It takes long time to decide it. But I finally made this decidsion and threw my optimum card away.
No, I will never shop at shoppers drug mart anymore.
I used to be one of the loyal customers of shoppers. I enjoyed purchasing at 20 times points events. They even send me glow magazines each months and special gifts by the end of the year.
They offer cosmetics brands such as La Roche Posay, Avene and Vichy that are not sold at The Bay or Walmart.
Though the prices there in average are higher than other shops, I did not care too much. Because I could buy different types of products at once, got 20 times the points, and got freebies I want by redeeming the points.
What I was not happy about, and things made me furious, was the customer service at each store.
I understand that each stores are individually owned and not all of them carry all the products. Sales people may under pressure of comissions. But why cannot they treat people nicely when it comes to getting samples and returning some products?
I've received many coupons to get free trial sizes from Clinique and other brands. One time I went to one of the shops with beauty boutique to spend my coupon, the sales lady told me it was not available at that time. I went there a week after receiving the coupon, but she told me it was not available yet. I asked her when it would, she said she did not know.
I did not understand...... Why did shoppers issue something that was not available at the store? They said I could go to any shop where the brand is available. If it was not available at that time, why did not the sales lady get my information so that she could call me when it's available.
The Bay always ask for information and call right after they get the samples. Sales people at The Bay even give some other samples instead to let customers to try if certain products were not available?
Another thing that I dislike about shoppers is its return policy. I have never been returning a product that was open or used. But I do not know why shoppers is so tough at returning. They always find reasons to refuse to take things back. I know some shops may have limited items and they say they will have to ship it back somewhere. But they never explain to you anything nicely when it comes to returning. Shooprs head office told me that customers can basically return anything to any store. As far as I understand, according to Canadian law, customers can return anything not used in a month. Why shoppers always embarrass customers and make scenes when customers ask to return something?
Shoppers instore customer service does not always satisfy customers while Shoopers 1800 customers service is always nice. However I am tired of waiting in lines to complain about sales and stores.
Tuesday 30 April 2013
More than being a powder foundation
For most people, powders are for setting. It's usually the final step of the makeup. It's more for tough-ups. It's for pairing with liquid foundation or cream foundations.......
After using many different types of powder foundations, I have more thoughts and opinions.
Japanese powder foundations, most of the time, can be used alone. Because Japanese powder foundations usually have decent coverage, sometimes powder foundation can have coverage as high as a concealer.
Japanese powder foundations come with SPF/PA, and can protect UVA/UVB.
We know that to have the best uv rays protection, we have to apply enough amount of sunscreen. It has not enough protection if we put only cream foundation or powder foundation with spf. But it's always good to top foundation with spf while wearing sunscreen. Accroding to one of the most famous Japanese dermatologists, powder itself can protect skin from uv rays for maxium 20 minutes under sun and it works as a physical sun screen protection. Wearing a layer of powder foundation on the skin is similar to wearing clothes on body.
Japanese powder foundations are usually not as finely milled as most western powder foundations.
I guess one of the reasons is because they usually add sunscreen ingredients into it, and another reason could be that they want powder to be able to cover as much as possible. Personally I do not care if powders are super fine or not, what I care is its performance. Though Japanese powders seem to be finer these days.
Japanese powder foundations can be emollient as cream foundations and can be as dry as most finishing powders.
Most powder foundations I have are quite buttery and creamy. I do not feel dry when wearing them. We all know that powders can work wonderfully on oil control; however powders may work nicely on keeping skin moisturized.
To me, Japanese powder foundations are the 'powder formula bb creams'. We can basically skip many steps, apply one layer of Japanese powder foundation, and we are good to go.
After using many different types of powder foundations, I have more thoughts and opinions.
Japanese powder foundations, most of the time, can be used alone. Because Japanese powder foundations usually have decent coverage, sometimes powder foundation can have coverage as high as a concealer.
Japanese powder foundations come with SPF/PA, and can protect UVA/UVB.
We know that to have the best uv rays protection, we have to apply enough amount of sunscreen. It has not enough protection if we put only cream foundation or powder foundation with spf. But it's always good to top foundation with spf while wearing sunscreen. Accroding to one of the most famous Japanese dermatologists, powder itself can protect skin from uv rays for maxium 20 minutes under sun and it works as a physical sun screen protection. Wearing a layer of powder foundation on the skin is similar to wearing clothes on body.
