The Paris Edit: French Pharmacy and the Bags to Carry It Home
What to buy in a Paris pharmacy, and the foldable bags and cases that get it home in a carry-on.
- Destination
- Paris
- Trip intent
- A short Paris city break where the shopping is part of the itinerary.
- Season
- Autumn
- Products
- 7
- Price range
- $14–$180Live prices for 7 of 7 products, checked 4 Nov
Shopping Paris
The French pharmacy is one of the great quiet pleasures of Paris: dermatological brands on open shelves, knowledgeable staff and prices that often compare well with buying the same products abroad. Pack light on the way in, then plan how it all comes home.
The quick edit
- Pack travel minis on the way out; buy full routines in Paris.
- Solids and balms are easier to fly home than large liquids.
- A foldable nylon tote becomes your second bag on the return.
- Keep receipts together if you intend to claim a VAT refund.
The pharmacy shelf
Three staples that explain the French pharmacy's reputation.
Cicaplast Baume B5+
The multipurpose balm; the tube is small enough for a liquids bag.
Carry-on relevance: One small tube covers several jobs, which is exactly what a liquids bag needs.
- Panthenol-based balm used for dry or irritated skin.
- Multipurpose: face, hands, lips and post-flight dryness.
- Widely available in French pharmacies.
Direct link to the product page. No affiliate relationship.
- Where to buy
- Any city pharmacy
- When to buy
- Early in the trip, so you can use it on post-flight skin
- Replaces in your bag
- A separate lip balm, hand cream and after-sun
Sensibio H2O Micellar Water
No-rinse cleansing for hotel rooms and long flights.
Carry-on relevance: A travel-size bottle cleanses on the plane or in a hotel with unpredictable water.
- No-rinse cleanser formulated for sensitive skin.
- Removes makeup without a wash basin.
- Sold in several sizes, including travel minis.
Direct link to the product page. No affiliate relationship.
- Where to buy
- Any city pharmacy; minis are common near the till
- When to buy
- Buy a mini for the trip, a large bottle only if checking a bag
- Replaces in your bag
- Cleanser and makeup remover
Embryolisse
Lait-Crème Concentré
One pot doing the work of two.
Carry-on relevance: Multi-use products are the single most effective way to shrink a toiletry bag.
- Moisturiser, primer and makeup remover in one.
- Long-standing favourite of makeup artists.
- Easy to find in French pharmacies.
Direct link to the product page. No affiliate relationship.
- Where to buy
- Most pharmacies and some department-store beauty floors
- When to buy
- Any time — it's widely stocked
- Replaces in your bag
- Moisturiser and primer
Getting it home
Foldable bags that take no space on the way out.
Longchamp
Le Pliage Original Tote
Folds flat for the outbound flight; opens up as an overflow personal item.
Carry-on relevance: Folded, it takes almost no space on the way out; opened, it becomes a personal item or an overflow bag on the way home.
- Folds into a flat, compact square when not in use.
- Lightweight nylon canvas with leather trim.
- Made by a Parisian house, often bought in Paris by visitors.
Direct link to the product page. No affiliate relationship.
- Where to buy
- Longchamp boutiques and department stores
- When to buy
- On the last day, when you know how much you've bought
- Replaces in your bag
- A second carry-on or checked bag
Standard Baggu
Lives in a pocket until the pharmacy run.
Carry-on relevance: Weighs next to nothing in the bag and handles market runs, beach days and souvenir overflow.
- Ripstop nylon that packs into a small attached pouch.
- Generous capacity relative to its folded size.
- Machine washable.
Direct link to the product page. No affiliate relationship.
- Where to buy
- Buy before you fly
- When to buy
- Before departure
- Replaces in your bag
- Plastic shopping bags
Keeping liquids contained
Cases that keep a pharmacy haul from leaking into your clothes.
FlatPak Toiletry Case
Folds flat on the way out and contains leaks on the way home.
Carry-on relevance: Handy for carrying newly bought skincare home — it contains spills and takes no space on the outbound leg.
- Packs completely flat when empty.
