Sephora - for commitment phobics

A lot more money has been leaving our toiletry budget since Sephora came to Santa Barbara. I stayed away at first, committed to my drug store makeup finds and knowing that once I started I wouldn't be able to stop. And...it's true. That place is unbelievable (if still a little intimidating). I don't buy much makeup there - I get my Bare Minerals foundations from their online program and I still stick with some drug store stuff but since starting to shop there I have had some great finds. I typically shop through their website - if you buy more than $75 at a time there's free shipping - and here's the best part...you can return items to the store...after you've tried them for a while! This has been a lifesaver because the products at Sephora tend to be pretty expensive and I could never take the leap if I didn't know that I could take it back if it didn't work.

So far, I have utilized their return policy quite frequently. Here's my example: I bought ghd Fat Hair Lotion For All-Over Volume (my new hair cut needs a boost sometimes) after reading all the hype on the online description. Seriously, this stuff was going to revolutionize my hair. Sephora promised that it would "increase body and texture and a ceramide-derived complex adds volume and shine while protecting against stress caused by chemical processes. It also acts as a smoother for the cuticles and improves cell cohesion along the hair shaft. " The description also mentioned polymers at some point...I have no idea what those are, but I was impressed. So, I ordered it online along with a couple of other products (including the Bare Escentuals Get Started Eyes set - more about that in a later post). I was so excited for it to arrive, imagining what magic those little polymers would have on my limp locks. I followed the directions after washing my hair and waited for the miracle to occur while blow-drying and... kept waiting. No miracles, not even a noticeable change in texture or volume. What the ??? My drugstore Garnier Fructis mousse worked better than that crap.

So....I returned it to the store, completely guilt free and bought Frédéric Fekkai - Full Volume Mousse for Fine or Limp Hair and I love it (I just discovered when searching for the right name of the product online that they have a TON of other things I want to try too). The mouse gives the right amount of texture so that I can get some more volume and style hold and a little goes a long ways. Perfect!

Anyway, the point of all this is that Sephora's return policy makes it easier to invest in quality products that really deliver. Oh, and don't forget that you get three free samples with every purchase!!