Call me strict but I just wish places like Sephora, Mecca and Space NK would have an 18 and older entry limit. Or do a a specific part of the shop that is for under 18s. And make it a 2 way street, don't let over 18s into this part. Ok, I know this is probably just a dream or fantasy. But, I actually blame the parents. How have they not taught their children how to behave respectfully when shopping? The look don't touch unless you can afford to buy it if you break it. I remember my Mum terrifying me telling me that if you broke something in a shop you would have to pay for it! Also reminding me that people who work in the stores are not there to entertain you or clean up after you. Shops are not playgrounds. If you want to make a mess like a child making mud pies or finger painting, go to a place where this is catered for. Skin care counters, beauty and makeup stores, department stores are not day care centres for bored kids. Teach them how to conduct themselves properly or take them to MacDonald's.
Another extremely well written and thoughtful piece!
While I do still shop mostly at Sephora for the brands and products I love, I do so online about 99.9% of the time. Going into the actual stores these days fills me with an unpleasant combination of rage, dread, and anxiety, for all of the reasons you said. Why the hell would I want to subject myself to that?! I have enough health issues, lol!
I remember looking forward to visiting Space NK when I visited London years ago, and loving it. Now I wish they were at least here in NYC now more than ever!
You are most definitely not the only one who feels this way, I'm certain of it! I've felt this way for some time, but I haven't been able to articulate it as well as you've done here!
I wish I’d had someone like you in my life when I was a teenager battling hormonal skin. Since that time I’ve educated myself but back then I had no one to advise me and when I think of what I used to do to my poor skin… 😳. Love your work and your fresh take on the beauty world - I always look forward to your posts 😘💜✨
It breaks my heart to see kids slavishly following influencers - not even trained professionals - for their advice. I’m glad there’s still some good in the beauty world ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
Robert, I love reading your thoughts, and not just because they often mirror my own. I think you hit the nail on the head with skincare and a blurring of "who is this for?" marketing. Many people don't even really know the difference between skincare and makeup, and I blame a lot of brands who are trying to have and do it all, especially following "aesthetics" and trends. I've been saying for a few years that, though it may make me a crotchety old maid, I feel like young people starting out with makeup should be given affordable options, but still have barriers of entry. I didn't start really using or playing with makeup until I was about to enter university, and even then it was just a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Young people should absolutely be free to express themselves and celebrate their creativity/artistry with their looks, but the aggressive marketing towards younger and younger people feels like the focus has been taken from creativity and pushing it towards being trendy or of a certain price point. The Stanley Cup nonsense all over again, in some ways.
Parents who let their kids run amok in places like Sephora or Ulta and getting them medium/high end makeup like NARS, Fenty, and Ben Nye is absolutely wild, to me. When I was younger, my mother let me use her Shiseido foundation and eyeliner when I had a special event, because it was gentle to use on our skin type and matched our skin tones (as Asians in the '80s and '90s), and I'll never forget how special it felt, from the sleek, heavy packaging to the sophisticated scent. That jump in quality from Maybelline and Rimmel gave me something to aspire to, if I wanted to be more serious about makeup, but dang it, I feel like struggling with Great Lash is a rite of passage.
I was young enough that I had never even thought about it, but so much of what was on the market at drug stores only had pink or straight yellow undertones, and the Shiseido always blended right in. I struggled a lot with eczema when I was younger, too, and so part of the reason I never played around with makeup much was because a lot of drugstore makeup would interact poorly with my skin, whether sitting on top of eczema texture or exacerbating my flareups. I definitely don't want people to struggle with that aspect of things. But I still think having to contend with crappy liquid liner or an eyeliner quad/trio from Almay or Revlon is a coming-of-age ceremony. The things we did with dry white eyeliner pencils back in the day...
Just when I think I couldn’t possibly tolerate another blog in my email, I see yours and it changes my mind.
You are an exceptionally good writer who actually has something relevant, helpful and educational to pass along.
