Rituals Cosmetics

Horrible customer service!!! Horrible online ordering system!!! Location admits to having an online ordering system that is suitable to UK addresses. I ordered several items that shipped and were returned to New York because it was missing a suite number. Yet, the website doesn’t allow you to enter such information. Called the NY store to address the issue. Package get delivered to NY on a Monday. I call back Wednesday the package is still in NY. Was told they could not expedite the package which is now 3 weeks late. I told Amanda, the manager, to ship out the package. She replies, «have an awesome day» and refunds me my money instead of shipping out the package. 1 star is too high of a rating. I’m following up with a call to their corporate office in the UK.

I’ve been to both locations in Manhattan & I love the one on the Upper West Side. Beautiful store, lovely staff, great products in great packaging. Like the Fresh brand but much more affordable.
After interviewing CEO Raymond Cloosterman about Rituals’ business strategy, he introduced me to his company’s latest offerings. The internationally popular Dutch brand has updated and expanded its mens line of personal care, just in time for Valentine’s gift giving season.
Consider adding these Samurai line items to your favorite males’ home collection this, & every, February 14^th:
Shampoo: This is one of my favorite products because it smells great, lathers well and rinses out clean. Japanese mint stimulates the scalp while leaving a subtle and fresh scent. Hair is shiny without any sticky residue.
Face Scrub: Exfoliating beads in this product give the skin a good scrub in preparation for shaving. The wash foams immediately on moist skin, and only a small amount is needed. Skin is soft without tightness after a warm water rinse.
Shower Gel: The scent in this product is stronger than the shampoo but it mostly dissipates after being washed off. The «long lasting cooling effect» is appealing after long workouts at the gym.
After Shave: The wood top and glass bottle are really nice packaging upgrades. The lotion is light and absorbs quickly. Applying after the facial scrub and a shave gives skin a great tingle.
Energizing Face Balm: Also designed with a wood top, this balm is dispensed via pump. It’s light in the bottle, so surprisingly thick in consistency — Perfect for the winter season. Skin is noticeably softer with use. This is my favorite skincare product in the line.
Recognized in Europe as one of the fastest growing beauty brands, Rituals was founded in 2000 and encompasses over 300 international free-​standing stores as well as 450 shop-​in-​shops. After more than thirteen years of experience at Unilever, Cloosterman built his own company to modernize ancient Eastern traditions with advanced technology. His products were originally introduced into the American market via Barneys New York. This year, his company launched two retail boutiques in Manhattan. The brand’s comprehensive portfolio includes over 400 SKUs which touch every aspect of personal grooming from morning to evening, with nourishing body care products and stylish home accents.

A beautiful looking/​designed store will not be enough to keep this store doing well. Awful experience trying to return their Shower Foam. I know great products and this had that cheap, cheesy musk scent (the version of the foam I purchased) which lingered annoyingly. After trying it at home, there was no hydrating experience at all. There was just nothing to it. It dispensed like shaving foam with piles coming out (weird for a body wash) which left no softening or silkiness to the skin. I attempted to return this (I rarely return any products but I thought I could at least get a store credit and try another Rituals product.) The manager told me they don’t accept returns of «used» products and that I could not get a refund or store exchange/​credit. Their policy is not to issue store credits or even exchanges. I was incredulous particularly for a skin care item — that is a no-​no in the industry. I brought proof of purchase which was my Visa statement showing the charge from their store on January 10^th, 2015. That was not good enough for the manager. I asked for a corporate telephone number to get this resolved. I was told she could not give that out but that I could email the director of the company. What work here! I was incensed they were making this so difficult and time consuming. I emailed the company and I was told that the manager reported that I returned an empty product. Lies. Of course I used it. I tried it, I didn’t like it and returned it. It ws «used» but nowhere near empty. It dispenses like a shaving cream and when you pump some out, alot foams out. I would have kept it except for that awful cheap musk scent and it had NO HYDRATING properties at all. I could do much better at a Duane Reade store or CVS finding a good body wash. This was all packaging and promo. After 4 emails back and forth! with company headquarters I still did not get a store credit, an exchange. nothing. I was told that I would have to provide documentation, records (the Visa statement with the charge was not enough for them?) original packaging etc. Clearly they were being unprofessional in fact obnoxious about this return. I also noticed they were giving the «shower foam» away free with every purchase over $ 30.00. Seems like they wanted to get rid of this inferior item in their store. I notice the store is mostly empty when one walks by. It is beautiful store but never in all the years of buying skin care products (and rarely returning anything) have I ever encountered such an obnoxious return policy. A sensible store, to keep their new customer, would be gracious about a return. And for the manager to have lied to corporate that it was returned empty? Telling lies? Really? Bad experience all around. Guess that one return could be making a huge difference in their sales report. if its that bad they need to rethink their product line which is not very impressive and their store exchange/​refund policies.
There is a sucker born very minute and I guess I was swayed by the pretty store front and interior design. Can you imagine using up 3 hours of your life trying to return to what amounted to shaving foam? But I don’t want to get taken either… It’s just wrong.

Absolutely love their products. Kind of like Fresh without the insane prices… Or like body shop with better products.