Sunday This and That - Shopping and More

Where do you like to shop for beauty products? I have my favorite stores, and I'll bet you do too. I'll share if you will.

For fragrance, I have a couple of best sources. One is MiN New York, shown above. Established in 1999 by Chad Murawczyk and located in Soho, New York, MiN is a mecca for fragrance lovers. MiN features niche fragrances - the treasures you can't find anywhere else. MiN was featured, along with many of my fragrance friends, in this month's Elle in an article on the Goodsmellas (men who are really into fragrance). As you'll read, MiN is a great hang-out for fragrance lovers, and Chad and Mindy host events just about every week.

The West Coat equivalent, perhaps a bit larger than MiN, is LuckyScent. I've spent way more than my fragrance "budget" at these two retailers over the last year. I also love Beautyhabit and Bergdorf Goodman (which has a more exclusive stock than its sister store, Neiman Marcus). More than any other feature, I look for free shipping and shops that don't charge me tax. If you buy enough at Bergdorf Goodman, your SA will waive the shipping. Just ask.

I also shop online for fragrances you can't buy in a store. They might be discontinued or available only in Europe. Sometimes, I'm just looking for a sale/discount. I order from Parfum1, First in Fragrance, and eBay. Those are only the top three. I often buy directly from perfumer's own sites. One order that pleased me enormously last month was placed directly with April Aromatics. Tanja Bochnig's fragrances are amazing! I'm sure that the moment I click on Publish here, I will regret not naming another source. I've been buying a lot of fragrance.

For makeup, I have my regular sources: Neiman Marcus Mazza Gallerie and Tysons Galleria, Saks Fifth Avenue at Chevy Chase, and Nordstrom and Bloomingdale's at Tysons Corner Center. I purchase at least weekly from Sephora, but almost always online. I hate the dirty store near me, and I don't like to wait in line to part with my money. There's something offensive about asking customers about to spend $150 to wait in line. This customer who has spinal issues finds it painful as well as inconvenient.

Just as I do with fragrances, I often order from companies' Web sites. Bobbi Brown appears frequently on my credit card invoice, as does Chanel and Giorgio Armani Beauty.

Skin care? Take all my makeup sources and add a ditto. Additionally, I look online when I'm shopping. I like SkinCareRX, an advertiser here, and SkinStore (right now 20% off store-wide).

If there were a Bluemercury near me, I would shop there often. The boutiques are elegant, but I've never found one in Virginia. With traffic as bad as it is here, I seldom venture that far to buy beauty products.

Hair care? Almost always online - often from Beautorium. Of course, I purchase my AVEENO at drugstores.

I have to add Costco to my shopping list. You never know what you'll find. I can' leave the store without browsing the beauty department.

Where do you shop? Have you found a local retailer you love? Do you want to tell us about a local boutique we'd never find if it weren't for your recommendation? This shopper would love to know!

I'd also like to know how you feel about the sales representatives where you shop. I have my faves at every store and only shop with them. For example, I purchase everything at Neiman Marcus Tysons from Loula Ayoub. She is a professional, as well as a caring person. She is always busy, but once she's free, gives you her full attention. At Saks, I shop with Loyd and Georgia. At Nordstrom, I seek out Diron at Bobbi Brown. He shops the whole department with me. At Bloomies? I always find my friends at SPACE.NK.

Switching subjects, everyone is wondering how and why Chanel choose Brad Pitt as the newest face (spokesman) for Chanel N°5. The ludicrous short videos have drawn a lot of attention, but not good attention. Last night, the short advertisements were spoofed on Saturday Night Live. We know why Brad did it ($7 million), but why did Chanel? Not all notice is equally desirable.

Moving along again, La Prairie sponsored three awards for environmental action in London, with help from Prince Albert of Monaco. During an event at the Science Museum, the luxe Swiss beauty brand and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation handed a grand prize, worth $100,000, to the Monk Seal Conservation Project, which aims to save endangered animals in the Mediterranean Sea. The Kalabla Marine Conservation Education Program received $20,000, while the Toliara Reef Complex Project was awarded $10,000.

I read a quote in WWD [edited for brevity here] by Patrick Rasquinet, President and CEO of La Prairie Group. “Our ambition is to make progress in sustainability. We need to make sure we are producing and developing products in a sustainable way - step-by-step progress in this right direction." Rasquinet’s future plans include using recyclable materials and ingredients that are eco-friendly and ensuring animal-free testing. Kudos to La Prairie!

Photo of MiN by gq.com, walkingoffthebigapple.com. and La Prairie