One of the most anticipated yearly event has got to be the one and only Estée Lauder Staff Sale, which I like to call it as the mother of warehouse sale. It is beyond just the massive discount offerings at the sale. To me it is the girly get-together day for me and my friends. It was fun!

I didn’t thought of writing about this year’s sale due to various reasons but since I skipped last year, I thought I might as well note down what went down this year for reference purposes. This may also serve as a ‘guide’ for you if it’s your first time on what to expect and prepare for the sale as I do receive loads of emails, PMs on Facebook on what to expect at the sale. It’s tiring to repeat again and again as I’ve written about it at this link as well.

Without further ado, here’s Estée Lauder Staff Sale for 2015!

Every year I managed to secure a few tickets. I do not ask for a lot, usually just 4 tickets to prevent wastage. I know there are tons of you wondering how to get the ticket and some of you have been bothering or rather stressing and harassing me over emails and PMs on Facebook in giving you tickets. Yes. Not asking IF I have extra BUT demanding for it. First of all, I DO NOT WORK for Estée Lauder Malaysia Sdn Bhd. I too have to ask for tickets myself and I suggest you try it too. How? If you are a regular customers of any brands under the company, I believe you will have one BA (beauty advisor) that is particularly close with you. Ask from him/her! If he/she have extra, he/she will give you. However, no promise. It’s totally up to him/her if they want to give you. I remember my first year tickets was from a BA working in MAC. Anything is impossible if you try to ask. So please stop harassing me

Last year I extended my ticket to ShopGirl who went over at 12am to queue and to queue for me as well. I live quite outskirt from the city so she kindly let me go slightly late. My usual time is always around 5-5.30am. This year, I was blessed with VIP tickets. Thank you to the wonderful person who make the impossible possible for me. You know who you are . Once again ShopGirl went early and queue for me. Thank you babe! I planned to go earlier this year, say around 4.30am but I only fell asleep at 3am and my alarm went off at 3.30am. Then I went to pick up Traclyn and we arrived around 5.40am. Thank goodness Traclyn Whatsapp me just before I was leaving my house lol . I was so happy that Traclyn was able to make it this year. I haven’t seen her for quite some time so it was good to go shopping together. Well, actually we had lunch last Friday 

Last year and this year the sale was held at Berjaya Times Square Hotel. I understand that there was some issues with the guards not letting the early birds in to queue, which was the same case as last year. Last year also the guard didn’t even let my friend have a bite of a piece of bread. While the staff bagged our bags, I checked with him where are the exact location of all the brands. My main concern would be Estée Lauder. I needed to run to get ANR! Anyway, here’s my haul from Estée Lauder Staff Sale 2015.

My main priority this year was Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair II and Micro Essence. As soon as we entered, the first thing we did was to make a beeline to the Estée Lauder section. Everything was properly boxed as usual so identifying ANR was tough. Luckily there wasn’t a lot people so we can still take some sweet time. ShopGirl spotted ANR and we both contemplating either to get the 50ml or the 30ml. In the end I settled with 50ml. I had totally forgotten about Micro Essence. ShopGirl pointed to me where Micro Essence was and I grabbed a bottle. Both ANR and Micro Essence was at a limited quantity.

I walked around for a bit. Went to Bobbi Brown, saw lots of makeup but nothing interest me except for Shimmer Brick. I was directed to the singles but I was looking for the set. It was at the other round of the table and I made a beeline there. Grabbed the set but kept thinking it seems similar to the one sold last year and the manufacturing date sticker was torn off. I kept the set in my bag and walk around. I went to MAC next, saw loads of eyeshadows, pencil liners, lip glosses, nail polishes and lipstick. There are around 10 sets of lipsticks (3 in a bag) and I grabbed the last set that comes with Toledo lipstick. There wasn’t any price tag on it and I ask the staff for the price. She took the set and the lipstick fell off from the plastic and then they refuse to sell me the set. I wasn’t willing to stand there waiting for them to sort it out so I left. Then I came across something familiar. MAC Toledo Blush Ombre! It was the blush that I wanted to get when the Toledo collection was out. Boy am I happy to see it at the sale. As it was still early with no crowd, the BA demonstrate on the back of my hand how to use it and the shade payoff. Kindergarten Red (left) offers better, beautiful peach shade but I had my eyes on the Azalea Blossom (right) from the beginning. I mean how often do you see a pink + purple blush pan? Hardly. It doesn’t goes on the skin purple just in case you’re wondering. It’s a pink blush by all mean. So I took Azalea Blossom.

