PARIS INSPIRATION TOUR: Must-see stores in Le Marais

Continuing our Inspiration Tour of Paris, the team highlights its most inspiring new spots in Le Marais, a neighbourhood known for its mix of independent boutiques and innovative concept stores.

Discover some of our must-sees in Le Marais:

Korres - Photo Cosmetics IC

Korres

76 Rue Vieille du Temple, 75003

The Korres boutique in Paris's 3rd arrondissement symbolizes the Greek brand's commitment to natural beauty and botanical science. The store seamlessly blends apothecary tradition with scientific innovation, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere reminiscent of an old pharmacy. The boutique’s material palette of stone, wood, and glass fosters an organic ambience that reflects the ingredients' purity.

Products are displayed by range and organized by skincare category or ingredient. Posters on the walls highlight the benefits of key ingredients such as honey and Greek yoghurt.

DOVER STREET MARKET

35-37 Rue des Francs Bourgeois, 75004

The iconic retail concept of Dover Street Market, founded by the visionary designer Rei Kawakubo, has landed in a 17th-century Parisian mansion. The store experience is rooted in discovery and driven by experimentation, distinguished by its innovative fusion of art, fashion, and culture set within a disruptive retail environment. Unlike traditional stores, DSM is conceived as an artistic space where every corner offers a new narrative. The interiors are intentionally non-linear, featuring bold art installations, innovative architectural structures, and product displays that challenge conventional retail design. Clothing is showcased on rounded, curved forms, ensuring that no piece touches the walls, creating a fluid, immersive experience. Raw materials like concrete, metal, and wood create an industrial aesthetic, contrasting with luxurious elements and contemporary artworks. The store operates as a living art gallery, allowing customers to explore and discover iconic fashion pieces in a setting that constantly evolves.

Dover Street Market Paris - Photo Cosmetics IC

Dover Street Parfums -  Photo Cosmetics IC

DOVER STREET PARFUMS

11 bis Rue Elzevir, 75003

Dover Street Parfums is the only DSM location in the world devoted entirely to beauty, featuring a carefully curated selection of niche brands known for their unique vision. The store's design is distinctly futuristic, starkly contrasting its surroundings. Fragrances are displayed in egg-shaped niches, showcasing iconic fashion favourites like Maison Margiela, Helmut Lang, and Byredo, alongside cult brands like Arpa Studios, Golf le Fleur, and Raer, as well as scientific skincare lines. Spanning two floors, the store strongly emphasises non-binary cosmetics, reflecting a modern approach to beauty.

The store layout is designed to invite customers to explore and uncover hidden gems in its various nooks and crannies, offering a shopping experience filled with unexpected discoveries.

NEURAé

48 Rue Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie, 75004

The Neuraé concept store goes beyond merely selling products; it fosters a holistic experience that encourages customers to connect their emotional well-being with their skincare routine, establishing itself as a must-visit destination for innovative wellness spaces.

The store offers the brand's full range of products and features three distinct spaces dedicated to education and wellness. These include a meditation corner, a masterclass area, and an interactive headband experience. Here, a headband connects to a screen where the wearer’s emotions, evoked by applying Neuraé products, are visualized as artistic expressions. This interactive approach blends skincare with emotional well-being, making the store a truly immersive experience.

Neuraé - Photo Cosmetics IC 

INSPIRATION TOURS

Our Inspiration Tours are individually tailored guides to the world’s best beauty cities. From the K-beauty capital of Seoul to the laid-back cool of Los Angeles - we know where to shop and what to see to inspire your next innovation.

Contact the team today for more information.

Follow us on LinkedIn (Cosmetics Inspiration & Creation) and on X, Instagram and TikTok (@cosmeticseeds)

PARIS INSPIRATION TOUR: Around the 8th arrondissement

The team recently wandered from the 8th to the 1st arrondissement, seeking inspiration in Paris’s most innovative retail spaces. Along the way, we encountered the diversity and depth of the city’s shopping scene - from dynamic pop-ups to immersive concept stores.

