Cos Bar of Edina

I love this store. At first, I was apprehensive to visit a high-​end cosmetics bar — I may have champagne tastes, but my budget is more Miller Lite. I was in a pinch and needed a specific product, so I stopped in one evening. I’m SO GLAD I DID. The staff was fantastic– Tracy and Mandy were very welcoming and used their expertise to help me find exactly what I wanted, as well as offer helpful recommendations and tips based on my skin tone and type. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that their prices are on-​par with the department stores. Here you’ll receive customized recommendations and advice, personalized and friendly service, and an overall fantastic shopping experience in the beautiful 50^th and France shopping district for the same price as what you’d pay in a department store. I highly recommend this store!

Tracy J. at Cos Bar rocks! She has done my make up for many different events including weddings, photo shoots, nights out on the town and other special events. She is VERY knowledgeable on both skin care and cosmetic products. I can’t recommend her enough!

Exceptional service. To those that have had a poor experience, I highly recommend making another trip and working with Elena if possible. I went in today to return an item that had been causing an allergic reaction to my skin. They were extremely helpful to find a product to better suit me, and worked hard to find a way to return the product. I had unfortunately thrown the receipt away, but they took the time to look through each and every transaction to help me. I am sure this is not a standard process, as they were working for quite a while! They even sent me home with various samples to try. I was beyond impressed with their level of customer service. I will be back, for years! Thank you!

I hate to contribute to the stereotype that Edina is a city full of snobs, but the salespeople at the Cos Bar are rude to anyone who carries a non-​designer bag.
Some people can afford designer items but prefer «regular» clothing. What I wore into your store that day didn’t in any way indicate how much I intended to spend. How unfortunate for your store that you didn’t realize it.
Although the employees are rude to anyone who doesn’t pass their designer test, I’ve heard the management pressures other businesses in the area to give them discounts. They offer nothing in return, it is not a trade of services or products, they simply want things for free. Perhaps they could afford to pay for things if the store didn’t chase away people who could spend money if only a sales associate would wait on them.

in january i bought a $ 53 lipstick at this store — when i got home and tried it, it smelled and tasted rancid. the next day i tried to return it but they would not take it back — plus they said it smelled fine. after much huffing and puffing, they agreed to exchange it — that lipstick also smelled and tasted like old cooking oil. i have since discovered that this brand — when it is not expired product — has a floral scent and taste. I have also been told that this retailer is known for dated product. Will not go there again.

I convinced my mom and sister to visit the Edina Cos Bar after having had a stellar experience at the La Jolla location earlier this year. In La Jolla, the woman who waited on me and my friends was friendly, helpful & recommended products without a lot of sales pressure.
The Edina location was the complete opposite. First, my mom had spoken with the manager in advance and was assured that they could accommodate a wedding consult for my sister on Sunday. When we arrived, the associate informed us that they «don’t do that on Sunday.» My sister had arrived bare faced and we had to guilt the associate into putting a bit of makeup on her so that we could go to our next event. The whole time she was working on my sister, she was being defensive about how they NEVER do consults on Sunday. A bad start to the experience (and NOTHING like my experience in La Jolla), but my sister still made an appointment for a full consult on Tuesday.
Today, mom & sis returned. Sis had a bridal consult — based on the photos, we won’t be booking one of the «artists» here — but that’s what a trial is for. My sister was interested in the foundation the associate had used. It wasn’t available, so the associate arranged to order it. Not until the order had been completely arranged, did the associate reveal that she had sold my sister one of the most expensive foundations in the shop. In my sister’s words, she felt «swindled.»
I get that Cos Bar is an upscale cosmetics store, but there are plenty of reasonably priced options among Laura Mercier, NARS, Clinique etc… In fact, in La Jolla, the associate was explicit about offering us options at a variety of price points and, when my friend was interested in something that exceeded $ 100, the associate respectfully pointed out that it was particularly expensive. (Worth noting that in that case, the associate had provided such stellar service & information that my friend sprung for the pricier product.)
I’m embarrassed to have recommended this chain to my family members. I wouldn’t recommend the Edina location — but if you’re ever in San Diego, stop into that one!

Cos Bar carries some great upscale brands for cosmetics, skincare and perfume (NARS, Lancome, Chanel, etc.). It’s a high end chain, but feels like a cute little beauty boutique.
The service was excellent, though we weren’t looking for anything in particular. There were a few friendly women who asked us questions and one who was doing a makeup application on another customer.
There may be a few brands carried here that are harder to find elsewhere, but felt it was similar to what you would see at Sephora or Ulta or a department store, all of which have a wider selection. Well, actually I can think of one thing they had that those aforementioned stores do not — natural light.
You can try all the products and I’m sure they’d send you home with samples if you asked. I always like trying important things like foundation at home in natural light so that I can make sure I don’t look like a clown. This is especially important here since their return policy is pretty strict. But you could more easily make a decision on colors in the store, because the lighting is that much better.

