Cos Bar of Carmel

My favorite place to purchase cosmetics! The store itself is so well kept and tidy, but it’s the exceptional service that sets this place apart from the rest! All the gals who work here are super knowledgeable and helpful. They really listen to my needs and provide thoughtful and individualized suggestions. It’s refreshing to get such genuine service, they are always willing to take the extra step to make sure I get the product I’ll be happy with whether it’s giving me a sample to test out or ordering product they may not have in stock. It’s become a must when I’m in or near Carmel or when I want to treat myself!

I don’t even know where to begin. This group of ladies are professional, caring, love what they do, and exude their passion forward.
If you need honest progressional advice and want to walk out feeling like someone truly cares, with great advice, ideas, whether it be anti aging, make up color, fragrance, etc. I highly recommend «The COS Bar» in Carmel.
I used to work in the the cosmetic industry. I know

I normally shop on line. It’s easier, faster and also reduces the likelihood of having a bad experience. I was in Carmel shopping for a baby shower gift. This store display caught my eye so I went inside. I had no idea there was a make up store in Carmel. This place is a complete gem! They carry things that saphora and Neiman Marcus either do not have or are sold out of. This was the only place that had my favorite shade of ysl lipstick. I honestly have searched everywhere and places have been sold out for ever. Ohhh and the girls are amazing! Even though I was interested in just that one product they still took my information and called me as soon as another shipment came in. I was really surprised that I had even gotten a call. Awesome place! I love them!

I have frequented this store for many years without ever having great service, but still never even thought to review until now .
Yesterday I went in with a friend looking for a lipstick (Cle de Peau, which I purchase at Neiman’s locally). The young lady came over to the counter and I told her I was looking to see the new colors of the formula that I was pointing to. She stood looking at me like a «deer in the headlights» and said nothing,
as if I was speaking a foreign language.
I tried again, by saying I had seen them advertised.
Again, nothing but a condescending look from her, as if I was an idiot.
The other sales person commented from the other
side of the store that what I was looking for might be in a newer collection.
At that point, I could have stayed and browsed the store, but felt that there was no reason to waste my time in such an unwelcoming atmosphere. No wonder there was not one other customer in store on a Saturday
We come to Carmel a lot during the year but will make certain to never walk into this store ever again.
Btw, really miss Saks, that was customer service.

I am surprised at the negative reviews too. I had a great experience, a wonderful customer service rep and am so happy to have a place to go in the area other than Macy’s for cosmetics. At Macys I have waited forever to find a rep to help me and often have gotten someone from another counter to help, then they don’t know a lot about the line if they are covering a different counter than they are trained in. Here they know each line carried and are very knowledgeable. They were out of a foundation I wanted, gave me the tester to take with me until the foundation could be shipped to me via ups at no charge. They were sweet, not pushy and very helpful. I will be back.

I absolutely love the set up of this cosmetic bar-​Cosbar! It is worth it to read this whole review! Not nearly as big as Big Box Sephora so easier to see what there is. To choose color everything is just steps from one product line to the next. Although I don’t live where there is a Cosbar whenever I’m traveling and there is one ie. Vail, Carmel etc. I always stop in. It’s set up the way cosmetics should be sold. You can build a look from a combination of brands so easily where in department stores it’s so difficult with separate counters for every brand and the sales person pressuring to purchase from that one brand. This time I ended up with lip color from Armani, tinted moisturizer from Laura Mercier and under eye brightener from YSL. The staff is excellent at recommendations. We were a family of three women and we all walked out so enthused with our new custom stocking stuffers. Patricia was especially helpful with application tips and terrific honesty in her recommendations for skin care as well as make-​up. I look forward to making our return trip!
Nancy J.

I am also surprised to the reviews… my 2^nd time there and is just as great as the 1^st time when I was there with my family. We were not treated stereotypically like at other places but they are warm and welcoming.
Thank you

I’m very surprised to see some of the negative feedback here. Grant it, most of the complaints seem to refer to policy. I just don’t understand, the staff is knowledgeable and the product variety is great. They have always been willing to let me sample before buying expensive product so I never have needed to return OPENED, UN SELLABLE product. I’ve been shopping here for years. They have excellent men’s fragrance and skin care selection. Staff is great and always kind and professional, even though I’m not a big spender, I get VIP treatment.

As a high-​end cosmetics junkie, I don’t mind paying for quality. However, a cosmetic store that’s return policy is «unopened and only store credit» is ridiculous in the age of Sephora/​Barneys/​etc. liberal return policy — I can return even to online stores more than this. Store lighting is bad (and the day I was there the store lights were off) so testing it at the store is misleading. You’ll only know if it’s bad if you try it at home or go outside (with a crowd of tourists watching), then it’s too late. Buy here ONLY when restocking, and save your money for items your sure of.
Don’t even THINK of asking for samples. They are «out» every singe time or their severely annoyed your asking.
They have a sadly small selection of the on-​trend niche brands Tom Ford (very limited stock) and Armani. Their major inventory is upscale department store brands La Mer, Mercier, NARS, Bobbie Brown, Chanel.
Oh, yes. Everyone is right. Sales staff has attitude I’d expect in LA. Do you think the Management cares? Not by the looks of this. all these reviews and its still happening?
I’m from LA and the pretentiousness exceeded the upscale boutiques on Melrose!

This store has such potential to be an asset to our community — good location, extensive line of high end products, full service for our out of town visitors, as well as filling the niche for locals left empty when the cosmetic counter at the Saks store in Carmel Plaza closed.
Sadly, though, I can’t recommend it. I have shopped here regularly in the past, am a Pebble Beach resident, and promote tourism to groups in our area, but have too much self esteem to subject myself a second time to the treatment I received here recently. I’m thinking it might be time to promote Patricia to another store — in King City, maybe?