Discover 6 of our favorite finds from the 8th:

KAIST X AMOREPACIFIC - Photo Cosmetics IC

KAIST X AMOREPACIFIC

Centre Culturel Coréen, 20 rue la Boétie, 75008

A collaborative installation from KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) and the K-beauty group Amorepacific explores the fusion of technological innovation and beauty. Merging minimalist Korean design with interactive technology, the experience begins with a skin tone scanner that identifies the visitor’s ideal color palette and recommends products from the Amorepacific brand, TONEWORK. Following this, AI technology analyzes the specific undertones of the skin using a small card placed on the jaw to suggest the most suitable shade of Hera foundation, tailored to desired preferences (a luminous finish, a darker shade, or specific undertones like yellow or pink). The recommended shades can then be tested on-site, with over 205 custom foundation options available. Purchases, however, must be made online.

CAFE DE LA ROSE

52 Avenue des Champs-Élysées, 75008

Located on the iconic Champs Elysées, the Café de la Rose Lancôme offers a multisensory experience that captures the essence of the brand through its star ingredient: the rose. Upon entering, the subtle fragrance of roses immediately immerses visitors in the Lancôme universe. The café's décor is a palette of pinks, accented with touches of gold and white, and accompanied by oversized floral motifs and elements inspired by the brand’s fragrances. A cafe counter serves rose-inspired pastries crafted by Nina Metayer (recognized as the world's best pastry chef in 2023 and 2024), which can be eaten out on the flower-covered terrace or taken away in personally customized gift boxes. The whole experience is elevated by dancing robots that pluck a Lancôme rose from a display, allowing customers to spray it with their chosen fragrance.

CAFE DE LA ROSE - Photo Cosmetics IC

SKIMS POP-UP - Champs Elyséess - Photo Cosmetics IC

SKIMS

60 Avenue des Champs-Élysées, 75008

The SKIMS pop-up store (until September 3rd), situated in the atrium of the Galeries Lafayette Champs Élysées, presents an edited selection of products from the celebrity brand. Though located at the heart of the department store, the presence of SKIMS is signposted by mannequins dressed in the brand's signature shapewear, displayed prominently at the entrance and along the main staircase. The pop-up allows clients to explore the Fits Everybody line, featuring underwear, bodysuits, and t-shirts, as well as the Seamless Sculpt collection, which includes shapewear, loungewear, and ready-to-wear pieces in cotton. Additionally, select items from the swimwear collection are also available.

ON

65-67 Avenue des Champs-Élysées,75008

Cult running shoe brand ON has unveiled its second store in Paris and its largest to date. The 1,513m² flagship occupies a classic Haussmannian building, but the Parisian charm on the exterior gives way to an industrial and functional interior that has become a signature aesthetic of the performance-led brand. Stone walls, LED light panels, and concrete floors create a modern, minimalist atmosphere, complemented by industrial display units, counters, and stainless steel shelving. The store spans three levels: the first floor features tennis and training collections, the lower level is dedicated to running shoes, bags, and accessories, and the upper level showcases lifestyle products, indicating the brand's expansion into a broader fashion label.

ON - Champs Elysées - Photo Cosmetics IC

Issey Miyake Paris - Photo Cosmetics IC

ISSEY MIYAKE

28 Rue François 1er, 75008

Located on Rue François 1er, the 360m², two-storey ISSEY MIYAKE store combines art and fashion in a setting characterized by contemporary architecture. The interior, crafted by Tokyo-based designer Tokujin Yoshioka, features two walls entirely covered in anodized aluminum, painted in a custom shade of orange, creating an energetic and futuristic atmosphere. The store reflects Issey Miyake's approach, emphasizing minimalist design and a detailed exploration of materials and forms, consistent with the brand's avant-garde ethos. The store is designed to function as an integrated brand experience, displaying the innovation and craftsmanship associated with the brand's global reputation. Here, visitors can discover elements from the Pleats Please, Homme Plissé, A-POC ABLE, Bao Bao, and 132 5 collections, with the Homme Plissé collection further supplemented by an explanatory corner featuring videos that delve into the details of the collection.

MAISON DYPTIQUE

7 Rue Duphot, 75001

Designed as a living space, this 400 m² boutique on Rue Duphot blends retail with culture, within the architectural elegance of a Parisian apartment. The boutique is a showcase of craftsmanship and artistry, hosting exhibitions, workshops, and events throughout the year. A key feature of the Diptyque experience in this boutique is the dedicated space for fragrance customization. In the summer, the boutique transformed to host an ephemeral space celebrating the centenary of Villa Noailles, where ten young French artists were given carte blanche to create unique decorations on the large-format candles available for sale.

