By Michelle Sandoval
Daily Bruin Contributor
Flashing camera lights, makeup artists, all the beauty products
anyone could ever need, even a red carpet.
No, this isn’t the view behind the scenes of a celebrity
photo shoot, but the grand opening of the newest Sephora store.
With over 320 stores worldwide, Sephora proudly adds one more to
its count on Friday with the grand opening of its newest location
on the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue.
Located on the second story of the brand new shopping center in
Hollywood, Sephora not only offers an enormous selection of
products but also presents its customers with all the glitz and
glamour the Hollywood image promises.
“It looks like a real photo or movie shoot ““ all the
lights and props remind me that I’m in Hollywood,” said
Olivia Sanchez, 21, a Sephora customer. “They have so many
different brands, even ones that are hard to find ““ it makes
it really easy to shop for makeup.”
Sephora has something to offer everyone, from the trendiest
brands (think Urban Decay or Hard Candy) to classic brands like
Chanel or Christian Dior. In addition to hundreds of makeup
selections, patrons will also find a wide variety of fragrances for
both men and women, face care products, hair accessories and beauty
products.
Allowing customers to experience the posh ambiance of Hollywood,
Sephora is equipped with six separate make over stations, where
makeup artists work make over magic, free of charge.
The newest looks for the season like smoky eyes, that the
average person has trouble duplicating, can all be perfected at
Sephora, with the expert advice of trained professionals.
“It’s like Disneyland for makeup ““ it’s
fun, it’s joyous, you’re like a kid in a candy
store,” said Andrea Pomerantz Lustig, CEO and editor of
Sephora.com.
Need help picking just the right color or shade? Aside from the
professionally trained makeup artists, all employees undergo a
three and a half- day mandatory training session called “The
Science of Sephora,” where they are taught the basics of skin
care, color and fragrance. This enables them to answer any
beauty questions based on knowledge and experience.
For those novices who don’t feel comfortable trying new
looks in public, Sephora.com is the perfect place to experiment.
Not only does the Web site offer more brands than anywhere else on
the web, it also makes it easy to experience makeup online.
Sephora.com provides professional information for first timers,
with tips on shades and colors for certain skin types. There are
also individual makeup boutiques that furnish information about
individual products, so shoppers can familiarize themselves with
what they are purchasing.
“Sephora.com is great for makeup junkies, but at the same
time for novices who might be afraid to go to the store and try
stuff on,” Lustig said.
Those who aren’t shy, however, and don’t mind
dealing with the nightmare of Hollywood traffic can check out the
newest Sephora store.Â
Old and young alike crowded the store on its opening day to
experience all of the style, status, and shine that is
Hollywood.
“Sephora is a beauty utopia,” Lustig said.
And she can bet that anyone who sets foot in this new location
will agree with her.