There is a new category of stores in Paris called "parapharmacie." As the name suggests, a parapharmacie is an offshoot of a pharmacy, but it focuses more on skin and haircare with a few vitamins/minerals and herbal teas thrown in for good measure. These stores have become more and more popular during the past five years, and, fortunately, they're scattered all over Paris.

When I first moved to Paris in 1991, I simply couldn't find the inexpensive yet high quality body lotions and liquid soaps that I had easily found in the States, usually in health food stores. Fortunately, I had a doctor who prescribed a body lotion and liquid soap for my sensitive skin and suggested I look for it in a parapharmacie. Voila (i.e. bingo!), I had found a reasonably priced team of skincare products: Topicrem and Bodygel by Charlieu. Later, I switched to the liquid soap Saforelle which I like even better, recommended by another French doctor. All to be found at very reasonable prices in any parapharmacie.

You can also check out the local parapharmacie for great, yet inexpensive gifts, especially for women. You'll see unusual brands but it's great, because they're really French! The last time I was in my local parapharmacie, I saw a ton of body creams, lotions and oils including one called "huile prodigeuse", a "multi- usage oil." (I guess you could say this would make a prodigious gift). There were also all kinds of emulsions, foaming cleansers, masques and serums (special facial care products that are liquid rather than oily so that they can penetrate deep into the skin). Many used natural plant-based scents.

There were also many perfumed bath salts and oils, plus plant-based hair products. They also had a nice assortment of French naturally scented soaps made with vegetable oils, and in the health section, herbal teas.

Besides all that, parapharacies are a great source for dental care products such as toothbrushes and dental floss, not easily found elsewhere.

Jeanne is the author of "Best Buys and Bargains in Paris", available on Amazon.com or by order from Barnes & Noble bookstores.