Are vitamins and cosmetics available in airport stores

Well whoopsie! Sorry - your post wasn't clear on the fact that you will barely be leaving the airport. :D However, if you do find the Monoprix, you'll get awesome prices. Monoprix happens to be where we shop for our cosmetics and stuff.

There's no problem with taking your vitamins in a baggie in carryon. No one will even ask about them. Of course, prescription drugs are another matter. If your liquid cosmetics are in quantities small enough to go in your 3-1-1 bag, you can carry them on, too.

I've seen vitamins and cosmetics in airports, but it depends on what you're looking for specifically. You can stop into any drug store in France and Holland and get what you need when you get here. It's going to be cheaper than the airport store. FYI, there's also a ton of Sephora stores in Paris. For the cosmetics, they have everything.

Depends on the airport. Some airports have a huge ion of cosmetics and vitamins, and some have few-to-none. No matter the ion, they always seem to me to be scandalously over-priced. To solve just this problem, my husband and I always go shopping for HABA that we need when we get into town. Russell buys shaving cream and razors, we get shampoo and conditioner and soap, and sometimes I get Vitamin C or bandaids or something else like that. We love trying out neat European brands that we couldn't find or try at home. It makes us feel like we live there! And the prices are MUCH better than at an airport shop. At an airport, you are trapped like a rat, and they can hike up the prices as high as they choose, or so it seems.

Oh very good. Thanks. I fly into Paris (CDG) next Thursday, stay the night and leave for Amsterdam on Friday. So could get the vits and cosmetics in Paris while recovering from jet lag - the result could be creative - never bought cosmetics while half asleep. Am staying near Gare du Nord and understand there is a good store called Monoprix (wrong name but close) that has lots of stuff. Will look for a Sephora - like their stuff.

Not sure about the airport, but depending on what vitamins you take, you may find it difficult to purchase them in Paris. In general, there isn't the large selection of vitamins available like in the US. (and some vitamines require a prescription!) Your best bet is either a natural type store or the pharmacy. Sephora or Monoprix or Yves Rocher will have cosmetics. You'll be able to find other HABA products in any supermarket.

If in doubt you could always take only the quantity you need in the original bottle, then after arrival transfer the quantities to baggies and throw away the bottles. Vitamins and cosmetics can be more expensive than the ones we buy here.

I visited a cosmetics counter in a department store and was given a tiny sample of liquid foundation and have used that same container for years, just refilling as needed. I also use a cream blush that I put into another tiny container that I had. For my pills I use small plastic zip bags sold in the pharmacy section. My pharmacist did print an extra set of labels for me to put on my own bag or container so that I didn't need to take the large pill bottle he used.

Thanks everyone! Think I will stick with the baggies of vitamins and if the TSA tosses them then it will be Monoprix for me on day one in Paris. Apparently there is a Monoprix near the hotel.

Alice- while TSA may have no restrictions, customs agents may very well want to see what that pill is, and that it was prescribed for you by a doctor. I would guess that's why you received so much advice on carrying in the original bottle.

Very good point! Thank you. I forgot about the customs restrictions. What a bizarre world we live in.....

Alice, TSA has NO RESTRICTIONS on what types of containers you use for your prescription pills. (other than liquids or gels, etc.) "Medications in daily dosage containers are allowed through the checkpoint ............" "We do not require that your medications be labeled." http://www.tsa.dhs.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/editorial_1374.shtm#4 I take many of mine in my 7 day pill box, and throw the rest together in a zip lock bag, or any other container that I may have. I have NEVER run into any problem doing this. (of course, if I was transporting an Opiate, it would make common sense to have it in an original container. You can never tell what some overzealous TSA inspector would want to do....)

That is very interesting. Thanks for the web site - it is pretty clear. Wonder why everyone (Dr, pharmancy, etc) says the meds must be in labelled original container.

There are benefits to having a labeled prescription if you get stuck or are delayed overseas and run out. My prescriptions are in a labeled package (and I NEVER check them, if the bag goes missing you have no recourse at all). Ask your pharmacist if they will consider packaging in smaller bottles if that's the issue. I personally have never had issues taking unlabeled OTC meds and vitamins in a plastic baggie in my carry on - even in AMS where they were extremely thorough inspecting me and my bags, they were more concerned with x-raying (multiple times) my night guard tooth appliance than the flax capsules.

I've never had a problem with vitamins and they are always in my carry-on (paranoia about lost checked bags). I once ran out of calcium and had to buy them in Paris - like about 10 times what they cost at Costco.

@Chani Calcium in France. Couldn't you just eat cheese with a concentrated calcium content?

Did that too! Too bad there's no calcium in the wine, would have saved me some money, since I drank enough of it.