So, the Sephora opening was today in Halifax, and it was madness!! I arrived at the mall at 10 after 9, and the lineup was already down the hall. I moseyed upstairs to get a coffee from Second Cup, and when I returned the lineup had gotten even longer. Thankfully, I spotted the Sephora rep Caroline and got to stand back to take photos of the eager crowd. Who can blame them?? This is an epic moment!
At 9:30 prompt, the SA’s of the store came outside. A beat started pumping from the doorway, and on cue, the staff started a choreographed dance! The energy was palpable and they grooved and shook out their own excitement as the crowd cheered them on.
After a final team cheer, the doors were swept open, and Caroline advised us to stick close to her so we could enter the store first. It was really awesome to get a first glimpse at the yet unmarred displays and see what lines were brought to Halifax – thankfully, it really is a full store, we have everything! (that Toronto would have, for example).
While I wandered around drooling at the Hourglass display, the new Urban Decay anniversary palette, and all the other beautiful things, I was struck by the large crowd who seemed to share my obsession with makeup. I didn’t realize Halifax had it in them!!! For the most part, it was organized chaos, aside from the occasional ‘grabby hands’ of frantic women who didn’t seem to grab the concept that the store isn’t going anywhere! I did happen to eavesdrop on some girls who snagged one of the last UD ‘Naked’ palettes, and while I wasn’t envious (just doesn’t entice me), I was proud that they knew the value of what they held in their hands.
(first transaction!)
One woman I noticed was particularly intense. I followed her around for a minute in order to surreptitiously take a photo of her mania: She had her iphone out, stalking her prey with a determination that puts even me to shame, stuffing her bag full of goodies. You go girl!
Once I had my fill of browsing/people-watching, I looked for my small item list, picking up the Fresh lip treatment and the Hourglass primer – unfortunately, the BE shadow primers were not yet stocked.
But, I made do and picked up the new ‘They’re Real!’ mascara from Benefit 
Check out my haul (note – this is all done quickie-style as we’re leaving for Gros Morne in a few minutes!):
Fresh Sugar Honey Tinted Lip Treatment $26
Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer $19.50
Benefit They’re Real Mascara $29
Bare Escentuals Buxom Passport*
(Contains Buxom Lash Mascara, Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Stick in Sydney, and Buxom Lip Polish in April)
Sample of Dr. Brandt Collagen Serum*
Sample of B.Kamins Vegetable Cleanser and Bio-Maple Sunbar Sunscreen SPF30*
Sephora patterned makeup bag*
*items given to me by Sephora rep.
If the lineup to get in was long (which looked much like the line to get into a bar – only so many allowed at a time), the lineup to check out was even worse. It took a good 30 minutes for me to make my purchase! Normally that would infuriate me, but I wrote this blog while waiting Again, the eagerness of my fellow shoppers bowled me over and made waiting seem less like an irritation and more like an opportunity to share a common goal
When I was walking around the mall afterwards, it was interesting to hear some of the conversations floating around the hallways. A woman in Payless saw my bags, and commented about the store opening to the employee standing nearby. They then proceeded to talk in depth about Bare Minerals powder and how its their holy grail of foundation. Another lady was walking behind me when I left the mall, called someone on their phone, and when the first thing out of her mouth was ‘I was longer at the mall than planned,’ I knew Sephora was to blame – and it was 
. It sounds silly, but these moments bring me such joy. I even felt a bit dizzy after I left from all the excitement! An event like this really brings the beauty community together – it joins like-minded people such as myself in one place and I feel right at home.
Overall, it was a great experience and increased rather than dimishished my love for Sephora. The dance, albeit a bit cheesy, was fun and did invoke an air of energy and fun, which is what the store is all about. The Sales Associates were cheerful, happy and more than ready to be of help (without being obnoxious). I hope that this will bring a new consciousness and interest in beauty to Halifax – I think we’ve got it in us but haven’t tapped into it yet. Cosmetics should be fun and a way to play around with your look just like fashion! And it knows no dress size
Now, I’m off to Gros Morne for a week!! I won’t be posting in that time (I don’t think), so in the meantime – everyone have a great weekend, week, and another weekend 
!!!
