Store Stories: John Bell & Croyden

Beauty : Love

30 March 2021

Our contributing beauty editor, Rachel Singer Clark, highlights her favourites from this archaic pharmacy.

Pharmacies have been a constant saviour for so many of us in the past year, a one-stop shop for much needed items in this pandemic. They have always been a place I like to visit wherever I am in the world, looking at their lotions and potions within their skincare hub of special medicinal goodies. Every time I voyage to Paris, I make a holy grail trip to one of my favourites, Citypharma on Rue de Four. In New York, I always divert the Uber's recommended route via Bigelow Chemists, to stock up on essentials and see what's new.

Due to the pandemic, I've had to stay closer to home (as we all have) and haven't had the opportunity to return back to one of my golden faves on Wigmore Street, called John Bell & Croyden. They hold a royal warrant, meaning they're employed to supply Queen Elizabeth with her wants and needs.

As I step inside – after far too long a break – to have a rummage and pick up my much needed prescription, the carefully displayed aisles, simplistic grouping approach and carefully selected lines that the pharmacy carries, shows a very British yet modern approach to visiting a chemist. Not only have they kept their counters more spacious and COVID-19 safe, they have also expanded their supplements and superfood area, skincare for both men and women and nail care. They're at the forefront of new beauty launches, rivalling Space NK and the large beauty halls of nearby Selfridges, Fenwick and Liberty.

Round every corner that I turn, members of staff are at hand to give advice and help whilst you explore. They recently launched Sunday Riley and one of my favourite brands, Dr Barbara Sturm – her hyaluronic serum is like no other and has a permanent home within my kitbag.

They also have few more of my favourites stocked: Molton Brown,Floris London, 111Skin, Skin Design London (their retinol cream is essential), Wild Beauty from Rhug Estate and Albiva. Whenever I visit, I always stock up on the following.

Yourzooki Liposomal Vitamin C
I've been a vegetarian since I was 11 years old, so I take this to make sure my gut is in good health to process all the different types of food in my diet. This supplement helps accelerate intestine absorption and keeps my body flowing without any irritations.

Shop it here.

Bare Biology Skinful Pure Marine Collagen Powder
I've been taking collagen tablets since I was 26, which is the average age women begin to see signs of ageing. This helps slow the natural ageing process by reducing the appearance of wrinkles, stopping dryness and it also helps increase muscle mass.

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Wild Nutrition Vitamin D
This helps me with bone strength, as I don't eat dairy or eggs. I’m constantly trying to counter balance the vitamins I don't get get from animal products with supplements, so that I get all the nutrients to feel healthy.