Japanese powder foundations are usually not as finely milled as most western powder foundations.
I guess one of the reasons is because they usually add sunscreen ingredients into it, and another reason could be that they want powder to be able to cover as much as possible. Personally I do not care if powders are super fine or not, what I care is its performance. Though Japanese powders seem to be finer these days.
Japanese powder foundations can be emollient as cream foundations and can be as dry as most finishing powders.
Most powder foundations I have are quite buttery and creamy. I do not feel dry when wearing them. We all know that powders can work wonderfully on oil control; however powders may work nicely on keeping skin moisturized.
To me, Japanese powder foundations are the 'powder formula bb creams'. We can basically skip many steps, apply one layer of Japanese powder foundation, and we are good to go.
Review:Kanebo Kate Powder Foundation SPF 20 PA++
(Photo credit to Adambeauty.com)This is an older version of Kanebo Kate Powder foundation. I know newer version was released early this year. I also have mineral pressed powder foundation from Kate. Will review it later.
It's a powder foundation stored in a dark case. Kate is Media's sister, they both are from Kanebo. Personally I prefer Kanebo's powder foundation over Shiseido. Sadly there's no Kanebo counter in Canada, but nowadays we can always get almost everything online.
The quality of Kanebo's drugstore brand products are high enough to please people who prefer to use higher end products. If I do blind testing on some of Kanebo's drugstore brand products, I may not be able to tell if they are from department stores or drugstores.
This powder foundation is a little bit dryer than Media's powder foundation. It's better for summer use. The coverage is slightly higher than Media's powder foundation. I have no complain about the staying power. It never transfers.
I am not sure if it controls oil because I do not have oily skin. But if it's a summer powder foundation, it is supposed to be able to do oil control. People with combination to oily skin may need some touch- ups on t-zone in very warm summer days. Though I am ok with no touch ups.
However the price is highter than Media's powder foundation. The refill (11.5 g)its own is around $14 USD.
It works better than Kanebo's Freshel powder foundation but no too much difference between Kate powder foundation and Media.
Review: Kanebo Media Treament Pact AIII Spf 20 Pa++
(Photo credit to adambeauty.com http://www.adambeauty.com/showitem.php?itemtype=detail&itemid=me-tpact&brandid=22&language=EN&agentid=2&productid=1&brandSubid=&groupid=1&catid=22)Kanebo Media always offers high quality products with very very affordable prices. I have foundations and eyeshadows from the Media line. It says the blushes are great as well.
The Pact cost $13 USD (refill+case), the refill is 11.5 g.
The powder is stored in an elegant blue case. Very small and portable. It reminds me of Shiseido's high end line, Cle de peau, which has the similar blue case for powder foundation.
The powder foundation is very creamy. It's with great coverage as well. Good for dry skin. It's a powder foundation with good performance in coverage, pretection and staying power. It does not cause break out. The only disadvantage is that I hit the pan in around a month. I do not know if it's because the powder is more buttery than others. But I like the performance and the reasonable price. Would recommend to those who with budget and first time powder foundation users.
What is the best product for very dry skin?
Last past weeks I have been experiencing hard time on my skin. I got light eczema on hands and small dry patches on my face. My lips were extremely dry.
I do not know the reason which causes eczema. I suppose it's the weather and climate change. Some days are extremely dry and cold with snow (yes, April snow in Toronto) and some days are warm.
I tried the following products in extreme skin condition and have some brief thoughts on them.
1. Fresh Rose Mask:
(Photo credit to Sephora.com)
I got the sample as one of the freebies from sephora. I like the rose scent. It's not artificial. I think it's best for normal to dry skin, but not for extremely dry skin. I feel slightly burning stinging when apply it on my very dry skin. But it does not break me out. Good products for normal to dry skin, but not hydrating enough on extremly dry skin.
