Why beauty fans are rushing to France this summer – as they bag bargains in surprising new tourist hotspots
SHOPPERS are all rushing to book a flight to France to get their hands on skincare and beauty products rarely found elsewhere.
While most people make their way to the stunning holiday destination for the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, vineyards and beaches – some have turned pharmacies into the next big thing.
American tourists have been raving about the ‘para-pharmacies’ as they stock products by Avène, Caudalie, La Roche-Posay and Vichy, which they can’t easily find across the pond.
With 21,000 pharmacies in the country, people have been flocking to TikTok to share their favourite finds.
One woman said: “French pharmacies are known to be the best in the world and for a reason.”
Stepping into the pharmacy, Anastazia showed viewers the last remaining bottle of Caudalie’s Resvératrol Instant Firming Serum, which costs £30.
“There’s a reason why there’s only one bottle left of this serum because it’s incredible,” she said. “It is Botox in a bottle.”
She then picked up a bottle of the Nuxe Shimmering Dry Oil Huile, which retails for £32, as she said it smells amazing and makes you glow.
TikTok user @stazzylicious then got a £32 Caudalie Beauty Elixir before grabbing a £10 Bioderma micellar water to use to remove her make-up.
Sticking with the same brand, she picked up the Foot Beauty Cream, which is £10, and said: “I like to keep this on my bedside table.”
Anastazia then put a bottle of the La Roche-Posay Cicaplast B5 Spray, which is £12, as she heard it’s “very hydrating”.
Next, she got a £20 bottle of Caudalie Aftersun Cream followed by Avène’s £15 Clearance Correcting serum alongside the £7 Hydrating Lip Balm.
People were quick to comment on the video as one person wrote: “Wait WHY is caudalie so cheap? Booking my ticket now”.
Another person shared: “Omgg I have been looking for that La Roche Posay spray EVERYWHERE – off to Cannes next month they better have it!”
A third shared: “I have the Caudalie spray and works wonders OMG !”
According to The Local, France has around 21,000 pharmacies and they show no signs of slowing down as the rise of tourists making their way to France means they sell more stock.
One Paris-based person, Mounir Khedja, even told French TV channel BFM: “French para-pharmacies have always offered quality products and product diversity.
“The ‘French para-pharmacy’ has always been recognised, but I also think that consumer habits have changed a lot.”
One of the best that can be found in Paris is Citypharma, which is located in Saint Germain des Près.
According to My French Life, it’s one of the most famous pharmacies in the capital thanks to its size and prices.
The Sun Online Travel desk managed to find flights to Paris from just £57 with easyJet.
And a 3-star hotel called Hôtel de Saint Germain is just a two minute walk away from the pharmacy, with rooms from £88.
Would you go to France the bag all the beauty bargains on offer?
Meanwhile, this is the French holiday hotspot where you can visit Spain in a day.
And this is how to do a UK and France beach holiday in one trip – with just a 35-minute train journey.