This was my first time visiting a cosmetics store of any kind. Leanne helped me and she was wonderful! When she asked me what foundation I used and I said «Maybelline,» she didn’t chastise me like I thought she might. She simply asked some questions about what I’m looking for in a foundation and had me try some product.
Best of all, she showed me how to apply foundation. I’ve never taken instruction on how to apply make-​up since my teenage years when I first learned, and she was so helpful! She made me do it myself and critiqued me, so that I could re-​create the finished results on my own.
I’m very pleased with my purchase and my experience. I will definitely be going back again!

I came in on Black Friday — I was in the neighborhood and I needed (yes, needed) makeup. I didn’t bring my makeup bag on my most recent trip to see my parents BUT it gave me a good excuse to check out Cos Bar!
I was left to look around for a few minutes before an associate came over to assist me — unfortunately I didn’t catch her name. I picked out a NARS eyeliner and asked for recommendations on mascara and eyeshadow.
She did my eyelashes with Chanel’s new gel mascara which I loved and ended up purchasing. She also experimented with Chanel’s new holiday eyeshadow palette. I liked the colors but I have tons of eyeshadow so I was looking for something a little different. She then recommended a Chanel ILLUSION D’OMBRE — in a gold shade. It’s an amazing product — sort of like a gel.
A great experience and I would definitely recommend them over any department store counter!

I bought some products, decided to return 1 unopened, unused hair spray and the sales person completely refused to even though it was within the return period! This person was ethnic, late 40s, with poor customer service skills! She said i couldn’t make up my mind, cuz before I bought it the sales guy tried it on me, then she said she had no way of knowing whether I’ve used it, and the last excuse was that the box had a red dot and she can’t take it back! Completely unprofessional for a small local business, the minute you start questioning a customer like that you’ve lost respect and future business! Never shopping there again and I will take my business to Ampersand at the Galleria anytime before this place! Also note besides Lierac which is blah, there’s nothing there you can’t buy at Neiman’s or Nordstrom for a much better deal and outstanding customer service.

Ok, I’m gonna get the nastiness outta the way first: their return policy straight up blows. Last time I visited, returns were only accepted within 7 days of purchase, items had to be unopened/​unused and you only get store credit. If you are a habitual cosmetics returner, stay away.
Also, I personally think the hours are heinous — 10 – 6 during the week and only marginally better on the weekend — but, I get it. It’s 50^th and France. I’m not the typical Edinese chick shopping at this place.
SO. ANYWAYS. With that in mind, I actually DO like this place quite a bit. I am hell of weary of the mega-​department-​store cosmetics areas and Sephoras of the world. I am tired of throngs of shoppers begging for free makeovers and smushed, dirty testers strewn all over the damn place. If I’m spending $ 30 on a lipstick, I want to enjoy the process, dammit!
This is a chic little makeup boutique with gorgeous brands, gorgeous space, and helpful makeup artists. What I like most is some of the higher-​end brands not typically found at other shops (Cle de Peau, Shu Uemura, La Prairie, Tom Ford, Guerlain, hell even Chanel is a rarity ’round these parts) as well as a nice selection of more well-​known, yet still rad, brands (NARS, Lancome, Bobbi Brown, YSL, etc). They have a ton of other brands if you want to get deeper into skincare, men’s shaving/​products, a small selection of fragrances and candles etc but you get the idea.
The space itself is bright (full of natural light!) and easy to maneuver around, and it is definitely a more polished vibe than most other makeup stores in the area. The staff are very knowledgeable about the lines and are willing to help you find exactly what you want and make you look gorgeous. On my first visit, I wanted to try some products I had been ogling online but had been too shy to pull the trigger. I’m glad I waited, because I ended up needing completely different shades than I had thought I’d be using. They not only hooked me up with exactly what I wanted, but also showed me some new favorites as well and really took the time to make sure I liked what I saw in the mirror.
I deducted a star for the hours and the return policy, but really, if you take the time to look at what you’re purchasing you shouldn’t need to return it anyways (barring an allergic reaction or what have you). I am thrilled (terrified?) that I am able to walk to a boutique in my neighborhood to pick up a Chanel lipstick on a whim.