Shopping in Paris
Gandola ride in Venice, surfing in Australia, hot chocolate in Switzerland, waffles in Belgium, architecture in Greece, art class in Florence - surprisingly Paris was never in my wish list. Well, according to my close friends, I don't have any romantic glands in which case it makes sense that the most romantic city didn't make it to my wish list. However, travelling from London made Paris a mandatory travel destination and I visited the place twice.
Even though it's a well known fact that Paris is also a shopping destination, I always assumed it would be extremely expensive to shop there. However, with a little bit of online research and inputs from an equally shopoholic friend, I soon realized that shopping in Paris is quite economical (Of course, anyone trying to shop in Galeries Lafayette or luxury outlets in Champs Elysees wouldn't agree). Listed below are few places I shopped for cosmetics:
Super markets: this is the last place I would have expected to be able to find such interesting and wide range of products from chocolates to skin care products. Unfortunately I went there almost at closing time and couldn't pick much. Also I was skeptical about the quality of products. As usual I bought a lip balm to test and was super impressed with it. Mentioned about it in the previous post.
Pharmacies: they r the best places in Europe to shop for skin care products. They have huge collection and good offers in brands like eau thermale, la Roche posey, Bio derma, L'Occitane, René furterer. I got majority of my shopping done in pharmacies. (The crème brulee flavored lindt chocolate is from supermarket and it is yum😍)
Sephora: world famous French cosmetic store is kind of obvious stop to shop in capital of France. I missed it on my first visit as I went for shopping on Sunday near galleries de Lafayette and almost everything is closed, which I later learnt is a norm in Europe. So, during next visit, we planned shopping on Saturday and to my surprise, when I went to Champs Elysees, the whole Lane is filled with shops not only open but bursting with crowd including the biggest Sephora store I ever saw. Anyway I got few things the day before.
Marionnaud: there are few tax free perfumeries in-between Lafayette and Louvre where high end perfumes and cosmetics are available. However, they have very limited collection. Then I discovered this place called Marionnaud - this on a Sunday too (not sure if I didn't explore well in previous visit or if it was an exceptional weekend). It had a good collection of cosmetics, skin care and perfumes from high end brands and there was an offer going on when we visited - 25%off on perfumes and buy 2 get 1 free on cosmetics. I bought Dior perfume for a friend and clarins lip perfectors I had been eyeing for a while. I didn't want to buy 3 lip products as I already had too many, so for third product I bought the Dior eye liner pencil. Later, in Champs Elysees Sephora store, I was drawn to these new edition Chanel lip stick and eye shadow stick when I remembered I had to go back to Louvre to meet up with my sister and paid another visit to Marionnaud. Ysl touché éclat highlighter became the third piece for the offer😊. Got so many samples too 👼 which is not very common in tax-free stores
Duty-free: most preferred place for many shoppers. However I found ferry duty-free to be less priced than airport's. Mentioned in detail in previous post.
Chocolatier: France is also quite known for its confectionaries - cookies, chocolates, macaroons which I ate before clicking 😋. I bought chestnut flavored chocolate powder and almond flavored chocolate powder from Maxim's in Louvre. Next time I would like to go on culinary tour 😃.
Technically I didn't buy this one in Paris but on flight from Paris to Geneva. They have decent collection and an additional 20% off. Piece of advice - don't go by high street prices given for comparison. The products are available for same if not slightly lesser prices in many stores. This bare minerals kit is available for 39£ in boots while in flight price was 40£ ( though I got it for 32£ due to 20% off)
Even though it's a well known fact that Paris is also a shopping destination, I always assumed it would be extremely expensive to shop there. However, with a little bit of online research and inputs from an equally shopoholic friend, I soon realized that shopping in Paris is quite economical (Of course, anyone trying to shop in Galeries Lafayette or luxury outlets in Champs Elysees wouldn't agree). Listed below are few places I shopped for cosmetics:
Super markets: this is the last place I would have expected to be able to find such interesting and wide range of products from chocolates to skin care products. Unfortunately I went there almost at closing time and couldn't pick much. Also I was skeptical about the quality of products. As usual I bought a lip balm to test and was super impressed with it. Mentioned about it in the previous post.
Pharmacies: they r the best places in Europe to shop for skin care products. They have huge collection and good offers in brands like eau thermale, la Roche posey, Bio derma, L'Occitane, René furterer. I got majority of my shopping done in pharmacies. (The crème brulee flavored lindt chocolate is from supermarket and it is yum😍)
Sephora: world famous French cosmetic store is kind of obvious stop to shop in capital of France. I missed it on my first visit as I went for shopping on Sunday near galleries de Lafayette and almost everything is closed, which I later learnt is a norm in Europe. So, during next visit, we planned shopping on Saturday and to my surprise, when I went to Champs Elysees, the whole Lane is filled with shops not only open but bursting with crowd including the biggest Sephora store I ever saw. Anyway I got few things the day before.
Marionnaud: there are few tax free perfumeries in-between Lafayette and Louvre where high end perfumes and cosmetics are available. However, they have very limited collection. Then I discovered this place called Marionnaud - this on a Sunday too (not sure if I didn't explore well in previous visit or if it was an exceptional weekend). It had a good collection of cosmetics, skin care and perfumes from high end brands and there was an offer going on when we visited - 25%off on perfumes and buy 2 get 1 free on cosmetics. I bought Dior perfume for a friend and clarins lip perfectors I had been eyeing for a while. I didn't want to buy 3 lip products as I already had too many, so for third product I bought the Dior eye liner pencil. Later, in Champs Elysees Sephora store, I was drawn to these new edition Chanel lip stick and eye shadow stick when I remembered I had to go back to Louvre to meet up with my sister and paid another visit to Marionnaud. Ysl touché éclat highlighter became the third piece for the offer😊. Got so many samples too 👼 which is not very common in tax-free stores
Duty-free: most preferred place for many shoppers. However I found ferry duty-free to be less priced than airport's. Mentioned in detail in previous post.
Chocolatier: France is also quite known for its confectionaries - cookies, chocolates, macaroons which I ate before clicking 😋. I bought chestnut flavored chocolate powder and almond flavored chocolate powder from Maxim's in Louvre. Next time I would like to go on culinary tour 😃.
Anyone going to Paris and have some luxury cosmetic/skincare products in their wish list, it's worth spending some time to check out their options.
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