Tag: beauty

Sephora UK set to open two major stores in Scotland this summer

Twice the stripes, twice as bonnie!

  • Global beauty leader will open its first Scottish “temples of beauty” in St James Quarter in Edinburgh and Silverburn Glasgow later this year.
  • A host of brands like rhode and Haus Labs will be available to shop in person for the first time on Scottish soil.
  • Sarah Boyd, Managing Director for Sephora UK: “Opening in both Edinburgh and Glasgow this summer is about bringing double the energy, double the access, and double the magic to a country that has long been calling for it”.

GLOBAL leader in prestige beauty Sephora UK has revealed it’s set to open not one, but two stores in Scotland this summer, after years of passionate calls from fans north of the border.

The LVMH-owned beauty powerhouse is bringing its signature black and white stripes to Edinburgh and Glasgow later this year, following immense demand online. 

The investment into Scotland has been hailed by members of the beauty and business communities alike, as the brand is set to open the major stores in quick succession within the same home nation for the first time. 

The Edinburgh store will be located at St James Quarter and will boast 4,961 square feet of dedicated shopping space, while the Glasgow store will open at Silverburn Shopping Centre, spanning 5,048 square feet. 

Hoardings will appear in both store locations imminently, playfully displaying the iconic black and white stripes with a Scottish nod as Sephora says, “Twice the stripes, twice as bonnie!” in both Silverburn and St James Quarter.

Both stores will be will be fully stocked with Sephora UK exclusives and selective brands, giving fans the chance to shop the likes of rhode, Haus Labs, Makeup by Mario, Merit Beauty, INNBeauty Project, Tower 28 and recent newcomer Half Magic for the first time ever on Scottish soil. 

Sarah Boyd, Managing Director of Sephora UK, said: “”The Sephora UK team and I are thrilled to finally reveal that we’re bringing our ‘temples of beauty’ to not one, but two incredible Scottish cities this summer – with fans crying out for a Scottish beauty playground.

“It has been three years since we opened our first UK store; from the very beginning we’ve been searching for the perfect locations for us to open in the region – and we are so happy to have found them in Edinburgh’s St James Quarter and Silverburn Glasgow.

“Opening in both Edinburgh and Glasgow this summer is about bringing double the energy, double the access, and double the magic to a country that has long been calling for it.

“Scotland also steps into a landmark summer, so the timing couldn’t feel more meaningful, and Sephora UK is proud to play a part in a special season that is set to make its mark in the history books.

“We know how eagerly our Scottish customers have waited while we expanded across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and we truly want to say thank you for your patience and loyalty.

“Now, Scotland, let’s get even more bonnie together!”

Anne Ledgerwood, Estate Director at St James Quarter, said: “The opening of Sephora’s first store in Scotland is a major moment for both St James Quarter and Edinburgh’s shopping scene.

“As one of the most influential names in global beauty, its arrival brings a new retail experience to the city and an exciting addition to St James Quarter’s growing beauty line-up.

“Sephora’s immersive concept and curated brand offer will our give customers something truly new, whether they are long-time fans or discovering the brand for the first time.”

David Pierotti, General Manager of Silverburn, added: “Sephora coming to Glasgow marks such a big moment for the city and the west of Scotland and we are so pleased to be home to its largest store in the country. 

“Our commitment to delivering an award-winning, first-class retail experience for our guests is demonstrated through our diverse offering of leading names across fashion, lifestyle and beauty.  

“I know our community in Glasgow will be very excited to see another globally recognised brand join us and we look forward to welcoming them to Sephora’s ‘temple of beauty’ here at Silverburn.”

The openings mark a major milestone in the retailer’s ambitious expansion journey, bringing its “temples of beauty” even closer and more accessible than ever to communities nationwide. 

What’s more, following the launch of its Belfast store in February, the Scottish store openings will mark a defining moment as they signify a proud presence across all four nations of the United Kingdom. 

