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Five of the best... beauty shops
To get those bare legs and feet summer-proof, to pamper ourselves after a long day, or to find a great present for someone special, here are five of the best beauty shops in town
If you’re looking for new hot brands in body, face and hair care (the ones you read about in glossy magazines), you’ll most likely find them at Cosmeticary. The shop is small, but you’ll be surprised by the number of lotions and potions stacked on their shelves. We’re talking Dermalogica, Bumble & Bumble, Christophe Robin, Dr Sebagh, Rodial, Laura Mercier and much more.
Must-haves this season are bright-coloured nails. At Cosmeticary, choose between the funny names by OPI (like Pink Flamingo and Dating a Royal) and the pretty colours by Essie (the brand Kate Middleton wore on her special day). If you’re after something very particular, have a peek at the list of brands and products on the website.11 Rue Ortsopen Monday to Saturday, 10.30 to 18.30
Senteurs d’Ailleurs
Senteurs d’Ailleurs on Avenue Louise is a stunning shop with high-end beauty products. The shop opened in 1997 and specialised in exclusive fragrances from day one. Little by little the range expanded, and nowadays you can find something for every part of the body.
To name a few brands: Crème de la Mer, Aqua di Parma, Molton Brown and Aesop. You’ll find a range of scented candles as well, by the French brand Dyptique. Senteurs d’Ailleurs is also the only provider in Brussels of the popular New York Kiehl’s products.
Next month, the shop will move from Avenue Louise to Place Stéphanie, where it will have more space and will include a beauty salon too.94 Avenue Louiseopen Monday to Saturday, 10.00 to 18.30 (19.00 on Saturday)
La Feuille
All products sold at La Feuille contain nothing but organic and natural ingredients. The skin care range includes top-notch brands such as Ren, Oskia and Iroisie. Customers (men, women, children and even dogs) get specialised advice and will soon be able to learn much more about their skin and how to treat it at La Feuille’s very own beauty school.
The back of the shop has a small massage room, where you can get an ayurvedic or therapeutic massage (only by appointment). 199 Rue Berkendaelopen Tuesday to Saturday, 11.00 to 18.30; Sunday, 13.00 to 17.00Tel 02.343.96.00
Lush
Lush stands for fresh, handmade hair and body products, available in an incredible range of scents and colours. The shop is most famous for its enormous range of soap. Choose a chunk of the huge bars with quirky names such as Foam a Friend and Vanilla in the Mist.
Besides soap, you’ll find lots of shower gels, scrubs and facial creams. All of them come in recycled bottles or tubs, and a shop assistant will happily demonstrate how to use and apply them. One of their best-sellers is the shampoo soap bar (also exists as a conditioner). The tiny bar contains as much as three bottles of regular shampoo!38 Rue des Fripiers open Monday to Saturday, 10.00 to 19.00
If the sweet smells and colours are too much for you, head across the road to the Rituals shop (pictured), where you’ll find Moroccan-inspired scrubs and oils, all sorts of face and body creams, scents for the home and a range of comfortable clothes to relax in.19 Rue des Fripiers open Monday to Saturday, 10.00 to 19.00
iU
At iU, you’ll find a very extensive range of beauty and wellness brands you normally find at a pharmacy: Caudalie, Dr Hauschka, Nuxe, Neutrogena, Mustela and much more. The big difference is that at iU, you can shop around without having to ask for products stored behind the till. The prices are usually sharper than at a pharmacy as well.
You’ll also find a selection of food supplements, vitamins and cures as well as a range of prescription-free headache and stomach tablets.In most shopping malls in Brussels (Basilix, Westland, City 2, Woluwé, Louise Gallery)
