It would be nearly impossible to take everything that I wanted with me to Germany in just my 50 pound suitcase; especially heavy bottles such as shampoo and body wash. Not only that, but it would be such a waste of space since many brands and products are offered in Europe just the same as they are in the US. (That said, keep your eyes out for Fridays post where I will be covering things that I plan on stocking up on because they are difficult to find.) Between a trip or two to the market and a strategic online order, I should have no problems getting the products I love without weighing myself down through the airport.

I thought, for both yours and my convenience that I would separate this list by where I am likely to find them in Frankfurt. Enjoy!

DM (drugstore):

• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Deep Conditioner
• Leave in Conditioner (I have dry hair ok! 😳)
• Pumice stone
• Heat Protectant
• Dry Shampoo (I might splurge and buy one from Lush though.)
• Bobby pins
• Toothpaste
• Cotton Swabs
• Cotton Pads (Both swabs and pads are insanely cheep in Germany btw)
• Nail Polish Remover
• Body Moisturizer

Kik (kinda like a dollar store):

• Flip Flops
• Towels

McPaper:

• Pens
• Stapler
• Scissors
• Paper

Apotheke (pharmacy):

• Bioderma (the most amazing makeup remover)

Online Order from Sephora:

• Body Wash(es)
• Facial Cleanser
• Beauty Blender Soap
• Foundation
• Setting Spray

As you can see, shopping is much more of an ordeal in Germany than the US. Without super stores like Walmart and Target, one has to travel to various stores to complete their shopping list. If I were in the US, this entire list would probably just be split between Walmart and Ulta/Sephora. That said, many of the items I plan on frequenting DM for, I could probably find at an Aldi or Rewe (grocery stores) but I’ll likely leave my grocery shopping until later in the week whereas I will need to visit DM one of the first day I arrive so I can shower and what not.

You may also notice that I have to go to a pharmacy to get my favorite make up remover. This isn’t because it’s an over-the-counter product but because the front end of pharmacies in Germany are like the high end make up counters in Macy’s (minus the individual sales associates at each station). Considering there’s practically a pharmacy on every corner, it’s actually more convenient to get luxury skincare here in comparison to at home.

The final thing worth noting is my order from Sephora. I have been compiling my shopping list well in advance on their website using their “love” function. When it’s time to place my order, I will just put all my Loved items in a cart and check out! Sephora offers a flat rate of 10€ for any order over 75€. This means I have incentive to place one large order rather than a few small ones. I’m really particular about my body wash which is going to end up costing me a pretty penny, but it will be worth it if I plan ahead and stock up on everything I can’t buy in a German store at once.

As always, I hope you found this helpful or interesting. Feel free to drop me a question below!