Dear beauty junkies: if you are tired (or scared) of Sephora’s over-glitzed bright-and-shiny enormousness, then I’m pleased to introduce you to Bluemercury, one of Galleria’s latest additions. She’s like Sephora’s sophisticated older sister, the one who clues you in that it’s time to transition from CoverGirl Lipslicks to Bobbi Brown lip gloss, or teaches you that expensive candles smell better and burn longer.
The bright, cleanly designed shop and spa shows off some of the best names in beauty and personal care—Oribe, Laura Mercier, Mustela—which promptly waylaid my attempt to winnow down my daily dressing and maquillage routine.
My facial was fairly standard: it didn’t feel as personal or personalized as others I’ve had recently, but the technique was good. And the product lineup employed can’t be argued with: La Mer, Natura Bissé, Darphin, Fresh. I can’t say that I always treat my skin to such delicacies, and I emerged with a desperately needed glow after two sleepless weeks spent soothing a croupy baby. (Gift-givers to new moms take note: facials, facials, facials!)
The most winning moments of my visit were spent sitting in the makeup artist’s chair. I’ve picked up a lot of tricks over time, but I always love grilling artists on their techniques. Jules taught me the admittedly cheesy-sounding “triangle of light” (an inverted triangle painted and blended under the eye) employed by contouring pro Kim Kardashian. Hey, the girl knows what she is doing: it made me look as though I’d slept, and maybe turned back the clock a year or two. Yep, totally bought that product. And then my latest obsession: Trish McEvoy lipstick in Passion Fruit, an easy-wearing poppy pink-red that diverts from my undereye circles. Hey, a mom’s gotta do what a mom’s gotta do!
Galleria, Edina, 952-922-1100, bluemercury.com