French Pharmacy Stocking up, the Smart Way: Travel Tips to Save More on Your Beauty Haul

French pharmacies have long been a beauty and wellness destination for international travellers. From cult skincare products to family essentials, many visitors take advantage of their trip to France to stock up on pharmacy favourites that are often more expensive or simply unavailable back home. 

The good news? If you live outside the European Union, you can make your pharmacy haul even smarter by claiming back the VAT on your purchases with Zapptax. 

1. Build your pharmacy restock list by need 

Rather than buying impulsively, consider creating a simple shopping list based on your household’s needs. French pharmacies offer excellent value when purchasing several months’ worth of products at once, especially when planning ahead to optimise your VAT refund on larger, consolidated purchases.  

For dry and sensitive skin 

• La Roche-Posay Lipikar Baume AP+M 

• Avène Cicalfate+ 

• CeraVe Moisturising Cream 

• Bioderma Atoderm range 

For sun protection 

• La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF50+ 

• Avène SPF50+ sunscreens 

• Sunscreen family multipacks 

For hair care 

• Klorane Dry Shampoo 

• Klorane Mango Shampoo 

• Hair and scalp treatments 

And don’t forget the French pharmacy icons: 

• Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse 

• Caudalie Vinoperfect Serum 

• Caudalie Beauty Elixir 

Curious about potential savings? You can estimate your VAT refund in advance using the Zapptax calculator before your trip.  

2. Combine your purchases to maximise your VAT refund 

One of the biggest mistakes travellers make is splitting their shopping into multiple small purchases. Instead, group your purchases into a larger pharmacy haul. 

With Zapptax, receipts from different pharmacies are automatically brought together into a single tax-free claim. This simplifies the process, helps you reach the minimum threshold faster, and ensures you optimise your overall VAT refund without changing the way you shop. 

3. No time to shop in-store? Shop online and still claim VAT back 

Running out of time before your trip ends? 

Many travellers don’t realise that online purchases made while in France can also qualify for VAT refunds. 

This means you can order your favourite French pharmacy products, have them delivered during your stay, and still benefit from tax-free shopping. 

It’s an ideal solution if you want to avoid crowded stores or realise at the last minute that you forgot essentials like sunscreen or skincare staples. 

In cities like Paris, some pharmacies even stay open late or operate at night, making last-minute shopping easier than expected. Discover the list of pharmacies that are open 24/7 to help you plan your shopping more flexibly.  

4. Claim your VAT refund with Zapptax 

To benefit from a VAT refund on your purchases the process is simple: 

• request invoices in Zapptax’s name when shopping in Pharmacies, 

• upload it directly in the app, 

• your tax-free forms are generated in the app by Zapptax, 

• validate your tax free forms at customs when leaving the EU, 

• receive your refund from Zapptax afterwards. 

Whether you’re stocking up on everyday pharmacy essentials, skincare favourites, or seasonal must-haves like sunscreen, Zapptax ensures you never leave part of your money behind when travelling home.  

Download the app to make the most out of your purchases.