This past weekend, YumSugar and I went shopping at the Premium Outlets in Napa. After scoring a pair of J Brand jeans for $100 off (!) I got sucked into The Cosmetics Company Store. It's an outlet shop that features Estee Lauder-owned brands, and if you live near an outlet mall, there's probably a location near you. (Here's a full list).
To find out about our adventure, and to see whether we think it's worth seeking these outlets out, read more.
These stores stock makeup, fragrance, and accessories from MAC, Estee Lauder, Origins Prescriptives, Bobbi Brown, and Clinique. The products include overstock, discontinued colors, and limited-edition products that have been taken off department-store shelves. It sounds great, but the Napa store was a letdown. We might have hit it on a bad day, but the cosmetic testers were filthy and the selection was spotty. (Yum wondered how old the cosmetics were. I saw a few items from MAC's holiday collection, so the products aren't ancient or anything.)
I was hoping for a treasure trove of deeply discounted beauty buys, but my alliterative aspirations were quickly quashed. The prices are generally 20–30% below retail, which is great if you're buying an expensive item, but not a wacky deal otherwise.
Yum and I agreed that it's worth popping into one of these shops if you're nearby. But if you have to travel to get there, you might be better off saving the gas money to buy the items at full price — because at least then you'll have a full range of products and some expert help. I know some of y'all have been to these stores, so I'm eager to see what you have to say about them.
The Body Shop
i went to one where i live, and the testers were filthy there too and this store was unusually crammed, so i jus decided to leave.
1I have quite a few outlets near me, but everytime I've ventured into this store, it smells a little odd and I finally just leave.
2it does smell!! LOL
3I've actually found some decent items at this store- I can always find my favorite shades of MAC Lipglass for a few bucks off normal retail.
They also will often sell the 'free gifts with purchase' that Clinique and Estee Lauder give out when you spend $30 on a fragrance purchase (or whatever). I know I've picked up some of those for under $10, mostly just for the cute cosmetics bag and mascara.
It sounds like peoples' experience with The Cosmetics Company Store just depends on which location you go to.
4It really does depend where you go; the one here in Orlando is decent, although I wouldn't touch the testers. They tend to have a good variety of eyeshadows and pigments, as well as face products. My roommate bought strobe cream for under retail, right after they started repromoting it!
5I personally do not like this store...I feel like the cosmetics they carry are old and outdated and I don't think the prices are that much cheaper. I'd rather just go to Sephora or a department store.
6The one I go to occasionally is very clean and organized, all the testers looked pretty fresh and not filthy on all the occasions I have went. There is a ton of estee lauder and clinique, with a good selection of bobbi brown and MAC. I still see Stila at mine too. I think its really worth it to get your brushes from there. The store is especially worth it if you live in Canada or are a tourist from other countries, since the makeup is SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper.
7I never go to the one near me, it always has a ton of people in it, like the coach store that I aviod.
8I'm sorry you didn't have a great experience! I've always had good luck at these stores so I guess it is based on the location.
9I've been to one these stores and like a lot of people on here, I wasn't that impressed. I think I'd rather spend the extra couple dollars and just go to a department store.
10just a note, some of their products are not any cheaper than department store prices. one of my friends worked for clinique and we hit up a cosmetic company store. nearly every clinique product was the exact same price as the nordstrom where she trained sales associates!
11Never even heard of it...
12I've been to this store at the Gilroy outlets... Not a very good selection. Like you said, these items have been discontinued, so who knows how long they have been sitting on a shelf. Yes, the testers are DISGUSTING. I'd much rather spend full price than take a chance with this place!
13I'm wary of these stores since you don't know how old the products are.
14i live in canada so we got shopper's drug mart, i love it, it's my shopping highlight lol.
15Bella did you go to the BCBG store? You can score some cute dresses on great sales there! Ok back to beauty: I sometimes go to the store at the Petaluma outlet because they have a deal on Lancome lipglosses. 3 for $15.
16I had never heard of this store and there is one pretty close to my house! I will try it and see for myself
THANKS for the tip!
17bella where did you find the J Brane jeans at?
18The place smelled like an old lady. Actually, more like an army of old ladies.
19It is hit or miss.... I have scored some MAC stuff there, but I looked at some other things and it was clearly expiring in a month or 2... Some makeup (creams) was even clearly separated! Some things are okay that close to expiration (eye shadows being one) but I would steer clear of creams and things like that from there! Pay the extra couple dollars and get something that will last more than a month!
20Innerspark, I got them at the Barneys outlet. Fab just asked me the same question!
21It has been hit or miss for me too. Sometimes I find a really great deal then there's the time I bought sunscreen and it was old. Smelled really funny when I opened it at home. Oops. And they wouldn't take it back which surprised me.
22I haven't been to the Napa Outlets in a loooong time.
CCO's are always hit or miss for me - it's the same with the Vacaville one.
I'd rather not go to them, only once have I found a good item. :-/
I'll have to check out that Barney's outlet, though!
