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Having moved from London to Paris, I quickly noticed that while the so-called “French style” may be understated, it’s not difficult to maintain. In fact, Parisians are more inclined to dress up and be dressed up than Londoners, who value eclecticism and individuality. While Parisians aren’t big on make-up and hair, sophistication doesn’t come easy, so well-groomed hair, nails, eyebrows and skin are essential. The same goes for the body and health, of course: head to any green space on a Sunday morning and you’ll likely see plenty of Parisians running or exercising outdoors, enjoying the beauty of their city. It’s also a great way for tourists to take in the sights, as the 2024 Olympics, where the entire city will be hosting events, demonstrates perfectly. Parisians expect the best in everything, and beauty and health are no exception. Below, you’ll find the best places to stay in Paris for a wellness holiday.
Just across the Pont Neuf at Saint-Germain, or a short stroll along the Seine from the Louvre, you’ll find Paris’s most elegant and popular department store, La Samaritaine. Housed in an Art Nouveau building dating back to 1870, the store reopened in 2021 after an extensive renovation. After taking the elevator to the fifth floor and admiring the restored glass roof and decorative frieze, descend the riveted steel staircase to the basement, where gleaming counters of well-known and beloved brands (Tom Ford, La Mer, Darphin) rub shoulders with brands you’ll want to know more about. Pass the nail salon next to the Kure Bazaar, and if you don’t fancy a visit to the Les Cinq Mondes spa, continue towards the shop on the Rue de Rivoli to discover a range of small beauty and wellness brands that suit your needs. Don’t forget to check out the tax refund area, where visitors from outside the EU can get around 10% back on most purchases if they spend over €100.01, and can even use the in-store terminals to get cash back straight away.
MUST BUY: French skincare giant Darphin’s Rosewood Aromatic Cleansing Balm (£38) will give you clear skin and an effortless, chic French girl look. Make the ‘mistake’ of leaving your usual cleansing water at home.
As mentioned above, Parisians know how to do their nails. That’s why in the double-digit arrondissements of Paris, known for their high density of residential buildings, there’s a nail salon on almost every corner. Muse is one of the best nail salons of its kind, with two branches located side by side in the elegant 16th arrondissement, one in the trendy 17th arrondissement, and another one opening soon in the 6th arrondissement. Avenue Victor Hugo is a tree-lined street that runs from the Arc de Triomphe to ground level and is filled with boutiques and cafes. This tiny but picturesque street is home to a large shop offering quick and perfect manicures to elegant locals and lunchtime visitors. Although Parisians prefer black or khaki on short, neat nails, they also have the option of adding nail art.
Must try: Everyone comes to Paris to dress up a bit, so a bright manicure with nail polish is a great way to look fancy, and it costs less than chocolate mousse.
Address: Muse, 140 Av. Victor Hugo, 75116 Paris, France Other locations: Muse, 141 Av. Victor Hugo, 75016 Paris, France; Muse, 73 Rue de Seine, 75017 Paris, France; 65 Rue de Seine, 75006 Paris, France Website: musenailsbar.com
You’re probably familiar with the Champs-Élysées, and you may have even spotted Guerlain’s flagship store, which glitters with the brand’s luxurious perfumes, cosmetics, and skincare, but did you know about the luxury spa upstairs? Most tourists to Paris don’t know about it, which is why most of the clientele is Parisian. With its huge windows and nine treatment rooms, the spa opened in 1939 in the Guerlain family’s grand apartment. The paneling, marble, and even the light fixtures are all in pristine condition—one client, now a minor, has been coming here since he was 14. Today, the brand uses the elegant space to offer treatments that combine modern skincare with traditional techniques, like the 80-year-old 19-minute facial. The spa is light-filled rather than closed off and secretive, which is why it appeals to busy Parisians, the spa’s director told me. – They never feel too isolated.
Must try: Le Soin Sur-Mesure is the spa’s most popular treatment option, costing £325 for 90 minutes. Unlike some ‘personalised’ treatments that are simply tailored to you, Le Soin Sur-Mesure is created on site with you and your therapist to meet your every need for that moment, that day, that month or that season. The ultimate in luxury.
