The French pharmacy products I couldn’t resist
My recent trip to St. Maarten and St. Barth’s was filled with fun in the sun—and multiple pharmacies. Spotting a green cross down the street got me more excited than seeing a waiter approaching with a frosty beverage, and I felt like a kid in a candy store every time I stepped into one of these beauty-junkie havens. Sure the shelves were stocked with French favorites such as La Roche-Posay and Vichy (which we can fortunately get here), but I kept my eyes peeled for labels that looked unfamiliar, and here are the products that made their way home with me.
Hei Poa SPF 50 Oil
There is so much to love about this sunscreen. I personally prefer using an oil because it hydrates and give your skin such a lovely vacation-esque sheen. Obviously water-resistant SPF 50 is a major bonus, but the best part about this sunscreen is the monoi scent, which might be my favorite ever. I honestly wish I could wear this every day.
Embryolisse Hydra-Masque
I’ll admit I accidentally bought this thinking it was the Lait-Crème Concentré, but this turned out to be one of my best mistakes ever. I used this hydrating mask the night I bought it to soothe my skin after a little too much sun, and it instantly plumped, smoothed and revived my skin. A winner.
NaturActive Allergen’spray
At this point, I’d try just about anything to get relief from my allergies, so this was a no-brainer. With a combination of essential oils including orange peel, eucalyptus, lemon, lavender, chamomile and a bunch of others that I can’t translate from French, I’ve been spraying it around my bedroom at night and in my office during the day. I’m not quite sure if it’s helping my congestion since I take Allegra every morning, but at the very least it makes a great room fragrance.
Ladrome Eau de Fleur d’Oranger
You don’t need a translator to get that this is straight-up orange blossom water and I may never use anything else as a facial mist again. The scent is divine, and you can literally feel the hydration penetrating your skin as soon as you spray it on.
Biafine Emulsion
I first came across this product more than 10 years ago (I can’t remember how), and I nearly squealed when I saw it at a pharmacy in St. Barth’s. Basically the European version of Neosporin—but SO much better—it heals blemishes and boo boos in record time. With little Google searching you can find it here, but obviously the price is much less abroad. I should have bought two.
I could have bought a ton more stuff, but with my husband giving me the side-eye from the supplement section and an already overweight suitcase in my hotel room, I figured these had me covered. What do you stock up on when you’re abroad?