- Water-resistant construction contains leaks.
- Very light for its capacity.
Direct link to the product page. No affiliate relationship.
- Where to buy
- Buy before you fly
- When to buy
- Before departure
- Replaces in your bag
- Zip-top plastic bags
MUJI
Hanging Case with Pouch
Hangs in small hotel bathrooms.
Carry-on relevance: Hotel bathrooms in older European and Asian cities can be compact; hanging storage keeps a routine organised.
- Built-in hook frees counter space in small bathrooms.
- Multiple compartments for sorting small items.
- Simple, unbranded MUJI design.
Direct link to the product page. No affiliate relationship.
- Where to buy
- MUJI stores, including in Paris
- When to buy
- Any time
- Replaces in your bag
- A countertop-sprawl toiletry bag
When to buy
Buy what you'll use during the trip on day one, and leave larger purchases for the last full day so you can plan how they'll travel. If you intend to claim a VAT refund, make qualifying purchases in a single store on the same day and ask for the paperwork at the till — minimum spends and procedures change, so check current rules. Remember that liquids over the cabin limit need checked baggage.
What it replaces in your bag
Brand & product details
| Product | Brand | Category | Price tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cicaplast Baume B5+ | La Roche-Posay | Skincare | $ |
| Sensibio H2O Micellar Water | Bioderma | Skincare | $ |
| Lait-Crème Concentré | Embryolisse | Skincare | $ |
| Le Pliage Original Tote | Longchamp | Bags | $$$ |
| Standard Baggu | Baggu | Bags | $ |
| FlatPak Toiletry Case | Matador | Packing Organizers | $ |
| Hanging Case with Pouch | MUJI | Packing Organizers | $ |
7 brands. Price tiers are indicative ($ under $30 · $$ $30–100 · $$$ $100–300 · $$$$ over $300) — check the retailer for current prices.
Related packing guides
Barcelona, Beach + City: Four Nights
A four-night Barcelona carry-on that splits the difference between the sand at Barceloneta and a ten o'clock dinner table.
- Destination
- Barcelona
- Occasion
- Beach + city
- Category
- Bags
- Updated
2 Nights: Date Night + Brunch
A two-night wardrobe that moves from a candlelit dinner to a long Saturday brunch in any city, without a single checked bag.
- Destination
- Any destination
- Occasion
- Date night + brunch weekend
- Category
- Bags
- Updated
Copenhagen: Harbour Swim, Sauna, Dinner
Two summer nights in Copenhagen organised around the city's harbour baths and sauna culture, with one outfit for a long dinner after.
- Destination
- Copenhagen
- Occasion
- Swim, sauna and dinner weekend
- Category
- Bags
- Updated
Related reviews
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+ Review
We're testing the French pharmacy's favourite multipurpose balm as a single travel product; the review is in progress.
- Destination
- Paris
- Product
- Cicaplast Baume B5+
- Category
- Skincare
- Updated
Eagle Creek Pack-It Reveal Cube Set Review
We're putting Eagle Creek's graduated cube set through a planned two-night trip; the review is in progress.
- Destination
- Paris
- Product
- Pack-It Reveal Cube Set
- Category
- Packing Organizers
- Updated
Away The Carry-On Review
Our review of Away's best-known hard-shell spinner is in progress; here is what we'll measure on a planned Paris city break.
- Destination
- Paris
- Product
- The Carry-On
- Category
- Bags
- Updated
Questions, answered
Are French pharmacy products cheaper in Paris?
Often, though not always; prices vary between pharmacies. Larger pharmacies in busy areas sometimes price competitively, but it is worth comparing.
Can I carry pharmacy purchases in my hand luggage?
Liquids, creams and gels in hand luggage are generally limited to small containers in a clear bag, though rules vary by airport. Balms in small tubes are easiest; larger bottles need checked baggage.
Are pharmacies open on Sundays?
Most pharmacies close on Sundays, but a rota of on-duty pharmacies (pharmacies de garde) stays open, and a few in central areas keep long hours.
Disclosure
Last updated — first published