UPDATE MARCH 2010:
The Make Up Store is no longer in Malaysia. Stores in The Gardens and Pavilion Kuala Lumpur are closed.
I was walking around in The Gardens at Midvalley a couple of days ago, when I noticed that a new makeup store was open. Incidentally, its the Make Up Store. The Make Up Store is from Sweden and their makeup selection is certainly wide ranging.
They brought to my mind MAC Cosmetics but without the scary and rude sales girls and conventional layout. The makeup is displayed all around the sides of the store, which leaves you space to walk around without looking too self conscious. Actually, it felt rather like browsing in a clothes store or a warehouse – not sure if that’s the effect they wanted to achieve! Prices are on the average side i.e. MAC and Stila style prices. If you look on the website however, you’ll notice that the prices in USD are actually very reasonable but it isn’t being translated into RM here – pity else they would give MAC a run for their money!
Actually, even the packaging is very MAC Cosmetics, but the selection of each type of product far outclasses MAC and in my view so does the quality. Just for eyeshadows alone, there are 2-3 different types – small pans, large pans, with shimmer, without shimmer, loose powder eyeshadow… and then blusher – pressed, loose… the list goes on.
I was quite impressed by the quality of the eyeshadows. The pressed eyeshadows had good shimmer and were smooth to the touch. The eye dusts fascinated me most. They are loose powder eyeshadows and reminded me of Make Up For Ever’s star powder but their colour range looks to outstrip that of Make Up For Ever! I will return to consider those.
Here is a look from Make Up Store’s Spring Summer 2008 collection.
If you ask me, only the bridal collection “I do” due in February 2008 enchants me. The others (January 2008) look like MAC Cosmetics knock-offs. Sorry Make Up Store, but I think you should have your own look not aim for the in-your-face style of MAC which in my view is just too overdone and no longer a novelty.
All that said, Make Up Store does have some potential and I will return another day to look at the eye dusts and blush. I walked away with a wand concealer for the under eye at RM79, which I will review in due course after test running it.
So, if you are like me and don’t like MAC run along now to the Make Up Store and see what they have to offer – I think it’ll be a lot! Stores are at The Pavilion Kuala Lumpur and The Gardens Midvalley.
absolution says
January 27, 2008 at 2:19 ami live in SG, and the make up store has been arnd for a while. the liquid liner was the first i ever used, and i remember paying 27 sgd for it! that was about 4 or 5 years back maybe. anyway, it was awful. difficult to apply, clumpy and the brush was stiff and useless wrt getting a smooth thin line. as i was new to makeup then, i thought it was my skills but ive since tried quite a few and realised that it was the liner/brush itself. ive since stayed far away from their pdts, am interested to know what you think of their concealer etc though 🙂
PB says: Thanks for the info. I’ll update on the concealer in a few days.
jojoba says
January 27, 2008 at 4:28 pmI am adding the link to my review on its Eye Dust, which I think was the worst purchase I’d ever done in my entire makeup life and you know well that I have tried a lot. I would suggest avoiding this tacky brand. MAC pigments are better and MUFE Star Powders are THE BEST, seriousluy.
http://www.makeupalley.com/product/sreview.asp/itemid=101445/rid=1168855/
I am testing its eye shadow base as we have no access to UDPP. I will let you know once I have something to say.
cheers,
PB says: Thanks for the review! I’ll paste it up some time. Not everyone can view it in makeupalley 🙂
curlylocks says
January 28, 2008 at 12:21 pmi was thinking of trying their stuff out, but jojoba has effectively snuffed out that lemming 🙂
-curlylocks13
PB says: Haha… but check it out anyway. One person’s meat etc…
lisa says
February 6, 2008 at 12:03 amhi! i had bought 1 foudation brush 366 (similar to m.a.c 187 brush) and 1 lipstick. the brush is similar with m.a.c brush but with more affordable price (RM130). the lipstick is slighty expensive (RM69) but i luv the color (shade = crown) and it is quite long lasting. i’m satisfied with both products and planning to try the others 🙂
PB says: Thanks for the input! Glad you are liking the products.
syakira says
April 18, 2008 at 12:41 amhi guys, im Syakira.. make up artist from Make Up Store, The Gardens..
yaa i really appreciated that u guys love this brand..
kindly approach me and u’re welcome to Make Up Store!
jo says
April 20, 2008 at 9:46 pmya,this is a potential brand i visit their store today the service is good.
Liyana says
May 25, 2008 at 4:27 amIt’s funny, I’m in Sweden and this make-up store is everywhere here but I haven’t tried it. I’ll have a go.
Liyana says
May 25, 2008 at 5:12 amOpps, actually I was confused. There’s another cosmetic brand from Sweden. Almost the same concept, with pretty similar packaging – FACE, Stockholm
http://www.facestockholm.com/core/PRODS/?CatId=5
plue says
May 26, 2008 at 5:03 pmdarn! my mom was in sweden twice n i din know there’s this brand!
shud have ask her to get me some stuff!!!
now i’ll have to wait till next year dy~~~
irene says
June 10, 2008 at 12:17 ami just went to the make up store at pavilion, kl today & tried on the shimmering eye shadow … the colour is really nice especially the gold colour! i wanted to purchase but they were out of stock. Fortunately, the nice sales promoted Cool assist me by checking with The Gardens if they still have stock! Luckily they still have stock & i will go over The Gardens to purchase the Gold colour shimmer eye shadow in these few days.
I also bought the mirror at RM70 (which i think is a bit expensive for a mirror) and also scissors for nostril at RM45 & also bought a travel size eyelash curler at RM32 for my sister, she sure will love it!
They have more items & products that is worth going for, the price is a bit high but the quality is worth trusthy… juice!
Robert Hallenborg says
July 13, 2008 at 5:27 pmI read your article with intrest since I have just found a make Up Store in Miami. The reason is that they also have a school for Make Up Artists, which is exactly what I was looking for. There are lots of skin care products also for men.