French Pharmacy Masterclass
Fashion and beauty editors have been visiting French pharmacies for years—and for good reason.
French pharmacies carry many highly effective products that are not available in the U.S. (or that require a prescription), prices are generally much lower in France than in the U.S. and pharmacists are highly knowledgeable and happy to help. American tourists have started to catch on and exploring French pharmacies as become an increasingly popular tourist activity in Paris. There are three main areas where French pharmacies really shine: (1) barrier repair products, (2) better prices on items we can get in the U.S. and (3) SPF.
General Tips
Bring a list - Pharmacies are often slightly disorganized and unless you speak French, it can be difficult to communicate with the staff. We found everyone was so kind and eager to help point us in the right direction of the products.
Bring your passport - Pharmacy products are eligible for tax refunds if you spend at least 100.1E in the same store (approx. 12% in France when returning to the U.S.); you will need you passport in order for the store to put together the paperwork for your refund—nowhere we went would accept a picture of a passport.
Aim to visit 1 or 2 LARGE pharmacies if you plan to take advantage of tax refunds - The entire list below cost us approx. 300 euro before the tax refund—splitting this up in 2 big visits rather than collecting products piecemeal throughout the trip ensured we spent enough at each stop to get a tax refund. We also found that the three pharmacies listed below were the best equipped to handle the tax refunds—we not sure how those would go at smaller shops.
Set a time limit - You could easily be in a French pharmacy for hours (especially if you visit The Grande Pharmacie du Forum or CityPharma). We gave ourselves about 45 minutes to shop and 15 minutes to check out. We first tackled our shopping list and then spent a few more minutes browsing.
Visit on a weekday (if possible) - The biggest crowds visit the pharmacies on weekends, so to avoid long lines, try to plan your visit for a weekday morning or afternoon.
Ask the staff for recommendations - If you have a specific skin concern, the staff people are more than happy to assist you. In fact, most pharmacies we visited offered to do a “skin analysis” before we even started shopping.
Be friendly and polite - A smile and a “Bonjour” will get you a long way. We were surprised to see so many tourists run up to staff people with lists without saying hello or thank you.
Our Favorite Pharmacies in Paris: Best Prices & Biggest Selections
We visited a number of pharmacies during our trip—the three with the best prices and selections are featured below, but we also visited a number of other, smaller pharmacies to pick up items throughout the trip (Kleenex, water bottles, nasal spray , eye drops as my eyes were dry) and check selection and prices.
Grande Pharmacies du Forum - 1 Rue Pierre Lescot Étage -2, 75001 Paris, France
Why I love it: This pharmacy located in the admittedly sort of unattractive, non-picturescue Les Halles Westfield Shopping Center was my absolute favorite stop during the trip. I am not sure why this doesn’t get as much attention as CityPharma given it is much larger, the prices were almost the exact same, and there is a much wider selection of brands than anywhere else I visited. Not only are there the standard pharmacy brands (La Roche Posay, Embryolisse, Bioderma Nuxe, etc.) but there was also a huge selection of Clarins, Origins, Caudalie, SkinCeuticals, etc. Though Les Halles isn’t a particularly picturesque area, it is also very centrally located. This location is also so large you won’t feel the crowds that you see in other, smaller pharmacies.
What I don’t love about it: Visiting an American-style mostly underground shopping mall isn’t the nicest way to spend an afternoon in Paris and the pharmacy itself is a little hard to find in the mall (it is located on level -2 and the signage wasn’t super clear so make sure to ask for directions).
Logistics: The store is organized both by brand as well as by product type so don’t be surprised if you see the same product 2-3 times throughout the store.
Note - A313 and Laluset are behind the counter, so you will need to ask.
CityPharma - 26 Rue du Four, 75006 Paris, France
Why I love it: CityPharma is a tried and true pharmacy classic I had heard a lot about before visiting Paris. It is centrally located in the extremely charming 6th Arr. of the Left Bank. The prices are some of the lowest I saw in any pharmacy.
What I don’t love about it: I found this pharmacy extremely overwhelming—I actually ended up not purchasing anything here. There were so many people crammed into tiny asiles (and each isle was simply stuffed with products). The line for the cash register and tax refund were so long and the staff members were generally nice but seemed a bit overwhelmed by the crowds. For whatever marginal savings CityPharma may offer, I found the chaotic experience detracted from the shopping experience.
Pharmacy Galleries - 11 Rue de Mogador, 75009 Paris, France
Why I love it: This compact, conveniently located pharmacy just outside of the Galleries Lafayette in the 9th is small and manageable but well-priced and packed with great products. They have a huge selection given the size of the store and had a staff member dedicated to the tax refund process. The big draw here is proximity other great Parisian shopping institutions (the Galleries Lafayette and Printemps are just a couple of blocks away and the luxury shops of the 1st are all within a 10 minute walk) which would make for a great shopping afternoon if you have limited time and want to hit a large number of stores.
What I don’t love about it: There weren’t a ton of staff members in the store so it was difficult to ask for suggestions. The staff members seemed the most focused on the super high spenders as well, so it was hard to ask questions.
Haul & Product Information
The full haul below cost us just shy of 300 euros before tax refunds, which amounts to an average 17E/product (before the 12% VAT refund). For reference, I have dry, sensitive skin and was looking for products that would help soothe my skin during busy travel periods and through the winter (especially during ski season!).
