Shoppers wax lyrical in cosmetic Bliss
This is the message from New York-based cosmetic firm Bliss, which launched its new counter at Brown Thomas in Cork this week.
The company, which provides in-store beauty treatments, is urging shoppers to treat themselves to some pampering while shopping at Brown Thomas.
But the treatments could mean sitting in front of hundreds of shoppers and having your moustache or chin waxed. There’s no holding back at Bliss.
“No way am I sitting in the middle of Brown Thomas and having treatments,” I thought as I made my way to the store.
I had been asked to go and meet the people at Bliss and find out what it was all about.
Me? I’m a person who buys make-up online for fear of being approached by a sales assistant who might try and give me a demonstration.
However, it was much better than I expected. The staff in the Cork outlet were really friendly and Bliss has some amazing products — including a cleanser that sizzles on your skin.
The opening of the Cork branch follows the success of its first outlet in the Dundrum shopping centre in Dublin.
Bliss invites customers to incorporate spa and beauty therapy experiences into their shopping agenda.
“Our quickbliss beauty bar concept allows customers to try before they buy through a bliss-style mini menu of quick spa services. Whether you need a great brow shape, a painless moustache wax or a mind- blowing moisturiser, your destination should be none other than the bliss quickbliss beauty bar at Brown Thomas,” said the Bliss spokeswoman.
The flagship treatment is the oxygen skin energiser which includes a professional peel, an antioxidant pack, hydration and oxygenation.
This, say Bliss, is “perfect for smokers whose skin is looking sallow or for those who want to get the upper hand on their acne”. Yours for €35.
As well as this you can get a lip wax for €12, eyelash tinting for €18 or for €30, a liver-spot lifter pigment-purging manicure, which is “guaranteed to make even a gardening fanatic’s hands look fab”.
Sensitivity is not in Bliss’ nature.
The treatments are performed in-store at the beauty counter under the glare of hundreds of shoppers.
The Cork store employs three staff, one of whom is a trained beauty therapist.
Beauty buying director for Brown Thomas Kathy Murray said Brown Thomas Cork was delighted to welcome Bliss to its new beauty hall, which has recently undergone a €4 million refurbishment.
“Already this year we have introduced exciting and innovative cosmetics brands such as Sisley, Giorgio Armani Cosmetics and Dr Sebagh to our existing portfolio and this is part of our ongoing development for Cork,” she said.
Whether the people of Ireland will take to the no-nonsense attitude of Bliss as well as the Americans have done remains to be seen, but for somebody fairly attention-shy — I actually quite enjoyed the experience.
