Long before Americans began flocking to Paris for the Olympics they came in droves for another coveted experience: To shop at French pharmacies.

Perched underneath flashing green medical crosses sit pharmacies and parapharmacies. While pharmacies offer prescriptions and over-the-counter medications, parapharmacies offer all that and more.

When visitors go inside a parapharmacie they're greeted by walls packed to the ceiling with skincare, haircare, sunscreen and more in addition to the standard items like bandaids and vitamins. In many ways they're like a CVS or Duane Reade, but with French products.

Visitors who aren't familiar with French brands like Caudalie and Avéne may find themselves feeling like a kid in a candy store, with too many options to choose from.

Tessa Bicard, the Head of U.S. Operations for French skincare brand Typology and content creator under the username @madame.tartempion, says that the French take their skincare extremely seriously and often use it as a substitute for makeup.

"French girl skincare or like a French makeup look tends to be a little bit more minimalist than an American look, and I can say this as an American who's lived in Paris for awhile now," Bicard said.

This is, in part, because French skincare is formulated differently than in the U.S. Even if the same product can be found stateside, the formulation is likely different. Bicard says this is because France maintains high standards for what brands can use in products while still keeping the products affordable.

"If you're buying it in Europe, if you're buying it in France, you know you're getting the original French formula," she said.

If you're lucky enough to stop by a parapharmacie, here are the products that Bicard recommends you buy:

  • La Roche-Posay Cicaplast B5 Baume: Aids with super dry or dehydrated skin
  • Avéne Cleanance: Cleansing gel that's meant for acne-prone skin
  • Bioderma Créaline H20: Micellar water can be used to wash your face as a substitute to normal faucet water
  • La Roche-Posay Anthelios 50+ Sunscreen: Sheer and lightweight this can be used on just your face or your body
  • Caudalie Eau de Beauté: Refreshing beauty spray with green grape, rose and rosemary oils
  • Typology Shimmering Dry Oil: Body oil formulated with Vitamin C and essential oils that gives a bit of shine
  • Typology Tinted Lip Oil: Different shades hydrate and color lips with jojoba oil and Vitamin E

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