There’s no doubt that shopping in Paris is truly amazing. There are pharmacies on almost every corner, as well as Sephora supermarkets, what more could you want? So, how about Oh My Cream! This chain of beauty boutiques with a quirky name puts all the emphasis on curation. Brands undergo a rigorous selection process (including a “purity” check, if that’s your thing) before they hit Oh My Cream! shelves, and the team at each boutique is on hand to answer questions and help you make the right decision. If you want clear skin like a French woman, here’s where to start: choose one of Oh My Cream!’s 12 Parisian stores and visit, or book online for a complimentary 30-minute skincare consultation in-store. Once there, take note of the black-and-white striped awnings, bright and shiny interiors, and employees with glowing skin. You can be one of them soon.
MUST TRY: If you’re into beauty, you’ll want to know a little about the brand’s eponymous skincare range. Start with the Oh My Cream Skincare and Moisturiser Set (£37.66), a trial set that’s sure to give your skin a little prep. It includes a cleansing oil, cleansing lotion, exfoliating powder and all-in-one cream, making it a great travel companion.
The second area is Nose, a very stylish concept perfume shop. Sitting at a sleek black bar table with a small cafe, I typed in my three latest favorite scents on my iPad. Nose’s algorithm, powered by artificial intelligence and fragrance experts, recommends five new scents I might like. The salesperson sprays them onto five test strips for me to smell and rate, without regard for brand or name. This information is fed into the algorithm, and the process is repeated until I have three scents to try. All three scents I ended up choosing were irresistible. The team somehow knows all 900-plus scents in the Nose store, from base notes to top notes, and they will recommend a fourth. Of course, I left with a bag full of tissues containing samples of the perfumes I didn’t buy, and my olfactory profile is saved on their website. Don’t miss out.
Must-buy: Parisian Musc by Matiere Premiere, a contemporary French scent crafted using raw materials from the perfume mecca of Grasse, with notes of fig and wood that will always remind you of this trip.
That’s right, you don’t come to Paris to shop. But if you’re planning on stocking up on French drugstore brands, you should head to Pharmacy Du Forum Des Halles, a large chemist’s in the 1st arrondissement. Sure, you can buy La Roche Posay, Embryolisse, Caudalie, Bioderma, etc. at just about any drugstore, but here you’ll find every brand you’ve ever read about, unusual categories from brands you know (think Klorane skincare, Avène bodycare), and hard-to-find French brands (Saeve Paris, Avril, Nubiance), all at really good prices. Look out for your favorites in large sizes and multi-packs, as well as a mix of mini sizes. Thank you, Eurostar, for being so lenient with your baggage allowance.
Must-buy: In warm weather, Parisians always carry a cooling face spray with them wherever they go. For warmer weather or skin exposed to central heating, opt for Caudalíe’s updated version of Eau de Raisin, £7.40.
Address: Pharmacy Du Forum Des Halles, 1 rue Pierre Lescot, Porte Rambuteau, Level -2, 75001, Paris Website: pharmacie-forum-halles-paris.com
Will capsule form give you that French glow? Aime is trying to do just that with its French probiotic-based supplements. The idea is that a healthy gut (or microbiome) means healthy skin. At the beautiful Marais flagship store, staff can advise you on choosing from a wide range of capsules, powders and drops designed to improve skin, hair, sleep and digestion. You can also visit the brand’s Le Glow Studio for a facial, scalp massage or infrared sauna.
Must-buy: French Glow combines probiotics and essential fatty acids that promise to balance and reduce redness.
While athletes have indeed taken part in a series of races on the Seine (albeit half-heartedly in some cases), Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo still plans to allow Parisians to take a dip in the city’s waterways on their own by the summer of 2025. For those still unsure, there’s the Josephine Baker Pool. Situated on a barge on the left bank of the river, this municipal pool offers all the views but not “nature.” It’s far from the only outdoor pool in Paris, but it’s arguably the most beautiful, and in good weather the glass roof opens: you’ll figure it out as you go. Paris has plenty of municipal pools, many of which are picturesque and very clean, but as with many areas of French life, the rules are strict – note that everyone must wear a swimming cap, and men must wear swimming trunks.
