French Skincare Haul & Review

I knew something had to be done after I nearly had a panic attack in the shower because of my severely itchy, reptile-like skin. I’ve had eczema my entire life but have been particularly affected by it since I moved to Prague. From my scalp to my ankles, everything was horrifically itchy. Death was likely imminent if I didn’t take action.    

As a product enthusiast (read: hoarder), I knew I could justify a French skincare haul if it meant I could repair my skin (and my sanity!). Ever since I’ve moved to Europe, I’ve been obsessed with French skincare. There’s little reason for me to think this, but something about it just seems so… fine-tuned. They know what they’re good at and stick to it.

Some light research on potential products then off to the lékárna I went.

A lékárna is a pharmacy that carries essentials such as ibuprofen, vitamins, baby food, contact lens solution and of course, skincare products. Unlike in the States where you can easily grab over the counter medications/essentials at any drugstore, only a pharmacist can sell you these things in the Czech Republic. Since most pharmacies keep their skincare products behind locked cages shelves, you have to wait your turn before asking a pharmacist or attendant to open it and assist you.

As someone who really likes to take their time perusing new products, comparing price points, fantasizing about where I will store them, imagining our future lives together etc., this is a major downside to me. Time after time again it leads to impulse buys and ill-informed decisions. This trip was no exception. I went in with a list of a few products I was considering and walked out with twice what I went in for. I thought I had made peace with the “customer service” in the Czech Republic, but I still felt rushed and disposable.

Anyway! On to the haul and review!

L to R: La Roche-Posay Lipikar Surgras, Bioderma Node DS+ Shampoo, Bioderma Atoderm PO Zinc Crème, and Bioderma Cicabio Crème.

La Roche-PosayLipikar Surgras (150 g/5.2 oz – 205 CZK/$10.25)

The packaging calls this a Lipid–Enriched Cleansing Bar. For brevity’s sake, they should have just called this stuff “soap”. Going into this haul, I knew I wanted some sort of soap/body wash since I suspected my current cleansing routine was only exacerbating the itchiness issue.

First impressions: not super impressed. It leaves that “soapy” feeling once I’ve rinsed it off and I still feel itchy after showering. If I had had time to get to know this soap before taking it home with me, I would have noticed that “parfum/fragrance” is listed under the ingredients (along with something called “annuus seed oil” which naturally my brain auto-corrected to “anus seed oil”). Why on earth would you put a fragrance in a soap for “sensitive, dry and uncomfortable skin”?!?! I just can’t even. I now hang my head in shame for spending 10 bucks on a bar of soap.

Also, sorry for not taking pictures of the actual soap. I’d already used it before taking these photos. You can rest assured knowing that it is about as aesthetically-pleasing as any bar of soap.

Bioderma Node DS+ Shampoo (125 mL /4.2 oz– 390 CZK/$19.50)

The practical and itch-free Ali would have never even considered spending nearly $20 on a small bottle of shampoo, but the eczema-ridden, borderline-psychotic Ali thought this was a great idea. This is an anti-dandruff/anti-itching shampoo. Luckily I am dandruff-free, so I bought this because it claims to soothe and cleanse the scalp. The directions suggest you use the shampoo 3 times/week for 3 weeks, then 1-2 shampoos/week after that. It is recommended to leave the shampoo in for 5 minutes before rinsing it out.

This shampoo is VERY thick but builds to a nice lather. It smells kind of like plastic but the smell doesn’t linger when my hair is dry. I have probably 1-2 more uses left and my scalp is significantly less itchy and irritated. This shampoo doesn't have any affect on the way I "style" my hair. The only qualms I have with this shampoo are its price and the fact that it only lasted about 3 weeks. It was nice while it lasted, guy.  

Bioderma CicabioCrème (40 mL/1.35 oz – 310 CZK/$15.50)

I bought this as a sort of spot-treatment to apply to the extra-crispy parts of my body (mainly the back of my neck and my knee pits (random?)). This product’s, “antibacterial agents (copper-zinc) purify the epidermis.” It also contains hyaluronic acid, which apparently “ensures optimum skin hydration.”

The directions state to, “apply to the irritated area after cleansing and drying. Use twice a day until the skin is completely repaired.” I’ve been using this in conjunction with the lotion above and while I am slightly less itchy, most of my eczema doesn’t look any better. I will have to continue using it to see if anything changes.

Bioderma Atoderm PO ZincCrème (100 mL/3.4 oz – 390 CZK/$19.50)

I did not intend to buy this lotion but something was lost in translation between the pharmacist and myself and since I am far too publicly passive, I decided to roll with it. I wish I hadn’t.  

Originally, I didn’t want to buy it because I didn’t really know what it was (did I mention I was rushed and had a pharmacist breathing down my neck the entire time?) but I now see that it is an “ultra-soothing cream” for “irritated, very dry, sensitive skin.” It also claims to soothe irritation and relieve itching, which is exactly what I need. I use this once a day after I shower as an all-over body lotion and I don’t notice that it really reduces any itching or irritation. It leaves a greasy residue, which I DETEST in a body lotion. I used it all up within 3 weeks and my eczema is no clearer than it was before.  

All in all, I am a bit let down by the newest additions to my skincare collection. For the amount of money I spent, I expected instant gratification even though that might not be the nature of this beast. Patience is clearly not my game.

If you were curious, these pictures were taken in Vyšehrad, a “fort” probably built in the 10^th century. In the pictures below, you can see the walls surrounding the area are still in tact. It is a quaint, quiet little part of Prague that I think is highly underrated. It immediately feels like you stepped back into time upon entering Vyšehrad  There is a cemetery here as well that contains the body of famous Czech composer Antonín Dvořák. Here are some more pictures from different Vyšehrad trips.

 

Entrance gate 

Prague's oldest surviving building: the Rotunda of St. Martin (11th century)

The church of St. Peter and Paul and the wall around Vyšehrad 

A view of the Vltava River

A special thank you to Zach for helping me take pictures. Thanks for reading!