Estée Lauder cosmetics occupied a large section this time round with lots of product selection. I browsed around and saw a familiar item. That particular section was surrounded with people because everyone was curious. It was the highly raved blush/highlighter Estée Lauder Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelée Blush! There was only one shade – 04 Crystal Baby. Good enough for me and it’s cheap. I nearly bought this off from an online seller for RM100.

ShopGirl excitedly call out to me while I was browsing at Clinique section with Jessying. She said Cheek Pop is available. What else? I quickly followed ShopGirl. I was kinda surprised that they have Cheek Pop there. There was 3 shades available – Ginger Pop, Peach Pop and Berry Pop. I wanted to buy all 3 but Jessying wanted the last Ginger Pop. It’s fine because I was blush-overloaded. I took both Peach Pop and Berry Pop as it was only RM50 each. Peach Pop was the shade that I wanted to get two weeks ago. This two blush was purely impulse purchase.

Not long after I entered into the hall, I saw an auntie holding a cute perfume miniature set. I went over to Estée Lauder to take a look but wasn’t too impressed with the RM80 price tag. I bumped into ShopGirl half way after that and she commented how cute the miniatures are. I was more impressed that it came with a mirror plate stand for the miniatures and the fact that I wanted to get a baby for my Modern Muse at home. So I grabbed a set and that’s why you are seeing this now lol.

The Origins Grapefruit Duo is a last minute grab. The set contains 100ml each of Gloomaway Grapefruit Body Souffle and Gloomaway Grapefruit Body Wash and Bubble Wash. I thought RM40 was a good price and it makes a great gift pack. It might not end up as gift but in my bathroom

I can’t help but to think the huge MAC Toledo Blush Ombre is only RM70 and Clinique Cheek Pop is RM50. MAC Toledo is more worth it. So just when I saw more and more people are coming in through the door, I make a quick dash to MAC again and grabbed Kindergarten Red. It’s too pretty to not grab the other shade. That’s how I ended up with two MAC Toledo Blush Ombre

Overall, this year’s offerings are interesting and good in my opinion. The promotion varies every year. I thought last year was great but this year is even better. The prices are not as low as I expected especially Bobbi Brown. That is why I didn’t grab anything from Bobbi Brown. MAC too are slightly high priced. I didn’t take a look at other perfumes so no comment on that. Estée Lauder prices and promotions are the best of all for me. Their skincare are reasonably discounted and priced. Clinique skincare sets are not bad either.

GST 6% are all inclusive. I’ve been wondering about this for weeks. That might explain why the price are a bit higher than before. Oh and this year, the organizer arranged for a special parking validation for a fixed parking fee of RM11. I didn’t know this until we went back up to the sale floor as I parked my car at the other part of the building. Saw the counter and quickly gave my parking ticket for validation . I thought this is such a good gesture from the organizer.

That’s all for Estée Lauder Staff Sale 2015. See you next year!

The post Estée Lauder Staff Sale 2015 Report and Haul appeared first on Street Love. by Fiona

Last Saturday was the Suria Meriang Staff Sales (now known as Estee Lauder Malaysia Sdn Bhd Staff Sale), also nicknamed by me as the mother of all warehouse sales was held at Berjaya Times Square Hotel. Did I or did I not went for this yearly affair? Urrrmmm well, I did but I wasn’t allowed to publicise it so I won’t be telling you how it went this year. Oh bummer . So instead I thought of sharing with you several smart shopping tips that I practised personally in order to constrain myself from overhaul or impulsive purchase. Warehouse sales newbies, you got to read this

Sleep early ahead

The Estee Lauder Malaysia Staff Sale is well-known for not only their irresistable 50% to 70% discounted products but for the queue line. Although the sales requires an invitation card in order to enter, you will be surprised to know that hardcore fans will take the extra mileage and queue from 12am! As for me, I don’t go that early. This year would be my 3rd year and I’m still consistent with going at 5am or 5.30am the latest. Sufficient sleep to me is important as I don’t have the luxury to wake up at 4.30am and reach the sales location by 5am. Just so you are curious, I live one hour away from the city. Sufficient sleep is crucial for driving such distant and at such an early hour. Plus you will need all the energy to queue for hours and shop for hours thereafter.

