LUSH:
I went to the LUSH in the St. Laurent Shopping Centre in Ottawa. It's a small store, but it was full of great things! In case you couldn't tell with my photo, the items I picked up are:
- 3 Emotibombs in Too Drunk...
I bought these specifically because of the smell. I don't drink, so I would never use these for their intended purpose. They will be good pick-me ups...I love the peppermint smell!
- 1 Emotibomb in Sex in the Shower
I like the jasmine and ginger scent.
- 1 Emotibomb in Up You Gets
Actually part of the Shiny Happy People gift set. It smells like citrus, which I love. They didn't have many in stock, so I couldn't get more like I had wanted originally.
- 1 Shower Gel in Happy Hippy
Also part of the Shiny Happy People gift set. It smells like citrus too. LOVE this.
- 1 Bar of Sandstone Soap
Again, part of the Shiny Happy People gift set. It has sand in it, so it's got an exfoliator function. It also has a citrus scent.
- Creamy Candy Bubble Bar
It smells like candy. End of story. Yummy!
- Sexy Peel Soap
Yet another citrus scented soap...smells soooooo good! I wanted to get Pineapple Grunt, but the store I was in didn't have it.
Overall Impression: I thought the girl working in the store (there was only 1!) was very organized, and knew her stuff. She was helpful, and very friendly. This was one of the better shopping experiences I had yesterday. I would absolutely go back to that store again.
Want to learn more about these products? Go to the LUSH website.
MAC:
I really like the layout of the MAC store in the Rideau Shopping Centre. It's spacious, and there were 4 girls working in the store when I went. All of them were friendly, organized, and very helpful. I walked in to this store with a list. I spoke to a MUA (make up artist), gave her my list, and she went and got everything I was looking for and met me at the till. I was impressed.
I went to MAC again, but this time to the counter in The Bay. My mom had found an eyeshadow she liked at the MAC store in Rideau, and when we went into The Bay to kill some time, she found it again at the MAC counter. Again, there were 4 MUAs working. Two were on till, and 2 were doing makeovers. This time, I found a Tartan Tale gift box I liked, and a blush. I also picked up the eyeshadow my mom liked. The girls I dealt with were very friendly, professional and organized too - just like their counterparts in the store in the mall.
At the store, I picked up:
- Viva Glam Cyndi Lipstick (LOVE!!!)
- Eyshadows in: Coquette, Concrete, Shroom, Scene, and Club
At the counter in The Bay, I picked up:
- Mineralize Blush in Hang Loose
- Eyeshadow in Brown Script (for my mom)
- A Tartan Tale Exclusive Gift Tin in The Swinging Violets (not available online, or at the MAC store in Rideau...this one was only at The Bay! :) ).
You Get: Lip Glass in Icescape (re-premote from other collections, LE), Mineralize Eye Shadow in Earthly Riches (re-premote from other collections, LE), Paint Pot in Bare Study, Zoom Lash Mascara in Zoom Black.
Overall Impression: Three out of the Four times I have been to MAC, I have had excellent service. The only time I didn't was when I went into MAC in the Square One shopping centre in Mississauga. I walked in, tried to get the attention of two MUAs, and walked out because nobody would help me. The three times I have had good service were all in Ottawa - so good job to the MAC stores in Ottawa! I will absolutely come back to shop in your stores.
Want more information about MAC products, and the 2010 Holiday Collection? Visit their website.
Sephora:
This was my second trip into a Sephora ever, and my mom's first. It was CRAZY busy in there. Just my luck, the NARS Rep. was in store, so I bee-lined over to her to get her help picking out my NARS products to purchase. I was disappointed that they did not carry the Makeup Primer with SPF20. When I talked to the NARS Rep., I found out that they do not carry it anywhere in Ottawa...that shocked me! So I left with the normal primer without SPF. They were also completely out of the Smudge Proof Eye Primer.
What I did get:
- NARS Primer (white tube, smells like pretty flowers.)
- NARS Blush in Sin (I love this color...it's a shimmery mauve that is perfect for fall)
- Rosebud Salve
- Strawberry Rosebud Salve (my favorite lip balm ever!)
Overall Impression: Aside from the fact that they did not have 2 of the things I was going to get, I must say that I did get good service in this store. I had an eager-to-please Sephora MUA help me at NARS, and the NARS Rep., who were both wonderful. The NARS Rep. also provided a helpful tip: there is a NARS counter in The Bay, which carried the LE holiday collections, as well as some of the items that Sephora did not have in stock (Turkish Delight lip gloss, for example). She recommended that anyone who couldn't find what they were looking for go there, as there is not as much traffic there as there is in Sephora, and you are more likely to get what you are looking for.
I also noticed at the NARS section in Sephora that there are some products carried in-store that you can no longer buy online. I almost bought one such product (Burn it Blue Eyeshadow Duo) simply for that fact...then I thought about it and decided that even though I am a NARS collector, I didn't really feel like buying the product just because I don't have it and can't get it online.
I walked in with a V.I.B coupon for 20% of all merchandise, because I am part of their Beauty Insider program, at the V.I.B level. I printed the coupon, and used it on my purchase. Now, Bless the Heart of the girl who processed my purchase at the till, because she was unsure of herself when she was ringing the coupon through. I don't have a Beauty Insider card, because I enrolled in the program online. So, she wasn't sure how to get proof that I was a member. Thankfully, her manager came down to the tills and helped her, and let her know she would have to search for me by my e-mail. She did, and I got the 20% discount. I was very appreciative and patient - I could tell she was stressed because of how busy the store was and how huge the lineup was at the cashes.
I never cease to be grossed out at the state of the samples at Sephora. I would like to know how often they get changed out...some were really disgusting.
I liked shopping at the Sephora in the Rideau Centre. I would go back. I just hope it isn't always as busy as it was yesterday afternoon!
Randoms:
I did go in to some non-makeup related stores: Mrs. Tiggywinkles, and DeSerres.
I had never been into DeSerres before - and it blew me away. My mom and I were in heaven. It is an awesome arts and crafts supply store. I could have spent countless hours and dollars in there. I ended up leaving with three strands of fresh water pearls for a Rosary I am making for a girlfriend's daughter's confirmation, and a strand of lava beads and a coloring book for me. They also get major points for being a completely bilingual business - Way to go! Check out the DeSerres website here.
At Mrs. Tiggywinkles I picked up two stocking-stuffers for my dad: Monkey Sticks chopsticks, and a Pocket Mr. T. I also got myself a Chococat Keyring. From the Sanrio universe of characters, I like Hello Kitty, but I prefer ChocoCat. I was a bit disappointed with the store - which I normally love and could spend an hour in. They had too many people on staff that day, and they didn't seem to be doing much - even thought the store was packed and very busy.
I had a great shopping trip to Ottawa. It was organized by my local Homemaker's Association. They organize it every year, and the idea (although somewhat antiquated) is that local women can get on the bus (a coach bus, chartered specifically for us), go to Ottawa or Montreal and shop for a day, have a good dinner, and then come home. You don't have to drive yourself, and you can buy as much as you want as the Chauffeur packs everything in the luggage compartment at each stop. There will be another trip next year, and I am hoping it will be to different malls.
Today is my 'recovery day'. My feet are killing me from walking around so much. I hope you all have a great rest of your weekend! I definitely will! :)