I share many of the same philosophies, especially regarding children (and humanity in general) so it’s always refreshing to get a notification from you & your team.
I remember Sephora in the early 2000s. I was in my mid 20s and was managing a store in an upscale mall just outside of Washington DC. Sephora opened in what would now be considered a tiny space across the way from mine. I think it was around 900 ft.².
Sephora was perfect for younger, upwardly mobile professionals who were looking for something better than drugstore, but more reasonable than say, Le Mer (which at that time was all the rage among the ultra wealthy who either lived to shop or sent the help in to pick up from their P.S.
My point is Sephora, long ago, lost its original market and its way. Although no one can argue it has become insanely successful, many of us who helped build it to the colossus it is today are philosophically no longer part of the bricks-even though we may begrudgingly still shop there, we do so with a bad taste in our mouths.
I would like to add that we should never, ever buy any brand from Amazon-(I’m so sorry, Robert) even if it is from its “store”. It has been exposed repeatedly to be a viper pit of collaborative counterfeits-and I’m talking about everything from Revlon to Chanel.
Go directly to the website of the brand you wish to purchase and do your homework about Amazon’s notorious and shocking counterfeit industry.
In closing, I want to thank you for just being you. You always brighten my online experience!
My daughter and I walked into Ulta in a prestigious shopping area and outside the doors were about 8 children’s bicycles strewn about thrown on the ground. These bicycles had tags and wrapping on them still. I could see this because they were blocking the entrances. I didn’t analyze the situation however, I told the manager at the counter as we walked by. She did not bat one eyelash and went about her business. Mind you this was 6pm on a Thursday evening and there weren’t many people in the store. My daughter and I directly proceeded to the aisle where I needed to pick up my product(I already looked up the info online)and passed 4 little girls well under the age of 10 huddling around. They had no parents or guardians with them. As I was locating my product my 11 year old daughter asked me if she could look one aisle over at the Touchland. I told her yes because I had a direct eye on her. She came back about one minute later and a young boy followed by 6-7 little girls followed her. This boy yells at me, Are you her mom? I responded, Yes. He said to me, Your daughter just looked at me funny. Why is she looking at me like this? I responded with that’s the way God made her. He didn’t like that response and it elevated his voice and at this point he is causing a major scene. I would only say move on. The last thing he said to us was, She can’t be looking at people older than her like this. Do you think anyone at Ulta came over to address the situation? The boy then walked around the store hooting and hollering about his issue with my daughter for at least ten minutes and then they left the store without purchasing a single item. In all fairness when I was in my 20’s or early 30’s I probably would cringe at the sight of kids at Sephora & Ulta or any other Beauty Shop. I have a very mature daughter. She was a dancer who started wearing makeup when she was 4 years old. She is allowed to wear clear mascara, lip gloss, blush and highlighter; it doesn’t mean she always does. She saves her money to buy quality makeup and I treat her too. Girls emulate their moms. She sees me spending hours on my makeup, purchasing online, watching tutorials and then she wants to learn. Girls in middle school wear makeup bottom line. I guess what I am trying to say is I think it’s okay to respectfully bring your kid in once in a while. You should not let them out of your sight there or anywhere for that matter. With the amount of money Ulta got from me last year I get ulcers and migraines thinking about it. I could write a book about their wrongdoings but I have always tried to give them another chance. Well the book is closed.
