What was your very first Sephora experience like? [ Edited ]

[#1]

Hi everyone! What was your very first Sephora experience like and when was it?? Was it memorable??  My very first Sephora experience was amazing. The first time I walked into a Sephora was October 2011. 2 weeks after my 16th birthday. I had never walked into a Sephora before then.  I had a $50 Sephora giftcard which was a gift  and my mom suggested that we go in to check it out incase I wanted to spend the giftcard. When I first walked in, I was in shock and in awe!  I was amazed by everything and I wanted to buy everything! I was so excited, running around the store like a fool, swatching whatever I could swatch on my hands and arms. The thing that I felt that I absolutely had to buy when I was the Naked Palette. I had only cheap drugstore makeup at home and I never owned a mid/high end brand before. I had been eyeing it for a year and I read tons of reviews on it and I figured it would be a good start to my official collection.  Having the experience of walking into a Sephora for the first time last year was the best 16th birthday present ever!!

[#2]

I've had my first Sephora experience several years ago at around age 19 (I just turned 24 this month) so I dont *exactly* remember it but what I do remember is that I felt so *overwhelmed* the very first time I stepped in there. I remember wanting to get a fragrance for my mom and ended up walking out with that and a little something for myself (Urban Decay Ammo Palette). When I looked around from where I was standing I didnt know where to begin. And I admit, it took some trial and error to find the things that I liked but once I got the hang of shopping there, I never looked back. I remember going to ULTA pretty frequently because I have several around me but now I very rarely go there. If I do, its for something that Sephora doesnt carry (like Biore pore strips or Ecotools brushes or Burts Bees).

[#3]

How fun to read everyone's store experiences!

I can't say for sure.. I know it was a LONG time ago at a Sephora store downtown San Francisco that was 2 floors with carpeting and full of fun makeup! (remember Tony and Tina?)  Now that specific location is a Mac computer store where everyone camps in front of for new releases! It had to have been during High school, 2001 or so? I remember seeing Hard Candy and LOVING the makeup there. 

I think the next REAL visit I remember was in 2005, I walked into the store (much older and wiser!) realized I loved it, asked for an application and got hired the next week. This was at our San Francisco Union Street store where I spent a great year with an amazing cast, some of whom I work with at Sephora.com with now! 

[#4]

Mine was just last year in November when they had their VIB event and my friend brought me as her guest or whatever it was....she let me use her discount and get her bag, I bought tons of stuff...before then I had always seen sephora but never really thought there were many differences in makeup in drugstores...since then, I'm a VIB and beauty talk, it was all over and I was a hooked girl. 

[#5]

Mine was just last year in November when they had their VIB event and my friend brought me as her guest or whatever it was....she let me use her discount and get her bag, I bought tons of stuff...before then I had always seen sephora but never really thought there were many differences in makeup in drugstores...since then, I'm a VIB and beauty talk, it was all over and I was a hooked girl. 

[#6]

Oddly enough, I don't remember what my first Sephora experience was like, but I know it was pretty recent like towards the end of college. I was one of those girls, who couldn't care less about my skin and skincare, like I would walk into a Target and buy the first Neutrogena cleanser that came into view. I think my very first purchases online were Nars Orgasm Blush and/or a makeup brush set. A funny thing I like to mention is that one time when my guy friend and I walked passed Sephora back then, he actually asked me what Sephora sold, and I was like, "I don't know. I think a bunch of makeup stuff." I would walk away so indifferently.

[#7]

I don't recall a particular experiment. I would shop at another store similar to Sephora in France and coming to the USA I found Sephora on the computer (and they DO have stores in France but back there I prefered the competition in France that is not found in the USA)....

Antoine

[#8]

Aaah memories   I think I remember my first Sephora experience better than I remember my first kiss in high school!

