Ah beauty buffs will always be plagued by that eternal question of how to scratch that hard to find beauty itch. You know that one right? The one brand you hear so much raves about and wish we had it available locally.
The one product everyone and their mother seems to love yet is impossible to find in stores or online. That product that you’ve been dying to try but which is only found overseas and in the luxury price range.
I am a beauty buff and I have this terrible itch. It doesn’t help that I read a lot of blogs and I am suggestible and I have friends who tell me “You just HAVE TO TRY THIS!” No friends, you aren’t helping me at all!
My latest beauty itch is the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders. I’ve read so much about how wonderful they are at giving an airbrushed finish to the skin. Hell, even friends rave about them *sob*
So, when I was down in Melbourne last week and out shopping with Tine, the minute I stepped into David Jones department store, I said “Look, I want to see the Hourglass powders!” They had the limited edition Ambient Lighting Palette on display and the price as you see is AU$95 (approx RM285). The palette was tiny!
I have to admit the pull was definitely there. I wanted to badly to pick up this item that is practically impossible for me to find here (and online, I’ve checked) but was I prepared to cough up that much money for it? Tine wisely told me to sleep on it which I did.
But I’m curious if you would have been willing to splurge on this hard to find beauty item or any beauty item you’ve been eyeing. Are you willing to? After all, you may not come across it again!
I realise that beauty products in Australia are very highly marked up which is why I balked. This same Hourglass palette retails at US$58 (approx RM184) which is almost half the price. It might interest you to know that prices of Revlon is almost dollar for RM!
Did I grit my teeth and hand out wads of cash for this palette then?
I didn’t. I couldn’t justify it if I’m to be honest. The full size individual powders retail at AU$65 (approx (RM195) and although I was fairly tempted, I ended up not getting any. As much as I wanted to try these products, I just wasn’t willing to splurge, never mind that they are hard to find and that I really wanted it.
That was me at my most rational. I’m not always that rational when I travel because sometimes, it’s so hard to see something you’ve been wanting for a while, that I justify the splurge with the thought that I don’t have access to the brand or product. There’s always an excuse isn’t there? 😀
Yet on the other hand, I went a little crazy buying up scented candles which aren’t quite beauty products, but were items I was quite willing to splurge on because good scented candles are hard to find locally 😀
So you tell me: How willing are you to splurge on hard to find beauty products?
Do you justify your splurge with the thought that you don’t have easy access to it? Or perhaps you splurge because it’s something you’ve wanted for a while and maybe can’t find it anymore. Or perhaps you just don’t care. You want it and that’s all that matters! I sometimes splurge if I really really want something and especially if I see it while I’m travelling. It always seem to make it easier. What about you? Spill! 😀
Paris B
Oh my word! I can’t imagine spending that much on a highlighting powder although I have succumbed to the lure of pricey makeup periodically. I needed to be pried away from the Suqqu and Laduree makeup counters when I was visiting Tokyo so I’d say that my splurges definitely happen when I’m travelling or reading rave reviews from other bloggers.
I’m also more willing to splurge on skincare than makeup because I believe that beautiful skin makes anyone look much better. And less makeup is needed!
I succumb too but yeah, I couldn’t bring myself to get the palette or the powders even though I knew I may not have another chance to. I do tend to splurge when I travel because of the “OMG! I may never see this again!” factor but I’ve toned down a lot in recent times. I love looking at skincare too but I tend not to splurge on them unless we’re talking sets at duty free for skincare I already use, because I’m afraid I can’t follow up later if my skin loves it. You’re right too about splurging on skincare – it is the basis of beautiful skin after all 🙂
I get what you mean. I do the same thing too. If i really wanted something that I yearn for long, I will buy. Because I don’t wanna go home feeling regret. That of course if my bank account approves. I think the most expensive beauty product I splurge on is Clarisonic Mia and that took me almost a year to save and decide even after I hear everyone raves about it. Next item gonna be my Jill Stuart Set. But it’s worth all the money spending. :))
LOL I totally get you Cynthia! That feeling of regret when you get home is horrible isn’t it? It’s like Damn! I should have bought it, never mind it cost so much LOL These days, I tend to splurge more on food when I travel, eating at nice places so I guess something has to give 😉
I think it helps when you have a genuine friend shopping with you. Not those who will urge you to spend but those who are informed and know how to make the informed choice. Glad Tine was there for you!
I would have bought that one. Been wanting the ambient lighting palette too. But I have stopped myself from even trying to look for it because I know I don’t wear such finishing powder much at all. My beautiful MAC MSFs are sitting in the drawer. I am sure Hourglass will end up the same way.