Robert I feel the same way about children in the cosmetic stores unaccompanied by their parents. One of the employees at Sephora told me the parents drop their brats off and let them loose at the store as if the employees are supposed to babysit them. They destroy the samples and have no regard for the store’s staff members. Such a mess. I don’t find this in Ulta so that’s where I go or I go to Sephora during school hours. Children that don’t have respect get no respect from me. Great article Wish we had a Space NK here in Florida ♥️
I was not allowed to wear ANY makeup until 10th grade, and then it had to be very subtle. What I most remember is my dermatologist telling me that the important thing was to keep my skin clean and to wear sunscreen. As I am now 72 years old, I am no longer interested in the latest look, and just want to look like myself. Having never been comfortable in buying expensive makeup, I - for the most part - use drugstore makeup, such as ELF and Covergirl, that I can get at Target or Ulta. I never liked Sephora, but the last time I went in (they had the only stock of my shade of foundation) it was hell. I will never do that again. Even Ulta, except on Saturday, is an oasis of calm by comparison. And getting cosmetics at Target is always easy. I was amazed at the age of the girls in Sephora, and the amount and cost of what they bought - not to mention that I would love to have the skin they were going to be covering up.
I really hate to say this, but parents need to take control of their children. Children should NEVER touch what is not theirs. Plus, please teach your children, respect. About makeup, children really don't need it. I didn't start until I was in 10th grade. I started modeling then. Of course makeup up was literally white washed on your face. 🤷♀️
Please don't make your children grow up.so fast. Monitor what they watch. Talk to them. Help them understand how times are now.
Well said. I wish we had something like Space NK here in the US, but it would probably also soon be overrun by the 18 and younger heathens that have made Sephora (along with the bad attitudes of the employees) and Ulta such miserable places to shop. I too purchase most of my cosmetics online these days, because I can't be bothered with wading through the children clogging the aisles, obstructing the gondolas, and waiting in line at checkout with their anti-aging serums and $60 eyeshadow palettes.
The aisles of Beauty have changed in so many ways!
Claustrophobic, overcrowded, dirty units, missing damaged testers, no aisle space , and feeling like I’m being hustled in some fashion have become the norm. Going shopping for cosmetics used to be a good experience to try new products and discover new lines. I pretty much do everything online now. If I do decide to bravely go into Sephora I feel I have to gear up mentally just to go in ,get my items quickly then get the heck out of there! No joy , no experience of luxury .. just a ball of confusion surrounded by children ! We need more specialized apothecaries like Space Nk and Violet Grey for humans like me ❤️
I'm 20 living in London and it's crazy how shopping has changed. I personally like going into Boots because the big ones have brands that I enjoy such as Huda Beauty, Fenty, IT cosmetics etc. I've found that young teens don't like going into Boots and associate it with older people so it tends to be more peaceful than Sephora. I remember I went to the Sephora at Stratford Westfield and this young girl (couldn't have been older than 12) was just shoving products in her mother's basket without asking. My gran was shocked and so was I. But, Robert- fabulous posts. I've just joined today because I've found I really enjoy reading about makeup. Keep up the good work!
I don't even enjoy going to Sephora or Ulta. My last experience at Sephora was the final draw. While the kids or more so their parents are "customers", I couldn't get any help because every employee on the floor was helping kids put on makeup. Shopping there is just an unpleasant experience now.
Robert - I got the saddest email today from SpaceNK - they’ve ceased shipping to US (thanks to the Oompa Loompa in charge) 😩 I do hope it’s temporary 🤞🏼
I loved reading this! I honestly shop online because of this feeling. I am a mom of 2 going on 3 kids. If I do have to go into the store I make sure I have a sitter and that my kids stay away from social media. If they become interested I want to be the one to help guide them by bringing home options of things for them to try that are age appropriate. I hate what things have become for our next generation and for what it could influence in my children. I also hate not being able to enjoy the shopping experiences I used to love in ulta or sephora. Online works but I do a lot of returns because I refuse to go into store to test products anymore. This insite was truly amazing. I am so glad I am not alone in my feelings.