As well as some Scottish firsts, the stores will also feature TikTok-viral favourites featured as part of the retailer’s ‘Hot on Social’ edit, including Glossier, Glow Recipe, Rare Beauty, Sol de Janeiro, Tatcha, and Kosas.

Customers at the Edinburgh and Glasgow stores will be able to enjoy personalised redeemable beauty consultations, gift-wrapping and engraving services, as well as immersive in-store experiences designed to inspire confidence and creativity. 

The new stores will also be among some of the first to introduce Sephora UK’s Beauty Scan technology, which allows Beauty Advisors to use an advanced lens to analyse a client’s skin for a more individualised consultation and personalised product recommendations, including oil and hydration levels and foundation shade matching. 

What’s more, in line with Sephora UK’s commitment to a seamless omnichannel offering, shoppers will also be able to continue the Sephora shopping experience via the Sephora UK app for exclusive product offers, as well as the MySephora loyalty programme, where clients can earn points on every purchase in-store and online, unlocking exclusive rewards, surprise gifts, early access to launches and invites to special events.

The opening of stores in Edinburgh and Glasgow respectively feed into Sephora UK’s expansion strategy to open their iconic “temples of beauty” alongside the retailer’s new, small format boutique stores, which were recently announced to debut this summer at Soho’s Carnaby Street and Shoreditch’s Old Spitalfields Market. 

This updated strategic approach to Sephora’s UK expansion is cemented in the aim to bring prestige beauty to all corners of the UK. Like the calls for stores opening in Scotland, the boutique formats were a direct response to Sephora’s highly passionate and engaged beauty community requesting for different kinds of shopping experiences with the high street shopper in mind – a testament to Sephora’s commitment to listening to its fans on how and where to best show up with their new stores as the retailer expands.

The blend of Sephora’s boutique formats and destination shops with a large sales floor aimed at discovery takes a modern approach to retail, delivering different kinds of shopping experiences for its wide-ranging clientele, reinforcing Sephora UK’s commitment to making premium beauty accessible to all.

To learn more, visit: www.sephora.co.uk

Party Season Hair

How To Get The Look

 The festive season is the perfect time to get glam. Forget your favourite loungewear and try something new. Maybe a red lip or a brand new hairstyle. Unlike last year, we are able to go ‘out out’ this Christmas and New Year.

Local salon owner at SESH Hairdressing SIMON HILL has put together some styles you can create at home for the festivities: 

Cool Girl Texture – 

This style is perfect if you like an understated style that still looks cool and pairs perfectly with a sparkly, show stopping outfit.

The key to this look is in the products you use. Use your straightening iron to add as much or as little texture as you like. Slightly bend the hair between the irons in alternating directions to create a subtle shape.

Finish with a texturising hairspray and use your fingers to manipulate the shape and style of your hair. The key to this look is not to be too ‘perfected’ so embrace that slightly undone look. 

Product recommendation – Wella EIMI Sugar Lift . 

Top Knot – 

Not just a style reserved for the day before hair wash, but a style that can elevate any Christmas party outfit.

To give this look a polished edge to make it party friendly, spend time smoothing your hair into a ponytail before creating the bun. Use your hair brush to smooth your hair towards the bobble to remove any unwanted lumps.

Take the length of your ponytail and wrap around your hair tie before securing with hair grips. Finish with strong hold hairspray to withstand Scottish winter weather.

Product recommendation – Wella Luxe Oil. 

Sleek and Sophisticated – 

Bang on trend at the moment is this slick back, sophisticated style. Give this look an update for the festive season with a deep side parting like we have done here.

Use a lightweight hair gel or pomade to remove unwanted texture and smooth your hair back towards the nape of your neck. If you have short hair, try leaving it down, smoothed behind your ears. If your hair is longer, try tying it into a low bun or a sleek ponytail. 

Product recommendation – Eleven Australia Dry Shampoo Volume Paste 

Vava Volume – 

This style embodies Christmas time and is sure to turn heads on NYE.

