Sunscreen purchase in France?

Old May 12th, 2013, 12:13 PM
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Sunscreen purchase in France?

Because we will have no checked luggage, we will need to buy sunscreen in Paris. What is the French word for that product? Does France use SPF numbers to rate the strength of particular sunscreens, or do they use a different system? Or none? Is it sold in Pharmacies, or where?

You can see we are down to rather peripheral questions as departure time approaches.

Many thanks for any information.
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Old May 12th, 2013, 12:24 PM
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The key word is "solaire", so "protection solaire", "crème solaire", "produits solaire", and yes, they quote SPF (FPS in French). Buy off the shelf at supermarkets or pharmacies - here's what you can buy at Monoprix, which you will find all over the place:
http://tinyurl.com/cgb2s9h
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Old May 12th, 2013, 12:25 PM
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Ecran solaire or creme solaire, with SPF numbers sold in pharmacies, supermarkets etc
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Old May 12th, 2013, 12:25 PM
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The French word is "crème solaire". SPF = "IP" in French (indice de protection, the system is the same. You can buy it in department stores, supermarkets, pharmacies, Monoprix and even some groceries.
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Old May 12th, 2013, 12:27 PM
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No checked luggage? You can still carry up to 100ml (3.38oz) size tubes of sunscreen through the security with your hand luggage.
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Old May 12th, 2013, 12:31 PM
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If a concern, there are also many non paraben choices, usually spelled out. I got strange looks asking for products sans PABA, but could most certainly have been my accent.
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Old May 12th, 2013, 01:00 PM
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An excellent brand of French sunscreen is La Roche-Posay. It is also sold here in Canada and the one I use is SPF 60.
You can buy it in any pharmacy in Paris.
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Old May 12th, 2013, 01:53 PM
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La Roche is good, so is Lancaster..Easy enough to get in France!! If you are concerned about the pronounciation write it down!!
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Old May 12th, 2013, 01:55 PM
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We never check luggage either and carry on Neutrogena sunscreen as it's tubes are only 3 ounces.
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Old May 12th, 2013, 01:59 PM
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Monoprix or a supermarket will do just fine. At a pharmacy you will pay double.
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Old May 12th, 2013, 03:45 PM
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Thank you all. We should have no trouble finding what we need at a Monoprix.
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Old May 12th, 2013, 08:33 PM
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Another vote for La Roche-Posay; it is available here in US, but much more expensive. I stock up on their Anthelios XL, Fluide Extreme, SPF 50 whenever I am in France.
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Old May 12th, 2013, 09:38 PM
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On my first trip to France, I stayed at a Mediterranean town.

In looking for a sunscreen, I found Hawaiian Tropic.

Gives you an idea that this is a moot point.
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