Samaritaine, Paris

There’s something about beauty shopping in department stores that stress me out. Unless I am going in for a specific product, the glossy booths and the sheer number of choices make me run straight to the clothing floors or the exit sign. It is quite the challenge to create a boutique-y, curated environment when a colossal floor plan is involved. Well, Samaritaine has nailed it. And in this case, it is the largest beauty floor in Europe. The recently renovated historical shopping destination sits on one of the most Parisian locations of Paris – Pont Neuf – and has a beauty floor to remember.

I don’t know if it’s the mosaic floors, the natural lighting, the on-point brand selection, the amicable staff (cannot stress this more), the striking glass wall looking out to lush greenery, or all of the above: This is a space that makes you want to browse and/or buy beauty, but also, a beauty club you will want to become a part of. One of the best things about the experience is the service: The staff is knowledgeable about all brands and can become your very own beauty editors.

In terms of the brands, all of the major players are there (think M.A.C., Aesop, Le Labo, Dermalogica, Charlotte Tilbury, The Ordinary, Christophe Robin, Byredo (they carry all their makeup), Caudalie, Chanel…) but there are also hyped brands like Nuori, Augustinus Bader, Cosmoss, Paula’s Choice, Ouai and Westman Atelier. Their clean beauty section is also worth a look. The selection and the vibe do represent this moment in time, but without losing touch with the style of the chic city the store resides in. Samaritaine’s -1st floor is a haven for beauty aficionados and debutantes alike.

Wondertip: There is the Cinq Mondes spa also on the -1st floor with a menu of carefully selected beauty and well-being treatments for the face and body. My pick is the 20-minute face massage Ko Bi Do, a perfect mini-session to relax and rejuvenate the facial muscles.

9, rue de la Monnaie
@samaritaineparis