Cosmetics in Costa Rica
Over the years I’ve slowly increased my makeup tastes from drug store to department store brands. From there, I’ve even inched a bit up the scale starting with Clinique and moving on to Lancôme and MAC. In the United States, close to malls and enticed by glossy Sunday adds, I was quick to pick up a new eyeliner or the latest shade of lip gloss. I especially found it hard to pass up one of those nifty gift-with-purchase sets. In Costa Rica, for most beauty products, it’s back to the grocery isles.
The mascara is selling for 8,305 colones ($15), eyeliner 6,920 colones ($12.50) and lipstick 5,700 colones ($10). On the bright side, excellent coffee is $1.75 per 1lb bag and it’s too humid to wear a lot of makeup!
The supermarket near my house, where the above photo was taken, has both sides of an isle decorated with cosmetics and staffed with women offering product advice. Need mascara? They are there to point out options just like the makeup counter in a department store. The only difference is that I haven’t noticed anyone offering samples or giving in-store makeovers…yet.
