Cosmetic therapy: 5 of the best cosmetics stores around the world

It’s easy to stock up on your favourite skincare and beauty products no matter where you are thanks to online shopping and international shipping. Still, nothing beats testing products in person. Shopping in-store offers devoted beauty lovers a sensory experience –an opportunity to interact with the experts, learn more about the latest products and get a fresh perspective on your approach to makeup and skincare. Here, we highlight five of the best beauty destinations from around the world.

Sydney

The aptly named Mecca is known in Australia for its unparalleled collection of beauty products, and no other location beats its four-storey flagship on Sydney’s George Street . A place of worship for all things beauty, it has separate floors devoted to skincare, makeup and fragrances. The plethora of brands available includes Westman Atelier, Gisou, Naked Sundays, Boy Smells and Violette_FR, Aussie brands such as Frank Body and Kit, as well as Mecca’s respected in-house lines. 

It’s where you’ll find the first Australian branch of FaceGym , a London-based brand famous for its facial “workout”. It can be quite intense, but for sculpting, lifting and depuffing maintenance, or for help releasing the tension we unknowingly store in our facial muscles, it’s a must-try for any skincare enthusiast. 

London

On your next trip to London, rendezvous with the venerated Selfridges Beauty Hall . Against the elegant white expanse of its gorgeous interiors are the beauty counters, hanging like artworks on a wall. Here, you’ll find brands that are less accessible in Asia, including Pat McGrath Labs and Lisa Eldridge Beauty, cult favourite labels created by two of the world’s most respected makeup artists for countless skin tones, textures and concerns. Last year, this legendary cathedral of retail opened a 3,500sq ft separate hall just for hair products, featuring scalp analysis, a curl bar and even an Aveda brush engraving service.

Seoul

Olive Young Hongdae Town in western Seoul is perfect for either a quick grab-and-go or a low perusal of the myriad makeup, skincare and haircare on offer. The space is organised to make finding what you’re after as foolproof as possible. Not only are products categorised by brand, they’re also grouped by function – for example, there’s a whole section just for sheet masks. Besides familiar names such as Clio and Etude, you’ll find lesser-known brands, including Fwee, Dasique and Colorgram. Arrive with an empty suitcase; leave as a veritable K-beauty nerd. 

For a highly coveted beauty experience, check out Ancci Brush House , a Hongdae hidden gem dedicated to makeup brushes. If you’re lucky, store owner Mr An will be around to share his knowledge of each brush, its use and the desired effect. He is also known to help customers understand their facial features and to select brushes accordingly, before teaching them techniques to up their makeup game. 

New York

Ulta Beauty in the US is where you'll find both luxury and affordable makeup and skincare all under one roof. Its flagship store on West 34th Street boasts some 12,000sq ft of floor space, hundreds of brands, AI-assisted makeup testing and more. Its rows upon rows of crowded shelves seem to stretch on forever. While it might feel like sensory overload to some, beauty enthusiasts will love getting lost inside this colourful maze.

Here, you’ll find many brands that are extremely popular on social media, or are beloved by influencers but have not yet found a market outside North America. And if you’re a fan of Millie Bobby Brown’s Florence by Mills, R.E.M. Beauty by Ariana Grande and other celebrity brands, Ulta is the place to find them. 

Paris

Paris boasts gorgeous shopping experiences wherever you look, but beauty lovers prize Galeries Lafayette , Le Bon Marché and La Samaritaine , which combine beauty counters with marvellous architecture and interior design. 

Walking into Galeries Lafayette is like stepping into an antique music box designed in Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles. Light floods into the main store from its majestic glass dome, illuminating the beauty counters in the centre of the ground floor. Don’t sleep on the Wellness Galerie in the basement: this calm, modern space is perfect for exploring a selection of European and Asian skincare and beauty products. 

Le Bon Marché, the city’s oldest department store, offers a light-bathed, historic shopping experience over eight floors. If you’ve ever wanted to purchase a Parisian perfume or that perfect red lipstick, here’s where to do it. 

Meanwhile, La Samaritaine, another Art Nouveau shoppers’ sanctuary, is the perfect blend of fantasy and industry, with floral details wrought into its metal framework, peacock frescoes and a monumental staircase. It also houses the biggest beauty department in Europe, with more than 200 brands.