The best beauty shops in Paris range from the super chi-chi Chanel-ness of the brand’s dedicated shop in the Marais to the actually quasi-violent daily scrum of CityPharma. What are you in the mood for today?
These are my nine picks for the best beauty shops in Paris, noting that the department stores should not be ignored — especially the beauty department at BHV (my favorite department store in Paris) and Le Bon Marché (particularly the one in the women’s clothing department upstairs, more than the ground floor).
#1 Best Beauty Shop in Paris: Aroma Zone
Absolutely nothing I can say will prepare you for the majesty of Aroma-Zone — if you want to see real Parisiennes shopping, this is it. Aroma-Zone is like nothing I’ve ever seen in the U.S: We have Chanel. We have Diptyque and Caudalie and the rest. But we have nothing like Aroma-Zone. Here, you’ll find every sort of product required to make — like prepare from scratch — cosmetics, skincare, soap, haircare, and body care products: every essential oil you can imagine, carrier oils, emulsifiers, waxes — it’s half beauty supply shop, half chemistry lab. You’ll also find everything you need to prepare and package them, from measuring cups and countertop scales to plastic pots and glass bottles. If you’re a DIY beauty kind of girl, this is your heaven (as it is mine).
Several locations, including 25 rue de l’Ecole de Médecine, 75006. Métro: Odéon. aroma-zone.com
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#2 Best Beauty Shop in Paris: Oh My Cream!
Like a French version of Blue Mercury, Oh My Cream offers local labels like Chrisophe Robin and Les Huilettes alongside international stars like Ren and Tangent GC (Sweden), Girl Smells (Germany), Antipodes (New Zealand) — plus U.S. brands like Tata Harper, Dermalogica, and Burt’s Bees. Body treatments, manicures, and “coaching beauté” are available at some boutiques. This is also the easiest place to try out (and indeed buy) Violette’s thoroughly hyped line of Bisou Balms and Yeux Paints.
Several locations, including 17 rue Debelleyme, 75003. Métro: Filles du Calvaire. en.ohmycream.com
#3 Best Beauty Shop in Paris: Mademoiselle Bio
Take Oh My Cream! and substitute anything with chemicals for all-organic ranges and you have Mademoiselle Bio. You might find more unfamiliar brands here than at Sephora or even Oh My Cream! — like skincare brand Respire, Pulpe de Vie, and soap line Gaiia.
Several locations, including 28 rue des Archives, 75004. Métro: Hôtel de Ville. mademoiselle-bio.com
#4 Best Beauty Shop in Paris: Grande Pharmacie du Forum des Halles
This massive pharmacy in the Forum des Halles, a Westfield (lol) mall, has taken the top spot from CityPharma from the most discerning TikTok girlies. I’m not sure that you’ll find that much here you won’t find at CityPharma, but for me this is the much better shopping experience, with more room to move and if not a definitively more eclectic selection, certainly a better laid out space. (Also, some very long lines that move extremely fast.) You’ll find all the regulars here: Nuxe, Klorane, Avène, etc. etc. Check the website below for regular weekly sales.
Grande Pharmacie du Forum, 1 rue Pierre Lescot, Porte Rambuteau, Level 2, 75001. Métro: Châtelet–Les Halles. pharmacie-forum-halles-paris.com
#5 Best Beauty Shop in Paris: Chanel Beauté
For completists, this Marais shop—with the entirety of the brand’s perfume, skincare, and cosmetics lines, plus sundry accessories—is a must. Otherwise, you may feel more freedom to spritz at a department store’s Chanel counter: The hovering by the staff is intense here.
40 rue des Francs Bourgeois, 75003. Metro: St-Paul. chanel.com
#6 Best Beauty Shop in Paris: City Pharma
Half the experience at this Left Bank institution is the aggravation: It’s claustrophobic and crowded. The other half is the huge range of “French pharmacy” skincare labels, from Avène to Vichy to Phyto to La Roche-Posay, some of it significantly discounted. Try to come in the morning, or on a rainy day — and prepare nonetheless to battle for your spot.
26 rue du Four, 75006. Metro: St-Germain-des-Prés. pharmacie-citypharma.fr
#7 Best Beauty Shop in Paris: Diptyque
You already know the label — this is the birthplace of the super-expensive candle line. Baies and Feu du Bois are the classics. Also on offer: various gels and lotions for face and body. (Stick with the candles — oh, did you say you were interested in seeing a list of 46 of their classic scents ranked?)
34 boulevard Saint-Germain, 75005. Metro: Maubert-Mutualité. diptyqueparis.com
#8 Best Beauty Shop in Paris: Le Labo
This New York brand with the French founders (and name) hand-mixes all of its fragrances on site, which accounts in part for the prices. Come to the Upper Marais boutique for Vanille 44, the blockbuster Paris scent — a “city exclusive” only available here, except for one September week when it’s available at Le Labos worldwide.
7 rue Froissart, 75003. Metro: St-Sébastien-Froissart. lelabofragrances.com
#9 Best Beauty Shop in Paris: Monop’ Beauty
Imagine your favorite Target birthed a standalone beauty shop — that’s Monop’ Beauty, a wing of the Monoprix empire. This is the cheapest selection on this list, but there’s a smattering of bio/organic lines. Keep an eye out for Monoprix La Beauté, a small range of inexpensive products, like 150mls of makeup remover water for under $2.
Several locations, including 64 Rue Oberkampf, 75011. Métro: Oberkampf. monoprix.fr
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