Hi there, by popular request I am doing this post on skincare, mostly of the products I recently picked up at the iconic CityPharma in Paris. This is covering not only some of those products but a couple of others I am using on a regular basis that I really like and would repurchase.

As always I love to hear your recommendations too! Now that I am milking being in my “late 50’s” I am taking skincare a lot more seriously. I am lucky in that I inherited my moms good skin however unlike her,  who avoided the sun at all costs, I spent many years worshiping it so yes, I know I need to be ultra careful and mindful about my skin.

When in Paris a few weeks ago, I had to make a pilgrimage to the holy grail of skin care pharmacies CityPharma in Paris. Oh boy, what a mob scene! You could barely walk in, it was so crowded, every aisle packed like sardines, almost everyone out with their phones for references on the latest and greatest things to buy. The lines to check out were not for the fainthearted however kudos to them, they checked out at lightning speed. A good thing as being super claustrophobic, you better believe, I had one eyeball on the exit door the entire time!

So first a recap on the products I bought there and have been trying since I got home. I am no expert and to sing  the praises of a product I have tried for less than 3 weeks would seem inauthentic but I will say so far at least, there are some that I am really liking a lot (and happy I bought at least 2-4 tubes of each)! I am someone who has not done botox, I don’t do facials, no treatments whatsoever, have been to a dermatologist twice in my life (for poison ivy)! I have had 2 facials in my life, the first one I broke out horribly from and the second one, I had a reaction to a product used and was rosy red for days. So I am a total guinea pig. Am I temped to try botox? Yes, I am. But I am more scared than tempted. So for now I will try to find products that seem to work well enough, to thwart off having to go down the road of treatments like botox, etc…I am not closed to it at some point, just not now. OK onward to my French skincare….

Disclaimer-  Some of the items you can even find on Amazon, personally I would be weary. Amazon is great for so many things, but skincare is one that I would not purchase there. I am no skin care expert by any means (says the person who still buys and uses cleaning wipes from CVS) but these comments are based upon my own experience and are my opinions only.

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The iconic A 313 cream is a cult favorite, a prescription grade Retinol that you can get over the counter. This is a retinoid Vitamin A, mild enough to not need a prescription (though if it was sold in the U.S. you would) it says to start once per week then gradually work your way up to 2x a week and then 3x a week. I’m now doing it 2x a week. Sometimes it stings just a wee bit, only for a minute or two (which to me translates that somethings working). You really need only a pea size for the entire face. I then follow that with the Vitamin C cream but really is more of a balm, another product I am really liking and using both day and night (bought 4 tubes so its going to last me a while)!

I have also been using this roll on magnesium for under eyes. Sometimes  I wake up with bags and puffiness (more often than not) and I will the popular use Peter Roth Thomas little black depuffer tube  to depuff which works great  (but is a temporary fix). I have been using the roller for about 12 days straight, I will say I think I am seeing less puffiness because I am using the PRT cream less, a good sign! I am not vouching for any particular brand as I think they are all essentially the same. I will report back in a month!

My overly used little tube from Peter Roth Thomas, buy this over and over! Click here

Speaking of eyes, I did order this but have not used it yet. The reviews on it are great however so thinking once I give this magnesium a fair try (3 weeks) I will then see how this product is. It does have glowing reviews! Click here to read more about it

This is another item I purchased after its was highly recommended, have not used it yet as I am busy trying all these other things but it is apparently a favorite among French women. Will report back!

This is the Vitamin C cream I bought in Paris and love, using it morning and night. Very creamy and rich, goes right on and my skin drinks it right up. Glad I bought a few tubes.

This was a product I would typically not buy but the lady working there had a few recommendations and this was one, its actually a mask for your scalp to get rid of all the buildup from shampoo and conditioner, kind of like a facial for your scalp. I really like it a lot and not sure if its imagination or not, but my hair looked especially good after using this!

These products by Nuxe are definite rebuys! The first is a beautifully scented light body spray, less potent than a perfume, but love the soft musky floral scent that you can spray all over when you just want a hint of a subtle scent. Love the scent.

And this body oil is a cult favorite, can be used for hair, skin, hands, elbows, feet, it’s a luxurious softly scented oil where a little goes a long way. I get the hype! Its a dry oil so does not just sit on the skin.  I like using it on my hands, a touch of it not the ends of my hair. Some of them have sparkles in them if you want a bit of a glow, I did not buy that one but may try it next time…especially great in summer!

Next up is this cleanser /micro peeling gel. This is a dermatologists favorite and apparently restores the skins, even tone, purifies and maintains the moisture barrier and restores the PH. I have used it for about a week and so far so good, I cannot say its “working” necessarily because really its just a cleanser but I like it enough to keep on using it so will keep you posted!

Now this next product is another that the lady at the pharmacy said is super popular and highly recommend I buy it, so I did.  To be fair I have used it only once. However once was enough to tell me, I like this, really really like it. Thanks to Glycolic Acid and Vitamin E, Crème Culte offers both exfoliating and moisturizing action. It does leave your skin feeling very fresh, bright and soft. Its a cream based mask loaded with antioxidants and definitely one I will repurchase.

This spray I just threw in my cart when I saw several others doing the same:) At this point the frenzy was reaching a crescendo and I was getting a little anxious to get out of the mad scene (fun as it was). So I came home to see what it’s all about.

And basically it’s a spray that you can use both on bare skin or a full face of makeup to act as a barrier. It is considered to be a repairing soothing spray that has ingredients such as panthenol, madecassoside, and glycerin, which work together to soothe irritation, repair damaged skin. I have been using it after I clean my skin and moisturize. Cannot say yes or no, but it does feel good and I like that you can use it on other parts of the body too. I have been carrying it around in my bag lately for a refresh, probably great for the colder, drier winter months ahead

On the non French side of skincare, I have to tell you these peel packets from Earthen are amazing. They aren’t cheap but wow talk about leaving your skin feelings as soft as Bsby Phillips! These are used right after a shower, when your pores are open, you take two fingers and use a small amount from the packet all over the fact, continue in circular motions until the paste becomes gritty ands starts to fall off, you then wash your fave well and you will be amazed at how baby soft and reborn your skin feels! When I got these, I was told all the Victorias Secret models use them…if so I can see why! Have repurchased these twice already. Click here to visit Earthen

So thats a recap on my French skincare haul. There are a few other things I did not share, that I have not used yet so will save those for a later post. These were all bought at Citypharma, I was told you could order order online from the states but apparently as many have told me, you cannot. I think one reason they are so popular in addition to having the biggest collection of skincare products I have personally ever seen,  their prices are insane!

So apparently the next best thing is The French Pharmacy, who does ship to the U.S. I would suggest starting there and forewarning, ou will go down a skincare rabbit hole:)

OK your turn to weigh in, want to know if you have any holy grails of your own! Thanks for stopping in, wishing everyone af fabulous day…

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