Haul of Fame

The French Pharmacy

Last week I was so lucky to be able to go back to one of my favorite cities, Paris, for a work trip. Unlucky though, to have an awful cold through it. And while I hardly went out on my trip, I was lucky again that when I went to get cold meds close to my hotel, I got to visit one of the best Pharmacies in the city, CityPharma. 

The best store in Paris isn't a boutique on the Champs-Elysée or Rue du Rivoli, it's a pharmacy on the left bank that's become a cult shopping spot due to  the massive range of brands and products they carry at lower prices than any other pharmacy in the city. When I lived there I was obsessed with visiting to find new products to try and crack the code to french skincare regimes. 

Thankfully, so many of these are available in Canada now (while pricier than the french pharmacies, it's still cheaper than a ticket to paris!) and here's my shopping list from my recent haul. 

Bioderma Makeup Remover

This is the cult classic product that started the micellar water trend. It's so effective at cleaning and removing makeup, but at the same time so gentle and moisturizing. It's unscented and leaves my skin so soft. Now you can finally get it at Shoppers Drug Mart here in Canada so I can stop buying the industrial sized bottle when I visit France, but in paris they have a wider range of sizes and the different formulations. I also picked up the same product in facial wipes, which are great for travelling. 

Embryolisse Moisturizer

Every interview I've ever read with a makeup artist, when they're asked what's in their kit they always say Embryolisse. It's a really heavy moisturizer, but it absorbs into your skin so quickly and doesn't leave it feeling greasy. It just makes my makeup sit on better, and is the perfect day moisturizer for winter. In Canada we can get this on Sephora now, but not every store carries it, so you may need to order it online. 

Klorane Dry Shampoo

I have been obsessed with Dry Shampoos lately, and this is the best one that I've tried. It doesn't give my hair that gritty, powdery feeling that I get with some dry sprays and leaves it almost with that squeaky, just-washed feeling.  It also has a darker tint to it so you don't get that white cast after spraying. I also bought this one in a tiny travel size for future trips.

Collosol Cleansing Milk

Oddly, this one is found in the baby aisle where I found it after pacing the aisles for near an hour before getting up the courage to ask an attendant in my rusty french for help finding it. It's one of the best gentle cleansers I've tried. It's a milky texture that you apply with a cotton pad without rinsing off. It has a creamy, citrusy smell that I just love and it leaves my skin so soft. It's really gentle, so it's a great cleanser for the morning, and I use something heavier at night before bed. 

Biafine

I raved in my last chapter about Elizabeth Arden's 8 hour cream protectant and this is the french equivalent. It's a thick salve that french grand-mères use as a cure-all for any skin ailments, but this one is creamier and less of a gel. This is amazing for dry lips and flaky winter skin and can also be used as a face mask.

Caudalie Beauty Elixir

I had *just* bought a replacement before I left for Paris to keep in my travel bag, since it's part of my landing ritual to spritz my face with this spray, but when I saw how cheap it was in Paris, I had to buy a second bottle to keep in the office. The mint in it just makes me feel more awake and the oils are moisturizing.

And that's my french haul! Are there any hard to find products you always pick up when you travel?