Wear comfortable and airy clothes

You are not going for a date or a party so dressing comfortable is very important. Warehouse sales is usually jam packed and hot. I normally wear just baby t-shirt and shorts. Nothing fancy but at least I am comfortable and cool . This year I have seen many that wore short dresses. That triggers my curiosity on how they are going to sit on the floor in the queue line without flashing to others hehe!

Wear comfortable and covered shoe

I am not a sports shoe type of girl so flats it is for me. I strongly recommend wearing toe-covered shoe because there will be lots of toe-stepping and kicking action. Although I wore flats to Estee Lauder Malaysia Staff Sale every year, the crowd never fail to kick me hard and step on my foot all the time. Ouch!

Bring only what’s necessary

I normally would go warehouse sales with a sling bag because it is so much easier to move around without worrying about the bag. Estee Lauder Malaysia Staff Sale seems to look strict with no bags allowed terms but so far I have no problem with bringing my sling bag in. The staff would just wrap a plastic bag over it. The recent L’Oreal Luxe warehouse sales is the worse. All bags would need to be left at the counter and when I went to redeem my bag, the staff couldn’t find my bag! To be on the safe side, bring a wristlet that can fit your phone, cash, credit card, ID and car keys. I brought just a wristlet to this year Estee Lauder Malaysia Staff Sale. You can also bring the necessity and put it in your pockets but I wouldn’t recommend that. It can be quite chaotic inside the sales hall.

Think of a budget and bring the exact amount of cash / credit card

Now, in warehouse sales everything can get very tempting at all angles. What I do the night before is to think of a shopping budget. For me it’s quite simple to gauge a budget to spend as I don’t really need anything at the moment . Once I have the budget to spend for example RM500, I will then make sure I have RM200 cash with me. The reason why I only bring RM200 cash for a shopping budget of RM500 is because I might only ended up with RM100 of stuff, which I could pay with cash. If the amount exceed RM200, I can always pay with my credit card. Sometimes what you are looking for may not be available at warehouse sales so you might ended up with lesser things to buy than your expectation. So bring cash. Warehouse sale usually don’t allow credit card payment for RM50 purchase.

Take your time deciding

One annoying thing that I notice that everyone has been doing at Estee Lauder Malaysia Staff Sale is to bag everything they see, sat on the floor disrupting the moving crowd and then only decided. When I said take your time deciding I don’t mean for you to bag everything! Don’t do that. Other people might be looking for that particular product that you throw blindly in your shopping bag and that you are not interested to purchase at all. What I usually do is to look at the product at the counter, look for the description / expiry date / manufacturing date and then I will think if I really need it. If I don’t I will just put it back for the next person.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying you are wrong in bagging everything you see. Just do it the proper way that can benefit you and save other people’s time

Do not buy if you don’t intend to use

One newbie mistake that everyone including myself have been doing is to buy things that doesn’t suit you or things that you know you will never use just because it is dirt cheap. As I said earlier, warehouse sales can be really tempting. When I started warehouse sales shopping I too buy everything that I see which is cheap, knowing perfectly I will never use it. That is called impulsive purchase. Now I only buy things I need or fast moving products like cleanser or finishing powder etc that I know I will use. I no longer buy things that I deemed as “I will find a use for it”.

Check for manufacturing / expiry date

This is very important. Most people are blind-sided with the huge discount that they have forgotten to check the manufacturing or expiry date. Most product nowadays comes with either one date. Some, both. I have learnt earlier the days when I just started skin care to read brand’s batch code to gauge their manufacturing date. The easiest one to read to date is all the brands under Estee Lauder Group! . If you have problem identifying, use Check Cosmetic with your phone.

Queue for check out with manner

I know it can be really tiring and sleepy after a few hours roaming in warehouse sales. Both your leg feels like breaking in half, your back is sore, the base of your feet is sore, you’re sweating or even hungry and thirsty. That doesn’t mean you can be mean to others or cut the queue just to get out from there. So far I have never encounter any rude people in the queue line eagerly wanting to pay up lol. Unless there’s money distribution up front . But I do have people at the back of me that like to get really close just because they couldn’t wait any longer. These people are usually the anxious one trying to get the line moving. If you are one of those people, let me ask you this…how far you think the line can go by sticking your body onto me? An inch? So yeah. Please be considerate. Usually when this happens to me, I will look at the person to see if he/she is the crazy type. If not I will tell the person not to stand too close and if the person have a black grumpy face on, heck I will do the “tsk, tsk” annoying sound until he/she gets it. It helps if there’s friends queuing together. I can tell my friends the issue in a rather loud voice so the person behind me gets it.

