FOUND: Cosmetic Heaven in Union Square

Nothing beats an awesome makeup store. I love the different experiences each one creates. In Benefit, they make sure you have the cutest, girliest, vintage makeup shopping experience possible. From adorable posters on the walls with pin-up girls, to the entirely pink and white makeup counters, they do an incredible job showcasing current trends with retro-accents. Blue Mercury appeals to a slightly older clientele with a clean, light and sophisticated store that gives an air of relaxation and luxury. Sephora makes their makeup pop against black lacquer walls and makes the consumer feels trendy and edgy on their stroll through cosmetic heaven.

If you're a fan of Sephora and find yourself in New York, head to 17th street and Broadway. 

Map courtesy of Maps for the iPhone

I had been to this particular Sephora a few times prior to this visit, but hadn't really interacted with the salespeople yet. Today, my friend Chloe and I found ourselves with an hour to kill before my train, so I suggested we check it out. This Sephora is different from others I have been in. When you walk in on 17th street, you walk into the fragrance section of the department. Instead of just the standard (and intimidating) wall of perfume, they have stations set up with a tablet and 6 'cones'( that are likely inspired by flowers), that surround the tablet. Each station has a 'theme' ('Be chic,' 'Be cool,' etc). The idea is to find your fragrance with no marketing-related persuasion. 

You lean in to smell the black cone and squeeze a vintage-style perfume pump that lightly mists the fragrance out of the cone. After sampling as many as you'd like in the station, you can tap the tablet and select the number that corresponds with the perfume-cone you liked. The tablet then revealsthe brand and specific scent, so that you can approach 'the wall' with confidence in which perfume you're going to purchase. I had to restrain myself from buying the one I tried, which was under the 'Be cool' section, and was Tocca's 'Graciella.' 

Photo source: m.sephora.com (for mobile-access) sephora.com (for computer-access) 

This awesome Sephora also had a fabulous man walking around with a tiny device that took three pictures of your skin- one on your neck, one on your cheek, and one on your forehead, which gave him your a reading of your 'Color IQ.' He then asked for our emails, and left us to play with the Ciaté nail polishes at their try-it-on nail-bar. 

Photo source: m.sephora.com (for mobile-access) sephora.com (for computer-access) 

A few minutes later, I received my email with my Color IQ, and because it was an email, there was no immediate pressure to by anything in the store- love that. I now have a personalized selection of color-matched products for my skin tone to browse through online. 

In the meantime, I'm enjoying my one neon Ciaté nail, and the gorgeous Tocca fragrance that I practically drowned myself in ('I need it, no I don't, I need it, no I don't...'). 

Check it out! The staff is friendly and they won't stalk you. So, no pressure to make a purchase could still result in a cool manicure, some great perfume, and personalized-foundation options to browse through.

Keep wandering, 

Ps. Bring your boyfriend! There's a fragrance experience for him just like the one for you!