The French cosmetics market is characterized by a list of long-established companies and brands. The L'Oreal Groupe remains the leader in this market with three of its subsidiaries among the top five companies.

France is the biggest European market for cosmetic sales with the highest proportion of premium product value sales in Western Europe. The constant upgrading of brands such as L'Oreal, Gemey and Nivea, has started to blur the distinction between mass and premium brands, affecting distribution through specialized perfume shops negatively. Hence, the mass market's share in France has continued to increase.

Upmarket department stores such as Galeries Lafayette, Printemps, Samaritaine and Le Bon Marche provide attractive outlets for cosmetics for tourists and the higher end of the French market.

The independent and specialist retail sector in the French cosmetics is highly developed. The three main stores in this sector are Marionnaud Parfumeries, Sephora and Yves Rocher. Marionnaud Parfumeries is a large cosmetics retail chain in France, selling a wide variety of brands in cosmetics and perfumes. Sephora has stores in most regional centres, including its huge Champs Elysees store. It has a reputation for carrying the most products and all the major brands. Yves Rocher is well known for its natural own-brand products and exists in most French cities and towns.