Any French/Belgium beauty buys worth getting?

[CormorantStrikesBack]

Am off on a whistle stop tour of Lille, Ghent and Bruges. I believe Lille has a Sephora but also any French drugstore type buys worth getting?

Lille definitely has a Sephora. Most French pharmacy stuff can be easily (and often more cheaply) bought here now. If you're getting the train, I think the massive Carrefour supermarket in the mall by the station is a good place for pharmacy buys. Things like La Roche Posay were a bit cheaper there than in pharmacies. I tend to stock up on lovely but cheap stuff you can't get here like Petit Marseillais shower gels.

Hey, don’t bother with a Sephora as they are opening again in the UK. There is a massive pharmacy shop with all the French pharmacy brands at a really good price. It’s on the main street, you’ll know it when you see it.
From Belgium, I recommend Leonidas chocolates from the counter 😋

Lille has several big pharmacies, some small but pricey perfume shops and a nice Printemps. Lots of nice shops in the old town.

Gent has some really good shopping especially clothes but pharmacie wise mostly just french stuff.

Bruges has nice museums but shopping is mostly tourist chocolate tat.

If you want chocolate get some from the Chat bleu or chocolat de Brussent in Lille. Jef de Bruges and Leonidas really not worth it in comparison.

Yes we’re going by train so carrefour sounds good. How come the French stuff is cheaper here than in France, is it the exchange rate?

we have just over 24 hours in each place so it’s going to be hectic!

Sephora have been open in the UK for 9 months now (plus online). Leonidas have shops in the UK and can also be bought online from Chocolate Express:

https://www.chocolate-express.co.uk/

Note: @WhereAreWeNow Quite a few Petit Marseillais shower gels are available online from various French online shops in the UK - or in person if you're in London (I get mine from the French supermarket near Paddington).

@HundredMilesAnHour I find the pralines from Leonidas here in the UK are not quite the same, maybe because they stay in the shop longer and are not as fresh or something.

I've never noticed any difference at all including when my friend brought them back from Brussels every weekend for a year (when he was commuting).

Agree with PP - most things are available here, often at better prices.

Having said that, a few things I always stock up on in France are:

Laluset / ialuset - it’s a light hyluronic acid face / body cream that layers under stuff without the awful bobbling. It looks like a tube of French E45. Get from pharmacy counter.

Fervex - posh French lemsip, comes in raspberry flavour and has extra / different drugs that make you feel much better when a cold is coming on.

Nuxe lip balm in a jar - it’s so much better than the sticks, and often can be had on a promo (look at the bargain bins near the tills)

Hexomedine - if you’re prone to spots, this stuff basically kills them dead. Dab it on very gently with a cotton bud or similar once a day

Happy shopping!

@HundredMilesAnHour ooh, that's good to know. Where's the French supermarket in Paddington? Is it super pricey?

@CormorantStrikesBack you'll be fine with 24 hours in each place. They're all small and easy to walk around. It'll be lovely and Christmassy. Enjoy 😊

Thanks everyone for the tips.