My first trip to Paris involved me stopping at every store on Champs Elysees, and peering through the window. The french translation of window shopping is quite literally "Window Licking" and that's practically what I would do, with the world's finest fashion brands with their gorgeous window displays before me. And then, I stopped outside one store. I felt transfixed as the heaviest most intoxicating fragrances wafted towards my nose and filled my lungs. Almost as if in a haze, I walked in, being carried by the smell of a million perfumes.
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| The Sephora store on Champs Elysees |
And that was how I found myself inside Sephora for the first time. I've returned on subsequent trips, to get my fix of their in-house brand. (Sephora also stocks other international brands) Row after row of rainbow colours, every imaginable fragrance ingredient and flavour of Shower Gel, Body Scrub, Body Butter, Mist Perfume, Soap, Bath Bubbles and more. When I found myself in Paris, on Champs Elysees, on my birthday (as a beautiful surprise from my husband), I couldn't help myself. I dropped tube after tube into my shopping basket. Mango Body Scrub, Mango Shower Gel, Vanilla Shower Gel, Coconut Shower Gel, it all went in. As did the Mango Body Butter.
The last time I shopped at Sephora, I picked up an eyeliner (that just didn't compare to my classic favourite - the Revlon eye pencil, that I've been using for years) and a foundation. The foundation however, turned out to be far too dark (maybe I got fairer through that winter in Paris) so I mix it with my L'oreal True Match Super Blendable Makeup Foundation (which is a bit too light) and my Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock - SPF 50.
But this time, I was prepared. I knew exactly what I wanted to buy from the Face section at Sephora. In went the Purifying Cleansing Gel (which may feel slimy, but it washes everything off without drying my skin) an SPF 50+ Sunscreen Face Lotion, and the one thing I'd been holding out for. BB Creams have hit Indian markets and beauty magazines only in the past year, and I wanted to wait to buy the right one. Buying the BB Moisturising Cream SPF 15 at Sephora, just felt right.
Oh, and did I mention it was my birthday? One of the staff members came up to me and tried to get me to fill a loyalty form, I was really glad to have someone to practice my french on, and obliged. My ears perked up when she mentioned something about me getting something since it was my birthday, and sure enough, when I showed that card at the billing counter, in went loads of free sample sachets, my choice of nailpolish (I love this shade, it's nuder than nude, it's almost non-existent) and nailpolish remover (that works superfast, it's perfect for rushed mornings).
I also picked up some gifts and other things from Sephora that day. The next week, in Barcelona, I averted my eyes each time I passed a Sephora, feeling supremely guilty for the no-holds-barred spree I'd already indulged in. And now that I'm back in Mumbai, I wish I had done another round.
So this is my open letter to Sephora, please please please open a store in Mumbai. Delhi just doesn't cut it. You've got one die hard loyal customer here for sure.
Do you have a favourite brand, that you always stock up on when you travel?
