If you are a beauty junkie, one of the best things to do while travelling overseas is definitely visiting concept stores of familiar brands! Many brands have unique flagship stores catered to customers in different cities, offering services and products that you can’t find back home in Singapore.
Check out our list of beauty flagship stores that you definitely have to visit if you’re in the area!
1. Innisfree (Jeju, Korea)
Innisfree is a K-beauty brand that uses natural ingredients from Jeju Island, so it is little wonder that their flagship store in Jeju is a must-visit. What’s more, the Innisfree Jeju house is actually recommended by the Korean Tourism Organisation as a tourist destination!
In this flagship store, you can experience and purchase Innisfree cosmetic products. At the same time, you can also taste organic desserts and food from Jeju Island. You can even make soaps with natural ingredients sourced from Jeju Island and bring them home!
Address: 1235-1 Seogwang-ri, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea
2. Sulwhasoo (Seoul, Korea)
Source: Klook
Each floor in this 5-storey Sulwhasoo flagship store has a different theme. The first floor houses a Heritage Zone for visitors to discover more on the brand’s history, philosophy, and story, along with a look at new and seasonal products.
On the second floor, there is a Boutique and Gift Service where you can try and buy the products, get them wrapped up, as well as receive beauty counselling. Sulwhasoo also hosts cultural events in the Culture Lounge on the third floor.
Beyond skincare and cosmetics, Sulwhasoo’s flagship store houses two spas. The Sulwhasoo Spa is on the first basement level, and offers a luxurious anti-ageing spa program based on Korean medicinal herbs.
There is also a Sulwhasoo Balance Spa on the fourth floor, which is a more casual spa experience where you can get an amazing view of Dosan Park. Remember to try these spas out when you visit the store!
Address: 18 Dosan-daero 45-gil, Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
3. Lush (London, UK)
If you are a huge fan of Lush, you have to visit the biggest Lush store in London, which has three whole floors dedicated to exploration and experimentation.
The ground floor hosts an array of new launches, including shampoos, styling creams, face masks, showders, make up, gourmet soaps, shower gels, scrubs, and tooth powders.
Visitors can try a treatment out in the on-site Hair Lab, find their perfect lipstick, and pose for a picture in the #selfie mirror. If you are feeling tired from all that shopping, you can also go down to the underground spa, perfume, and massage section.
A music station even allows you to listen to spa soundscapes or sample a selection of artists.
Address: 175-179 Oxford St, Soho, London W1D 2JS, UK
4. Sephora (Shanghai, China)
Source: Linda Liguori
With a black-and-white striped theme that runs through the inside and outside, this visually impressive 5-storey Sephora flagship building actually houses more than 7,000 products – what a paradise for beauty junkies!
The store contains a number of different interactive nail and makeup areas to explore, but the best of these is the perfume selection counter.
The fragrance kiosks are divided up by occasions – scents suitable for a gift, for work, or for a date – and each station holds an iPad surrounded by ten horns containing different scents. For extra guidance, complete a quick quiz on an iPad and you will get results telling you which perfume you might like best.
If you are up for a haircut, you can even visit the outpost of British salon Toni and Guy on the second floor, which is also equipped with premium salon products.
Address: 993 Nanjing Xi Lu
5. M∙A∙C (London, UK)
The first UK flagship M∙A∙C Pro store and the largest M∙A∙C Pro flagship store globally is located in London. Described by M∙A∙C as a “high-tech science lab for make-up obsessives”, the store stocks M∙A∙C’s Pro collection, which comprises more than 250 different products aimed at make-up artists.
The store features an eight-meter-high feature wall that showcases the talent of emerging local artists and designers. In addition, there is a library area for both customers and make-up artists, nine ergonomically-designed make-up stations, as well as two private make-up areas.
Interested customers can also look forward to walk-in demos, workshops, applications and lessons by appointment, in addition to specialist make-up services.