Worth a try: it’s closed to early swimmers on weekends (this isn’t a city that moves with the early birds), so you can take a dip on a sunny evening and head straight for an aperitif… but be careful and check the erratic opening hours.
Address: Piscine Josephine Baker, Quai François Mauriac, Quai de la Gare, Paris 75013 Website: piscine-baker.fr
Parisians pay close attention to detail. If your hair isn’t treated as well as your skin, something is missing. Fauve is a good choice. This hair care brand’s products hit all the right aesthetic notes (monochrome, brown glass, bold fonts), as does its salon, located in the Marais district (where else?). Definitely not a hair salon, this salon is all about health and well-being: beautiful hair is just a side effect. From hair to eyebrows, every cell of your body is taken into account, and you can choose treatments that analyze your scalp, stimulate hair growth, or relieve stress with an effective massage. Laser hair removal is also available.
MUST BUY: Pack Fauve Huile à l’Esprit Sauvage (£36) in your suitcase – this nourishing oil can be used to massage your scalp at home. The brand claims it can prolong the hair growth cycle and help increase thickness.
You wouldn’t normally expect to see a tagine on a spa menu. But at the Grand Mosque of Paris in the Latin Quarter, in addition to exfoliation and massage, you’ll also find a tagine. Not only is the Grand Mosque of Paris the oldest mosque in France, with its design inspired by the Alhambra Palace in Granada, it also has a restaurant, tea room, garden, library, and traditional hammam. Hammams, sometimes called Turkish baths, are a hallmark of Parisian wellness centers, not London ones. There are Turkish baths on every corner of Paris. But the Grand Mosque offers the full experience – choose one of the more comprehensive “packages” or packages, and you’ll get a thorough exfoliation, a 20-minute massage, your choice of couscous, mint tea, and a pastry. It’s not a super-luxurious experience, but it’s authentic, understated, and superb. The delightful tiled outdoor Salon Tea Room serves traditional mint tea and North African pastries, while the restaurant serves the best couscous in the city. Afterwards, stroll through the stunning Jardin des Plantes across the street for the perfect Parisian day.
Must book: Choose Massage et Saveurs for £75 for a full service including exfoliation, massage and nutrition, finished with mint tea and pastries.
Paris is all about the classics, whether it’s hotels, food, wine or spas. The city is home to some excellent, elegant and traditional spas, many of which are located in luxury hotels. Among them, Le Bristol by La Prairie stands out. In addition to the obligatory beauty services (you may have to keep up with the celebrities you’ll inevitably bump into in the lobby), there are facials from Tata Harper and La Prairie, and signature massages using oils specially created by KOS Paris, a natural body care brand whose lab is located right here in Paris. All treatments can be booked by non-guests, giving you a true Parisian luxury experience.
MUST TRY: The signature Relax & Regenerate massage, from £195 for 55 minutes, is tailored to your individual needs and will relieve any travel-induced aches and pains.
Address: Spa Le Bristol, 112 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honorê, 75008 Paris, France Website: oetkercollection.com/le-bristol-paris
While the staples of French cuisine are far from formulaic (six billion baguettes are sold in France each year), many visitors and locals alike are craving something lighter, and now there are plenty of vegetarian, vegan, and healthy options on the menu. Maisie Cafe is a sweet, vegan, gluten-free coffee shop located in Paris’s 1st arrondissement, between the Tuileries Garden and the Hotel Coster. Cold-pressed juices, energy balls, matcha oat lattes, and banana bread are just the fuel you need for a day of shopping and exhibitions.
Must buy: Try a cup of Go Juice, an energizing, delicious beetroot, ginger and lemon drink that’s perfect for lunch.
While Paris doesn’t have as many yoga studios as London or New York, there are plenty of yoga spots here, though none as stylish as Yuj. There are seven yoga studios in Paris, and the seventh is charmingly located in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. Like many other places in Paris, the aesthetic here leans towards fashion, with each yoga studio decked out in striped awnings and navy and gold logos. What’s special here is that classes are held under infrared light, which heats the yoga studio to a warm, but not boiling, 25 degrees. The background music is carefully chosen, and the brand even offers its own line of activewear for you to choose from when you leave the store.
Must try: Friday night on the town? Flowmix at 6:30pm will give you a boost of positivity to help you get through the weekend.