M L.
Yelp
As a skincare junkie, I looked forward to visiting City Pharma like any other tourist attraction. I researched things to buy, and really enjoyed that anticipation.
Most of the blogs recommended the same things, a little deeper research revealed other treasures. My target research was anti-aging products for mature skin. I wasn't real worried about price comparisons, I just trusted they would be good.
I got there on a Monday am in September, about 9:15, light crowd I sort of gawked and circled the first floor (there are 3 floors) for a few minutes then got to work. Most of what we go there for was on the first floor in the front section. Small aisles, very organized by brand. Beware there will be three variation of every product you are looking for so read the labels as best you can.
Plenty of help. Overall, English language assistance was not as good as I expected but that's on me. We got by, lol. Two topics I needed help on was a retinol product - and the sales woman was REALLY opinionated that the Darphin product was the best there was. Then, finding A313 pomade was a problem, one person told me they didn't carry it, two people later I found it was up on the third floor behind the counter. They had to request it from upstairs and it came down a chute to her. This was also the check out line, and there was no line, this was around 11am, although it was getting crowded downstairs
Well, what a jackpot! I came away with 2 retinol products, vitamin c moisturizer, sunscreens, shampoo, eyelash serum, and staples like micellar water, Embryolisse moisturizer, Biafine. I spent about $210 Euro and $70 of that was the Darphin retinol. I am gobsmacked looking at prices online, after the fact. I am convinced this haul could have cost me over $400 US back home.
A coupe of notes: the cashier packaged and sealed my bag for customs and completed my tax refund form (take your passport shopping with you) and and I was able to quickly scan it at the airport for my refund, I lost the micellar water at security because the bottle was too big (Pack it in your luggage and don't carry it on, my mistake).
I hope you enjoy your experience as much as I did!