Are you a skincare junkie like me? Do you want to save a ton of money on French skincare? I am extremely regimented and crazy about my morning/night time skincare routine- it is my top priority when it comes to beauty. So when I heard that French pharmacy’s had AMAZING deals on their brands, I had to stop by and stock up on all my faves. And boy am I glad I went… CityPharma was a beauty GOLD MINE. I arrived at 8:20am (10 minutes before opening) and there was already a small crowd waiting outside.
TIPS
Get there EARLY (before opening)
We got there 10 minutes before opening and there was already a small line outside! We went during the winter season (off season) so I can imagine during the summer time it will get crowded.
Make a List
Do your research ahead of time & have screenshots ready of the products you want to buy. Everything is listed in French and you won’t have the time to translate everything. Know exactly what products you need to purchase to cut down on time. There are limited supplies so grab what you need instead of researching in store.
Separate your list of products by brand
Products are sectioned off by brands, so you don’t want to run back and forth. Tackle one brand at a time.
VAT REFUND
* Bring your passport and ask for the detax paperwork when you purchase it.
HOW TO GET TO CITY PHARMA
Saint-Germain-des-Prés (Line 4) or Mabillon (Line 10)are the closest metro stops. It’s a 2 minute walk from each station and City Pharma is on the corner of Rue Bonaparte and Rue du Four.
HOURS:Monday – Friday: 8:30AM-8PM, Saturday: 9AM-8PM, Sunday: Closed
ADDRESS:26 Rue du Four, 75006 Paris, France
PRODUCTS I PURCHASED
MY SKIN CONCERN: DRY SKIN
All products I purchased are mainly for hydration and anti-aging. Keep in mind, if you have different types of skin concerns, these might not be the right products for you! I purchased alot of serums because I wanted to experiment and layer on/ switch off different brands every other day.
DISCLAIMER: This blog post is not sponsored. All opinions and purchases on this blog post are my own.
CAUDALIE
Moisturizer
Vinoperfect Brightening Glycolic Overnight Cream
CityPharma: €28 // Sephora $65
Ingredients that stands out: Viniferine: mainly lightens dark spots, acne scars, hyperpigmentation Hyaluronic Acid: hydrates and plumps your skin
Review // Purpose of Purchase: I bought this because I am genetically prone to sun spots. I have a couple forming on my face that I CANNOT stand and want to do everything I can to fade the coloring rather than lasering it off. I do not apply this cream all over my face; just primarily on the sun spots on my cheekbone and around my nose where I have some redness. There is a unique smell to this cream that I’m not a fan of… but since I do not apply it all over the smell is not too overpowering.
Serum
Vinoperfect Radiance Serum Complexion Correcting
CityPharma: €34 // Sephora: $79
Ingredients that stands out: Viniferine: 62 times more effective than Vitamin C, evens complexion Green Grape: boosts radiance Oil Free Formula, no parabens or animal derived ingredients
Review // Purpose of Purchase: This is my 2nd time buying this bottle and I LOVE this magical bottle. I love the dewy and silky feeling after applying it on my skin. I only apply this serum at night and wake up with a natural glow the next day. It does well with layering beneath moisturizer and makeup as well.
VineActiv Glow Activating Anti-Wrinkle Serum
CityPharma: €27 // Sephora: $52
Ingredients that stands out: Polyphenols: antioxidants, for anti-wrinkle
Review // Purpose of Purchase: I purchased this to smooth out some forehead/ smile lines on my face. I haven’t noticed a significant difference in my lines, however I noticed how pure and smooth my skin is. I like that it is a light and watery texture and this product protects against environmental factors such as pollution, stress, etc. I use it at night and combine it with the radiance serum.
Vinosource S.O.S Thirst Quenching Serum
CityPharma: € 23.88 // Sephora: $49
Ingredients that stands out: Vinolevure: strengthening/ moisturizing Organic Grape Water: Moisturizes and soothes Hyaluronic Acid: reduce signs of aging
Review // Purpose of Purchase: I purchased this to wear in the daytime because I am under the AC/ Heater all day at work. My skin is on the dry side so I needed something that is extra hydrating. It is an ultra lightweight serum and because it absorbs quickly, I am able to layer it under my makeup in the morning.
