Isetan's Excellent Customer Service

Remember a couple of months back, I bought the Laneige whitening set  - White Plus Renew from Isetan, The Gardens upon their opening of Laneige counter, ......... I had some breakout after using for a few days : (

I stopped using immediately and after a few days of leaving my face free of moisturiser, the spots receded but my face felt dry and flaky. I went back to using my Shu Uemura's phyto black lift range which was really suitable for my skin type but with a very expensive price tag.

I then emailed to Isetan, The Garden's customer service on Tuesday relating my purchase, usage and then breakout. I enquired of whether a return or an exchange policy is practiced in the company. I got a response the next day from Angela of the Cosmetics and Fragrances Floor. Very, very impressed. I explained in detail to Angela what happened and she promised a response latest on Thursday from Laneige counter.

Guess what ...... Angela gave me an option of an exchange of the same value - RM100 either with the same brand or any other product of my choice : D

I've always wanted to try Laneige's Strawberry Yoghurt Peeling Gel, so I exchanged my whitening set for this. Angela reminded me that my previous value was RM100 and as this peeling gel costs RM99, I will be short of RM1. I told her her it was OK. So, for RM99 I got this whole set which consists of Strawberry yoghurt peeling gel, toner, foaming cleanser, moisturiser and the water sleeping pack.

Strawberry yoghurt peeling gel

 I'm very happy of my exchange. Kudos to both Isetan, The Gardens and Laneige for such excellent service given to their customers.

Favourite Lipstick/Lipgloss Swatches

Do you have a few favourite lipsticks/lipglosses that you always wear eventhough you have many other lipsticks in various colours ? Well, I'm guilty of that. I have loads of lipsticks and lipglosses but I tend to wear back the same ones and the same shades.

From L to R :

Anna Sui Rouge S373

Anna Sui Lip Gloss 601

Stila Lip Polish - Sheen

Laneige Snow Crystal Melting Glossy Lipstick - YR323 Nude Orange

Stila Lipstick - Serena

Stila Long Wear Lip Colour - Exquisite

My shades are either pinkish nudes or brownish nudes. I just can't seem to accept other colours like red (urgh!), mauve, orange, peach or corals.

Do you face the same problem?

I have swatches of other colours but these are rarely used.

Laneige Lipstick - LRC 3

Paul & Joe Lipstick CS044

Stila Lip Glaze Stick in Vanilla

Paul & Joe Lip Gloss 03

I have many more lipsticks still new in the box unused. Do I stop buying more ? No ! I continue buying. Why do we women do that ???

Laneige Hydra Solution Trial Kit

A couple of days ago, I bought a Chinese magazine called "New Tide". Err, I can't exactly read and speak Chinese but I could not resist the freebies that came together with the magazine. The magazine only cost RM8 but we get to try the Laneige Hydra Solution Trial kit. The kit consists of :

(1) Hydra Solution Cream

(2) Hydra Solution Essence

(3) Hyrda Solution Eye Cream

For RM8, it is a really good deal. Get it while stocks last. I got mine from Kinokuniya and they have a lot more left at that time.

New Tide with the Laneige Hydra Solution Trial Kit

Samples, Samples and More Samples

Have you gotten to a stage where you have obtained so many samples that you do not know which to use ? I have. Also, I do not really fancy squeezing out from the little sachets given, can get kinda messy. But samples are a great way to find out whether you like the particular product before you invest a bomb in them.

This is my little collection with brands from L'occitane, Kiehl's, Anna Sui, Shu Uemura, Bioxil, Paul & Joe, Estee Lauder, Clinique and Biotherm.

Small Collection of Samples

I will start using them once I have finished my full size products and would like to try some other brands. My current night routine is :

Laneige Star White Eye Spot - for the eyes of course

Clinique Turnaround Concentrate  - a serum to be used before moisturiser

Laneige Water Bank Cream - night cream/moisturiser

L'oreal's Revitalift Face, Contours & Neck - for my wattle

I have just started using all the above products for a few days except for Clinique's Turnaround Concentrate. This is a really good serum as my face feels soft the next morning instead of feeling dehydrated and flaky (before using this serum) as I sleep in an air-conditioned room. I bought it at RM190. Hmmm, quite expensive, but if it works - it is worth the money.

Really, Really Dark Eye Circles

I have really, really dark eye circles as well as wrinkles at the side of my eyes. Have you ever gone for a skin analysis where they tell you how hydrated or dehydrated your skin is and also the condition of your skin. Well, generally the comments on my skin from the Lancome, Biotherm and Shiseido SAs are - dry and dehydrated but quite small pores and very dark eye circles. But the latest skin analysis done by a SKII SA was - the result : your skin condition and around your eye area is older than my actual age, which is 41. EEEEKKKK!!!!!

Beware of what you are going to view.......

