French/English/Dutch skincare?

[Miss Phryne Fisher]

I am leaving for England/Paris/Amsterdam in 2 weeks. I have set aside a good amount of money to bring back some skincare stuff. I have watched some youtube video hauls on City Pharmacie but wondered if anyone here had any suggestions. 

Already on the list are Embryolisse, Caudalie products (any thoughts on the detox oil?) and Bioderma. 

Also looking forward to trying The Ordinary foundation at a brick and mortar store! 

[bluestreet]

Oooh, I'm jealous! I just love going to the pharmacies in Paris. Even the banal everyday soaps and creams smell better to me. I brought back a bunch of body washes that were probably the equivalent of Ivory, but it was French so it felt luxe.

So I'm no help, but bon voyage!

[lovelyshoes]

City Pharma is insane, but if you know what you want you'll be ok. I like getting la rochay posay there, the serozinc, effaclar duo, retinol, spf,
Avene Micelar water, Avene spf, biofine cream is my hg, their foot cream is great, light facial lotion, and I always buy several lip balms bc they are the best. I always pick up something random too.
They have great tinted moisturizers.
In all honesty, I find most pharmacies in Paris to have the same items minus the crazy experience of city pharma. If you're in that location, stop in for macaroons at Piere Marcolini!

[Miss Phryne Fisher]

Jun 27, 2017 21:41:12 GMT -5 lovelyshoes said:

City Pharma is insane, but if you know what you want you'll be ok. I like getting la rochay posay there, the serozinc, effaclar duo, retinol, spf,
Avene Micelar water, Avene spf, biofine cream is my hg, their foot cream is great, light facial lotion, and I always buy several lip balms bc they are the best. I always pick up something random too.
They have great tinted moisturizers.
In all honesty, I find most pharmacies in Paris to have the same items minus the crazy experience of city pharma. If you're in that location, stop in for macaroons at Piere Marcolini!

A few Youtubers talk about Biofine, but nobody really says what it is. What is it used for? It seemed kind of like a medical thing? 

[lovelyshoes]

Jun 27, 2017 21:50:22 GMT -5 Miss Phryne Fisher said:

Jun 27, 2017 21:41:12 GMT -5 lovelyshoes said:

City Pharma is insane, but if you know what you want you'll be ok. I like getting la rochay posay there, the serozinc, effaclar duo, retinol, spf,
Avene Micelar water, Avene spf, biofine cream is my hg, their foot cream is great, light facial lotion, and I always buy several lip balms bc they are the best. I always pick up something random too.
They have great tinted moisturizers.
In all honesty, I find most pharmacies in Paris to have the same items minus the crazy experience of city pharma. If you're in that location, stop in for macaroons at Piere Marcolini!

A few Youtubers talk about Biofine, but nobody really says what it is. What is it used for? It seemed kind of like a medical thing? 

It's incredible on any type of burn, dry skin, irritation. Buy a small tube, which is not that small though. It's definitely considered medicine, but it's sold freely in all pharmacies.
Also, bioderma is definitely cheaper, they sell 2 packs for the price of one, but transporting it is tough.

Most of the creams have labels only in French, so browsing is hard. It's much better if you know what you want. Their reps speak English, but I haven't always liked their recommendations.

[bowies]

In the U.K. I would stock up on their drugstore makeup we don't have here - Collection 2000 (supposedly they make an incredible concealer), Bourjois, Barry M. I'm also really curious about the Sarah Chapman and Liz Earle skincare lines.

[alleinesein]

UK- I buy mostly nail polish. Barry M and Leighton Denny are my two faves. Both also have a makeup line.

Caudalie- I keep trying to love this brand but I just can't get past the smell of some of the items.

[mrsukyankee]

I'd go to Superdrug in the UK and buy up Sleek makeup stuff. I agree about the nail polish, but otherwise I don't think the makeup lines we have are anything special compared to US drugstore stuff.

If you are in London, definitely go to Deciem in Covent Garden so you can talk to staff and try stuff out before buying.

[kristie]

I know biologique recherche has a store somewhere over there in Paris. I wonder if it is cheaper than our crazy prices.

I am so jealous of you right now. I would love to go to City Pharmacie! Definitely grab sunscreens while over there. They have much better ingredients than we have. La Roche posay with mexoryl and there is some sun milk from Vichy that I love to use on my kids

[Miss Phryne Fisher]

Jun 28, 2017 10:50:34 GMT -5 kristie said:

I know biologique recherche has a store somewhere over there in Paris. I wonder if it is cheaper than our crazy prices.

I am so jealous of you right now. I would love to go to City Pharmacie! Definitely grab sunscreens while over there. They have much better ingredients than we have. La Roche posay with mexoryl and there is some sun milk from Vichy that I love to use on my kids

Which sun milk? Can you link a picture? I do plan on getting some sunscreens (I do love the Biore but it took forever to get here!) 

I don't think I will buy any p50. I have been using it and it just doesn't seem to be doing much more than my Paulas Choice BHA or Ordinary glycolic. They sell it at Liberty in London...so who knows, I might change my mind! 

I did buy Emma Hardie moringa balm and Oskia cleansing gel (yes, I was reading Caroline Hirons' blog)from Cult Beauty to see if I like them, and if I do, I will stock up on those over there too. 

Speaking of LRP, anyone know what is actually in Epiduo+? 

[kristie]

Well, biologique recherche they have a ton of other products that I would love to get my hands on for cheaper. I love their masque vivant, creme dermopurifante, cleansing milk, etc etc I don't actually know if it is much cheaper there, but I would have to see for myself. Lol

Vichy sunscreen pic....



I think Vichy has a lot of good stuff. Sunscreens have better formulations over there and better UVA protection.