SEPHORA

I first heard about this store several years ago when I was a chaperone for the 8th grade on a trip to NYC. The girls in my group kept saying, "Oh, we have to go to Sephora, it's right across the street!!" So one night about 11:00 (it seems nothing ever closes in New York) we ambled down the street to Sephora. (Actually, "ambled" is too strong a word for what I was doing that night due to the fact that I was exhausted after chasing after them all day,) But we entered this store that featured all types of beauty products to just browse.

I was a bit overwhelmed by all the merchandise, but the girls kept trying to get me to get a make-over. At first I resisted because I knew that I would end up buying whatever they put on my face, but I finally agreed to let someone "do over" my eyes. Sure enough, after it was over and I looked so great, I bought three different shades of eye shadow, all in similar tones of "neutral." I don't remember what I paid for them, but I know it was more than I usually pay for three outfits. But, to be truthful, I have used them throughout the years and still have some left. I don't know whether that's because I don't wear it often or a little goes a long way. I suspect it's both.

Well, now we have a Sephora in Nashville. So far I have only been in it once or twice to buy a facial cleanser (I now just order it online). But when I was in Phoenix, I had occasion to go again. I was shopping with Ashley and Jordan and they dragged me in. I was interested in a tinted moisturizer with sunscreen, so I began my search for one.

Of course, someone came up to me to assist and I told her what I was looking for. She steered me to a Christian Dior (I'm sure it was the most expensive one) and together we decided on a color. Then she asked me what I put my makeup on with and when I hesitated, she gasped, "You don't apply it with your fingers, do you? That spreads BACTERIA!" I sheepishly said that I did, and suggested that I should use a tissue.

"No, no, you must put it on with a brush!" she said as she dragged me over to a whole aisle of nothing but brushes (not for hair, you understand). We finally decided on one and she proceeded to tell me that I must have a special liquid with which to clean the brush. To the horror of my daughter and granddaughter, I agreed and ended up paying $83+ for these three items.

You can understand why I do my shopping online. Otherwise, I get talked into all sorts of items to buy.

But I have to tell you, when I got back home and tried applying the moisturizer with both methods, the brush won hands down. And the cleaner works very well, also.

So it wasn't a total loss, but I believe I will stay away from Sephora for a while.