Wondering where to shop for beauty? Here’s a guide to the best beauty stores in Paris.  Susan and I make a point to visit one or more French pharmacies to stock up on our favorite products. It’s a must do!

The Galerie Lafayette

The Galerie Lafayette is an upmarket French department store chain. Its flagship store is on Boulevard Haussmann in the 9th arrondissement of Paris but it now operates in a number of other locations in France and other countries. Aside from their impressive clothing selection Galeries Lafayette has one of the largest arrays of cosmetics and perfume into their famous ground floor atrium. Ornate golden fixtures adorn the traditional Parisian architecture to create the ultimate shopping location. From Chanel to Nuxe, there’s something for everyone and every budget. Added bonus, the store is also home to an incredible rooftop terrasse and several in-store restaurants. Galerie Lafayette, 40 Boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris.

Le Bon Marche Rive Gauche

Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche is the oldest department store on the Left Bank. It offers customers a unique shopping experience: preferential services, attentive advisors, and personalized assistance. La Petite Epicerie de la Beaute is the beauty department located on the ground and first floor. (I purchase my favorite perfume here.) “Our little ‘beauty deli’ always has new things on the counters with special events and surprises to showcase seasonal fashion products. The Petite Epicerie de la Beauté also offers lots of smart services to suit modern lifestyles.”Finally, Le Bon Marche offers beauty services such as make-up lessons, beauty treatments for hands and feet, and skincare treatments. Le Bon Marche, 24 Rue de Sèvres, 75007 Paris. 24S

Buly 1803

Buly 1803 is a sort of apothecary heaven. There are two shops in Paris: one in the trendy Le Marais neighborhood and one on Rue Bonaparte, right across the Seine from the Louvre. Both shops have little elegant bottles of lotions, soaps, and oils lining their dark-wooded walls, with prices that reflect the quality of the products but that won’t break your travel budget, either. Buly 1803 is one of the most perfect beauty shops in Paris if you’re looking for a truly unique French souvenir.

Check out the monogramed lip balm, Baume des Muses. Made only with natural ingredients, its chock-full of moisturizing, repairing and protective organic ingredients.  Buly 1803, 45 rue de Saintonge, 75003 Paris.

Oh My Cream

Oh My Cream is the best beauty store in Paris that focuses on clean and natural beauty products. For me, Oh My Cream is the Sezane of beauty or the French version of SpaceNK. This French beauty store offers a curated selection of beauty products based on products’ ingredients and efficiency. Oh My Cream offers local labels like Esthederm, Joelle Ciocco, Leonor Greyl alongside international brands like Aurelia Probiotics, Antipodes, Dermalogica. They also have a selection of their own products that adhere to their company’s three-step skincare routine. Free skin diagnosis, masterclass, and skin treatments are available at the Parisian boutique. Oh My Cream, 17 rue Debelleyme, 75003. en.ohmycream.com

Joelle Ciocco

Joëlle Ciocco is an internationally recognized French beauty expert who shares the best French beauty tips for flawless and healthy skin. She’s the creator of the Centre de Soins Joëlle Ciocco in Paris. You can consult her about beauty advice and any kind of skin concerns. She formulates beauty products with customized solutions to meet the needs of each unique skin type. She’s an epidemiologist –expert of the skin-, a biochemist and she is working closely with L’Oréal Group as a Global Facial Expert. Centre de Soins Epidermologue®, 8 Place de la Madeleine 75008 Paris. joelle-ciocco.com

Biologique Recherche

Biologique Recherche is a French beauty brand founded 40 years ago by a biologist, a physiotherapist, and a doctor. The goal of the brand was to develop formulations for professionals who have been dissatisfied with existing products. Biologique Recherche skincare products are formulated with a high concentration in botanical, marine and biological extracts, and without artificial fragrances. You might have heard of Biologique Recherche for its well-known P50 Lotion. If worths going to the Biologique Recherche Spa located on the Champs-Élysées. Biologique Recherche, 32 Avenue des Champs-Élysées, 75008 Paris. biologique-recherche.com

La Maison Guerlain

The Guerlain House located on one of the most famous avenues in the world -the Champs-Elysees- is the ultimate luxury beauty shop in Paris. The construction of the Guerlain House took place in 1914, led by the architect Charles Mewès, who was also the architect of the Ritz in Paris and the Carlton in London. I think the Guerlain House is the best place to explore the brand. In the same place, customers can visit a fragrance gallery, a luxurious spa, and an exceptional restaurant led by Michelin-starred chef Guy Martin. La Maison Guerlain, 68 avenue des Champs-Élysées, 75008 Paris.

City Pharma  ( near our hotel!)

It could seem strange to add a pharmacy to the list of the best beauty stores in Paris. In France, pharmacies are the ultimate health and beauty destination where you can find a full range of affordable and effective beauty products. If there are pharmacies in every street of Paris, the biggest and the least expensive of all is City Pharma. In this beauty store, you can find all the French beauty products that are either unavailable or way more expensive abroad: Bioderma, Caudalie, Avene, La Roche-Posay, and more. Make sure to have a list ready, and be prepared to queue. City Pharma, 26 rue du Four, 75006. Metro: St-Germain-des-Prés. pharmacie-citypharma.fr