I walked in with the same feeling you get when you first walk through the gates in Disney's Magic Kingdom and you see all the happiness along Main Street.  I could not believe my eyes that all this makeup and skincare was at my fingers to play with and touch and I didn't have to be helped at a counter!!!  I am sure I spent over an hour selecting makeup and skincare I bought:

Benefit's Eye Bright, Benefit Boing, Complexion Kit from Smashbox, Sephora lip stick, lip liner, mascara, and Philosophy Skincare Purity and Hope in a Jar.  I got a handful of skincare samples to try.  The cast member who helped me was named Laura, and there was this funky music playing overhead that went a little something like:  Bwwwaaaa, Bwwaaaa, BoooWaaaaa, Bwwwwaaaaa, in a low graveling tone.

[#9]

I was working in Pittsburgh and went down to Shadyside to try to get something to eat. There was a Sephora right across from Prantl's bakery and a Sushi bar, so I got a roll and a cupcake (how's that for the lunch of champions, lol). Then I had a couple of minutes before I had to get back to work so I strolled across the street and looked in the Sephora's window. I was hooked! A whole emporium of color! I went in and immediately spent my whole paycheck for the job in Pittsburgh. I got lipcolor (I forget what kind), a Cynthia Rowley shadow palette, a bunch of Sephora shadow singles, a bunch of brushes, a full manicure set, a whole makeup bag of nail color and just on and on! I ended up with one of those really big Sephora bags stuffed with makeup, I wasn't into skincare yet, I thought I was too young.

It's been a love affair ever since, which is to say, lasted way longer than any relationship except my marriage to my wonderful husband, who puts up with my makeup obsession and built me a special makeup closet to store my collection.

Fun post!

[#10]

Ah, I was a stereotypical nerd when I was first introduced to Sephora. I just started college (and my parents just replaced all my XXL free unisex tshirts from math competitions with, you know, clothe for girls that actually cost money). I had no feelings toward Sephora back then, just like if I show you a roomful of circuit boards and LEDs, it's like "ok, great, pick what I need, then leave."

I think I first signed up for Sephora because I then I can get expensive "junk" for free. Then a year later, a very patient Clinique lady showed me what good skincare can do (and gave me a couple full sized freebies). That was like, The Enlightenment for me. My skin looked flawless and glowy, like those photoshoped models (it helped that I just got past the pimply teenage phase). That opened the flood gate and I became exponentially skincare obsessed, high end skincare obsessed, so I started actually shopping at Sephora occasionally.

However, I was on my parent's money in college, so I didn't shop very much until I started earning my own money. More shopping and buying anti-wrinkle stuff for mom made me a VIB. At the same time, I discovered BeautyTalk, and that was the finishing blow. I am now a bona fide Sephora obsessed nut. I know when products are updated, I keep a beauty calendar and list of promos, and I have a 5 page list of things I've tried/want to try that are from Sephora.

[#11]

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beautytester wrote:

I know when products are updated, I keep a beauty calendar and list of promos, and I have a 5 page list of things I've tried/want to try that are from Sephora.

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Hi,

That seems a little bit over-doing it.... but if you like: to each her / his own !

Antoine

[#12]

I think my experience is kind of similiar in a way to beautytester's since I discovered Sephora in college.  The Sephora inside JCP has been here for over a year now.  I randomly discovered it while goofing off at the mall.  Once Sephora was open, I went in to check it out, and I was absolutey amazed, especially at Urban Decay.  I was slowly progressing to higher end makeup before I discovered Sephora via Victoria's Secret.  I wasn't interested in most of the products at Belk's, which is mainly Estee Lauder, Lancome, Clinique, etc. 

After buying a single UD shadow, I was hooked.  When I went to the beach last summer, I made my first big purchase.  Since then, people know they can gift shop for me there or send me a gift card.  I reached VIB status by way of saving (helps to practice budgeting in college) and giving my mom my Beauty Insider info when she went shopping lol.  So, we share the points and whatnot.  She got back into wearing makeup due to Sephora.  It had been years since she wore makeup.  I'm guessing she had a reaction to a drugstore or Belk brand.  Anyway, she is also hooked to UD as well lol.

[#13]

I was back in high school, I think I was a sophomore, or maybe a junior. My friend was working at a Sephora and suggested I come visit because he knew me as a very artistic and bright person. I ended up buying a Stila mascara (it was $10) and an Urban Decay eye shadow in Vert (my favorite green, it's been discontinued, but I did snag one before it went away). I