Actually we had Hourglass one year ago. But this brand is really way way too pricey for our appetite.
And for the candles that you post about, they are all selling at Takashimaya Orchard. 🙂 In case you drive down… No airplane needed. (But I thought Malaysia will have the same brands actually, just maybe a long drive away depending on where one stays.)
Haha I tend not to shop with enablers. It’s just too dangerous to the wallet 🙂 I remember that Hourglass used to be in Singapore Sephora the first time I was there, but it was so expensive! I’m actually not surprised that they pulled out. The Ambient Lighting Palette is actually a good buy if you use products like this. One of it is a significantly warm shade (Dim) which looked muddy on my hand so I was quite glad not to get it. Another colour is significantly sparkly. It would have been a horrible mistake getting it 🙂 We don’t have many good scented soy wax candles here yet. Maybe less of a demand because they do tend to be rather pricey. Still, I hauled back a lot of Glasshouse Candles and if they’re in Singapore, that’s good to know! 😀
I did visit the Addiction and Suqqu counters in Kyoto but didn’t get anything because their highly-raved products (Addiction eyeshadows and blush and Suqqu brow pen) are of no use to me, or I can find a just-as-good drugstore dupe (K-Palette brow pen).
I DID splurge on some drugstore finds like Fasio mascara (which is DA-BOMB, even better than Heroine Make) and Kiss Cosmetics Chiffon UV base moist (best and cheapest primer at SGD15, I’m kicking myself for not getting multiples!). So I guess it depends on what country I’m in, but I prefer going for drugstore products because department store counter brands tend to be quite homogenous no matter where you go in terms of collections and prices (unless there suddenly was like 30-40% off).
I totally agree with this! When ever I’m in a foreign country I speed over to the drug stores to check out the goods, not just makeup, but skincare and bath products too. Those items will be unusual, but the department stores all seem to have the same things.
Other than that, I can’t imagine spending ~$85 on a makeup item. Skin care maybe, but I tend to believe the price is all for the packaging and I’m pretty rough with my stuff anyway.
Sounds like me too! I spent so much time in Priceline in Australia just looking at what was on offer. So many interesting brands and products that we don’t get. I love it 😀 Some day I hope to be as amazed by the drugstores in the USA.
Haha I know what you mean Firn. I tend to get all hyped up and then when I get to a counter, I deflate like a pricked balloon. I can never make up my mind what to get and then I just give up and go spend all my money on food 😀 Sounds like you had a fun trip to Japan – would love to visit Kyoto. I’m told it’s beautiful!
Haha I did spend most of my money on food and renting a kimono (totally awesome experience and I highly recommend it!) in the end. OMG I am the same! I didn’t dare to take the plunge with Suqqu’s foundations and I wanted to get their lipstick but I remembered Kate (Drivel About Frivol) saying the reformulated Bright Up Glow ones weren’t really worth the pricetag…
Shopping for food, desserts and accessories is truly amazing though! One level up from Singapore!
OH my you just reminded me I have a Suqqu eye palette somewhere :O I was at a loss when I visited their counter in Bangkok and even though it was so pricey, I got one just to see what the hype was all about. Refused to splurge on the brushes because that would have just been too much! Shall have to dig it out 😛 And most of the time, I’m always found trawling the aisles of supermarkets and drugstores. My favourite place to visit in any foreign place 😀
I will!!! Normally I will stop myself if I had been eyeing the product only for a month or two but if I have been dying to get it.. I will go all out.. even if it means to go through all the hassle and wait ordering via spree 😛 But thank goodness I haven’t had that terrible itch over a year now..
Hahaha Time was when I’d be the same. I guess I’ve just grown up a little more now and seeing so many brands come in just lessens the itch 😀
I always head to Singapore to buy me some GA and YSL every year. It is a must for me. In fact, I have just returned from Singapore for some Holiday makeup. Initially, I thought I would be getting everything from GA this time (especially their ETK) and some from Lancome. Having swatched them though, I didnt go crazy over them all. I only bought 1 eyshadow from each brand instead. Sometimes, the colours are merely repetitive and I just couldnt justify the need of paying extra just becos some items are sooooo limited as they are from holiday collection. This year’s holiday collection just dont do it for me.
Sounds like such a fun tradition! I always want to get something from GA or YSL but when I go to the counter, I get a brain fart and can never decide LOL So I walk away. Happens every single time! I saw some of the GA items and they were really pretty but gosh! I haven’t checked out their products in such a long time now 😀 I am a little bummed by most of the Holiday collections this year too. Only Guerlain got me and that was because they were items I already was eyeing. Others just sort of went whoosh over my head.