2.Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum:
(Photo credit to The Bay.com)
I have 3 small samples from gwps. I have been collecting them for sometime lol. The serum is very hydrating. What I like it the most is it has no overpowering scent at all. But I have to use large quantity of it because of my extreme skin condition. I can use up whole deluxe sample bottle at once (for your reference, the bottle was 7ml). I feel ok wihout cream after it. But I have to use so much in order to feel hydrated. Good serum, but cost too much.
Wish to find a dupe.
3.Lancome Tonique Confort:
(Photo credit to Thebay.com)
I bought it weeks ago. I know I cannot expect a toner to work as good as a hydrating cream or a serum. But there are so many good review on it and I hope to give it a try. It's a good hydrating toner with thick consistency which I like. It also has nice honey scent. It works good when my skin is in normal condition. But I feel slightly stinging if my skin is very dry.
4. Shiseido Benefiance Nutriperfect Pro-fortifying Softener:
(Photo credit to Thebay.com)
This softener has the same consistency as Lancome Tonique Confort. It's with slight scent. It works like hydrating serum. When my skin is normal I can apply 2 to 3 layers of it without cream afterwards. It's slightly more hydrating than Lancome Tonique Confort but a little bit less hydrating than Estee Lauder Advance Night Repair Serum. I can use it as a very light serum and toner. Good value.
5. Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturing Lotion( Dry to Very Dry Formula):
(Photo credit to Thebay.com)
Very good basic moisturing lotion. It works on my dry lips. No scent which I really appreciate!
6. Shiseido Bio-Performance Advanced Super Restoring Cream:
(photo credit to thebay.com)
It's more thick formula than the revitalizing cream. Bio performance products are always famous for being hydrating and emollient. However the cream does not work wonder on me even on my normal skin, let alone my skin in extremely dry period. I dislike the scent of it. The cream is very expensive in Canada, it costs $140 plus tax. I do not think it's worth the money and I will not buy it again.
7. Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Resist 24 Night Cream:
(photo credit to The bay.com)
This is a much cheaper and better night cream than bio performance. The scent is also better than the bio performance one. It's quite emollient. Works good on me. But it's not hydrating enough without adding toner and serum before using it.
8. Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Night Emulsion:
(Photo credit to The bay.com)
To my surprise, it works better than the cream ! It's hydrating enough by using its own. When I feel extremly dry on my skin with some special condition, I use it and top with the WrinkleResist24 Night Cream. They together work wonders! Good emulsion!
I do not know the reason which causes eczema. I suppose it's the weather and climate change. Some days are extremely dry and cold with snow (yes, April snow in Toronto) and some days are warm.
I tried the following products in extreme skin condition and have some brief thoughts on them.
1. Fresh Rose Mask:
(Photo credit to Sephora.com)I got the sample as one of the freebies from sephora. I like the rose scent. It's not artificial. I think it's best for normal to dry skin, but not for extremely dry skin. I feel slightly burning stinging when apply it on my very dry skin. But it does not break me out. Good products for normal to dry skin, but not hydrating enough on extremly dry skin.
2.Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum:
(Photo credit to The Bay.com)
I have 3 small samples from gwps. I have been collecting them for sometime lol. The serum is very hydrating. What I like it the most is it has no overpowering scent at all. But I have to use large quantity of it because of my extreme skin condition. I can use up whole deluxe sample bottle at once (for your reference, the bottle was 7ml). I feel ok wihout cream after it. But I have to use so much in order to feel hydrated. Good serum, but cost too much.
Wish to find a dupe.
3.Lancome Tonique Confort:
(Photo credit to Thebay.com)I bought it weeks ago. I know I cannot expect a toner to work as good as a hydrating cream or a serum. But there are so many good review on it and I hope to give it a try. It's a good hydrating toner with thick consistency which I like. It also has nice honey scent. It works good when my skin is in normal condition. But I feel slightly stinging if my skin is very dry.
4. Shiseido Benefiance Nutriperfect Pro-fortifying Softener:
(Photo credit to Thebay.com)
This softener has the same consistency as Lancome Tonique Confort. It's with slight scent. It works like hydrating serum. When my skin is normal I can apply 2 to 3 layers of it without cream afterwards. It's slightly more hydrating than Lancome Tonique Confort but a little bit less hydrating than Estee Lauder Advance Night Repair Serum. I can use it as a very light serum and toner. Good value.
5. Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturing Lotion( Dry to Very Dry Formula):
(Photo credit to Thebay.com)Very good basic moisturing lotion. It works on my dry lips. No scent which I really appreciate!
6. Shiseido Bio-Performance Advanced Super Restoring Cream:
(photo credit to thebay.com)It's more thick formula than the revitalizing cream. Bio performance products are always famous for being hydrating and emollient. However the cream does not work wonder on me even on my normal skin, let alone my skin in extremely dry period. I dislike the scent of it. The cream is very expensive in Canada, it costs $140 plus tax. I do not think it's worth the money and I will not buy it again.
7. Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Resist 24 Night Cream:
(photo credit to The bay.com)This is a much cheaper and better night cream than bio performance. The scent is also better than the bio performance one. It's quite emollient. Works good on me. But it's not hydrating enough without adding toner and serum before using it.
8. Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Night Emulsion:
(Photo credit to The bay.com)To my surprise, it works better than the cream ! It's hydrating enough by using its own. When I feel extremly dry on my skin with some special condition, I use it and top with the WrinkleResist24 Night Cream. They together work wonders! Good emulsion!
Reveiew: Kanebo Freshel powder foundation spf 30
There are two types of (pressed) powder foundation in Kanebo Freshel's line. One is the brightening one with spf 30, pa +++, while the other is the moisturizing one with spf 25, pa++.
This product has been released for many years. It's a drugstore brand with very affordable price. Personally I do not believe in any brightening effect in cosmetics, but I like the high spf in it.
Japanese and Korean powder foundations are famous for their high spfs. I do hope western brands can do more variety of powder foundation products with spf.
The powder has very high coverage with somewhat thick consistency. I am not sure if it's the right way of describing powder. But this powder is quite heavy. Even if I use brush to apply it lightly, I can feel its thick coverage.
If I put very emollient cream such as Clinique moisture surge underneath, it can make the makeup look a lot heavier. It looks like I top this powder with many layers of cream foundation underneath.
I do not know if any person like this type of heavy makeup look nowadays. Like I said I prefer high coverage powder. I appreciate the medium to full coverage the powder offeres. But I do not want to look I have many makeup on but actually I have only a layer of powder foundation.
I think the powder foundation looks the best to apply on its own without too much skincare or sunscreen under it. It can actually work as sunscreen, cream foundation, concealer stick and powder --all in one in a powder.
It's a nice powder when I am in a hurry, without even 1 minute to apply sunscreen before it. But I still prefer to apply sunscreen before going out. The powder can also be good alternative makeup for those who are allergic to any type of liquid sunscreen and foundation.
With the very reasonable price (around $12 USDfor the refill) and large size (11g), and great coverage with high spf, Freshel powder foundation can be the best choice for anyone.
This product has been released for many years. It's a drugstore brand with very affordable price. Personally I do not believe in any brightening effect in cosmetics, but I like the high spf in it.
Japanese and Korean powder foundations are famous for their high spfs. I do hope western brands can do more variety of powder foundation products with spf.
The powder has very high coverage with somewhat thick consistency. I am not sure if it's the right way of describing powder. But this powder is quite heavy. Even if I use brush to apply it lightly, I can feel its thick coverage.
If I put very emollient cream such as Clinique moisture surge underneath, it can make the makeup look a lot heavier. It looks like I top this powder with many layers of cream foundation underneath.
I do not know if any person like this type of heavy makeup look nowadays. Like I said I prefer high coverage powder. I appreciate the medium to full coverage the powder offeres. But I do not want to look I have many makeup on but actually I have only a layer of powder foundation.
I think the powder foundation looks the best to apply on its own without too much skincare or sunscreen under it. It can actually work as sunscreen, cream foundation, concealer stick and powder --all in one in a powder.
It's a nice powder when I am in a hurry, without even 1 minute to apply sunscreen before it. But I still prefer to apply sunscreen before going out. The powder can also be good alternative makeup for those who are allergic to any type of liquid sunscreen and foundation.
With the very reasonable price (around $12 USDfor the refill) and large size (11g), and great coverage with high spf, Freshel powder foundation can be the best choice for anyone.
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