This weekend, I was able to visit Glossier's Pop-Up Chicago location in the West Loop. As a first time customer of this brand, this was the kind of experience that made me want to purchase their products, as a physical location was able to better help me find out the identity of this brand - as well as gave me an opportunity to try out some of these products before committing!

New ecommerce makeup brands have seen an exponential growth in the last 5 years. From Jeffree Starr, to Kylie Cosmetics, to cheaper brands the list keeps expanding. However, as mentioned, I've never spent too much time buying makeup online (unless it's to restock and empty product) because one can seldom know if the product will match their skin tone, or suit their skin type.

That's why I took the time out to check out the pop-up store this weekend! The inside of the store was all white, with a couple of products in various displays. A lot of the same products were across the various displays, probably to ease traffic. The appeal was minimalist, just like their brand is. There were a few selfie stops through the store, including their mirror from the NYC pop up, with "You look good" in vinyl letters captioning your reflection.

The store is housed in what used to be a firehouse and draws inspiration from the city's iconic architectural history and vibrant art scene, according to brand representatives. The monochromatic interior features Corinthian columns, floral arrangements, photos, and 3D artwork. With the ambient music playing inside the store, guests can experience "hidden sound moments, where specially engineered sound-focusing domes will transport [them] into a completely different mood," according to Glossier's senior experiential designer, Kendall Latham.

I even bought two products:

The first was this skin serum that was supposed to refresh and brighten skin. I now use it twice a day, before I apply primer in the morning, and before I apply my nightly moisturizer.

I was able to find this shade of lidstar, or Glossier's liquid eyeshadow, in an exact shade I'd previously been looking for across multiple other brands. An additional benefit of this one is not only the glitter it adds, but the fact that despite the sparkle, it looks natural at first glance.

Being in the store itself helped me better understand the brand's products and made me more compelled than I previously was to go and explore the site when I need to go makeup shopping again.

The store is open for another 5 weeks, so check it out at 114 N Aberdeen street!