Went in with my husband and had a wonderful experience! Patty was incredible she looked at my skin recommended some awesome products which I love! Lisa and Carrie were also as sweet as can be and very helpful! A fantastic experience, with all of the best products one could need!

Shanna is AWESOME! Love their selection of makeup and facial products. Always helpful. Thank you ladies!

I have visited this store three times, and every time I go, I get the side eye from sales people, so I refuse to go there any more. The only reason they get one star is because they have a fabulous selection of cosmetics, including Laura Mercier, Bobbi Brown, Tom Ford, La Prairie, and Chanel. Lose the attitude, please. I so wish a Bluemercury would come to town as they understand the value of service and that matronly Carmel types aren’t the only ones deserving of it.

Service was awful. Employees were extremely rude and gave a lot of back sass. They should be trying to sell a product, not get people out of the store. Ended up buying something just so I could have an excuse for them to stop talking and for me to get out of there fast. Remember — everyone is a customer, not just 30 year old rich women. SERVE WITH COURTESY. I would never go back. The store itself was kind of nice so it is a shame indeed.

Cos Bar… You were rude the first time I went in there. The only reason I went back is because you carry NARS. I went in a few months ago in search of a Lorac liquid eyeliner, unaware of which brands, exactly, they carried. I asked a younger woman if they carried Lorac, to which she replied «no.» Which would have been fine… until the older woman (whom I’ve seen in there again) piped up with a snooty look, scoffed and a «can’t you find that at walgreens?» Well, I’m sorry it is not Dior, but it is definitely not Revlon. Know your cosmetics brands even if you do not sell them in your store. Know which brands and products you carry which may be comparable or better. Sell me on something else and do not treat me like dirt when I go in there. I will order NARS online, next time… or drive to San Jose and get it from Sephora.

This was such a great find! I have been living here for 7 years and only recently discovered Cosbar. They have great high end products and just got the Tom Ford lipstick line in! All of the sales associates are great! Very knowledgable and helpful in finding what I need. They don’t hover but seem to offer genuine opinions and suggestions. I look foward to shopping here. Nice hair care products, cosmetics, perfumes, etc.

If you are a beauty junkie like me and you are in Carmel, this is a must stop! They carry the most amazing, some hard to find beauty finds! They carry skincare, makeup, fragrance and hair and body products. If your boyfriend is a fancy guy, you can pick him up some stuff in here too. The staff is friendly and informative. Some of the stuff is pricier than your standard department store brands, so try before you buy.

I wish I could give this place ½ of a star. And that would go to the fact that it’s located in such a quaint part of Carmel Plaza.
Future shoppers and Makeup fanatics of this place BEWARE. They do NOT accept returns. You’re better off at Sephora, Nordstrom or Neiman Marcus where if the product doesn’t agree with you, you can return and exchange NO HASSLE.
I went here with my friend who was visiting from the East Coast, so I thought bringing her to The Cos Bar would be a great experience since she’s already been to Sephora and regular Dept. Store makeup counters. I’ve been to The Cos Bar many times before, and there is this new worker there who obviously does not have a clue what she’s doing or talking about — or she’s too worried about how her own makeup looks to want to pay any attention to the customers in her store.
I’m not talking about the typical workers here, but there is one I’ve hardly ever seen.
I saw an ad on a Shiseido Makeup Company and asked her about it. The line was called Cles de Beaute or something. I tried out the lipstick in that line at the Cos Bar, and did purchase the lipstick shade I liked, with more help from my friend who doesn’t work there, than from the lady working the counter!
Since I loved the feel of the lipstick so much, I wanted to ask about the foundation part of the line since I’m considering switching foundations. The makeup artist said that «Cles de Beaute does not provide any samples because they haven’t figured out how to put the products in a sample bag or jar yet.»
Are you serious? THAT was her answer? As if I were a five year old she was trying to convince a lie to.
Later on I’d stopped by Nordstrom, was pleasantly surprised to see they carried Cles de Beautehad and low and behold, the Cos Bar makeup lady was WRONG. The company, Cles de Beaute, did figure out how to make tiny samples for customers to try out their new product.
The Cos Bar worker was just too damn lazy to give me a sample, or really was that dumb to sell a product she doesn’t really know about.

I really wanted to like this place, esp since the closest Sephora is in San Jose. They carry great brands, but their selection is totally weak. Every time I’ve ever gone in there for anything (eye lash curler, moisturizer, blush, etc.), they’re out. Also, I feel like some of the gals working don’t know enough about the product.
And…to add gross frosting to the dry, flavorless cake, their return policy is totally lame.
Sorry Cos Bar, time to step it up.

DO NOT BUY ANYTHING UNLESS YOU ARE SURE YOU’RE GOING TO LOVE IT and DON’T CARE ABOUT BEING ABLE TO EXCHANGE OR RETURN IT!!!
They do not take exchanges or returns no matter what– EVEN with a receipt! Huge thumbs down when you can go to Sephora and return or exchange anything.
Also, I find it interesting that each of the brands they carry have different policy from The Cos Bar– If you bought it directly from their web site you could return it there as well.
The Cos Bar is doing themselves a huge diservice by not accepting exchanges or returns. I will drive to San Jose or order online from now on. It’s the principle of it.
When I attempted to exchange a makeup that I found to be a bit too heavy after a week of wearing it to work, I was asked if I tried it on in the store, which I did. To compare trying it on in the store to wearing it for a week is ignorant.