I had a 1 day trip into Singapore over the weekend and I did mean to pop by Sephora in Singapore to see if it measured up to the hype a Sephora receives. You might recall I was a little disillusioned by Sephora in Hong Kong. So I left my illusions at the causeway this time.
To my surprise, I quite enjoyed trawling through Sephora at ION Orchard. I stopped off at Orchard MRT and when you take Exit B if I recall correctly, you come out right at ION Orchard and right next to the Sephora.
Its a large store and I got a picture of the storefront and some sneak pictures inside. I couldn’t get good shots because there weren’t many people around and the sales people were eagle-eyed. I think they thought I was a shoplifter 😛
The big brands are well represented as usual – MAC, Lancome, Dior, SK-II, Laneige, Clarins, Clinique and of course Sephora’s own in house brands. A huge section is dedicated to Sephora makeup. For makeup, there is also Smashbox Cosmetics and Too Faced. I took a look at the infamous Too Faced Shadow Insurance eyelid primer but decided not to get it.
I saw lots of natural and organic brands too – John Masters Organic, Nvey Organic Makeup, Burts Bees to name a couple I remember off the top of my head. Burts Bees in particular had quite a few counters for various products. I was contemplating getting the Lip Shimmer Lip balm or the Natural Chemical-free Sunblock. However, I decided to think about it and drop by before I left Singapore, but it was too late in the night when I left so I had no choice but to save it for next time.
I did note that the Burts Bees Chemical Free sunscreen felt sticky on my hand. I tested it and might have used it for my body but don’t think I’d bring it anywhere near my face.
I also saw Bliss products and thought the Bliss Blood Orange bath and shower gel smelt quite nice but did not get it due to “thinking about it”. Tip: Don’t ever “think about it” or you’d end up like me and not get anything!
I liked that Sephora at ION Orchard had a large section for men! So, the men can wander off and browse their stuff and not harrass us women 😉 There was also a small section for babies or children – brands with baby friendly products were placed there e.g. Burts Bees and Sephora Babies.
So as you might guess, I again walked into a Sephora store and walked out with nothing. Its starting to be a habit! 😛 If you enjoy browsing makeup and cosmetics or skincare, its a nice place to visit to see some brands we in Malaysia have only ever heard or read about. Its nicely positioned by the Orchard MRT station so you can just drop by on your way out of the station.
However, if you ask whether you MUST visit, my answer is no – it feels just like being in any department store beauty hall sans lovely smells of perfume I associate with Beauty Halls. But perhaps thats just me – I’m just jaded 😛
You can also read the reports from a couple of Singapore bloggers – Sesame and Mag. What’s your take on Sephora? Must visit if only to say “I’ve been there”? 😉
Stay beautiful,
Paris B
Could be a good excuse to visit my aunt & uncle in Singapore? Teehee.
Anyway agree on your tips on not to “think about it”. It happened to me in HK Citygate mall when I eyed few pairs of leather boots and when I thought will “think about it” first and ended up returning to Malaysia without them.
Hi Sylvia
Yep! Time to pay a visit! 😉 I know I should learn from the “think about it” while on holiday but I never do.
what about Sonia Kashuk? Is this brand available there?
Hi Aiyu
No it isn’t. Sonia Kashuk is only available at Target I believe.
wah u managed to take some pics. there was once i tried to snap pic in watsons, then the security came to check on me. -_- damn i must have looked really sneaky. if i ever go sg again, i MUST go n see, just to say: yeah i have been to sephora.
Hi prettybeautiful
Never underestimate the power of a camera phone… albeit it can’t shut up 😛
I’ll drop by just to check out the brands not available here – Smashbox, Burts Bee and Too Faced! 😀
And oh, i spot Talika on one of the shelves!! 😉
Hi Jenn
Yep there was Talika too. My head was hurting trying to remember all available LOL
maybe good thing u didn’t get the bliss pdts. i found bliss pdts super overpriced at sephora. might be i’m too sensitive to the prices cos i’ve been looking at bliss stuff online. :p
Hi Aichaku
Ooh! Yeah the prices were steep which was why I “thought about it” I’m glad you told me 🙂
I think tine and I can have a long debate over the shadow primer. I dislike the one from too face and adore the one from urban decay so we swapped :p you should give at least one ofthem a go!
Hi geekchic
Hehe… I’ll have to try the Too Faced one then the next time I go to SG… though I don’t have Urban Decay to compare with! 😛
Omg that seems like a lovely shop =) you know I’ve always had the ‘think about it’ feeling everytime I want to buy a product, only to go home and regret that I didn’t buy it earlier..hehee..i’ll make sure to drop by at this store next time I go down to Singapore. Ooh yea, was the Sephora in house products expensive?
Hi Sarah
Honestly, I could not remember the prices of the products. However, from memory they aren’t super expensive – probably mid-ranged.
Sephora @ ION: must visit, if only to see if that store has the Sephora by OPI nail polishes 😛 but that’s just me
hmm… i have a burt’s bees shimmer lipbalm i picked up in Sydney but I used it 5 times max before i tossed it into a drawer where it still sits. I find it rather waxy and not quite… there. uh nono… not not quite there but just… not
i hope that makes sense!
Hi JJ
Ooh someone from Singapore could help us out with that one – sorry nail polishes aren’t my thing. Oho! And thanks for letting me know about the shimmer lip balm. Now I’ll skip it 😉
Hey JJ,
Did you manage to get your answer as to Sephora stocking up on those nail polishes?
I’d go there to check out Sephora brand products ad Too Faced. Sephora has many many good products such as their eye pencils and lipglosses 😀
Hi Connie
Next time I go I’ll ask you for advice what to get 😉
eep! And I just returned from Duty-free heaven of langkawi! Now i need to start saving some more. I’ll give myself till christmas to go to singapore for the sales. Muahahahaha!
Hi Saintangelius
Ooh the beach! I miss the beach… Yeah hit up the Christmas sales – its the next best sale to the GSS to me 🙂
Yeah, it’s not a must. Not until they bring in Urban Decay and NARS. hehe. But it’s huge. I like the spacious feel the Sephora and Ion@Orchard gives me. Reminds me of M’sia’s KLCC and Berjaya Times Square. Cos the Isetan at KLCC was so gigantic I literally walk until tired. But every other normal store/mall in SG, I have squeeze and rub with the crowd. There’s just no space here.
Hi Jyoan
You know, you’re right about it being crowded in malls in Singapore. However, I attribute it to prosperity not so much as to design. I’d rather have crowded malls than empty ones where sales people just stare as you walk by 🙂
Since I live near to one of the stores here, I go there pretty often just to check if they’re having special discounts for members / public on certain brands. I hope one day they’ll bring in Nars, Urban Decay and MUFE! Right now they only have the common brands including Too Faced, Smashbox, Benefit, Bare Escentuals, DuWop, Fusion Beauty, etc.
Hi Amanda
Oh to live near a cosmetic haven teehee… Oh there was MUFE in Sephora Singapore.
I would definitely go check out the Sephora, if only to get some slightly more affordable brushes, and their Flashy eyeliner pencils. They are said to be on par with MUFE Aqua Eyes and Urban Decay’s 24/7 pencils. I do have a few of the Sephora Flashy pencils and they are definitely great quality, and waterproof for long wear.
Can anyone tell me if you can purchase smashbox dutyfree in Singapore airport??
Hey shaz
You will find smashbox in T1. It’s in one of those makeup stores near Coach
Hth
is there clarisonic there?
i will transit at Singapore airport for 4 hours next week, can anyone tell me if there are MUFE and Smashbox there? THANK YOUUU