Okay so yesterday I finally made it to the huge Sephora in Covent Garden everyone keeps buzzing about. Here’s exactly how it went down, step by step.
How I even got there
Jumped on the Piccadilly line around noon after my dentist appointment got cancelled. Got off at Covent Garden station – massive mistake honestly, those tiny spiral stairs almost killed me with my heavy tote bag. Anyway, followed signs for Long Acre exit and there it was: big bold red letters screaming SEPHORA. Place looks massive from outside, like three regular shops squished into one.
Inside felt like Disneyland for makeup
First step inside? Immediate sensory overload. Huge perfume section right up front hitting me with like twenty different smells at once. Grabbed one of their little grey baskets because I knew this wasn’t gonna be quick. Things I noticed straight away:
- Shiny black floors showing ceiling spotlights perfectly
- Staff wearing all-black uniforms with headsets looking super official
- The entire back wall being liquid lipsticks – insane
Tried testing Charlotte Tilbury’s new foundation stick thing near the entrance. Didn’t ask for help, just grabbed a disposable applicator myself – surprisingly clean testers everywhere. Color match sucked though, looked orange on my wrist.
The part that actually worked
Headed downstairs for skincare because my dry patches were acting up. Almost tripped down the glossy stairs watching this woman carrying like eight bubble wrap packs. Found Rare Beauty section – way smaller than expected – but snatched their liquid blush after swatching. Pro tip: use their QR code scanners everywhere to see prices without asking. Saw girls taking selfies by the glowing SÉPHORA sign near the cash registers.
Leaving with lighter pockets
Checkout was brutal. Five staff working registers but still waited twenty minutes behind tourists with overflowing baskets. Lady asked if I wanted beauty points card – nah, just let me tap my card. Ended up spending £48 only for that blush and some oil cleanser I didn’t plan to buy. Oh, and they used reusable fabric pouches instead of paper bags? Fancy.
Final take: Place is massive chaos with everything you could want makeup/skincare wise stuffed inside. Staff mostly leave you alone which I like. Good for swatching new stuff and feeling bougie in London. But honestly? Just as crowded as the tiny Sephoras at Westfield Mall. Won’t go again unless something hyped launches.
