By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
The new Sephora Pearlridge store is in Uptown, Level Two, next to Cinnamon Girl in the center of the mall.

Early morning shoppers at the newly open Sephora Pearlridge were treated to breakfast of scones, mini muffins, mini bagels and lox, fresh fruit and more following a blessing at 9 a.m. this morning.

Inside were all the brands those familiar with the Ala Moana store already know and love, with BeneFit, Laura Mercier, Fresh, Bare Escentuals, Laura Gellar and Smashbox up front. The color cosmetics really popped against white displays.

The opening comes at a great time, while people are in holiday shopping mode. So many people I know who live from Pearl City to Wahiawa to Ewa have told me they’ve been waiting for the store to come to them, even if they work in town and can head to Ala Moana after work.

Sephora Pearlridge store director Arleen Tamashiro, center, greeted Sistah Sherry, left, and makeup artist E’Jay to the new store on Nov. 16.

Krater 96’s Sistah Sherry was there for the opening, having switched work hours to be there. “It’s like a candy shop,” she said, while browsing the aisles in search of the perfect face powder.

Makeup artist E’Jay was also back in town after having worked both the New York and Paris Fashion Weeks, including working on “Project Runway” season 3 alum Laura Bennett’s first post-Runway solo show.

Body & Soul’s Tao Miller and Sephora Ala Moana store director Jeannie Higa.

Also checking out the new store — and no doubt his own product placement — was Tao Miller, founder of Body & Soul, one of the many brands carried by Sephora. I haven’t seen him for awhile because he’s been busy with his latest project, a new accessories store, Ash and Diamonds, set to arrive with spring in the new Nordstrom building at Ala Moana Center.

Pretty in pink, Logan Rabago.

No doubt the youngest shopper was 4-year-old Logan Rabago, who was drawn to the pretty pink Sephora Girls display. To her mom Reena’s dismay, Logan was placing little lip gloss kits in her shopping basket. Reena, who didn’t start wearing makeup until her teens, said Logan could keep one item. “She’s such a girly girl. She loves it.”

I have to admit it’s hard for any woman to resist trying the different colors, which is what makes Sephora’s experimental, experiential vibe so great.

Julie Ann Aragaki, producer of Hawaii InStyle TV, shows one of the season’s best gift items, Marc Jacobs’ Daisy solid scent in a ring, $30. Below, cookies made for the occasion from Hokulani Bakeshop.

This entry was posted on Friday, November 16th, 2007 at 2:02 pm and is filed under Shop. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.