Use your hairdryer to add lots of volume to your hair before your begin styling. Depending on the look you want, you can add a soft wave through your hair once dry. Take the top section of your hair and create that volume at the front to give an air of drama to your style.

Use a back comb to create this and apply dry shampoo to the roots of your hair to give it more grip and hold. Secure with hair grips towards the crown of your head before using your fingers to gently pull out loose strands. This look is guaranteed to take your Christmas night out outfit to the next level. 

Product recommendation – Eleven Australia Dry Finish Wax Spray. 

To shop all products mentioned above please visit SESH Hairdressing shop online – https://shop.seshhairdressing.co.uk/.

H beauty: Harrods opens first beauty emporium in Scotland

Harrods is proud to announce the launch of its first stand-alone H beauty destination in Scotland, in the heart of Edinburgh, on the 30th November 2021.

Following two successful H Beauty store openings across England, the latest H beauty, will be located at St James Quarter, in the heart of Edinburgh’s shopping district. The latest addition to the H beauty portfolio reflects Harrods’ commitment to bringing its industry-leading expertise in creating luxury shopping experiences through its unique curation of brands, to new communities across the UK.

Offering a game-changing beauty wonderland, the 21,000 sq.ft. space embodies the future of beauty, providing an expansive space for customers to enjoy a diverse portfolio of exceptional services and must-have products from over 90 international beauty brands.

The store is an experiential playground where both beauty novices and experts can discover the industry’s most innovative brands in addition to finding their long-standing favourites.

In keeping with H beauty’s ethos of inclusivity, empowerment, and self-expression, the Harrods buying team, led by Annalise Fard and Mia Collins, has carefully curated a spectacular offering that delivers something for everyone and encourages the H beauty community to play, experiment and celebrate who they are through beauty.

To provide customers with an unmatched and elevated beauty retail experience, each H beauty store is developed with the local beauty community in mind and is designed to bring the most important and vibrant products, brands, and experiences to customers, often for the first time.

H Beauty will support local talent and up and coming Scottish brands, whose values directly connect with Harrods own, with its ‘Born & Bred’ offering, featuring local brands such as Vieve, Moo & Yoo, Kingdom Scotland and Lola’s Lashes.

The store also offers the first physical location in Edinburgh for local customers to test, swatch, play and purchase iconic and coveted products instore from the much-loved Charlotte Tilbury, as well as Keys Soulcare and Kora Organics.

Premium brands such as Chanel, Dior and Givenchy sit alongside cult-favourites, some who until now have only had a limited presence in Edinburgh including Westman Atelier, Kylie Cosmetics, and Sunday Riley.

Annalise Fard, Director of Beauty at Harrods, commented: “The opening of our first H beauty store in Scotland is a significant and hugely exciting milestone for Harrods.

“As a leading authority in luxury and the beauty space, we are committed to meeting the ongoing demand for high quality retail beauty shopping experiences outside of London, through the expansion of our stand-alone H beauty stores, and we take great pride in bringing the essence of Harrods Beauty to local communities across different regions of the UK.

“For H beauty Edinburgh, we have carefully curated an extensive portfolio of brands and products tailored to suit the local customer, which this is reflected in the breadth of beauty collections and services available in store.”

H beauty is a perfume paradise, and as the UK’s leading fine fragrance retailer, Harrods intends to bring the best of what is offered in the Knightsbridge Beauty Halls to regional communities across the UK.

The store’s fragrance offering showcases the sectors growth and the continuous demand for luxury perfumes. With a dedicated Fragrance Bar, boutiques by Maison Francis Kurkdjian and Penhaligon’s, as well as access to brand exclusives from Initio, L’Artisan Parfumeur, Parfums de Marly, and Montale, customers can rediscover their familiar favorites and fall in love with new signature scents.

In addition, H beauty’s extensive skincare offering ensures that there are enriching and effective products to enhance your daily skincare routine or address skin concerns, across a range of different price points. 

The store also houses a wealth of innovative beauty gadgets, makeup, candles, and haircare brands that are designed to enhance your inner and outer wellbeing, and up your beauty game with eye-catching looks.