Dark eye circles and wrinkles

You know how women are - very, very sensitive on how they look. Whenever people in general know of my age, 99.9% of the time, they are quite shocked as I do not look my age at all. They said I look like in my late 20s to early 30s : D. Maybe because we always have a pre-conceived idea how a 40 over year old should look like - "auntie" which I am definitely not.

So, when the SKII SA said my eye area condition look beyond my age, PANIC was my immediate reaction. I had to do something quick. I could not afford SKII which she was trying very hard to sell to me, so I started buying other eye cream products.

The first I started off was Bioxil's Advanced Wrinkle Lifting Eye Cream (15ml), which I bought at a promotional price of just RM99 (NP : RM199). It was supposed to reduce eye wrinkles and lighten my dark eye circles within 2 weeks. After 2 weeks of usage, I did not see any improvement so, I thought with my serious condition I would need a bit longer for it to take effect. After 1 month of usage - still nothing. 2 months - NOTHING. Finished the product - NOTHING AT ALL !!!!

OK, one day I saw my god auntie who is close to 50 but look more 30s. I immediately asked her what skincare she is using. Answer - LAMER's the eye concentrate and LAMER's moisturizing cream. My heart dropped when I heard LAMER. With just the small pot of eye cream costing RM600++, I knew my life was doomed. But being quite persistent, I went to LAMER in Metrojaya, Midvalley to enquire about the eye cream and got myself a free sample (came in a little pot of 3ml) which I used day and night for 1 month plus. Result : NOTHING either. What !!! How many bottles must I use to see the results.

Subsequently, I used Benefit's Eyecon (14g ?), Clinique's All About Eyes (5ml - sample size), Shu Uemura's Smoothing Anti-Wrinkle Emulsion (10ml - travel size). I have finished using all of them. Results the same for all - NOTHING, NO IMPROVEMENT AT ALL !!!

I have yet to use Clinique's Repairwear Intensive Eye Cream (5ml - sample size) and Laneige's Star White Eye Spot (15ml) which I bought recently during the Laniege Beauty Fair at Parkson Pavillion for RM90.

My used and unused eye products

Oops, forgot about the Laniege eye cream

I'm at a loss and cannot decide - should I be patient and stick with one product until I see results (but what if I don't after multiple bottles) or continue my search for THE ONE or resigned to having dark eye circles because of genetic and late nights.

Stila Lippies

I hardly use eyeshadow and blusher products, so I indulge myself with lippies, i.e. lipsticks, lip glosses, lip glaze sticks, etc. Looking at my collection, one would expect a wide variation of colours. But, I tend to buy the same shades over and over again. My favourite shades are the natural, earthy, pinkish colour. I especially love Stila lippies, so when Stila Malaysia had its closing down sales, I took the opportunity to get myself "some" lippies.

Stila Lippies

From top to bottom :

silk shimmer gloss in kitten

plumping lip glaze

   - mocha

   - pon pon gerbera

   - daiquiri

   - praline

lip polish in sheen

plumping lip glaze in citrus mint

it lip gloss

lip glaze stick

   - brown sugar

   - vanilla

   - apricot

long wear lip colour

   - exquisite

   - serenade

lip pot in amande

The 5 lipsticks I have are diane, tina, aida, pixie and serena. Hmmm, not that many huh ? Stila is my largest collection of lippies and coming in a distant second will be my Anna Sui lippies. Other than that, I have a few each from Paul & Joe and Laneige.

At first, I thought of doing a swatch of all my Stila lippies but after taking stock, I decided not to. My lips would be a disaster after the swatches. But, I can still do the ones that are requested.

Bought - The Longchamp Bag !!

I've finally decided to buy the Longchamp bag that I have been eyeing for a few months. I thought wth, I will deal with my credit card bills later. I really needed some major retail therapy. Here it is !!!!

I must stay at home from now onwards because my target was just the bag but I went into Isetan, The Gardens to browse around and remembered that Laneige has some great value buys to celebrate their new opening in Isetan, The Gardens. I was only the second person when I reached the counter. After paying, I went back to collect my purchase. I was shocked as there was already a long queue at their counter. I guess the deal was just too good to pass. The promotion is supposed to be from 25th Sept - 4th Oct 2009, but I have a feeling that it is until while stocks last.

Laneige is offering 3 exclusive solution kits at only RM100 each :

(1)   White Plus Renew (worth RM251)

(2)   Perfect Renew (worth RM268)

(3)   Hydra Solution (worth RM312)

Laneige Exclusive Solution Kit at RM100 each

According to the SA, since I have some pigmentation (dark spots), she recommended that I use their Whitening range - White Plus Renew.

White Plus Renew

For the 1st 50 Isetan cardholder, you will get an additional 20ml Water Sleeping Pack Plus Mask and a small mirror absolutely free.

A very cute pink makeup pouch

Small mirror

I actually wanted to get the Hydra Solution as well but the SA said that it is limited to only 1 per customer : (