Checking out

My advise is to remember the prices of the stuff you are buying and keep an eye on the cashier machine. I have seen girls rushing back to the cashier after checking out because the price wasn’t right. It is so troublesome when error like this happen especially if you are paying with credit card. Last year I spotted that the price on the product is different from what appears on the cashier machine. That is a human error whereas the price tag on the product was wrongly placed. Do a double check again after you’ve gotten your receipt. Leave the sales area only when you are very sure that everything was intact.

Lastly, enjoy your haul!  Do you have a warehouse sales story to share? Do tell! It would be interesting to hear your experience

The post Top 10 Useful Tips for Warehouse Sales Shopping appeared first on Street Love. by Fiona

I found out end of last week (12th Apr) that this year’s Suria Meriang Staff Sales is happening on the 20th April 2013 and I haven’t get any pass yet! I have only a week to get my pass and get a partner in crime. Quickly I sent an email to someone I know in Estee Lauder. She replied immediately, cc-ed the PR girl and told her to send me 6 passes. By Monday (15th Apr) I still haven’t heard from the PR and I dropped her an email telling her I can pick up those passes as I know they will all be busy preparing for the sales. You know what? The courier reached me in the afternoon on the same day. That was fast!

This year I re-invited my last year sales partner, Chin Ching but she is in India and her plane home is on Saturday itself. Her sister who is a reader of the blog doesn’t have anything to buy so she is not interested. Last year both the sisters were so sweet that they wanted to send me something as a token of appreciation which I turned down. I had a good time shopping with Chin Ching and they owe me nothing. Nonetheless I’m happy with their kind thoughts. No one actually do that to me. Normally they would just ignore me after that.

I managed to get Traclyn of LaVogueFemme.com to go with me this time. I’ve decided that if she can’t make it I will go alone :). I left my house at 5am, reached Sg. Wang to pick up Traclyn at 5.35am, reached Renaissance Hotel around 6.15am and got to the queue line by 6.20am. This is the queue line. We are quite at the back. I also notice that there’s a separate VIP line this time.

All pictures taken in the hotel are quite grainy due to the low light condition so please bear with me k?

The VIPs went in around 7am. As the line moved slightly forward, the lobby outside Grand Ballroom is already packed with eager shoppers. This is the back view. I am standing in the middle of the hall. On the opposite side (which is my back), the queue line already snake all the way to a hidden alley.

I went to the washroom and we sat down again after standing for a while. Out of the sudden we hear a loud sound which shocked all of us. That’s the sound of eager shoppers jumping up from the floor as they were given the green light to enter. Almost spontaneously everyone jumped up from the floor as well. It was 7.41am.

This is a shot taken as we were walking towards the entrance.

Shoppers are let in by batches. The hall this year was bigger than last year so more tables for more products. As usual Bobbi Brown is the first section we saw as we enter. Everyone went crazy at Bobbi Brown. Everything were snatched off within minutes except those that needed color match like compact foundation, loose powder and liquid foundation which was very very limited quantities. I wanted the Oil-Free Even Finish Compact Foundation but my shade #2 Sand was not available. I was told to come back to check if someone happen to throw back which I did – 6 to 7 times but still didn’t spot #2 Sand. Even did a last check at Bobbi Brown before checking out.

Here is the crowd inside the hall while standing at an empty corner at Bobbi Brown. It’s so hard to walk and look at the stuff.

MAC had the biggest section I think. They are mainly clearing last year’s Christmas collection and lots of pigments, eye shadow single, lip glass, eye liners, blushers and bags.

Estee Lauder as usual are mainly on Christmas sets especially makeup sets and perfume sets. I didn’t get any cause none of them are appealing to me. I was looking for Double Wear foundation but not available. The skin care this time round is much more expensive than last year. I don’t intend to get any so I guess it’s okay.
Note to Aby: Didn’t saw what you want. I went there quite late

DKNY and Coach fragrances on the other hand is so much more than last year! I remember last year everything finished off by the time I went to that section. This year? Stock sufficient.