Call me strict but I just wish places like Sephora, Mecca and Space NK would have an 18 and older entry limit. Or do a a specific part of the shop that is for under 18s. And make it a 2 way street, don't let over 18s into this part. Ok, I know this is probably just a dream or fantasy. But, I actually blame the parents. How have they not taught their children how to behave respectfully when shopping? The look don't touch unless you can afford to buy it if you break it. I remember my Mum terrifying me telling me that if you broke something in a shop you would have to pay for it! Also reminding me that people who work in the stores are not there to entertain you or clean up after you. Shops are not playgrounds. If you want to make a mess like a child making mud pies or finger painting, go to a place where this is catered for. Skin care counters, beauty and makeup stores, department stores are not day care centres for bored kids. Teach them how to conduct themselves properly or take them to MacDonald's.
Ok but I agree 😂😂 OR like some shops do “under 18’s need to be accompanied by and adult”
Half of their parents are just as dreadful.
Truth! The apple does not fall far from the tree.
Another extremely well written and thoughtful piece!
While I do still shop mostly at Sephora for the brands and products I love, I do so online about 99.9% of the time. Going into the actual stores these days fills me with an unpleasant combination of rage, dread, and anxiety, for all of the reasons you said. Why the hell would I want to subject myself to that?! I have enough health issues, lol!
I remember looking forward to visiting Space NK when I visited London years ago, and loving it. Now I wish they were at least here in NYC now more than ever!
I’m so happy you agree and it’s not just me who feels a certain way!
You are most definitely not the only one who feels this way, I'm certain of it! I've felt this way for some time, but I haven't been able to articulate it as well as you've done here!
I wish I’d had someone like you in my life when I was a teenager battling hormonal skin. Since that time I’ve educated myself but back then I had no one to advise me and when I think of what I used to do to my poor skin… 😳. Love your work and your fresh take on the beauty world - I always look forward to your posts 😘💜✨
Thank you so so much!! 🖤🖤
It breaks my heart to see kids slavishly following influencers - not even trained professionals - for their advice. I’m glad there’s still some good in the beauty world ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
Robert, I love reading your thoughts, and not just because they often mirror my own. I think you hit the nail on the head with skincare and a blurring of "who is this for?" marketing. Many people don't even really know the difference between skincare and makeup, and I blame a lot of brands who are trying to have and do it all, especially following "aesthetics" and trends. I've been saying for a few years that, though it may make me a crotchety old maid, I feel like young people starting out with makeup should be given affordable options, but still have barriers of entry. I didn't start really using or playing with makeup until I was about to enter university, and even then it was just a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Young people should absolutely be free to express themselves and celebrate their creativity/artistry with their looks, but the aggressive marketing towards younger and younger people feels like the focus has been taken from creativity and pushing it towards being trendy or of a certain price point. The Stanley Cup nonsense all over again, in some ways.
Parents who let their kids run amok in places like Sephora or Ulta and getting them medium/high end makeup like NARS, Fenty, and Ben Nye is absolutely wild, to me. When I was younger, my mother let me use her Shiseido foundation and eyeliner when I had a special event, because it was gentle to use on our skin type and matched our skin tones (as Asians in the '80s and '90s), and I'll never forget how special it felt, from the sleek, heavy packaging to the sophisticated scent. That jump in quality from Maybelline and Rimmel gave me something to aspire to, if I wanted to be more serious about makeup, but dang it, I feel like struggling with Great Lash is a rite of passage.
I love what you shared about your mom. I didn’t realize other Asians had difficulty matching skin tones.
I was young enough that I had never even thought about it, but so much of what was on the market at drug stores only had pink or straight yellow undertones, and the Shiseido always blended right in. I struggled a lot with eczema when I was younger, too, and so part of the reason I never played around with makeup much was because a lot of drugstore makeup would interact poorly with my skin, whether sitting on top of eczema texture or exacerbating my flareups. I definitely don't want people to struggle with that aspect of things. But I still think having to contend with crappy liquid liner or an eyeliner quad/trio from Almay or Revlon is a coming-of-age ceremony. The things we did with dry white eyeliner pencils back in the day...
I'm an old millenial who started buying and wearing make up around 14 years old.