I don’t think it’s ever worth it. I’ll just hop to Sephora. They’re bound to have a dupe somewhere.
I’m sure they do – it’s the Guerlain Meteorites! haha… But then you know that curiousity right? 😉
I went through the SAME THING. Even people in my home country were ordering it from the US Sephora, which sold out. Luckily I realized that no, the shades included would not be as flattering to my skin tone as other shades in the range… And that Guerlain Meteorites might be a better choice. Seriously lemming for the Crazy Meteorites you picked up! I kind of wish you had purchased a few Ambient powders so you could compare them, lol.
LOL Yes yes I totally agree with you Eula. I was glad I saw it in person and that I swatched it because it was far too sparkly for me, and Dim is far too muddy. Dodged a bullet there! But I can never say no to Meteorites 😀 😀 Oh and I do wish I did pick up at least one powder too but not at those prices. Maybe if I come across them online for a decent price, I’d consider 😉
If it’s something I really like, and it’s difficult to find, I will buy it. My daughter will tell me to buy it. My hubby will tell me to buy it. They know me too well. If I don’t get it, and I cannot get it again, I will whine. I will mope. I will howl. I will not be a nice person to live with. So dang the cost. 😀
LOL!! Love your honesty Cecilia 😀 I will be like that if it’s a bag or a souvenir item, but rarely makeup or beauty products 😀 These days, when I see an item I want on my travels, I pick it up. I’ve missed out on a nice souvenir once too often!
I definitely go on a splurge when I’m overseas – mostly because it tends to be cheaper than back home and I’m usually very good about not spending much at home.
If it’s something I absolutely cannot find at home, I’m willing to fork out the cash for it! Even if I bought it online, the retailer would either slap a ridiculous shipping fee on top of the product or simply not ship here at all (this is particularly sob worthy)!
Which candles did you end up buying? =D
Glasshouse Candles, at your recommendation! Picked up quite a few in small and large sizes. Oh and a Circa House one. Can’t wait to burn them 😀 After seeing Aussie prices for beauty products first hand, I don’t blame anyone for going on a mega splurge overseas! Prices are nuts!
Good for you! That’s such a ridiculous markup and yeah-the palette is tiny. Not worth that much for sure!
In the old days, I would have bought things willy nilly, but now-nope. I know better. And what is worth it.
You’re right about it being tiny. The SA was really lovely and telling me it’s nice etc but at those prices when I knew it was lesser elsewhere? Not likely to splurge. Maybe I’ll find it at a discount if I get really lucky some day LOL! I’m more careful with spending these days too. Less of the “OMG! I need this” and more of the “Hmm. Don’t I already have something like this?”
While I feel the pull of oh-so-wanted products quite strongly sometimes, for the most part I am unwilling to pay the premium prices. it doesn’t keep me from looking at them longingly, however. (The Chanel holiday eye pallette is just one of those items-LOL.) I think you may have dodged a bullet with the Hourglass Ambient Lighting. I succumbed to a makeup artist at Sephora and purchased the “dim” color which claims to create skin perfection. I am not impressed and feel that it muddies my look, rather than enhancing it. I’m too lazy to return it, so have been using it just on my cheeks. It’s OK, but…..
Ooh I was eyeing up the Chanel holiday eye palette too! Swatched it, played with it but let it go in the end. I actually agree with you re: Dim Ambient Light powder. It is significantly darker and has that warm tones that will look muddy on fairer skins. Wasn’t impressed with it on the back of my hand so was glad the price put it out of my range 😀
I’m eyeing that Chanel eye palette too!!! I’m contemplating this or the Guerlain crazy paris bronzer. Not much other holiday collection is getting to me this year too. Money saved. But as a year end treat this year for ‘successfully’ not splurging on excessive cosmetic buys, i’ve caved in and bought some Tom Ford brushes. I hope to receive them soon. What are your thoughts on them?
I have 2 Tom Ford brushes – the Bronzer brush which I use as a blush brush and a Smokey Eye Brush which I haven’t used to its full potential. The Bronzer brush is lovely. Dense and soft and applies colour in a very diffused application. Very nice for strong coloured blushes although with a light colour you might need more work. I would pick the Guerlain Crazy Paris bronzer because it’s the only bronzer I can wear without looking like I smothered my face in Milo. Reason enough 😉
I will splurge if it is an item which we don’t have access to otherwise and if it has really good reviews. I recently just received my Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light. I bought it direct from Sephora USA and had it sent to MyUs.com address. You pay a little more for shipping but it’s not too bad. I have not used it yet so can’t say much about it but if it’s something that I need and well reviewed and can’t get it anywhere else, then I will splurge.