Diptyque - Photo Cosmetics IC

INSPIRATION TOURS

Our Inspiration Tours are individually tailored guides to the world’s best beauty cities. From the K-beauty capital of Seoul to the laid-back cool of Los Angeles - we know where to shop and what to see to inspire your next innovation.

Contact the team today for more information.

Follow us on LinkedIn (Cosmetics Inspiration & Creation) and on X, Instagram and TikTok (@cosmeticseeds)

Inspiration Tour: Paris Retail Snapshot

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:


Mind Oasis by Rituals

33 Avenue des Champs-Élysées

www.rituals.com

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.



Sephora

72 Av. des Champs-Élysées

www.sephora.fr

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.     

INSPIRATION TOUR: SEOUL RETAIL SNAPSHOT

This month, CIC Chief Inspirations Officer Leila Rochet has been shopping and gallery hopping in Seoul, traversing the K-beauty capital to source the latest cult products, cutting-edge innovations and creative inspirations to feed the agency’s trend division.

When it comes to Beauty it’s hard to beat South Korea for innovation - from ground-breaking formulations, game-changing trend directions and awe-inspiring retail concepts. And retail has never been so dynamic, propelled by local brands that play with the codes of K-style.

Read on to discover 3 of Leila’s Seoul retail highlights:

1. ADER ERROR

518-11 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 

Image - Copyright - Cosmetics Inspiration & Creation

ID Sheet: Known for bold and ultra-creative in-store experiences and conceptual fashions, Ader’s latest store takes a sci-fi leap into the future of multi-reality store design. Part retail store, part art gallery, the space is dedicated to the brand’s progressive vision and challenges customers to interact with their surroundings. Ader is also phygital retailing pioneer - customers can shop and try on goods virtually via Zepeto, take an online VR tour, or interact with in-store digital artworks and interfaces.

Inspiration Seeds: The store’s emphasis on experience encourages customers to truly discover, and engage with, the products. The giant fountain at the centre of the store is a highlight, but in the Ader world nothing is quite as it seems: a changing room can also double as a noraebang singing room, fixtures and fittings move on demand. 

2. WIGGLE WIGGLE.ZIP

1 Eonju-ro 168-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul

Image - Copyright - Cosmetics Inspiration & Creation

ID Sheet: This joyful multilevel concept store truly lives up to the lifestyle brand’s motto of, “let's make the obvious fun”. And so, over four floors, you will discover a riot of super-colourful homewares, accessories, pet products, toiletries and trinkets featuring the brand’s signature flower or bear motif. 

Inspiration Seeds: A favourite with K-Pop icons including BLACKPINK’s Jennie, Wiggle Wiggle.Zip is unapologetically playful. The store features a number of key interactive areas that are primed for Instagram photos and TikTok videos, where shoppers can pose with props against colourful backdrops, hang around in ‘upside down’ rooms or try out toiletries in a section styled like a cutesy home bathroom. 


3. THE PERFUME CLUB BY SOOHYANG

28 Seongsui-ro 7-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul

Copyright - Cosmetics Inspiration & Creation

ID Sheet: This unique perfume gallery plays to rising connoisseurship by presenting a library of scents. Situated in a former perfume factory, the under-the-radar retail space and workshop is purposefully moody and mysterious, creating a sophisticated environment in which to discover luxury scents by Soohyang. 

Inspiration Seeds: This hidden gem in the upcoming neighbourhood of Seongsu is dedicated to the discovery of new scents. Presented as a social space where people can come together over a common interest in scent, it is a unique space that perfectly illustrates Seoulista’s rising interest in perfumes.

The CIC Take:

Our bespoke Inspiration Tours are uniquely tailored guides to key cities covering retail, galleries, museums, architectural hot spots, and the coolest places to eat and drink. Our partners, Latitude37, are our boots-on-the-ground in Seoul, and as local retail experts - we work closely with the Latitude team to ensure our guides are packed with the latest hotspots and openings.

Following our recent research trip, we can also compile a detailed Retail Report where we will explore the latest openings, consumer shifts and social influences impacting Seoul’s dynamic retail scene.

If you are interested in an Inspiration Tour of Seoul (or any other Beauty city) or a Retail Report please drop us a line today to discuss your needs!

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