I always went to get it myself as I am the daughter of a mother who does not wear make up.
Sephora did not become available here in Portugal until much later and we have no Space NK. But there are some lovely national retailers to rely on.
Just when I think I couldn’t possibly tolerate another blog in my email, I see yours and it changes my mind.
You are an exceptionally good writer who actually has something relevant, helpful and educational to pass along.
I share many of the same philosophies, especially regarding children (and humanity in general) so it’s always refreshing to get a notification from you & your team.
I remember Sephora in the early 2000s. I was in my mid 20s and was managing a store in an upscale mall just outside of Washington DC. Sephora opened in what would now be considered a tiny space across the way from mine. I think it was around 900 ft.².
Sephora was perfect for younger, upwardly mobile professionals who were looking for something better than drugstore, but more reasonable than say, Le Mer (which at that time was all the rage among the ultra wealthy who either lived to shop or sent the help in to pick up from their P.S.
My point is Sephora, long ago, lost its original market and its way. Although no one can argue it has become insanely successful, many of us who helped build it to the colossus it is today are philosophically no longer part of the bricks-even though we may begrudgingly still shop there, we do so with a bad taste in our mouths.
I would like to add that we should never, ever buy any brand from Amazon-(I’m so sorry, Robert) even if it is from its “store”. It has been exposed repeatedly to be a viper pit of collaborative counterfeits-and I’m talking about everything from Revlon to Chanel.
Go directly to the website of the brand you wish to purchase and do your homework about Amazon’s notorious and shocking counterfeit industry.
In closing, I want to thank you for just being you. You always brighten my online experience!
My daughter and I walked into Ulta in a prestigious shopping area and outside the doors were about 8 children’s bicycles strewn about thrown on the ground. These bicycles had tags and wrapping on them still. I could see this because they were blocking the entrances. I didn’t analyze the situation however, I told the manager at the counter as we walked by. She did not bat one eyelash and went about her business. Mind you this was 6pm on a Thursday evening and there weren’t many people in the store. My daughter and I directly proceeded to the aisle where I needed to pick up my product(I already looked up the info online)and passed 4 little girls well under the age of 10 huddling around. They had no parents or guardians with them. As I was locating my product my 11 year old daughter asked me if she could look one aisle over at the Touchland. I told her yes because I had a direct eye on her. She came back about one minute later and a young boy followed by 6-7 little girls followed her. This boy yells at me, Are you her mom? I responded, Yes. He said to me, Your daughter just looked at me funny. Why is she looking at me like this? I responded with that’s the way God made her. He didn’t like that response and it elevated his voice and at this point he is causing a major scene. I would only say move on. The last thing he said to us was, She can’t be looking at people older than her like this. Do you think anyone at Ulta came over to address the situation? The boy then walked around the store hooting and hollering about his issue with my daughter for at least ten minutes and then they left the store without purchasing a single item. In all fairness when I was in my 20’s or early 30’s I probably would cringe at the sight of kids at Sephora & Ulta or any other Beauty Shop. I have a very mature daughter. She was a dancer who started wearing makeup when she was 4 years old. She is allowed to wear clear mascara, lip gloss, blush and highlighter; it doesn’t mean she always does. She saves her money to buy quality makeup and I treat her too. Girls emulate their moms. She sees me spending hours on my makeup, purchasing online, watching tutorials and then she wants to learn. Girls in middle school wear makeup bottom line. I guess what I am trying to say is I think it’s okay to respectfully bring your kid in once in a while. You should not let them out of your sight there or anywhere for that matter. With the amount of money Ulta got from me last year I get ulcers and migraines thinking about it. I could write a book about their wrongdoings but I have always tried to give them another chance. Well the book is closed.
