beauty products – An Exercise In Trivial Pursuits

Buy SEPHORA online through ZALORA Singapore now!

Posted on May 19, 2014June 4, 2014 by Chloe Happ

Hey Singapore pals! Gone are the days where you have to stock up at your overseas Sephora store! I know that their signature black & white stores have hit the shores of Singapore a while now but guess what? You can now shop Sephora online through your favourite multi-label Singapore-based website, Zalora!

I used to love going into stores and touching the merchandise, testing it out and all. But once that’s done, I save the hassle by buying online. It gives me the freedom to buy something I already know I want, without contending with queues and travelling to an actual, physical store. Have you ever gone to a store only to find out that they do not have physical stocks of the items you want? ARGH! How annoying! Also, online shopping these days come with the perks of user reviews. Instead of going to a store, looking at the advertising copy on the product and second-guessing its actual benefits, I would much rather click on the product listing in the comfort of my seat/bed at home, search for user reviews and hit ADD TO CART!

And if you need more reasons to check out Sephora at Zalora, how about easy returns and free local shipping for orders over SGD40? Forget expensive and complex international shipping!

Rants & Raves

Rants & Raves: My CLARINS Haul

Posted on August 17, 2012August 17, 2012 by Chloe Happ

I’m raving about my CLARINS experience at the Raffles City Shopping Centre ROBINSONS today. I wasn’t really looking to buy anything but chanced upon CLARINS “Big Beautiful Eyes Pledge” on Facebook. By entering your particulars, you get invited to try some products out at your chosen CLARINS counter. I made my appointment at Raffles City because it was closest to work.

This experience didn’t start really well. I’m sure it’s partly because of how I look and dressed. To be fair, I didn’t identify myself and waited for the consultant to serve another 2 women before stepping up. The first thing I asked was about a gorgeously pink lipstick, then I passed her the printout (which you were supposed to bring to prove that you LIKED their page and signed up for the challenge). After clarifying, she explained that she could do it on my hand (which would be faster and simpler) or remove my make-up and try the products out on my face. I chose to try it out on my face because I have time anyways.

I spent close to 1 hour and 30 minutes having my make-up removed, then getting the various products slathered on my face – including a mask. This allowed me to feel the products on my skin and see how they’re being used. It was full-on slather and not a half-hearted affair. During the trial, I asked questions because I was genuinely interested in the products as she was offering them to me. I got the feeling that she was more enthusiastic after I showed more interest. She wasn’t pushy and explained how the products were used, even answering my questions about some similar products I was already using from competitors like Shiseido.

Anyway, long story short, I bought the lipstick (Rouge Prodige 102), Water Purify One-Step Cleanser, HydraQuench Intensive Serum Bi-Phase and WHITE PLUS Whitening Velvet Emulsion with SPF20. I also received a full sized bottle of their Satin-Smooth Body Lotion with Sorbier Bud as well as a set of travel-sized skincare (toner, make-up remover, scrub etc) because they were having a promotion. Also, I was given a $50-off voucher to the Wheelock Place Clarins Spa once I was automatically made a member. AND because I spent over a certain amount, ROBINSONS gave me a $20 voucher (which the cashier promptly used to deduct from the total cost). In the end, I spent only $259 on everything!

I know it’s a little more spendy that I usually am (partly because I’m a bargain hunter and I am skint) but I think today’s haul is a fantastic deal! For those products that I was unsure of, I was given a suitable stash of samples to try. The consultant also indicated in a product guide, which ones to use, when (including the samples). I am impressed because this gives me an idea of what my entire skincare routine would entail and whether or not the extra products will benefit me.

The beauty consultant that serviced me was Janice Han and I’m very happy with today’s CLARINS haul and experience (much better than what I can say for a certain SK-II counter where I was told I needed every product under the sun because I had really bad skin, then refused to give me more than 2 sample sachets to try out the products). I’m sure I lucked out with the triple-bonus and after today, I don’t think I’ll ever bring home that many CLARINS products for $259. But then again, if they work, I don’t think I’ll be that worried because I know that I can try out the products adequately before I plonk down the moolah.

So does this count as a haul?

