There's one on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, another on 5th Avenue. And, now Sephora, that candy store for grown-up girls, is in Coquitlam.

Today (Friday), Sephora opened the doors of its black-and-white-striped exterior at the Coquitlam Centre mall, the same day it launched an outlet at Pacific Centre in Vancouver, much to the fanfare of makeup junkies.

The two Metro Vancouver stores — which sell 200 brands of makeup, skin care, fragrances, etc. — are the first in B.C. and the 13th and 14th in the country, joining about 1,000 Sephora chain shops around the world, mostly in Europe and the United States (founded in France in 1969, it was bought 12 years ago by Paris-based LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, a luxury products group).

Before today, many of the brands were hard-to-find in B.C. such as Anastasia, Bliss, Caudalie, Make Up For Ever and Urban Decay. As well, Sephora sells specialty hair care lines like Ojon and Oscar Blandi and fragrances from Fracas, LAVANILA, Marc Jacobs, Pink Sugar and Vera Wang. But classic brands like Estee Lauder, Clarins and Dior are also offered as are natural lines for sensitive skins.

"It's like a beauty playground," said spokesperson Christine Egashira, during a tour of the 5,421-square foot Coquitlam store that includes energy efficient and environmentally friendly amenities like LED lights and a recycling program.

Egashira, who is based in Seattle, Wash., said Sephora targeted Coquitlam and Vancouver because of the strong demand. "A good number of our clients at the Seattle-area stores are from the Vancouver region," she said.

The market was ripe despite the recession, she said, noting another Sephora will open in October in Metropolis in Burnaby's MetroTown.

Egashira is particularly fond of Sephora's own private label, which is featured in the store centre and on large black trays, surrounded by mirrors for clients to sample and spritz.

As well, she said, the 30 full- and part-time Coquitlam staff are trained in makeup and skin care application through its in-house program called "Science of Sephora." Two years ago, the company expanded its training facility, Sephora University, in San Francisco. "We really focus on education and we want to pass on our skills to the client," Egashira said.

jwarren@tricitynews.com