Or at least the make up counters.
In the last 6 months, Ala Moana Center, Honolulu, Hawaii’s version of America’s Greatest Mall, has opened two major contenders in the battle for the beauty budget dollar.
Prior to the holidays, Bloomingdales opened in all of its splendor. I never went into post holiday, cuz, I really don’t like crowds.
Post holiday, Nords opened in the same wing of the mall.
Kiehls is slated to open soon-a company store stand alone near L’Occitane.
I’ve always been pretty lazy about traversing the entire mall-and now everything I want is located on one side.
Like a sailboat with the heavy contenders sitting on the same side, beauty mavens, the elite is all on the west side of the mall.
Nords opened in a brand new, much larger space–the beauty department is almost designed like Sephora with rows of cosmetic lines in separate corridors. Nords also has the deluxe samples for sale-in center stations.
One thing I like is their “try it” stations-hey, on Friday night I don’t remember the name exactly, but brands have the GWP or other products set out in the center stations for people to try and play with. I like that.
It’s a wunderland.
Nords also boasts the first Charlotte Tilbury counter-known for the makeup artist turned entrepreneur-her eye shadow palettes are gorgeous-soft and silky powders. The make up artists are pretty knowledgeable and wear the make up product well-
I think it’s owned by Goop(sunscreen) but there is a running water wash basin-which I greatly appreciate so I can wash my hands of the products instead of just using alcohol or Purell.
Bloomingdales is pretty awesome and I love the calm atmosphere-read-less busy. I appreciate this fact, tho of course it is very hard for salespeople. The store itself is wonderful, a high shine new cousin to SFO’s store. The marketing people need to get busy cuz, as gorgeous as the store is, there is a perception issue.
Nords and Bloomingdales are pretty much parallel in pricing and offerings-but somehow people think B is much pricier.
Nay, B is the same as Nords-B just offers trendier labels in clothing. But cosmetics-the prices are the same.
Take a walk to the west-side-it’s really worth it.
And if you happen to live in K-town meaning Kahala or vicinity, check out Anela, who is heading up Macy’s Kahala’s new cosmetic headquarters with Urban Decay, Smashbox, Anastasia, Philosophy and more, products to offer. Anela is a make up artist who I met at BOSS Beauty Supply, the headquarters for beautiful hair. She’s very chill and very knowledgable-give her a visit.
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