Not Just Another Story

…the story of Soap and Glory, that is. Those S&G devotees know that today was the day it launched (or rather, re-launched, after a frustrating months-long wait having been discontinued at Target) on Sephora’s website. It will be available September in Sephora stores, but as of midnight last night, there I was, fruitlessly typing in “Soap and Glory,” “Soap & Glory” repeatedly into Sephora’s search box.

Luckily, I was not alone. This morning on the lively S&G’s US facebook page, frustrated women nationwide shared our stories (“I get mine shipped from friends in the UK!”) – it’s true, my last shipment of cleanser arrived from Boots’ shelves via my friend Karen. “It was 2-for-1 and I have a million cleansers but I had to get one for myself,” she emailed before sending the package.

What is it about this little brand with its’ almost too-cutesy retro designs and slogans? Does it live up to the hype? In a word, yes. Back in my early 90s New York waitress days, I’d save my pennies to get facials at Marcia Kilgore’s Bliss Spa in SoHo, back then a small, cult spa on the verge of making it big with something called an “oxygen facial.” Marcia’s brilliant marketing strategy branched out into one of the most fun catalogs ever and I doubt that we’d have the makeup names and lines today without her influence.

Bliss got huge, Marcia was able to relax and move on, and surprise! I read she was doing a line for Target. The Body Butter was incredible and I was hooked. Then I became an addict. Then…they were gone.

But now they’re back! And as of 4pm today, available on Sephora. I just used up the final bit of my very-watered-down Clean On Me, knowing a new bottle will arrive in three days. Ah…