Merle Norman Cosmetics

This place was so craptastic that it’s now out of business. They did a Groupon 2 months before they shut down and the expiration date wasn’t until next year. A-​holes.

When I was um… young-​er, the Merle Norman brand was up there with the best skincare lines, and pre-​Sephora, was a great place to get high quality, expensive but worth it skincare products and facial treatments. They had a lovely store on Madison Ave. in NY. That was then, this is now — I’m old… and so is Merle.
I was sucked in by a Groupon for a $ 35 deep pore facial (normally $ 85). I should have known something was up when I called to make my appointment and no one answered the first 2 times I called in the middle of the day.
Very long story, short — this place is tiny, kind of dumpy, the staff is inexperienced and it is in no way, shape or form a spa-​like experience. I can only imagine what I would have done if I had to pay full price. It would have gotten ugly.
A helpful reminder for all Groupon buyers out there: hop on their website, and Unilocal,or do a drive by if you can before buying an offer to a place you’ve never been — or haven’t been in a while.