Where to shop à Paris

I'm constantly asked where to shop for cosmetics in Paris. This could be because I am the consumate consumer, or that I'm "in the business" or just that I wear a lot of make-up, but my answer is more often than not Beauty Monop.

The 4 Paris based Beauty Monop stores are a combination of everyday necessities and innovative niche "must haves". The staff are friendly, helpful and knowledgeable and I always manage to find what I'm looking for....even if I didn't know I was looking!

Beauty Monop addresses:
28 rue des Abbesses Paris 75018
64 rue Oberkampf Paris 75011
118 rue St Charles Paris 75015
Les 4 Temps shopping mall at La Défense

Goat soap?

My passion for cosmetics is only outdone by my love of food, which makes France the perfect place to live!

French cheese is is hard to top, and the Rocamadour goat's cheese is one of my favourites. So imagine my delight when I discovered that not only can I eat it, but now I can wash with it!

Well not exactly, but close enough.

A company based in the beautiful city of Rocamadour called Exquises Caprines are making a soap from goat's milk in the form of this famous cheese. Goat's milk soap is known for its antibacterial properties, and the tiny fat molecules absorb easily into the skin leaving it moisturised, smooth and supple.

Come and get it!

I've just launched Revitalash 2.4ml at the Pharmacie Anglaise
on the famous Champs Elysees Paris.

Sapien Men gets the recognition it deserves!

Sapien Men, the wonderful organic men's toiletries range by Surya Brasil, has been cited among the best products available for men in the new edition of "Les Meilleurs Cosmétiques pour les hommes".

2 out of the 6 Sapien Men products came in 2nd and 5th from an evaluation of 717 products and 112 brands.

Go Sapien Men!

Revitalash launches the 2.4ml!

Revitalash 4.1ml has been flying off the shelf, and even though it lasts for 6 months, there are many potential customers who don't have the 110€ to pay in one go.

In response to the growing demand for this amazing product, Athena Cosmetics have now made a 2.4ml version, which lasts for 3 months, at a retail price of 70€.

Now more people can have fabulous eyelashes without breaking the bank!

Green Nail Polish....and they even have green!

In my eternal quest for "green cosmetics", I have discovered this amazing range of water based "green" nail polishes from the Canadian company Suncoat.

The array of colours means that glamour doesn't have to be bypassed while doing our bit for the planet.

Check out their website for more organic cosmetics......this is the future!

Bave d'Escargot....much nicer in French

Having lived in France for many years I have eaten my fare share of snails, cooked in lashings of garlic butter, but the thought of snail slime had never before whet my appetite. Until now!

I won't however be eating it, but rubbing it all over my body!

A company called Innovatouch Cosmetic have a small line of products made from "bave d'escargot" which literally means snail drool...hmmm!

The healing properties of snail drool are well documented and it is the molecule allantoïne that does the trick. The allantoïne, proteins, vitamins, natural antibiotics and collagens found in this drool combined with Aloe and Silicium make these effective anti-age products a lot more appetising than you’d think.

Revitabrow now available at Le Bon Marchè

Welcome to the stage......

I've been a King Of Shaves fan for a while. I love their style and sense of fun, but most of all I think that their products are high tech, high quality, highly effective and inexpensive! What a combination!
Whenever I'm in the UK, I stock up on their excellent shaving oils and state of the art Azor razors to keep all the men in my life happy, but now I can add the new Queen of.... to my shopping list and please myself!

Les Trompe L'Oeil de Chanel...

Temporary tattoos have been around for a long time, but they have always looked tacky....until now!
Chanel launched their own version of body art this month and I think they're fab!
It's a small price to pay for an original Chanel accessory. Plus it washes off!

Lulu's Time Bomb is the bomb!

It's rare for me to like all the products in one range. I usually cherry pick: eye cream by Kanebo, face cream (day) Clarins, (night) Lancôme, scrub by Dermalogica....but Lulu's Time Bomb ticks all the boxes! The attractive tactile packaging is just a bonus to what's within. I have been using the range for less than 2 weeks and look younger already!

If you want to try it, it is available at selected John Lewis stores in the UK, from QVC or on www.lulusplace.co.uk

Getting greener!

