Best Cosmetics Store

Over at CHAMELEON COSMETICS, we’ve found the kind of personalized service that’s difficult to get when you’re fighting crowds at the mall. The Virginia-Highland boutique invites customers to stay and play with complete make-up sampling stations and wash-off sinks. Owner Pandora Golden customizes concealer and foundation shades and sells them at prices comparable to the department stores’. A complete range of skin-care products includes toners, face masks and preparations made especially for men.
1054 St. Charles Ave. 404-685-9868. www.chameleoncosmetics.com.

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The crazy thing about this store is you go in for one thing, like Maybelline Great Lash, and somehow end up buying 20 products. It's probably because, unlike drug stores, which carry select lines, it has every mass-market beauty line out there, plus some specialty lines such as Iman and Color Me Beautiful. Then, there are all the hair care products to peruse. You start wandering and an hour later you're trying to remember what you needed in the first place. less...

What candy stores are to kids, Sephora is to women. It's a cornucopia of colors and scents in all shapes and sizes. The setup allows women to touch and open everything the store carries, and it carries all the lines you've heard of but have never managed to find, like Anna Sui, Benefit and Philosophy. There's something for everyone: glitter for the girls from Tony & Tina and lipstick for the ladies from Yves Saint Laurent. It also has its own line of makeup, some of which comes in fun little trial sizes. less...