Hope you like the Dim light one. I think it’d look nice on someone with warmer skintone but it looked muddy on me. Some of the lighter shades did attract me like Mood Light. Maybe I’ll get it some time if I see it online but not for now
I am the same way! I cannot resist when I find an item that’s hard to come by, but I totally agree – Australia’s prices are so marked up, you just can’t justify the purchase most times :/
Yeah, prices of things in Australia were shocking! Kind of glad because it meant I shopped a lot less 😀
Really interesting post! When I first got into makeup I used to splurge way too much on beauty products every time I went abroad, I was just too excited about finding products I can’t easily find at home. Lately I’ve definitely cut it down!
Hahaha that’s exactly me, S 😀 I would splurge like crazy especially abroad because you just never know when you’ll have the chance again! These days, even duty free bores me 😛
If I read this post a year ago, I would have said “HELL YEAH!” but right now, not so much! I’m more likely to splurge on a skincare item but not makeup! Especially not a finishing powder 🙂 I’ve made my piece with the fact that I’m not a rich gal and I’m sure will find something very similar to my taste at another brand. But UD Naked 3 palette, babe you’re coming home with me!!! 🙂
LOL! It looks like so many of us have grown up haven’t we? Being choosier is progress! 😀 I love checking out new skincare too and good skincare does tend to be pricey a lot of the time. I saw the swatches for UD Naked 3 and while they aren’t quite colours I like or can wear, I can imagine them looking really good on others! 😀
Naked3 is a good palette for my taste I don’t have naked1 and never liked naked2 so I can splurge after holding myself from all the other palettes 🙂 Even though being 30, I’m still on the shy side of makeup so this palette really speaks to me. Being choosy is always good and comes handy in every aspect of my life 🙂
Haha good on you for not caving to the hype when it was at its peak! I think makeup is something that is very personal. Not everyone likes putting it on nor feel the need to. I never got into it till very late you know so you’re not that far off from when I started 😀 But with practice, it gets easier and a good palette is always a good place to start 😀
Yes, sleep on it! That’s a good piece of advice. I do this when shopping online too, I put a bunch of stuff into my cart (it’s funny how you suddenly need everything) but don’t check out. Maybe a day or 2 after, I come back and realise that I’m not feelin’ certain items anymore so I drop them.
But of course, when you’re abroad the temptations are way easy to succumb to cause you’ll feel it’s now or never. (Mandarin) Mai hai shi bu mai? (Hokkien) Mai!/Don’t! 😀
Sleeping on it usually only works if you know you can get it again the next day. Once, many years ago, I came across a lovely leather bag from Coach that was on 50% off in HK. I slept on it and the next day, I didn’t know the store closed early so I never got it! Was so upset LOL! So these days, if I really want something, I get it, but only if it’s within budget. Otherwise I just look, play with it and then leave 😉 As you say, being overseas is the worst temptation ever.
I totally hear you! My purchases usually are very calculated and I hardly splurge on things randomly but yes I do sometimes go insane and buy stuff which were always on my wishlist (usually items which are not available locally) no matter the price! Thankfully I do come back to my senses soon so the damage done is very limited 🙂
I try to be good but when you’re travelling, the lure is just too strong sometimes. Or even duty free, with all their special sets and packaging. Argh! These days though I just browse the shelves although I will go a little nuts in pharmacies/drugstores because that’s where all the interesting items are! 😀
Oh oh the hourglass ambient palette!! I nearly bought it as well during the sephora 20% off spree awhile back. But then I realize I don’t really like powder highlighters/finishing powder so I didn’t. But the price from the spree and in australia is almost the same give and take tho.. I think my Red Earth Secret Potion would have done a better job tho cause I prefer my highlighters in liquid form.
Everyone I met told me I’d be better off using the Guerlain Meteorites which of course makes me happy because they’re more affordable (relatively speaking) and because I already have them. But you know, there’s always that niggling question at the back of your head 😉
Oh forgot to ask, do you think Nars Orgasm and Sleek’s Rose Gold would be worth to add to one’s ever growing blush collection? Lol
I’m on the fence about Nars Orgasm. Despite what everyone says, I don’t think it’s a colour that suits everyone. It is also shimmery so I’d be careful if you don’t like shimmery blushes. If you like peachy blushes then you may like it. I haven’t tried Rose Gold so I’m not certain about that 🙂
Nars Orgasm doesn’t suit my skintone. I’m NC20. And recently i found the ‘most gorgeous’ rose gold blush. Benefit’s Rockateur. Can’t wait to get my hands on it.
Ah so much love for it online! I’m passing on it whew! 😀