I have been going to this cosmetic store for the past 5 years for all of my skin care needs. Not only does this store have all of the Korean products I love (it even sells the Japanese brand Shiseido), but the customer service is also superb. The store owner is so thoughtful and generous- she spends the extra time to get to know me, explains how to use each product (which was especially helpful since there are so many steps involved in Korean skin care!) and knows which products are right for my skin type. She even provided some samples of the products I purchased so I can use them while I travel! As a regular, Ive gotten to know other customers of the store and we agree that the store owner is so personable and delightful to work with and talk to. I think this is why so many of us always come back to shop here!

I must say, I have to disagree with some statements from the other review- from what I can see, the store mostly sells high end Korean skin care products (O HUI, Whoo, Sulwhasoo) although there are some affordable products (meant mostly for younger folk- college students, teenagers). They are reputable skin care lines and I am happy that they are available in my area. Comparing to online and other cosmetic stores, the prices are very reasonable and fair. If you want the “good stuff” for your skin, it is going to cost a little extra if you know what I mean.

Skin sensitivities to skin care products is always based on the individual. I mean, I have combination, acne prone skin- and Shiseido products (which I have been warned may be harsh for my skin type) somehow works perfectly with my skin. I’ve shopped at many cosmetic stores, including American brands like Ulta and Sephora, and had skin breakouts with some products I purchased that were deemed “dermatologist tested”. I do not believe you can really blame whoever is selling you the product— it’s your skins reaction to the product and the actual product itself that is at hand. The store owner is knowledgeable about the products that she sells. She is not a dermatologist, and I would recommend that you go to a dermatologist if you actually have skin conditions/ problems that need to be treated.

I also think that it’s not fair to state that a store is selling “bootleg products” when it is clearly not. The store was once a Cosmetic World (there’s several in Los Angeles, and this particular one was the San Diego branch) and they all sell similar products. When I asked the store owner about this, she told me that years before she was only an associate and at the time it was Cosmetic World. Once she was given the chance to own the store, she inherited all the equipment and supplies, and it became Cosmetic World Shop. I know that the products are purchased directly from the brands themselves because I regularly wait for O HUI and Shiseido shipments/restocks at this store. If I need to make a return or have problems with the products, they are returned to the brand HQs/American branch of the brand. The products are verified— I mean, this is within a reputable grocery store, H-Mart after all.

I really tried to give this shop a chance. I love Korean cosmetics, and as a faithful buyer of skin care products, I regularly follow many blogs about them to know as much as possible.

The shop's appearance and lineup looks decent and seemly (and in H Mart too where you can get your Korean goodies), but don't let that fool you. The owner doesn't know crap about what she's selling. She only pushes for you to buy the priciest cosmetic she has available, even when you specifically tell her your skin conditions beforehand. I have problems with my oily skin, and yet she offered me what I would later find out to be a skin essence tailored for people with especially dry skin. I had to go to my dermatologist for problems that arose with skin flaking and peeling for weeks. And this isn't just me: my best friend who visited the store was also given a cosmetic that not only did not fit her needs but also harmed her skin. Clearly, the owner is not a professional: she doesn't seem to know what she is selling and only knows the price tags.

Moreover, the owner is stingy if not straight up deceitful with her shop "reward" points. I came to the store knowing what to buy with my points because I had a set amount, only for her to purse her lips and tell me I had less. She was lying because when I went home I counted my receipts, and the store points I had in mind were correct.

To top it off, the owner is rude and gives you major stink eye for refunds/returns. She was almost a completely different person when I wanted a refund. A total suckup when you buy, a complete hater when you want to return.

I also did some research and found out that this shop isn't even an official branch of Cosmetic World™. It's a shop that plagiarizes its name and only adds "Shop" to it. Weird, bootleggy, and altogether dishonest if you ask me.