8 pharmacy products worth buying in France, from La Roche-Posay to Bioderma
From Caudalie’s face mist to Nuxe’s dry oil for body and hair, these are the finds that genuinely earn their place in your luggage
French souvenir shops are certainly cute. But if you’re even mildly skincare obsessed, you already know the real French flex isn’t a beret: it’s a pharmacy bag heavy enough to count as hand luggage.
So if you’re heading to France, here’s what’s actually worth picking up, so you don’t end up panic-buying 12 micellar waters on instinct.
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+
Think of this as a barrier-support balm for the days your skin feels dry, tight or reactive. Formulated with panthenol (vitamin B5) for comfort, and madecassoside (derived from the plant Centella asiatica) to help calm visible irritation, it can be used as a moisturiser or a targeted patch on stressed areas.
Bioderma Sensibio H2O
The micellar water people buy on repeat. Offers quick make-up removal and cleansing without a scrubby, over-stripped feeling. The purified water’s micelles attract oil, so you can swipe off sunscreen and make-up with minimal friction – especially helpful if your skin gets irritated easily.