Robert I feel the same way about children in the cosmetic stores unaccompanied by their parents. One of the employees at Sephora told me the parents drop their brats off and let them loose at the store as if the employees are supposed to babysit them. They destroy the samples and have no regard for the store’s staff members. Such a mess. I don’t find this in Ulta so that’s where I go or I go to Sephora during school hours. Children that don’t have respect get no respect from me. Great article Wish we had a Space NK here in Florida ♥️
I was not allowed to wear ANY makeup until 10th grade, and then it had to be very subtle. What I most remember is my dermatologist telling me that the important thing was to keep my skin clean and to wear sunscreen. As I am now 72 years old, I am no longer interested in the latest look, and just want to look like myself. Having never been comfortable in buying expensive makeup, I - for the most part - use drugstore makeup, such as ELF and Covergirl, that I can get at Target or Ulta. I never liked Sephora, but the last time I went in (they had the only stock of my shade of foundation) it was hell. I will never do that again. Even Ulta, except on Saturday, is an oasis of calm by comparison. And getting cosmetics at Target is always easy. I was amazed at the age of the girls in Sephora, and the amount and cost of what they bought - not to mention that I would love to have the skin they were going to be covering up.
I really hate to say this, but parents need to take control of their children. Children should NEVER touch what is not theirs. Plus, please teach your children, respect. About makeup, children really don't need it. I didn't start until I was in 10th grade. I started modeling then. Of course makeup up was literally white washed on your face. 🤷♀️
Please don't make your children grow up.so fast. Monitor what they watch. Talk to them. Help them understand how times are now.
Well said. I wish we had something like Space NK here in the US, but it would probably also soon be overrun by the 18 and younger heathens that have made Sephora (along with the bad attitudes of the employees) and Ulta such miserable places to shop. I too purchase most of my cosmetics online these days, because I can't be bothered with wading through the children clogging the aisles, obstructing the gondolas, and waiting in line at checkout with their anti-aging serums and $60 eyeshadow palettes.
AGREED on all points mentioned!
The aisles of Beauty have changed in so many ways!
Claustrophobic, overcrowded, dirty units, missing damaged testers, no aisle space , and feeling like I’m being hustled in some fashion have become the norm. Going shopping for cosmetics used to be a good experience to try new products and discover new lines. I pretty much do everything online now. If I do decide to bravely go into Sephora I feel I have to gear up mentally just to go in ,get my items quickly then get the heck out of there! No joy , no experience of luxury .. just a ball of confusion surrounded by children ! We need more specialized apothecaries like Space Nk and Violet Grey for humans like me ❤️
I'm 20 living in London and it's crazy how shopping has changed. I personally like going into Boots because the big ones have brands that I enjoy such as Huda Beauty, Fenty, IT cosmetics etc. I've found that young teens don't like going into Boots and associate it with older people so it tends to be more peaceful than Sephora. I remember I went to the Sephora at Stratford Westfield and this young girl (couldn't have been older than 12) was just shoving products in her mother's basket without asking. My gran was shocked and so was I. But, Robert- fabulous posts. I've just joined today because I've found I really enjoy reading about makeup. Keep up the good work!
I don't even enjoy going to Sephora or Ulta. My last experience at Sephora was the final draw. While the kids or more so their parents are "customers", I couldn't get any help because every employee on the floor was helping kids put on makeup. Shopping there is just an unpleasant experience now.
Robert - I got the saddest email today from SpaceNK - they’ve ceased shipping to US (thanks to the Oompa Loompa in charge) 😩 I do hope it’s temporary 🤞🏼
I loved reading this! I honestly shop online because of this feeling. I am a mom of 2 going on 3 kids. If I do have to go into the store I make sure I have a sitter and that my kids stay away from social media. If they become interested I want to be the one to help guide them by bringing home options of things for them to try that are age appropriate. I hate what things have become for our next generation and for what it could influence in my children. I also hate not being able to enjoy the shopping experiences I used to love in ulta or sephora. Online works but I do a lot of returns because I refuse to go into store to test products anymore. This insite was truly amazing. I am so glad I am not alone in my feelings.