H beauty is an all-encompassing destination for all things beauty and the store is framed by several dedicated boutiques for some of the most iconic names in the industry, from Gucci’s instantly recognisable pastel and floral décor, to Charlotte Tilbury’s glamourous Hollywood-inspired beauty and skincare offering.

Harrods is known for delivering innovative and creative shopping experiences, and at H beauty Edinburgh customers can access interactive make-up tutorials and experiential product testing through state-of-the-art play tables throughout the store.

Additionally, the store’s 14-seat Champagne Bar offers an indulgent menu of patisseries and cocktails created by Harrods’ renowned food and beverage team, providing the prefect space for beauty lovers to sit, sip and reunite with friends.

Mia Collins, Head of Beauty at Harrods, said: “We are delighted to bring the magic of Harrods Beauty to Scotland for the very first time, with our H Beauty St James Quarter store.

“We are so excited to join the avid community of beauty lovers in Edinburgh and we can’t wait to share H beauty and our epic line up of brands & products with them.

“Our new store in Edinburgh features all of H beauty’s iconic signatures including our famous Champagne Bar; the picture-perfect spot to meet loved ones for a glass of something sparkling or a delectable bite to eat, as well as our immersive play-tables and an assortment of new beauty experiences and concepts that will inspire and delight local customers.

“We are bringing a swathe of local and up-and-coming brands, products, and services to our Scottish beauty lovers that aren’t available anywhere else in Edinburgh and I can’t wait to introduce them to this discerning audience.”

Following two successful H beauty openings, the first at Lakeside retail centre in Essex and second at centre:mk in Milton Keynes, H beauty Edinburgh marks the latest chapter in Harrods’ long term strategic plans to bring H beauty to beauty communities around the UK.

The ambitious national expansion will also see two further stores open over the next 12 months in Bristol and Newcastle.

@HarrodsBeauty 

#Hbeauty

https://www.harrods.com/en-gb/h-beauty/edinburgh

Edinburgh College strikes gold

Lola and Rachel were among the winners
Lola and Rachel were among the winners

Edinburgh College students have won a string of awards at a national competition designed to recognise the exceptional talent of beauty students in further education and training. Edinburgh College hosted the national World Skills competition and awards ceremony and entered beauty students to compete for awards against hundreds of students from across the country.

The local collge students, who have consistently won awards at the World Skills competition, picked up two 1st places, three 2nd places and one 3rd place in several competitive beauty categories including aromatherapy and beauty therapy – with a clean sweep of awards in Beauty Therapy Advanced.

19-year-old Beauty student Rachel Rooney from Gilmerton won 1st place in Advanced Beauty Therapy. She said: “My lecturers, Carrie, Nicola and Claire, really encouraged and supported me to go in for the competition and I’m really glad they gave me that extra boost to go for it. I couldn’t have done it without their help.

“I was in complete shock when I heard the World Skills judges call out my name to say I had won – all I could hear were my friends and lecturers cheering me on as I went up on stage to collect the award. I’m so pleased to have won such an amazing award. World Skills is a really well known competition. It’ll look brilliant on my CV and will hopefully give me an edge when I’m looking for a job after College.”

34-year-old Beauty student Lola Lopez, who is originally from Madrid but is currently living in Edinburgh, won 1st place in Aromatherapy at the World Skills competition. She said: “It’s such a massive opportunity to have our beauty skills judged by top professionals. During the competition, the judges came around to observe our treatments and asked us questions about our skill and techniques throughout the competition to really put us to the test.”

Mandy Exley, Principal of Edinburgh College, said: “We are delighted to have been given the honour to host and compete in such a high profile event. World Skills really showcases the brilliant work of beauty students across the country, and highlights the next generation of talented and skilled beauty employees in the industry. We’re incredibly proud of all of our students who have won awards in the competition and look forward to seeing how they perform in the UK national final later in the year.”