Face Products
A313 - A313 is a topical retinoid treatment--specifically it contains retinyl palminate, which thickens the skin, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, repairs sun damage and clears acne. Introduce this active into your routine gradually (starting with using a pea sized amount once a week) for Retin-A style benefits without the irritation.
Ialuset Cream - This is 100% pure pharmacy-grade hyaluronic acid, which can be added in for extra hydration as a last step before your moisturizer (yes, you read that right--don't skip your moisturizer!). Ialuset is a humectant, initially developed for wound treatment, which draws moisture from the surrounding environment and needs an emollient-rich occlusive to seal it in.
Sensibiafine Creme Visage Hydratante Pro-Tolerance - This moisturizer is specifically designed to deeply hydrate even the most sensitive skin for up to 48 hours. It helps reduce signs of skin reactivity (such as redness, tingling and tightness) and strengthens the skin's barrier function.
Nuxe Reve De Miel Baume Visage - This ultra-comforting face balm intensely nourishes dry skin using honey, propolis and oils. I especially love the inclusion of propolis which is a natural immune booster! Despite the rich ingredients the texture is lightweight and doesn't leave an oily cast.
Embryolisse Masque Hydrat - This gel mask is enriched with white nymphea, hyaluronic acid, sea minerals and sea water to smooth, plump and rejuvenate skin. An absolute must for skin that is dried out from winter air (or airplane air for that matter!).
La Roche Posay Pigment Clar Yeux - This eye cream helps reduce swelling and puffiness under the eyes. Absolutely love that it has a metal applicator which also helps massage the product into the eyes. I will also note I bought this for about 19E and it sells on Amazon for $45, so a bargain abroad!
Nuxe Reve De Miel Baume Levres - This is the best hlip balm. It deeply hydrates and nourishes lips without leaving a thick waxy layer, in fact it looks semi-matte upon application. My husband even loved this one!
Caudalie Vinergetic Masque Detox - This clay mask cleanses and minimizes the appearance of pores in 10 minutes. It is perfect after a long day outside or a long flight when you need an extra deep-clean.
La Roche Posay Athelios UVMune 400 50+ Ultra-Long UVA Protection (Oil Control Gel-Cream Formula) - This SPF offers daily UV protection and comes highly recommended by many derms.
Bioderma Crealine H2O - This ultra-gentle, iconic micellar water is one of the products that popularized French pharmcy beauty to begin with. Perfect for removing even the most stubborn makeup and SPF without irritating sensitive skin or eyes.
Body Products
Biafine Emulsion - This is one of the most beloved French pharmacy products and is a multipurpose cream that soothes dry, irritated or burned skin. Great for sunburns or if you've used a few too many actives.
Biafine Act - This is a newer Biagine product used to improve skin texture and appearance. It is a lightweight, nourishing, hydrating product that can be used on face and body.
La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+ - This soothing multipurpose balm targets dry, irriated and inflamed skin on face and body.
Cicabiafine Baum Hydratant - This ultra-moisturizing, fragrance free balm aims to relive discomfort for dry and irrated skin. This is Biafine's most versatile product in my opinion, so I opted for the large pump size.
Caudalie Vinotherapist Beurre Corps Vegan - You really can't go to Paris without picking up some Caudalie products (the prices are SO good) and I love this body butter that contains grape seed oil, date oil and shea butter. I mainly use this on my decolletage on top of my skincare to give the area some extra moisture.
Mustela Gel Lavant Doux Avocat - Yes, this product is for babies and yes, I (an almost 30 year old woman) use this. It is SUCH a gentle body wash that rinses clean (no residue like some of the oil-based washes I love) but doesn't strip skin of natural oils. This is especially useful for when you have a spray tan because it is SO gentle.
Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse OR - This product is so glamorous and chic, but terrifies me a little bit due to the potential for mess. It is an absolutely gorgeous body oil infused with a bit of gold shimmer. Perfect for summer, enliving collar bones and shoulders in the dead of winter and generally whenever you'd like to look like a bronzed goddess.
Innoxa Gouttes Bleues - A bit random, but these eye drops give you Disney princess white eyes. I absolutely love them.
Bioderma Atoderm Huile Douche 1L - I buy this in the US whenever it is on sale, but it was even cheaper in Paris. My sensitive, eczema prone skin absolutely loves this cleanser (in the summer, I can even forgo body lotion without my skin feeling tight). The scent is so classically French and doesn't linger or overpower.
Kloraine Dry Shampoo - The selection of Kloraine products is much wider in France and this dry shampoo makes your scalp feel squeaky clean!
Shopping List—just copy and paste!
Face Products
A313
Laluset Cream
Sensibiafine Creme Visage Hydratante Pro-Tolerance
Nux Reve De Miel Baume Visage
Embryolisse Masque Hydrat
La Roche Posay Pigment Clar Yeux
Nuxe Reve De Miel Baume Levres
Caudalie Vinergetic Masque Detox
La Roche Posay Athelios UVMune 400 50+
Bioderma Crealine H2O
Body Products
Biafine Emulsion
Biafine Act
Cicabiafine Baum Hydratant
Caudalie Vinotherapist Beurre Corps Vegan
Mustela Gel Lavant Doux Avocat
Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse OR
Innoxa Gouttes Bleues
Bioderma Atoderm Huile Douche 1L
Kloraine Dry Shampoo
La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+