to be a bit cheaper in France — following with interest 😊

I found a great blog on this — will dig it out!

Think it was this blog from 2022

Nuxe lip balm in a pot - best lip balm ever!

Any soaps

La Roche Posay

And here — happy shopping!

La Roche Posay do a compact foundation that I've never been able to buy in the UK, only on mainland Europe. I would def buy one of those!

Biafine Ointment. Now I’m back in Aus, I really miss this for chapped lips and cuticles.

Oooh A313 is brilliant retinol

I love French pharmacies but find you can get nearly all the good stuff (la Roche Posay, Nuxe, Caudalie, Avene, Klorane, Bioderma, Vichy) here cheaper these days.
I wouldn't go for Roger et Gallet or Nuxe if you're sensitive to perfume.

Ah, merci beaucoup mes chéris.

Lots of lovely ideas 👌😊

Another thing to grab is some of the industrial-sized bottles of cologne at the supermarkets. It’s divine! So refreshing and you can transfer some to a spray bottle and spritz your clothing.

If there’s a large Carrefour or a Monoprix (my favourite) you’ll find Nuxe etc much cheaper. My local Monoprix does 2 packs of m Nuxe and Caudalie lip balms which I love. I absolutely adore Nuxe oil … the little 50ml pot of gold oil is a holiday staple and the only makeup I need in hot places. I also really like Embryolisse cream.

Finally, go to local supermarket and buy the €2-3 large spray cans of mineral water for face and body. I have one in every room in the house!

Also, the Bioderma Créaline miscellar water is fabulous. Monoprix usually sell in bulk packs of 2 for a decent price. What I love is that brands will sell super large bottles, plus do eco refills. My son uses La Roche Posay Lipikar bath oil as he has very dry skin. It comes in a 1l bottle and then I buy the refill pack.

From the supermarket, buy Le Petit Marsellais range of cheap liquid soaps and shower gels. They do a cuisine one which is great for the kitchen, where you’re constantly washing hands during meal prep.

Mine is a bit different but I love curaprox toothbrushes and always buy them when I'm in France as they're so much cheaper where I normally get them. They also have fabulous flavoured toothpastes that make brushing your teeth a huge treat! My favourites are the green and orange tubes (can't remember exactly what flavours they are, aloe and apple I think and peach)

I completely agree about the kitchen soap, it’s my essential in my PMarseille ceramic hand pump in the kitchen! They do refills too.

Oh that's a lovely pump! Must get one. The refills are awesome. The French do the whole eco thing so well.

Mustela - brilliant baby range and also for eczema prone skin. You can get it here but bigger range (and much cheaper) in French pharmacies!

I love Le petit Marseillais pump! Where did you get it @PersilPower ?

I absolutely love Nuxe products. I buy them from M&S, you won't go back to others. My particular favourites are the body oils both the original tan bottle and the pink one and the crème fraiche moisturiser.

Amazon but I can see they have far less colours when I bought mine

I used to buy lots in French pharmacies but mostly the brands are available here for similar-ish money so I just buy what I need when I’m away. I do buy soap to bring back though esp the refill packs and the Marseille soap bars but I’m sure you can get them here too. Previously I’d buy things like La Roche-Posay's Cicaplast Baume and Klorane shampoo for the kids etc but it’s all available here now.

Thanks @PersilPower just ordered one!

Happy to help another lover of all French soaps and smellies!

Savon de Marseille, I use it for everything, face washing, hair washing, makeup brush cleaning. Totally natural and doesn’t irritated my dermatitis at all.

Always buy Nuxe products and mineral water spray, however my best find was a cream for bites as I always get attacked by mosquitos (have French mozzies not heard that Jungle formula should be avoided?) - Onctose Hydrocortisone - stops the itch (contains lidocaine) and helps the healing very quickly.

Me too. I’m using a French citronella from Maison du Savon. It’s great