Blondie

I want to buy some fantastic skin care products, bath soaps, perfume (fruity/flowery but not too sweet) etc. while I am in France (Paris). What is the best at the moment?<BR>Also, what is London known for? I would like to buy something trendy or new from there as well but I can't think of any products that area is known for.<BR>Help?

Lola

From London:<BR>Jo Malone <BR>Penhalligans Perfumes (both sold in the US but only in Neimans and Saks)<BR>Paris:<BR>I love Roc products for the skin <BR>and while I wear Cartier perfume, friends swear by Annick Goutal fragrances which can be found in the Annick Goutal store on the Left Bank.<BR>I like going into Sheisedo for makeup brushes on Blvd St Germain.<BR>Mariage Frers makes tea scented candles that are lovely as are there other tea products.<BR>Have fun!<BR>

EyeSpyEurope

France has so many skin care products you could purchase, you won't want for choice! A lot of high quality skincare and haircare products/shampoos are available in pharmacies. You'll see the large, cardboard advertisements everywhere. Very good French brands are: Clarins, Lierac, Biotherm (although I believe it's made in Monaco), Vichy, Decleor, Evian, Shu Uemura (He's Japanese but has a HUGE skincare/make up boutique on Blvd. Saint-Germain by Caf&eacute; Flore, Phytomer (great hair products), Bourjois (available at Monoprix; most people don't know Bourjois is made by the same company that makes CHANEL products) etc. Clarins is much cheaper in France and everything they have is of pure high quality. You can find their products in any grand magasin (Dept. Store) or at places like Sephora in the Forum des Halles or on the Champs-Elys&eacute;es. Guerlain has many great products too, but in France, their skincare products and perfumes are only sold in official Guerlain boutiques (there's one on rue Tronchet and Blvd. Haussman opposite Printemps and another on the Champs Elys&eacute;es close to the Rond-Point). Just going in is great. Lastly, you may want to try Payot. Payot has a boutique on rue de la Paix on the right hand side as you approach Place Vend&ocirc;me. &quot;Lancaster&quot; products are German.

Wendy

There are some great products from Lush which I believe is a British company. I just found a store in Cananda and am already planning my next purchase online! <BR><BR>In Paris there are always so many new products why not ask around at a couple of shops to find out what the locals really like?<BR><BR>Wendy

grandmere

L'Occitane soaps, lotions, etc., in Paris at their own stores; good one on Ile St. Louis.

BTilke

A few other brands for France:<BR>Caudalie (very &quot;in&quot; at the moment)--available at pharmacies. Excellent soap and their moisturizers are really soothing. Their perfume is light and refreshing. <BR>Sothys--another very high quality brand, but only available at salons, not at stores like Sephora or pharmacies.<BR>The Biguine chain of hair salons also makes some very nice skin care products at moderate prices. Their &quot;fleur de lait&quot; cleansing milk is excellent. The skin care products are very similar to Sisley (made at the same labs), but at half the price.<BR>

vanphoto

I'm a fan of Clarins and found good prices at the duty free shop before I left. It was convenient not to have to carry it during my trip as well.

Ronda

I brought back L'Occitane hand cream in tubes for my sisters for Christmas and they loved it. It really is great and has a pleasant scent. I also bought olive oil soap which I don't particularly care for. Yes, you can buy L'Occtaine here but it is more expensive. I believe the $15 large tube of handcream I bought in Paris was $21 here. The shea butter is expensive and I didn't particularly care for it. Hard to use. Wish I would have tried some of their other soaps. <BR><BR>My husband felt left out when I was purchasing my gifts and bought himself shower gel and cream (cinnamon, I think). The sales girl tossed in a sample tube of face cream and it is wonderful.<BR><BR>The store on Ile St. Louis gave us more samples than the store &quot;downtown&quot;. <BR><BR>

BTilke

I tried posting this three times yesterday with no success. Perhaps it will take today. <BR>Whenever you buy skin care, perfume or cosmetics in France (or Belgium) ALWAYS ASK FOR SAMPLES!! (&quot;enchantillons&quot; in French) Most places are very happy to hand them out, especially if they're introducing new products or lines or if you're asking for help about a skin care problem (the French consider themselves great problem solvers and their skin care advice is usually excellent). I've got tons of samples from Caudalie, Biotherm, Lierac, Roc, Vichy, Clarins, etc. I save them for travel or give them to friends back in the U.S. who want to try new European products. Many of the samples are pretty good sized and last a long time. One pharmacy gave me such a big sample tube of the Caudalie facial moisturizer, I haven't had to buy any yet!

Ursula

Lola,<BR><BR>Next time in Paris, try to go the wonderful Shiseido shop under the arcades of the Palais-Royal (it's on the East side of the square). Most beautiful shop selling also the famous Serge Lutens perfumes.

kawh

in london, i would go to 'molton brown'. they do mostly bath, but also skin care.

they were one of the very few beauty products that i saw in london that was actually made in the u.k. also, they wrap beautifully, so it's an ideal gift.

there's one right at covent gardens (sort of behind the opera, as i recall) and it's also sold in high end department stores.

Odin

This old thread was topped by a spammer.

However, since you are speaking about UK beauty products, try Liz Earle. Their products are very very good and have won several awards.

http://uk.lizearle.com/

TPaxe

Roger et Gallet products are very good also on Ils st Louis there is a wonderful shop, French products called Durance. Not very expensive!! beautifully packaged. NUXE does wonderfully scented dry oil, great for the beach.

L'Occitane in France is very high quality too and great range.