The multinational beauty retailer Sephora has finally touched down on Manchester soil after increasing demand from fans with the opening of its first megastore outside of London in the Trafford Centre.
The French retailer Sephora first landed in Paris in 1970 and has since swept the globe for its impressive range of grooming, personal care, skincare, fragrance, hair care and beauty products with hundreds of popular designer brands, as well as its own private label, Sephora Collection, on its shelves.
The award-winning beauty heavyweight opened its first US shop in New York in 1998 and 26 years later, boasts more than 3,000 stores across the world and more than 30 e-commerce sites.
In the UK, Sephora welcomed its first two brick-and-mortar stores in London last year and, showing no signs of slowing down, has set its sights on expanding across the north - starting with Manchester's own Trafford Centre.
In an exclusive preview, Sephora threw an exciting launch party for influencers and media associates to get a glimpse at what's in store on Wednesday, May 15.
While a DJ kicked up the volume and singers and drag queens later took to the stage to usher in the celebration, attendees wandered through the enormous store to take in Sephora's impressive collection of more than 120 coveted brands across its many glittering shelves.
The shelves showcase trending favourites in the beauty sphere and trusted classics, as well as its own line, Sephora Collection, and its many curated and exclusive brands from Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez, Haus Labs by Lady Gaga and Makeup by Mario to Rihanna's Fenty Beauty.
The shop has main headings under makeup, skincare, fragrance - including men's cologne, and hair products.
Through the large glass doors from the entrance, there is a 'beauty hub' with mirrors galore in the centre and a Benefit 'brow bar' for customers to try before they buy with makeup pros on hand to help.
Skincare includes ranges from Pixi, Tatcha, Glow Recipe, Coco Cosmetics and Paula's Choice to The Ordinary, First Aid Beauty, Drunk Elephant and Sol de Janeiro while makeup aisles include cult favourites such as MAC, Anastacia Beverly Hills, MILK Makeup, Glossier and Make Up For Ever.
In the hair care section, there is an exciting display of products to cater to any hair needs as well as equipment such as Dyson Air Wraps and other multi-stylers to try.
Speaking at the event, Sephora Managing Director UK, Sarah Boyd, said: "We came to the UK with Sephora at the back end of 2022 and instantly we were just having wonderful comments from beauty enthusiasts and fans and consumers from across the country saying 'please come to my city'.
"They were desperate for us to open stores in the amazing communities across the UK.
"I have to say, first and foremost, that Manchester was leading the way, was the absolute number one in terms of requests and so we wanted to listen to the good people of Manchester and the north west and we wanted to make sure this was our first store that we were opening outside of [London]."
The new store can be found on the lower floor of Regent Crescent in the Trafford Centre.
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