Guest post by Kelsey Metzinger

Hello everyone, my name is Kelsey and I am an addict…

…and by addict, I mean beauty product addict. Nothing else makes me feel as good as buying a new lipstick. I make pilgrimages to far away cities to shop the cosmetic counters of Nordstrom and Saks. I spend copious amounts of time online in search of whatever is deemed the “it” product by the beauty editors. And like millions of other women (and a few men) I pray to the church of Sephora. Beauty products are my heroin.

I am also one of these folks that likes to shout from the rooftop to “shop local!” When I overheard two gals in town talking about not being able to buy bareMinerals (you’ve all seen the infomercial right?), I interjected and told them where to get it. In fact, I’ve had lots of conversations with people who didn’t know Wichita has some really great places to get the products they see in magazines and on television. Here’s my list of the best places to get your fix:

Beau Monde Spa and Boutique is a spa but also carries some of the most renowned cosmetic lines, including bareMinerals (otherwise known as the makeup that changed my life), Smashbox, and Stila. Currently there are two locations, on the east side Comotara Center (2939 N. Rock Road) and on the west side New Market Square (2441 N. Maize Road). A third spot, Beau Monde Beauty Bar will be opening soon at Douglas & Oliver next to Aspen Boutique with a focus on cosmetics. The store will also feature a section dedicated to bridal make up.

Eric Fisher is known for hair, but the east side salon is also home to the Eric Fisher Cosmetic Café (302. N. Rock Road). They carry many of the must-have lines found in all the fashion magazines, including T. LeClerc, the super funky line, The Balm, and DuWop – famous for its Lip Venom gloss.

BeautyFirst is primarily known as a hair salon, but also carries a selection of cosmetics including Too Faced and the award-winning jane iredale Mineral Makeup. Also of honorable mention, BeautyFirst carries the super cool line TokyoMilk, a selection of bath products, lip balms and fragrances in to-die-for packaging. The business also has two locations, east at 2035 N. Rock Road and west in New Market Square.

Bear with me, I know how you feel about the mall, but Von Maur at Towne East carries a range of Philosophy products. I have been a Philosophy user for years and was recently reminded by an equally product-obsessed friend that I could just go there and buy my stuff instead of ordering it online. If you go, you must try the Pure Grace fragrance, which smells like diving head first into a pile of fresh clean laundry. They also have a dizzying array of shower gels in scents like Cinnamon Buns & Hot Cocoa.

And lastly – also in the mall, but sooo worth the trip – is the newly installed Kiehl’s counter in Dillard’s Towne East. If you are not familiar with Kiehl’s, you should be. No really. Go now. The cosmetic selection is very small and no frills; only containing mascara and lipgloss, the fragrances are clean and long lasting, and the “Lip Balm #1” – of which I am never not within arm’s reach – has a cult following all its own.

So there you have it – plenty of places to visit when you are jonesing to get your “pretty” on… locally!

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