Beauty Tour_ City Pharma _ Paris, France

Paris is enchanting, romantic and crawling with beautiful inhabitants. Ask French women for their beauty secrets and they'll likely credit a skincare routine available in French pharmacies. They're scattered all over the city and offer a range of famous French brands. But one store in particular has become the stuff of skincare legend. City Pharma, in my favorite neighborhood of Saint-Germain on the left bank, is arguably the most famous pharmacy in the world. Known for its heavily discounted prices, astonishing variety of brands and frantically busy aisles. It can border on a stressful experience for the unprepared, so treat this as a teaser of the iconic brands you'll find inside. The store that used to be an industry secret is now well and truly well known, so the best time to beat the crowds is just after opening. It's always well-staffed with women in white lab coats who can point you in the direction of the nearest cult product. French pharmacy brands make up the majority of my skincare routine because they're simple and so effective. The expansive sunscreen section at City Pharma and Bioderma shelves here are my idea of heaven. Two large bottles of this iconic Micellar water will cost less than one small bottle back home. Some of the most famous makeup artists and models in the world come here to stock up during fashion week, but a trip to City Pharma should be essential for any skincare lover passing through Paris.