23I've had good luck finding things at the Cosmetic Company Outlet as well.
24There is one of these in the outlet mall in my town and it sucks. They sell Stila makeup at ours and they usually only have like 1 or 2 lipglosses in stock at one time, but you cannot buy them because they have either been used or are broken. It's a worthless store IMO.
25I love this store! The I have 2 within 20 minutes of me and both are worth going to. For the most part they are clean and don't smell (at least to me) and I've found some great bargains. There is a way to tell when the product was manufactured but you'll have to ask the associate for that clue
I've bought things at other stores that are just as old or older and the products this store sells are not always old. If you loved a LE product then I'd check
here. And I have bought awesome makeup bags and caddies that you cannot find anymore. On a side note, I just bought a Stila lip gloss at Sephora last week and realized it was made in 2005...
I'm taking itback today. And when I worked at a very well known department store we had products that were older than a year... so there. You never know.
26It's hit or miss, but I will say that I found the MAC concealer palettes that are now discontinued in MAC stores...
27I've been quite happy shopping there - I can always get some Estee Lauder moisturizer for 20% off, and was able to pick up a limited edition eyeshadow duo that was out of stock at the store. If you're looking for something specific it will be hit and miss, but if it's a basic or you're just browsing you can find some great stuff! I go to one that is inside a Saks outlet at a mall, so it's not far off and its always kept clean and orderly.
28I'd probably be worried about the expiration date too. I get really paranoid about how old creme and products I know are really seeping in my pores are.
29Hit and Miss, big time.
I would only buy eye shadows from the Cosmetic Company Store though. Simply because of the aged factor.
30yes! there is one near me but I am sort of worried now with all the comments about smells and cleanliness
31Yuck...I'd rather hit up Sephora.
32I'd rather pay full price, just because I prefer the experience of being able to test things and have access to the full range in a clean, attractive setting with expert advice.
33The one near me is always clean & it didn't smell like old ladies when I went in! That's so funny.
I usually buy my Clinique facial soap & toner there. I've bought a few fun Origins products there also. The prices aren't that much cheaper, so it's only beneficial to me if I don't have to make a special trip to the outlets, which are about an hour away.
34I'd like to check it out and see for myself. If it's not much cheaper it's probably not worth it.
35Bella, I've been to the Napa one and I completely agree with your assessment. I think maybe some other locations may have better selections but the Napa one sure doesn't. I think the Vacaville one is a LOT better in terms of pricing, selection and customer service.
36I went to the Niagara Falls location on the long weekend and it was my first cco visit and I found it to be pretty tidy, no funny smell lol. I was only interested in their MAC stuff and they had a decent selection. Lots of palettes from the holiday collection and novel twist collection. I think each were about $25. They had lots of lip products, shadesticks, paintpots, even some foundations and concealers and brushes, which I regret not looking at. I only got a eyeshadow from the moonbathe collection ($10) and a chromeglass (11.75).
37I WILL NEVER GO BACK TO THIS STORE AT THE SEATTLE PREMIUM OUTLET (TUAILP)!! I have NEVER been so HUMILATED IN MY LIFE...I felt so bad for to those ladies this was happening too!! Some stupid store policy about 1 purchase order per customer. I think customer was just trying to get a seperate bill and the store manager was acting like a child!! Refusing service. On top of that on Black Friday...I left my things by the perfume section in disgust and left the store - I waited awhile outside to speak to the ladies but I could one lady being taken to store room while the other stood and waited...My friend said not to get involved - but I am still upset!! I hope the ladies find this message and post the story...
38Just one important point of information: I bought a product at one of these Company Cosmetic Stores near me, and when I researched it online, discovered that their price was several dollars more than offered by other retailers..... this blows the credibility of the Company Cosmetic Stores.
39I recently went into a Cosmetic Company Store in Aurora, IL with my mom. One of the employees was so rude to us that we dropped all of our would be purchases and left the store. I then a few days later called to speak with a manager and she hung up on me. I have never experienced such unprofessionalism and rudeness. Since no one at the store or at "headquarters" seems to care that people are being treated like this I will just comment on it all over the internet.
40there's one in an outlet mall closeby, and i absolutely LOVE it. they have an INCREDIBLE selection of mac (i usually don't look at the other stuff). they usually have about 20 different color pigments, like 30-40 single pan eyeshadow colors, and 10-25 different palletes (plus different foundations, powders, blushes, etc.) and they hace a few brushes and cases. there are other things as well, but i don't pay much attention.
41THE ONE AT PREMIUM OUTLET IN ORLANDO STINKS..SMELLS,SOME THINGS ARE REALLY OLD AND THE COSTUMER SERVICE..WAS BAD!
42Post New Comment
Please share your opinion with our community, but make sure it is on topic and follows our Community Rules. We moderate comments and prohibit personal attacks, threats, spam, lewd images, or the promotion of your personal website.