Belgian Treats

(Belgian chocolate from Mary Chocolaterie.)

Ryan spent last week in Belgium for a work conference, and he brought back some wonderful treats for me!  Before he went, I made sure to do my research, and discovered that Belgium is a great place to stock up on French beauty products found in the abundant pharmacies there.  Two great articles are by Bois de Jasmin and The Private Life of a Girl, if you are interested in learning more.  It’s common for visitors to bring an extra bag along to tote home their beauty finds, and that’s exactly what Ryan did, along with some Belgian beer, of course.

He also bought a lovely box filled with handmade chocolates from Mary Chocolaterie, and as you can see, the box is almost empty now.

(Beauty products from a Belgian pharmacy.)

My list of beauty items included anything by Roger & Gallet, a French parfumeur that no longer sells products in the United States.  I used their soap as a girl, when my mom was able to buy it at a local perfume store, but now it’s incredibly hard to find.  Ryan brought back a large collection of fragrant soaps (only three are pictured here), as well as some lovely body spray, too.  He also found Nuxe’s famous lip products, Rêve de Miel Ultra-Nourishing Lip Balm and the Lip Moisturizing Stick.  The balm is thick and heavy, meant to be used overnight and in cold weather, and the stick is great for everyday use.  Some of Nuxe’s products can be purchased online, so I can restock if I want to.

I didn’t get to visit Belgium myself, but these finds sort of make up for that fact.  And best of all, Ryan has a trip to Paris in the works, so I’m already working on another list.  Have you ever visited a French pharmacy? I’d love to hear about your favorite products.