My Stuff

My Stuff: Beauty Subscription Service

Posted on April 21, 2012April 21, 2012 by Chloe Happ

I’ve been subscribing to Bellabox and Glamabox for a few months now. It’s like a beauty product of the month kind of service. Both are under S$20 and have at least 5 sample-sized (sometimes full sized) products. I haven’t been overwhelmed by the stuff they sent but I still get excited every month to see what’s inside the pretty packages.

So far I’ve had stuff from Crabtree & Evelyn, Lierac, Phyto, Dermalogica, Clinique, Aveda amongst others. Some are actually not bad and I diligently use everything that’s suitable for my skin-type. I like that many of these things are sample-sized and I pop them into my purse or gym bag regularly. I would say that it evens out and some months are really good, some are quite disappointing. Also, both boxes came late this month. I didn’t get them till this week. I think I prefer products rather than the coupons or gift certificates that they throw in the box because the gift certificates require you to spend more money. Also, Glamabox threw in some trinkets (i.e. giftbox shaped charms) and claims they’re worth $30 – I don’t really want these things in my beauty subscription service.

I’m sure there are other beauty subscription services around but these 2 are ok for now. I might not renew after the year is up though. Well, I’m not sure. Maybe things will get better in the next few months. It’s been an exciting few months and I love getting the parcels in the mail.

Here are some pictures of my boxes from previous months (with the remnants) as well as the unboxing of April’s Bellabox and Glamabox…

couponing

Couponing: Brand New Skin Facial at Beauticove

Posted on August 31, 2011July 13, 2012 by Chloe Happ

Date: 24 August 2011

Deal: 89% off Negative Energy Cleansing Facial (New in Singapore!) or Pore and Scar Reducing Facial or Tummy/Thigh Slimming at $22 (worth up to $200) FREE Eye Treatment for Facials (Clarke Quay)

How it went:

It actually was quite good! It didn’t start off well because I had a bit of a problem booking the appointment. I called 3 times before I managed to get someone on the phone but after that, I had SMS confirmation and reminders so that was good. My post title says a different thing from the actual deal because I went there with really bad skin that day. It was a terrible weekend before and I had a breakout. My surface skin was dehydrated but underneath it was oily and I had 4 huge zits like a constellation on my face!

The treatment room and the terry towel tube I changed into

A Eurasian lady named Carole (who appears to be the boss) attended to me. She looked at my face and explained the various offers in this coupon. None of which matched the treatment I urgently needed so she decided to customise a session that was closer to their “Brand New Skin Facial” (usual price $130) but threw in the eye treatment from the coupon as well. The room was nice and spacious. They had about 3 treatment rooms side by side and it all opened up to become one big room for training. There was a projector overhead in my room and Carole reassured me it wasn’t a spy camera. Carole was very motherly, firm but gentle. I fell asleep almost immediately. There was no extraction (YAY! No pain!) and she said it wasn’t something they did at her beauty parlour anyway. She did 2 mild acid peels, followed by the masks and I swear my skin felt almost back to normal after the facial!

Beauticove uses Alpha-H products from Australia. I ended up buying the Liquid Gold for $60+. It has been doing wonders and I swear it works! I wasn’t being pushed to buy products or packages and I felt reassured that I could walk out without feeling any pressure. I’d be honest and say that I was skeptical about the Liquid Gold. It was a plain cheap packaging and I was bleagh about it. But after using it for almost a week, I’d buy it again once I’m done with this bottle! If you can get over the smell (like drinking sherry), then you should try it too! My pores are more refined, my t-zone less oily. Though I was told not to use it for an extended period because my skin is quite thin.

So was it worth $200? Not really. I’d maybe pay between $80-$90. Would I go back again? Yes! I might even consider taking the 6-session package for the “Brand New Skin Facial” as I was offered a 30% discount. Clarke Quay MRT station is on the Northeast Line and less than 30mins ride on the train for me to get back home! I definitely am thinking about the offer. Also a boon is that Riverside Point is a strange place because it’s so quiet! I like it!

Rants & Raves

L’Oreal Beauty Sale 2010

Posted on September 23, 2010November 7, 2011 by Chloe Happ

I just got out of the sale with loot totaling $173. I think I did well considering I went alone. The doors opened at 10am. I got in about 11.30am. Out at 12.30. The queuing took almost 45min despite 4 cashiers.