Address: 30 Great Marlborough St, Carnaby, London W1F 7JA, UK
6. 3CE (Seoul, Korea)
Source: Anagon’s Blog
This pink hotel, located right in the bustling beauty hub of Myeongdong, is a common sight on Instagram. It’s probably familiar even to those unacquainted with the StyleNanda and 3CE brands.
Every floor contains different “hotel amenities”, showcasing a mix of 3CE cosmetics and StyleNanda fashion. For example, the first floor is a hotel lobby furnished with a concierge desk, hotel keys hung on the wall, and a buffet selection of 3CE makeup collection and accessories.
If you are looking for even more Instagram-worthy material or simply need a break from all that shopping, visit the Pink Pool Cafe on the fifth floor. The cafe is designed like a swimming pool straight from the American 1950’s era, complete with pool chairs to sit on. Here, you can choose from a small menu of coffees, teas, and juices along with select desserts.
Address: 66-2, Chungmuro 2-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul Korea
7. Chanel (Paris, France)
While the makeup and fragrances area might not be large in this flagship store, visitors have all described their shopping experience as amazing: not only do you feel the utmost prestige and class of the brand, the entire store almost feels like a living exhibition of Chanel’s rich heritage, complete with fantastic customer service.
If you want to shop Chanel’s beauty collections, the brand’s first-ever beauty boutique in France is just around the corner, at 382 rue Saint-Honoré. This boutique houses all of Chanel’s makeup collections, including pre-released products and new colours. If you love perfumes, you’d be even more delighted to know that this boutique displays Chanel’s entire perfume range.
Address: 31 rue Cambon, 75001 Paris/382 rue Saint-Honoré
8. NYX (California, US)
A fan of NYX’s affordable and high quality makeup? This flagship store in California is designed precisely to provide an environment where beauty fans (yes, you!) can try new products and adapt the tools of professional makeup artists and online influencers to their own personal style.
A slew of innovative technologies are available to educate and provide you with inspiration from the global beauty community, which the brand is built on.
One example is the NYX Beauty Bar, an interactive makeup station featuring custom NYX video tutorials and products for customers to recreate new and trending makeup looks. You can also upload your best selfies for a chance to be featured on the Instafeed digital walls to show off that perfect Instagram makeup you just learnt in-store.
Address: 2855 Stevens Creek Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95050, USA
9. Shu Uemura (Tokyo, Japan)
Source: Pinterest
Shu Uemura’s flagship store in Tokyo is located at the ground floor of Omotesando Hills, one of the most iconic landmarks of the Aoyama area (for those unfamiliar, it is akin to Singapore’s Orchard Road and Korea’s Gangnam area).
Befitting of its affluent location, the flagship store is designed to be sleek, stylish, and modern. The transparent glass façade draws you in to the interior where there are several beauty tables, each laden with products used by their in-house makeup artists for beauty makeovers for their customers, complete from skincare to makeup. This is inspired by the brand’s philosophy of “beautiful makeup starts with beautiful skin”.
Address: Japan, 〒150-0001 Tokyo, Shibuya, Jingumae, 4 Chome−12-10 表参道ヒルズ西館1F
10. Bobbi Brown (London, UK)
Located on Poland Street in London, Bobbi Brown’s Pro Studio Soho offers all things Bobbi Brown Pro, from the Pro Kit Essentials range, including the BBU face and Artist lip palettes, to all the tools and accessories.
Designed with a unique concept exclusive to this studio, the boutique features items used by the brand’s global artistry teams, with presentation screens communicating the latest Pro must-haves and videos.
What’s more, this store features a dedicated creative studio offering masterclasses, workshops, photography and filming. It also includes high-tech presentation screens, cameras, and professional lighting, made available for unique consumer experiences and content creation – yes, that means you can film your next makeup tutorial video right here!
Address: 1 Poland Street, London W1F 8PR, UK
Feature image from Anakjajan and Designboom.
