Cosmetic appeal

FRIDAY, June 6 — Sephora, a Paris-based cosmetics store with over 1,700 stores worldwide, opened a location today at Eastwood Towne Center, 3003 Preyde Blvd., Lansing Township.

“Some of us were in tears when we opened because this store has been our baby,” said Vannie Le, operations manager. “We couldn’t wait.”

About 15 people waited in line before the store opened this morning at 10. At 1 p.m., there were between 40 to 50 people in the store.

“We were giving hugs to people that took the day off work to come here,” she said.

Sephora has its own makeup, skincare, and beauty products and accessories. It also features products from big industry names like Marc Jacobs. In 2013, the brand debuted a fragrance collection from Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.

Before the Eastwood location opened, the closest three stores were all about 50 miles away, in Brighton, Flint and Ann Arbor. Kelly Miller, 36, cleared her schedule for the grand opening. She and her 4-year-old daughter, Maddie, visited the store in the afternoon to stock up on mascara, beauty balm and lip-gloss.

“I was very excited when I heard this was opening,” she said. “When I lived in Chicago, I’d go all the time.”

Miller, who moved to Lansing about two years ago, said that she used to shop at least once a month at the beauty retail chain in Chicago. She said she continued to buy the store’s products through its website once every three of four months to stock up on all her favorite products.

“No more ordering online,” she said.