Estee Lauder bazaar haul!

First time I visited the highly controversial Estee Lauder bazaar was in May 2012 and I haven't missed one since.

If you are in Athens I highly recommend that you visit it as well!
You descent at the Holargos metro station and you walk two blocks towards Athens, you 'll see it on the right.

Working hours are:

• Monday to Friday 11:00-20:00
• Saturday 22 Nov (last day!) 11:00-19:00

If you go try not to have a big bag with you, try a little messenger instead,  something that will keep both your hands free and won't get in the way in case you need to squeeze in a little.

Each time I go I do it in a specific frame of mind:

• If it is too crowded or if I have to wait more than 10-15 minutes in line I leave
• I purchase whatever I like within my budget, I don't search for a specific item

Keeping these in mind, I have never been disappointed so far!

So, I went last Friday after work with a few of my colleagues and yesterday at 16:00 with my sister in law and our mothers. 

• First wow factor: no waiting line to get in!
• Second wow factor: the shelves were fully stocked and they kept unboxing stuff!
• Third wow factor: I found LE items that usually dissappear at the first day!
• Fourth wow factor: the checkout line was long both times but I didn't waste more than ten minutes, they have 10 cashiers and they're fast!

Now, you may wonder: sounds too good to be true. Where's the catch?

There is one undoubtedly: Mac and Estee Lauder counters, lol!

At first you approach gently and stand behind these that are in front of the counter. You try to see over their shoulder and if anything catches your attention ask them to pass you the tester, they'll be happy to oblidge.

Then, when you see that someone is preparing to leave, try to slide in their place. You may exercise a gentle shoving to other people that are trying to do the same thing, use a couple of well meant excuse me with a smile and no one will hold a grudge. 

When you finally arrive in front of the counter be kind to those behind you, help them out by passing on to them any tester they're interested in, or do a swatch on your hand and show it to them.

In case someone tries to displace you and deliberately uses all her body weight on you in order to achieve it, there are two ways to respond: 

• you withdraw or
• you do exactly the same thing to hold your place

There are also subtle (or not so subtle) differences between these two counters:

• The Mac "mob" was more gentle and thoughtful of others, I spent almost 30 minutes in front of the counter (the MUAs were opening a ton of boxes and I couldn't leave without seeing what was inside it, you feel me, lol!) and while we were waiting a sort of camaraderie formed among us, we were good sports, helping each other out, commenting on the poor MUAs that had to tolerate us, etc.
• The EL "mob" was more like it, there was real pushing and shoving there. For the first time ever someone tried to really push me away, a statuesque lady that probably thought she had the minion and leaned aaaalllll her weight on me, for a good 2-3 minutes (but guess what, I am a mighty minion, dumb bitch!) but I kept my ground by doing exactly the same thing. She withdrew complaining that people were pushing her. 

So sorry dear, may I fetch you an Earl Grey with a couple of πιτόγυρα to ease your suffering?

So enough talking (I promise I will restrain myself) here's what I purchased!

Mac Maleficent quad, LE 12€ 

EL Heat Wave highlighter, LE 12€ 

Mac Sea me Hear me blush, LE Alluring Aquatics collection, 7€

EL Bronze Goddess dry oil, LE, 25€

EL Sumptuous black mascara, 10€

I also got an EL quad at 15€ and a Mac christmas kit (the one from last year, with 3 eye shadows, powder, two lipsticks and an eye pencil) at 19€, for my sister in law and she loved both of them.

As for skincare I didn't get much because the memeboxes are arriving at an overwhelming pace (between vip codes and memepoints waiting to be spent I overdid it a tiiiiny bit!)

I did get a Darphin anti-age kit at 9€ though (the grey perforated bag was my goal TBH) 

If you've been following me for a while (here or on twitter or instagram) you probably saw a while ago that I 've been whining about the Origins Make a Difference + toner that I got a long time ago at a previous EL bazaar but I hadn't seen it again at the next bazaars. 

I love that toner, I mean LOVE it but I didn't want to spend 25$ at strawberrynet to buy it so I was hopping that I would see it again at an EL bazaar.

And, lo and behold, this time it was there!

So, at first I snatched two bottles but then I went back and got one more, then one more and I ended up with...

Yes, you counted correctly: 5 bottles!!!

