Paris Shopping Tips: Q&AReader Questions Answered

REVISE  Choosing where to stay in Paris can be challenging simply because you have so many wonderful options.  Each neighborhood offers its own vibe, attractions, things to do, places to shop, and of course, appealing cafes, bistros, and restaurants.  So naturally, you may have lots of questions.

In the Sunday edition of my free Paris Discoveries Newsletter, I answer reader questions about Paris travel.  Not surprisingly, where to stay and which hotel to book are among the most frequent inquiries. 

This article is part of the Paris Discoveries Q&A Archive and brings together my answers about neighborhoods, arrondissements, and choosing the right area and hotel for your stay.

Some questions focus on the best neighborhood for your first visit, the feel of different areas, and choosing the right hotel when online reviews vary.  I've lightly edited, expanded, and updated my original answers, and added photos to make this a more complete Paris travel resource. 

Interested in staying in the Marais or Saint-Germain?  You'll find those Q&A archives here:

• Where to Stay in the Marais (placeholder: add links later)
• Where to Stay in Saint-Germain (placeholder: add links later)

Where's the Best Place to Purchase Louis Vuitton Bags?

Kim's Question:

Where in Paris is the best place, and most reasonable to purchase Louis Vuitton bags?

Susan's Reply:

Although Paris has Louis Vuitton stores in almost a dozen locations, including within several of the big department stores (Galeries Lafayette, Printemps, Bon Marché, Samaritaine), their flagship store on Champs Elysees is the most likely location to maintain the best inventory.  You can make a reservation online to shop there, which may save you some time, because they limit the number of shoppers who can be inside the store at one time.

Louis Vuitton is notorious/well-known (depending on your perspective) for never discounting their prices, not even during the big twice-yearly Paris sales periods when every other French brand including Hermès does, nor do they let their products be sold in discount stores for lower prices.

They state that if you find LV merchandise for less than their regulated price, it's counterfeit or a fake.

Fun fact: There's a Paris museum, Musée de Contrefaçon, devoted to educating the public about the protection of intellectual property and the costs and dangers counterfeit goods. It's located in a former private mansion donated by a grandson of Louis Vuitton, and is quite interesting if you're in the general neighborhood.

What Is the Best Place in Paris to Buy French Skincare Products & Makeup?  Which Brands Are the Best?

Kim's Question:

I am enjoying your newsletter and getting lots of great ideas for my stay in Paris.  I am in Paris for the month of April.

One of my goals is to return home with French skincare products and make-up. Where is the best place to find these and can you recommend any brands?

Susan's Reply:

I also love French skincare products and stock up every time I'm in Paris!   As you probably already know, even the brands that are also sold in the U.S. have somewhat different formulations than those sold in France, and in my opinion, the French versions are better.

First, where to get them: In Paris, skincare products are sold in a variety of places: pharmacies (which in France are stores owned and run by pharmacists who also fill prescriptions, sell over the counter-type-meds and supplies, and other products, and provide first-line medical advice - to spot them, look for green neon cross signs), parapharmacies which are not owned by pharmacists and therefore can't fill prescriptions or give medical advice, and stores - everything from the big department stores to Monoprix to stand-alone make up stores. Also, skin care salons and spas also carry skin care products, usually in the expensive to exorbitantly-expensive price range.

All the Parisian women who I know swear by the pharmacies for their wide range of high-quality choices, onsite experts, and reasonable prices. That's where I shop too. But not all pharmacies are the same - some specialize in primarily medical or health-related items and services, so you may need to look around a bit to find one with a wide range of skin care options and a trained specialist to help you.

Now, specific recommendations: My favorite pharmacie, at the moment, is Pharmacie de la Place de la République in the 3rd arrondissement, a.k.a. the Upper (or Haute) Marais - big range of products, and a super-helpful and knowledgeable specialist. I just tell her the type of things you want (moisturizer, serum, cream, etc), and she looks at my skin and gives me what she thinks I need.   I've been super-pleased with everything she's suggested.

For sunblocks, I stick with La Roche-Posay, because my former dermatologist was admittedly obsessive about researching and testing to find the best, and that's what she recommended. I also like their moisturizers.

Other brands that I like for skin care are Nuxe, Avene, Caudalie, and Clarins - but there are sooo many good brands, and so what I like doesn't matter. What does matter is what's best for your skin, and that's where the specialist will be of invaluable help.

So check out the skin care area in the pharmacies near where you're staying, find the ones with the biggest, broadest selections, and with a knowledgeable specialist (if there is one, they'll come up and ask if they can help you).

Also - there's no need to spend a small fortune. So don't get sucked into the illusion that you have to spend a ton of money to get the "best" Dior or other "designer" products.

Makeup: You can buy basic products like mascara in many pharmacies, but the stand-alone makeup stores may be a better option because they usually have bigger selections.

In general, most Parisian women wear little-to-no makeup - they're more into prevention (sun block) and skincare (creams, serums, etc.).  However, if you wear mascara or eyeliner, according to my current optometrist, that's definitely worth buying in France because the EU bans certain chemicals used for color, preservatives, etc, which she said can be harmful to eyes. 

I'm guessing the same may be true for lipstick since that's around your mouth - but she focused only on eye products.

See Questions & Answers on Similar Topics

Should You Split Your Paris Stay between 2 or More Neighborhoods & Hotels? - Find out when and why to consider doing this, plus practical tips

Paris Discoveries Q&A Archive - See Q&As on all topics

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