Have you ever wondered what it’s like to shop with a beauty editor? Welcome to Counter Service. A series where we visit some of our favorite beauty boutiques IRL. We visit carefully selected spaces and locations that are worth shopping in person. And please come with me. Next, Allure’s Senior Commerce Editor Sarah Felbin visited Ulta Beauty to find Mother’s Day gifts that moms will love and use every day.
I was always very close with my mom (remember the movie Lorelai and Rory) gilmore girls, However, there are few juvenile dramas). She taught me everything about beauty, from helping me perfect my eyeliner before a dance competition to choosing the perfect mani-pedi color combination for my senior prom. And most lessons started the same way. It started with a trip to my local beauty store. In our case, it was Ulta.
My mom and I spent hours wandering through hallowed beauty halls, tossing new products into bags to talk more about later. So when I was wondering where to buy a Mother’s Day gift that she would really appreciate, I decided to stop by a local store. So It was good.
When I walk into the 86th Street store in New York City (past the rainbow lipstick mural), I am reminded of my childhood shopping sprees. You know the atmosphere. Huge sales floor, bright lighting (great for swatching, and you know what we’re testing) all), and a seemingly endless array of well-organized luxury beauty brands and drugstore favorites. As a beauty editor, this is my dream. I literally can’t wait to listen to it. Even playlists packed with Beyoncé, ABBA, and Dua Lipa are worth digging into.
As I wander the aisles, looking at the items, looking at the samples, chatting with the sales staff, I find something I know my mom will love and can’t live without, or something new I can’t wait to introduce her to. Almost without realizing it, I’m stuffing tons of presents into my bag, from skincare equipment to makeup to fragrance. And all of Ulta Beauty’s products barely even make a dent. (There’s always her birthday…and Christmas.) This is what my harvest looks like.
Source: Allure – www.allure.com