I try whenever I can to be "green". I buy organic and recycle. I even seek out organic and ethical brands to represent. My wonderful Surya Brasil products use biodegradable packaging to go with their certified organic ingredients. So I was very excited to read in Science Daily that a compostable plastic is being developed at Imperial College London. In the not too distant future disposable plastic items could be composted at home along with organic waste!

For those who travel.....

While perusing Gary Pini's fabulous blog 8 items or less on Paper Magazine I was particularly taken with this fab cosmetics site 3Floz.com. What a great idea! How many face creams have been left behind at airport security gates, how many samples are just too small to pique your interest and how many new and exciting brands are out there just waiting to be tried! Their tag line says it all! "For those who travel, those who are curious and those who can't commit".

Revitabrow is born!

No more sparse, over tweezed eyebrows!

Revitabrow is coming to the rescue!

Athena Cosmetics, creators of Revitalash are launching their amazing new eyebrow conditioner and I'm bringing it to France in February.

Watch this space!

What's new in makeup!

Whilst looking for what’s new and happening in the world of cosmetics for 2010, I learned that scientists claim to have evidence that Neanderthals wore make up 50,000 years ago!

Shells containing pigment residues that were unearthed at two archaeological sites in the Murcia province of southern Spain, were in fact Neanderthal make-up containers.

This gives me some great ideas for Eco friendly packaging!

On the Jury.

On December 15 2009 I was on the Marques Emergentes Jury sponsored by Neo Pharma. We reviewed a total of 18 brands and studied about 100 products. I was especially impressed with the French brand Gatte Fossé for pack design, use of natural ingredients, and wonderful fragrances. I also liked the overall approach to children's hygiene and environmental concerns shown by the New Zealand brand eco.kid.

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Emerging brands.....the innovators!

I am delighted to have been asked to be on the Jury (selection committee) for a new label called Marques Emergentes, whose objective is to bring innovative up-and-coming brands to the 23000 pharmacies throughout France.

The selection committee is made up of distribution experts, brand specialists, pharmacists and journalists. In December 2009, we will be reviewing products and voting for the top 15 brands that best meet the criteria (innovation, philosophy, network integration, potential earnings, packaging, and clients' needs). The winners will receive their awards at a ceremony at the Palais de Congrès on January 31st 2010.

The French beauty consumer is bombarded with products, but often misses out on the many wonderful smaller brands that don't have the resources to reach a wide audience. It is my hope that through the Marques Emergentes the consumer will have the opportunity to discover the wealth of expertise and innovation that these emerging brands have to offer.

This is a great opportunity to be part of a new synergy between young cosmetic brands and France's extensive pharmaceutical network.

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On the shelves....

RevitaLash® is now on the ground floor at Le Bon Marché. Product sales are above expectations and articles are appearing in the press bringing a flood of enquiries from all over France and Europe.

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I have just visited 30 Naturalia stores to introduce Amazonia Preciosa and the Hand Sanitizer. I am very impressed with the quality and range of products these stores have on offer and am delighted that Surya Brasil is now in such good company.

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Roll out to more doors.....

Following the success of Surya Brasil's Amazonia Preciosa haircare range at Beauty Monop, we are pleased to announce the launch into the healthfood chain Naturalia's 45 doors.

Certified by Ecocert and Cosmebio these pure, gentle formulas use ingredients harvested from the Amazonian rainforest. This is the only range to contain the unique and incomparable essential oil from the preciosa tree in all 15 products.

Amazonia Preciosa: Good for you, good for the planet!

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Selling like hotcakes: Surya Brasil's Hand Sanitizer is flying off the shelf! This is just the beginning, but retailers are knocking down our door to get their hands on this amazing organic product.

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Eyelash sensation...

I am happy to announce the launch of RevitaLash® at Le Bon Marché, the prestigious Parisian department store and 'window' for the beauty press.

From August 27th until October 10th you can buy Revitalash® at Le Bon Marché's L.A. Event, which is showcasing the best of West Coast American beauty. After that, Revitalash® will be a permanent listing in Le Bon Marché's famous beauty department.

RevitaLash® Eyelash Conditioner is the leading cosmetic alternative for eyelash beautification. Within weeks, this remarkable cosmetic innovation will dramatically enhance the appearance of your natural eyelashes making them look spectacularly longer, thicker, fuller and more beautiful!

Stop press! Revitalash® featured in the September issue of Vogue.com (click here and press 'suivant' twice to see the item).

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