At 12€ each it summed up but last time I experienced withdrawal syndrom (lol!) so I decided to stock up. They are now resting in the back of a drawer, away from sun, heat and all these bad things so as to keep them in top condition for a long time.

That's my EL bazaar haul and experience, if you want to read the according posts to my previous visits, just type Estee Lauder bazaar in the search box on the left and you'll see them.

If you have visited the EL bazaar, what would you advise to someone who has never been there but wants to?

That's it for now,  I hope you are all well and thriving!

Estee Lauder Bazaar (it's this time of the year!)

The Estee Lauder biannual bazaar has been a fun habit to me for the last 2 years.

I always stay away the first 3 days because although I do enjoy makeup and cosmetics I cannot stand the mayhem and I don't appreciate being run over or shoving and pushing.

On the other hand, going "late" means that there is space and time to look around and take my time but a lot of things are gone. Not that much though because the stuff works relentlessly to serve and restock the shelves, so there's always a bargain or two to find!

By saying bargain I mean ridiculous prices that make me wonder on the money we spend when we buy something for full price, but that's another story.

So, about 15:30 today I was there and there was no crowd, no waiting, no long lines to the cashiers.

There was something for everyone, in various price ranges.

As for the main brands I saw Estee Lauder, Mac, Clinique, Bobby Brown, Jo Malone, Origins, Puppa, La Prairie, lots of fragrances etc.

Here's what I got!

- Mac To the Beach body oil at 5€.  I'm not sure if this is permanent or LE but it's a very pretty shimmery body oil, perfect for my light skin tone, there was also a deeper one but it was too dark for me.
- Mac Betty pigments grom the Archie's collection 4€ each, retail price 19€-20€. I was thrilled to see these, when the collection launched here I was debating whether I should get them but the price was too steep for me.
- Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Complex 29€ retail price 90€ (I asked the SA out of pure curiosity!). I 've never used it before but anything anti stress/aging/dehydration is useful, more so when it has such a strong reputation.  We 'll see though.

I also got the little heart coin purse from the Mac Archie's collection for 5€ retail price 25€, no picture because it's all wrapped up and I can't find mine!

Big bummer thought I didn't find my beloved Make a Difference toner by Origins, I got it last time for 9€, if I knew I would like it that much I would have bought 3-4 bottles!

Would I go again next time? Definitely!
Do I think you should go if you are nearby? What are you waiting for?

It is open until Wednesday, working hours 11:00 - 20:00.

Here are some more photos.

Here are my previous visits:

first time

second time

That's all for now, I hope you are all well and thriving!

Estée Lauder bazaar Fall edition!

Since my first visit to the Estée Lauder bazaar last May was very fun and just the opposite of the ordeal I was expecting it to be (you can read all about it here ), I decided to venture a second visit last Saturday.

This time I planned ahead, meaning that I had a list of gifts that I had to get for upcoming anniversaries, name days, etc of female friends and family members and I set a budget for every person.

So, at 13:00 I was there, I got the tickets and after just 10' minutes of waiting me and my friends were inside!

And here's the result, lol!

This time, knowing my way, I rushed through the first alleys with the home cleaning/maintenance/kitchen stuff, carroten sunscreens etc and I went straight ahead to Mac.

No luck there! I got nothing at all because all I could see were some dark foundations and items in general that I was no interested in buying, even at these very low prices. I was intrigued though to see that there were also some lip products, pigments and nailpolishes from the sailor collection (it was launched in stores 2-3 months ago).

Next stop, Estée Lauder. I saw some pretty pretty blushes and I was immediately drawn to them because:

• I have a soft spot for blushes (more like an addiction)
• I don't have any Estée Lauder products so I was interested to get one
• Two out of the three colors are shades that I don't have anything similar
• Ridiculously pigmented but when applied with a duo fibre brush look lovely and dainty on the cheeks
• The pans are HUGE! (7g)
• They were priced 12€ each (!!!)

So, I got two: Siren and Naughty, both satin finish. There was also a bubblegum pink one, it didn't seem anything special to me

Brace yourselves for the swatches! Naughty on the left, Siren on the right

The EL very helpfull assistant told me that these shades came straight from the US and that they were not sold in store here so I just take her word for it, it was of no importance anyway.

After returning home thought I did some online search (to see what opinions were out there for these blushes) and I discovered something very interesting: these shades are from the Summer 2012 launch, limited edition and designed by Tom Pecheux himself!

