Category Archives: france

french pharmacy favorites

french-pharmacy-products

 

I could spend hours in a French pharmacie – you can find so much luxury there, at a reasonable price. For my last trip, I made sure to do plenty of research beforehand so that I could bring back some serious loot. I had planned to pay a visit to the largest one in Paris, City Pharma, but ended up finding these items at the one near my apartment in the Marais. Armed with my list, I didn’t deviate much from it, with the exception of #5, which came highly recommended from a very knowledgeable salesperson. I was impressed with how helpful everyone was (maybe they saw the length of my list)…I was able to test a number of products and was attended to with great care. Keep in mind many of these items can now be found in some shops in the states + online (see links). Even if you don’t buy, be sure to browse when in France!

 

1… Bioderma Crealine H20 – This cleansing water is incredible, and I’m so I glad brought back two huge (heavy) bottles of it…you can wipe your makeup off without rinsing!

2… Nuxe Reve de Miel – By far my favorite lip balm of all time (and I’m obsessed with lip balm)…it is so rich and smooth and smells + tastes amazing.

3… Avene Eau Thermale – A refreshing thermal water spray, which is basic but better than the others I’ve tried.

4… Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo – One of the best dry shampoos (so I’ve heard from stylists)!

5… Hormeta Huile Séche – this is the one I ended up with, despite having the Nuxe Huile Prodigeuse on my list. This radiant dry body oil shimmers without being greasy, contrary to the Nuxe. After testing both, I chose this, which was slightly higher in price but worth it after comparing the two. I’ve actually never worn body oil before, but it feels like such a luxury, and the sheen is lovely in the summer.

6… Darphin Cleansing Balm – If you’ve never tried a cleansing balm before I suggest you do! This is a popular one in France that got great reviews. What you do is you massage the balm on your dry skin for a minute or so. Enjoy the massage. Then you take a warm wet wash cloth and press it against your face for a few seconds. Then gently wipe away the balm. So luxurious and great for dry skin.

7… Roger & Gallet Rose Lotion – A luxurious basic…like everything in French pharmacies!

8… La Roche Posay – Anything from this brand is amazing. You can also buy this in the states, but since it’s also a French line, I figured it was worth mentioning.

9… Homeoplasmine – This is probably the most boring item on this list, but probably one of the most widely used in Paris from what I have read. It’s basically an ointment that you can use for anything! Cuticles, chapped lips, burns, dry skin, any kind of irritation you may have.

10…Vichy ProEven Daily Eye Corrector – A lightweight cream infused with caffeine…perfect for depuffing!

breakfast at claus

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breakfast-claus-paris

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fleurishing-claus-paris

 

Having heard many great things about the hot breakfast spot Claus, I couldn’t wait to experience it for myself. Located just around the corner from Palais Royal, it was the perfect place to begin my first full day in Paris. I met Lindsey there just as they opened…we had made a reservation, which I highly recommend.  My mouth started watering upon entering, faced with a wall of pastries and goodies. We were ushered to the sun-filled dining room upstairs and got the choice window spot, score! I had to pause and get some shots of the interior…the mix of color and modern simplicity was so refreshing. The menu had a plethora of excellent options – I opted for the muesli + soft boiled egg, my new favorite (check out that adorable egg warmer…they sell them)! The coffee was delicious, supplied by none other than the renowned Coutume Café. It was such an enjoyable morning, and I’m happy to report Claus lived up to the hype!

Claus | 14 Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau 75001 Paris 

sully-sur-loire

sully-sur-loire-castle

sully-sur-loire-chateau

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My brother lives here. Ok fine, not in the castle, but a few blocks away. And ok yes, he’s my half-brother, but I don’t think of him that way. You can read all about our connection here if you’re curious. Now that I’ve gotten that all out in the open, let’s talk about this amazing, historic structure, shall we? For nearly four centuries this beautiful example of medieval architecture has prevailed in Sully-sur-Loire, which is about 2 hours south of Paris, in the Loire Valley. If you’re a history buff like myself, you can read all about the castle’s history here. I’m so fortunate to have family here and know of this great chateau and surrounding town. Quaint + charming, the people are always welcoming and the shop owners know you by name…including one who knew mine (and shocked the hell out of me) when I went shopping for my nephew! My brother’s home is quiet + serene, overlooking farmland, with a chicken coop in the yard. I was especially excited about that, as I had never handled fresh (from the hen) eggs before and was giddy about it, as evidenced by this instagram + this vine. The time with my family was priceless, and I’ll be sharing more of our adventures in the Loire very soon!

bonjour!

susan-hutchinson-paris

 

Hello friends! I’m so happy to be back from France + cannot wait to share more of my adventures–my journey was truly transformative. Having never traveled alone internationally, I pushed my boundaries and found myself outside of my comfort zone often, which I highly recommend. It exposed me to wonderful new experiences, and reaffirmed my self confidence and strength. While it was tough to say goodbye to my French family and friends for now, returning home to my hubby + children was emotional and joyful. As I unpack, get organized, and spend time with my family, I’m very excited to share more with you and promise to do so promptly! In the meantime, you can check out my #fleurishinginfrance instagram feed for a preview…this shot was taken by the lovely Ashley Ludaescher!

 Ashley Ludaescher Photography