She added: “The area of beauty within Edinburgh College is fundamental to the College’s overall curriculum, as well as to the overall contribution to GDP within the UK. The number of people training and gaining employment in beauty has grown by leaps and bounds over the last five years, and we’re very proud to be at the forefront of delivering a skilled workforce within the burgeoning beauty industry.”

Highly regarded throughout the industry, World Skills UK champions and drives excellence in workplace skills and education through competition. The beauty students will soon find out if they will be invited to attend the flagship The Skills Show final later in the year.

Edinburgh College - World Skills

Pictured Above: (L-R) Edinburgh College beauty students Shevon McKenna, Lola Lopez, Samantha Plastow, Lindsey McCardie, Kirsty Steel, and Rachel Rooney at the World Skills competition.

And the winner is …

Beauty therapy advanced

·         Rachel Rooney (1st place)

·        Lindsey McCardie (2nd place)

·        Kirsty Steel (3rd place)

Aromatherapy

·        Lola Lopez (1st place)

·        Samantha Plastow (2nd place)

Beauty Therapy Intermediate

·        Shevon McKenna (2nd place)

Spa in the City’s back next month

Spa in the City 2013.

Capital Beauty Bonanza is Back

Spa in the City Returns with fresh new format and top beauty names

Beauty fans can look forward to a bumper weekend as Spa in the City – Edinburgh’s popular free beauty event – returns on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th May for a sixth consecutive year.

Heading once again to St Andrew Square, the Essential Edinburgh extravaganza will feature a new ‘Fresh as a Daisy’ theme which will be accompanied by a fresh new format, with six of the city’s most prestigious beauty retailers – John Lewis, Jenners, Harvey Nichols, Boots, Debenhams and the Roxburghe Hotel – each taking over their own marquee.

The weekend will offer city centre shoppers the chance to ‘freshen up their look’ with a menu of free treatments, with brands for this year including Shu Uemura from Harvey Nichols, Liz Earle from John Lewis and Clarins which will be in the Jenners marquee. Luxurious treatments courtesy of the spa team at the city’s Roxburghe Hotel will also be available, alongside Superdrug and Lush Spa.

The event is organised and funded by Essential Edinburgh, the city’s Central Business Improvement District and aims to promote the wealth of beauty and lifestyle retailers on offer in Edinburgh city centre and encourage shoppers into the area.

Andy Neal, Chief Executive of Essential Edinburgh, said: “We are delighted to be bringing Spa in the City back once again for its sixth year. This has proven to be a really popular event with beauty lovers in Edinburgh and we are confident that this year’s line-up will not disappoint.

“This year, the move to have major retailers hosting their own marquee shows just how far this event has come and how important it has become in the Edinburgh retail calendar. By having this level of involvement in the event, retailers have a prime opportunity to showcase their offerings and brands to thousands of Edinburgh shoppers.

“The Spa in the City event is a great success, driving footfall in the centre and generating valuable follow up business for retailers throughout the city. As we near our renewal ballot, we would like to thank those who have been fantastic supporters of this event and we hope that local retailers will support Essential Edinburgh’s bid so that we can continue providing this key event in the years to come.”

As well as the large marquees, a selection of smaller marquees around the Melville Monument will house brands such as Molton Brown and Kiehls, as well as jazz band Swing Supreme who will be providing entertainment.

Marcello Ventisei, General Manager at Roxburghe Hotel, said: “Spa in the City is a fantastic event for us and having our own marquee this year is great in terms of driving our brand’s presence to the thousands of people passing through the event and the hundreds checking in for their complimentary treatments. The Roxburghe is rebranding to become a Crowne Plaza and this is an amazing opportunity to showcase our spa to the people of Edinburgh”

Spaces for treatments, which are limited to one per person, are secured at the registration desk on the event days from 9.30am until 4pm on a first come first served basis. Some pre-booking will be available through facebook and will be announced at a later date.

For more information visit www.essentialedinburgh.co.uk or www.facebook.com/edsitc

Spa