In case you wonder, Tom Pecheux is the creative makeup director of EL (I didn't know that either until now but I decided to write his name so as to appear a little more savvy, I got you, didn't I!)

Next stop, Bobbi Brown! Very few items, mainly foundations (not any concealers/correctors unfortunately) but I was sooo happy to see that they had pale foundations! I was always interested in a BB foundation but for some reason never got one so far. So I decided to try one and I got the Natural Finish Long Lasting Foundation in Warm Ivory 1 and the price tag was 9€!

I haven't opened it and I won't open it for a long time because I must finish the ones I already own but eventually my stash will be consumed, so there's no wrong planning ahead for something so indispensable to me as foundation, especially at this price!

The rest are presents for friends and family.

It goes without saying that I got a little something for my mom, but, she doesn't wear anything apart from lipstick, so I got her a shade that I thought she would like, in the shade Pure Color 14 Curvaceous Coral. Price:7,50€!

Next, I got this pretty palette, Pure Color 04 Wild Violet. I wasn't impressed by the variety, they had a pinkish palette, two with blues/teals and this one and I thought this was the most easily wearable of them all. Price: 15€.

I got two Clinique mini Chubby Sticks sets, each at 12€.

I got a Clinique Eyeshadow Duo in 403 Rose Wine (7€) and also a Clinique mascara (7€) but I think I will keep the mascara for myself for fear of being dried up, it would be totally awkward to gift something that it's not in top condition.

Have you ever purchased a mascara from the bazaar? Was it ok?

For my niece I got this amazing Pupa palette (12€), she is too young to use it but it will be sooo cute as a decoration on her dressing table!

Last item, a pretty and easy going eau de toilette, Bellissima by Blumarine, 15€ for the 30ml.

I didn't get any perfume for myself because this time there was no Jo Malone counter! I was so impressed by the colognes that I purchased there last time and I was set on getting a couple more, but, no. Bummed bummed bummed!

Last items I got on my way to the cashier were the Orzene Frizz Control beer shampoo and conditioner, at 2€ and 1€ each. I already use this brand and I'm quite pleased with it, so I thought to try this variation as well.

I was also impressed by the fact that the shelves were full and there were new boxes stacked up and opened up continuously so I guess there's (and will be) a lot of items still available.

On our way out (about 15:00) there was no waiting line, no tickets and people entered immediately.

So, all in all, I have to say that I am extremely happy that I decided to go because I found great items at incredible prices and all it took was 10' minutes waiting (and a little delicate shoving and pushing in front of the Estée Lauder counter, lol!)

In case you're debating whether you should go or not, I would definitely recommend you to go!

Even If you don't want any beauty items, there are also household products and personal care as well at very low prices.

It will last until Sunday 14/10 and it's open 11:00-20:00 on work days and 11:00-19:00 on weekends.

Update: my mom was so intrigued by the low prices that we made a flash visit there this evening and she got two more lipsticks and some household items.

 

Δημοσιεύτηκε με το Blogsy

Estée Lauder bazaar!

Every year about this time I planned on going to the annual Estée Lauder bazaar but I never actually did because I always got dishearten after reading how panicky situation it was, with hordes of crazed women, looooooong waiting hours in order to get in, etc etc. I mean, I love my makeup but I wouldn't go to extremes to get it.

This year I decided to give it a try nevertheless and the plan was just to get on location and if it was like rumored, I would turn around and leave. I was not expecting to get anything, it was like a tourist excursion on a very popular monument, lol!

The day before I went I also read that a lot of good things were sold out, but, although I was dying to get my hands on some Jo Malone fragrances, I was ok with it, I wasn't expecting to made it in anyway.

So, at five thirty, on a rainy Friday afternoon I disembarked the metro on Holargos station and while walking towards the venue, I spotted women (and men) of all ages carrying blue bags, so I ventured to ask one if she had shopped in the bazaar. She confirmed my suspicion and also informed me that I would be waiting a lot in order to get in.

Arriving there I spotted a crowd but I felt my hopes surging because the crowd at that time was not that big (I 've survived through worst situations, in public services etc) so I decided to take a plunge into it and made my way to the security guard that gave me the precious ticket!

After 30 minutes or so, I was allowed to enter and at first I got dissapointed because all I could see were carroten sunblocks and various other drugstore products (including trash bags and toilet disinfectants, lol!) and I started to question myself "what the heck am I doing here?"

