Source: Sephora Champs Elysées - Photo: Cosmetics IC
The CIC team opens the address book on our home city, Paris, revealing our top three destinations for beauty inspiration - from a reinvigorated flagship to a cult new favourite.
Read on to discover 3 of the Cosmetics IC Paris retail highlights:
33 Avenue des Champs-Élysées
Source: Rituals Champs Elysées - Image: Cosmetics IC
ID Sheet
With its warm and welcoming atmosphere, the Mind Oasis spa from Rituals offers a unique experience dedicated to mental relaxation and well-being. Taking a holistic approach aimed at soothing both the body and the mind, the spa offers two distinct experiences: Mental Relaxation and Hydromassage. The space comprises a 250-square-meter Rituals boutique on the ground floor and a 300-square-meter spa on the upper floor, featuring six Mental Relaxation cabins and nine Hydromassage beds.
Inspiration Seeds
This immersive well-being space responds to contemporary aspirations for unique wellness experiences. Appealing to time-pressured consumers, the spa offers relatively short services that can be undertaken during a lunch break or between appointments - the Mental Relaxation treatment lasts for 30 minutes, while a Hydromassage session takes just 20 minutes. Involving the latest technologies, including 4D sound stimulations, haptic vibrations and LED lights, treatments are designed to relieve tension and reinvigorate the body.
Source: Sephora Champs Elysées - Image: Cosmetics IC
ID Sheet
The iconic Sephora flagship on the Champs-Élysées (originally opened in 1996) recently reopened after a major renovation. Spanning 1,200 square meters, the new store design takes its inspiration from Parisian architecture - it features a 90-meter central aisle with stone paving and decorative details inspired by 19th century ironwork. The store comprises different thematic spaces covering fragrance, skincare, makeup, haircare, and beauty services, bringing together a lively and in-depth mix of over 300 luxury brands and cult labels.
Inspiration Seeds
Despite the grand renovation and impressive interior that gives the store a very clearly defined sense of place, what really marks this store out is the commitment to service. Haircare, skincare and brow maintenance are all covered, while a VIP lounge provides exclusive services to top-tier clients, including massages and makeup sessions. Enhancing the experience are animations like "Hot on Social Media" and "Fragrance Discovery" while at the back, an engraving workshop allows customers to personalize their fragrance bottles. The reopening of the store coincides with the build-up to the busy Holiday period, and re-establishes Sephora as Paris’s foremost beauty destination just in time for the Olympics.
Source: La French Beauty - Image: Cosmetics IC
ID Sheet
Founded by Sébastien Guerra, La French Beauty is a concept store that features a meticulously curated edit of 38 independent French cosmetic brands (known as “roommates”) that share a commitment to responsible practices. Described by Guerra as a "friendly, joyful, and passionate co-living space," La French Beauty captures France’s creative sensibility and commitment to craft. Categories covered include skincare, makeup, haircare, fragrance, supplement and babycare.
Inspiration Seeds
The store’s mix of cult and indie French brands makes it one of the best places in the city to source new product inspiration. Stocking well-known names such as All Tigers, Absolution, Huages (specializing in CBD), Madame la Présidente, Kadalys, Kerzon, and those catering to children and babies like Ouate and Poupon, it offers a diverse product range. Guerra hosts weekly in-store activities and events, including discussions, product trials, and meetings with brand founders, cultivating a lively and engaged community of French beauty fans.
The CIC Take
Paris has one of the most diverse beauty retail scenes, covering everything from legacy luxury brands to emerging independents, that proudly promote their “Made in France” credentials.
Our uniquely curated Inspiration Tours offer a comprehensive exploration of Paris and the richness of French craftsmanship - contact us today for your guide.