We're heading to Amsterdam/Paris in March (soon!), and I hope to pick up some fabulous items that will help my approaching-50-year-old skin. Are European products really better? Is there a "miracle" ingredient? Any recommendations appreciated...

Thank you!

I am no lady, but I think most of the fashion cognoscenti agrees that Farmacia Santa Maria Novella's Almond Paste Handcream is the bomb.

Some of the SMN line was sold at Amin Kader on the Rue de la Paix, but I haven't been to this shop in a few years.

Thin

I always buy La Roche-Posay Anthelios sunscreens when I'm in France. My dermatologist says they're the best. You can get them some places in the US, but it's hard to find the higher SPF ones here.

I'm personally not a believer in miracle ingredients, but I will say that my Dior moisturizer makes my skin feel awfully nice.

For body, I use opium body creme.

Here in Boston we can buy La Roche-Posay Anthelios brand as well as Vichy, another French brand whose Purette Thermal Calming Cleansing Solution is great, IMO. I tend toward rosacea--or at least easily annoyed skin--and this combo cleanser/toner, that looks like water but smells like heaven, removes make-up, cleans your skin and makes you feel so good. And the really wonderful part is that I can buy both brands at my local CVS.

BTW, both of these brands are divisions of L'Oreal Paris, as is Lancome, one of my most preferred brands of make-up, which of course, is only found in department stores.

In looking at their online site, marcy, I see La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF 40 and 60 both available, if that is helpful to you.

Thanks, socialworker, I'll check it out!
But on the other hand, I don't want to take away my excuse of "Oops, I'm out of sunscreen. Guess I'll have to make a trip to Paris..."

Well then, in that case this tape will automatically self-destruct in 20 seconds!

March, you still have an excuse-- the La Roche-Posay and Avene sunscreens sold in the US don't contain all the same ingredients.

Which has the better selection/assistance: a department stores or the parapharmacie (the green cross places)? Other?

Also, how is European sunscreen different from U.S.? Thanks!

Tinosorb in Avene and one of the two types of Mexoryl in L-P's Anthelios can't be sold in the US.

Melissa, in Paris the place with the best prices and selection is Pharmacie Fouhéty, on the corner of rue du Four and rue Bonaparte in the 6th arrondissement. It's always crowded, and kind of crazy, though.

Galeries Lafayette has a decent selection, with slightly higher prices but you can get 10% off with your tourist discount card that you pick up at the welcome desk.

MlleFifi, Thanks for the information. I <i>knew</i> there was still a reason I needed to go to Paris!

La Roche-Posay, the spa town, is a lovely place to visit, too. It's apparently a dermatology mecca. Mineral water, sulphur odorous, flows from a fountain in the centre-ville for your bottle filling pleasure.

melissa the way I understand it, up until last year I think it was, the FDA was not allowing sunscreens that protected both against UVA and UVB (and I think the UVB was also helping to protect against wrinkles). Now I am pretty sure that they are allowed-Amazon is selling L-P with Mexoryl now: http://www.amazon.com/Roche-Posay-An.../dp/B000R9A56I

That said-I always stock up in Europe-at the pharmacy last summer, it was only about 8 euros a tube on sale versus $26 through Amazon.

Meanwhile, my favorite moisturizer is the Accept line of Phytomer. The Accept line is hypo-allergenic and not available in the US.

Lots of good info here, thanks. Bookmarking for later use. EJ

My favorite product is the Shea Butter hand cream by L'Occitane. Thankfully I can buy them easily here in the US, though they are cheaper in France (but how much cheaper depends on the euro: dollar exchange rate). Anyway, it's the only thing that keeps my hands and fingers from cracking during the long, dry winter here in Boston. Even my husband uses it.

I love Crème 24 by Molinard- a great lemon and almond hand cream that's hard to find here.

Anything particularly for face or eyes?

Clarins eye products are excellent. Actually everything is good just expensive. Get them at Galeries Lafayette at a small discount and bring the receipts to the back to the VAT dept. Someone can fill out the form for you. You will get the vat refund back. That said, it's better to get cosmetics skincare products in Hong Kong. Way cheaper.