I also saw a ton of Clinique skincare stuff, not my cup of tea either.

Then, I saw the true light on the deep end of the aisle where I spotted the Mac counter. But, if you believe my dumbness, I was so overwhelmed by the very low prices that I didn't know what to buy! So I just stood there, gazing, and although I did get a couple of items, they were kind of random purchases. My friend got an eyeshadow palette from this Christmas collection, the one with the six plummy colors for, if you believe it, €15!

Moving on I saw the Estée Lauder counter, it was a big one, but, I'm not really into Estée Lauder so I was clueless what to get. I was slapping myself because I couldn't remember a gorgeous lipstick I had seen in a blogpost by Kerasia, so I swatched in random some stuff and that's it.

Moving on I saw they had a lot of Tom Ford's Voile de Fleur EDT, so I gave it a sniff out of pure curiosity and BAM! I was hooked for good!

I 'm not a flowery sort of person when it comes to fragrances, with one or two exceptions (Lovestruck by Vera Wang is one) but when I smelled the Voile de Fleur it was love at first sniffing. I immediately grabbed one and then I continued with exploring my surroundings.

Moving on, I saw from far away a Jo Malone bottle on a shelf and I sprinted towards it. And behold, there was a Jo Malone counter stocked with products! I was soooo happy to see them, but more so, to smell them! There were four fragrances from a limited edition collection (if I knew that they were limited edition I would also get a couple of backups) and out of the four, two stood out to me, in a very impressive way, meaning that it was love at first sniffing too! It is very rare to me to find in such a short amount of time three perfumes that are so appealing and unique to me!

After that, I was like a happy kid after having smeared chocolate icecream all over my face! I was more that happy, I was, I don't know, very happy!!!

I browsed some more, I saw La Prairie skincare (not my cup of tea either) I also sniffed a few other fragrances from Donna Karan, Tommy Hilfigher, Cavalli, etc, nothing impressed me.

I decide to go to the cashier and while waiting there I sniffed again at the wrist where I had sampled the Tom Ford perfume and I was so impressed by the scent and the way it evolved in a more earthen, still flowery but more solid form that I rushed over and also got the body shower gel and the body moisturizer. Thinking back, maybe I should just get a backup of the EDT, but, that was the choice of the moment. I 'm still happy I got them but I'm seriously thinking of going back just for it, I'm head over heels for it!

Bottom line: if you can handle a little (or more) discomfort, go by all means, stop reading and just go! There's something for everyone and most importantly, you simply can't beat the prices.

If you're still reading (lol!) here's what I got.

My jewel of the crown is the Tom Ford Black Orchid Voile de Fleur EDT (50ml). I got it for €19 while in store the price was €62 (yep, 62 euros!)

I accompanied it by the matching shower gel and body moisturizer, €9 and €12 respectively (or the other way around, I'm not sure) while in store they were priced €32 each. Insane, I know!

My next precious purchases are these Jo Malone EDT: Sweet Milk and Sweet Lemon (30 ml), €15 each while the actual price was €45 (at least that's what the sales assistant said, there were no price stickers on them like there were on the Tom Ford boxes).

I was on the hunt for new fragrances because the one I was using is almost empty and with these purchases I'm good until next spring: Sweet Lemon is perfect for now, Sweet Milk will be my summer scent (I get images of palm trees, hammocks and secluded beaches when I smell it, lol!) and Voile de Fleur will be my fall/winter perfume.

The last two things I got are from Mac. I grabbed the Unconditionally Fabulous nail polish as soon as I laid my eyes on it! I wanted to buy it last Christmas but €15 seemed too expensive for a glittery nail polish (and instead of it I got Snow Globe from China Glaze, it was quite similar). But when I saw it on the counter at €4 I just couldn't leave it there, I had to have it!

I also got a suntint from last summer collection, also at €4, I didn't have any suntints and was curious about them and at €4 it was very affordable.

I 'm seriously contemplating of going back and get a backup of the fragrances and maybe take a closer look to the rest of the stuff now that I know where and what to look for because, again, the prices are unheard of. Even stocking for presents for family and friends seems a good idea.

Last thing I wanted to mention is the service I received. The staff, although the mayhem, was kind, helpfull and demonstrated loads of patience and good will. Well done ladies (and gents)!