Make-up lovers rejoice: Australian beauty retailer Mecca opens two new Auckland stores

The outside of Mecca Cosmetica's newest store located in Takapuna, North Shore. Photo / Supplied

Australian beauty retailer Mecca has opened two new Auckland stores.

Mecca Maxima opened in Westfield mall in Albany today and Mecca Cosmetica opened in Takapuna yesterday, taking its total New Zealand store count to nine.

Maria Tsaousis, head of retail for Mecca Brands, said it was a coincidence that the two stores opened in the same week.

"Finding the right store in the right location can sometimes take time but we're so glad we're finally able to bring North Shore beauty lovers both Mecca experiences via our two new stores," Tsaousis said.

Last year, the retailer opened a number of stores including the much-anticipated Mecca Maxima store in Auckland CBD.

Tsaousis said the company was blown away by the response from Kiwis.

Westfield Albany centre manager Kerrie Hughes said Mecca Maxima would bolster the shopping mall's "already strong" beauty offering.

"With the addition of Mecca Maxima, customers will now be able to shop from a huge range of world-class Mecca Maxima brands, in addition to existing retailers such as Benefit, Kiehl's and L'Occitane, all under the one roof," Hughes said.

"If the reaction on the ground and social media is anything to go by, we expect the opening to be huge for the centre."

She said Westfield was hosting a range of activities to mark the store launch.

Mecca launched in 1997 in Melbourne, Australia. There are now more than 80 stores across Australia and New Zealand.

The first New Zealand Mecca store, Mecca Cosmetica, opened in Ponsonby, Auckland, in 2007. There are now Mecca stores located in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington.

The beauty retailer will open a string of other Mecca stores this year.