Mask
The Moisturizing Mask
CityPharma: €17.90 // Sephora: $39
Ingredients that stands out: Olive Squalane: Moisturizes Hyaluronic Acid: Hydrates and plumps Vinolevure: Strengthens and soothes
Review // Purpose of Purchase: I generally have very dry skin so I will try anything that hydrates the face. I love a good bubble bath every week so I apply this on as I’m getting the bath ready and leave it on for 20-30 minutes. I rinse it off afterwards and continue with my skincare routine.
Other Products I love from this Brand: Caudalie Beauty Elixir
LA ROCHE- POSAY
Moisturizer
Redermic R Retinol Cream
CityPharma: €22.14 // Online: $49.99
Ingredients that stands out: Lipo- Hydroxy Acid: gently exfoliates and promotes youthful brighter skin Retinol: reduce wrinkles
Review // Purpose of Purchase: I wanted to try this product to diminish the appearance of sun damage and smooth out my skin texture. I also read that it is the highest concentrate of PURE retinol and that will help with my forehead wrinkles. It is recommended to use during night time only.
Serum
Vitamin C Pure Vitamin C10
CityPharma: €27 // Online: $39.99
Ingredients that stands out: Neurosensine: soothes redness and inflammation Pure Vitamin C: helps repair damaged skin cells
Review // Purpose of Purchase: I love the richness on my skin when I apply this serum. It feels thick and dewy- l leaving my skin feeling hydrated and plump. The vitamin C boosts the radiance and overall complexion on my skin and it is said to target uneven skin tone/wrinkles. Although I don’t have much wrinkles (knock on wood), I do want to apply on a ton of preventative measures to retain as much collagen, hydration, and youth in my skin to avoid injecting botox in the future.
Hyalu B5 Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum
CityPharma: €27 // Online: $29.99
Ingredients that stands out: Madecassoside: smoothes skin and anti-redness Vitamin B5: deeply hydrates and enhances healing
Review // Purpose of Purchase: This is my second time purchasing the bottle- I love it so much! Very similar to the Vitamin C10 Serum. I use the B5 serum in the mornings as a base underneath my moisterizer and it melts on my skin very well. It truly leaves your skin feeling supple and hydrated! This is perfect for my skin type because I am in an air conditioned room all day that sucks the hydration out of my skin.
Eye Cream
Hydraphase Intense Hyluronic Acid Eye Cream
CityPharma: €14.42 // Online: $33.99
Ingredients that stands out: Caffeine: reduce dark circles, soothe puffy eyes, and diminish fine lines Hyaluronic Acid: soften and minimize dry fine lines
Review // Purpose of Purchase: I wanted to give this product a try to add as much hydration and diminishe under eye bags. I use it as an intensive rehydrating moisturizer for my eyes in the morning. It’s a light gel texture and sits on my skin very well.
Sunscreen
Anthelios 50+ Fluid
CityPharma: €17.90 // Online: $29.99
Review // Purpose of Purchase: Their sunscreens never clog my pores or make my skin breakout. Non-whitening, lightweight, matte finish and protects against UVA/ UVB. Water resistant (80 minutes) / fast absorbing
Anthelios Ultra 50+ Creme
CityPharma: €16.66 // Online: $29.99
Review // Purpose of Purchase: Facial sunscreen that is made for dry skin. Similar to the sunscreen above- just a thicker creme formula vs liquid.
Other Products I Love From This Brand: Cicaplast Baume B5: repairing balm, great for dry skin or in flight Toleriane Dermo-Soothing Hydrating Lotion: thin liquid perfect for the summer time
Hope you found this list helpful. If you are just as obsessed with these brands/ products or if I haven’t tried a holy grail skincare item, let me know down below!
Xoxo, Soph
Sophie Lai 