Lots of skin care from Clinique too. I was looking for Even Better foundation but there’s none.

And here’s my haul. Last year I spent RM1,480 while this year is just RM165 :D.

My main focus this year is Bobbi Brown and MAC. There is one particular item that I wanted from MAC which is the Perfectly Plush Brush Kit from Holiday Collection 2012. I’ve been eyeing on this since last year but I told myself not to buy it since I can get it from sales the next year. I thought they didn’t brought the brush kit to the sales but I saw a lady holding it! That’s when the search begin. I searched high and low for this but everyone told me it’s sold out. It’s so hard to spot it because MAC Primped Out Eye Look Bag is also the same design as the brush kit. One last check before checking out, I screen through all the holiday collection feeling hopeless and that’s when I saw the brush set nicely placed on the table with 2 girls standing in front of it but I guess they are not interested (which is why the brush set is still on the table) so I reached out and grabbed it. That was surreal.

MAC Perfectly Plush Brush Kit (RM105) was retailing for RM268 previously. The price stated on the set during the sales is RM100 but it is actually RM105 when the cashier scan on the bar code during check out. I asked the cashier why is the price difference and she asked me if I want it *face palm*. They really think I would let go of the brush kit since I asked about the price difference. All I want to know is why. That’s all. I told her nevermind that since it’s RM5 difference.

I notice that there’s some pricing issue for example MAC Extra Dimension Eye Shadows (Small) is RM80 for 4 and some stated RM100. The big one also RM100 for 4. I checked with the MAC sales people why some is RM80 while some RM100 and he changed all the price to RM100 before passing back to me. You bet I didn’t buy it. I was pissed!

Initially I grabbed a Bobbi Brown Pretty Powerful Coffee to Cocktails Collection but it wasn’t that worthy so I gave it out during check out. Can you imagine I only ended up with these two Kohl Eye Liner c/w Pencil Sharper (RM30). This eyeliner was retailing for RM90 each and it’s sold out almost immediately. When I was there I took my sweet time choosing from the full box. The next minute it was gone. It’s definitely a steal.

There you go. My mini haul this year which I was surprised myself. As soon as I enter and went to Bobbi Brown I literally wanted to bag everything that I want. Then I told myself to calm down and rethink because it was just the first 2 minutes. I still have to roam the whole hall for more great deal so I only put in what I wanted. MAC was also hard for me because I wanted everything! Especially the blusher but the color combination in the set is totally not my type unfortunately otherwise I’d definitely grab a set. I also wanted to get the colorful pencil eyeliner set but decided not to since I’m quite happy with CLIO’s staying powder.

Did anyone of you went? If yes what did you haul back?

The post Suria Meriang Staff Sale 2013 Haul appeared first on Street Love. by Fiona

It is true when people call this the mother of all sales. I called this the QUEEN of all sales!

I was too excited to sleep early so I stayed awake till 12am watching a Malay sitcom movie; Peluang Kedua. Maybe I had coffee earlier so I’m still not sleepy. Which is weird as normally no matter coffee or no coffee I’d be sleepy. Must be the anxiety as I spent the whole night worrying how the crowd would be, to double check if I have the invitation card ready etc etc.

The next day I woke up a 4am. I think I slept briefly at 1am and dreamt of ghost omg. Had a cup of coffee, bath, pat on some skin care, powder and I left my house 5am. I drove to the venue using Cheras way. That route will bring me directly to the hotel. I reached on my target time which is 5.30am. I thought the crowd would be acceptable but once I exited the lift, there it is. I heard the noisiness and I prayed the queue line wouldn’t be until the lift. As I turned in, I saw the queue line. I quickly called my partner that day who’s a reader’s sister (Chin Ching) and she’s also on the way. As I talk to her on the phone I tried to locate the ending of the line. I couldn’t see it. Then I spot it and quickly walked over. It wasn’t too bad. I was in the middle of second lane. My partner arrived and we chatted while waiting to go in. We were handed plastic bags around 6.30am. At the same time another guy is collecting the invitation card. We hoped they let us in around 7am but nothing happen. By the time 7.30am the queue line is up till the front door so we were let in. I think I finished shopping around 8.30am. But I make my second rounds, third, forth until I was bored and really really sure that I have nothing else to buy and I proceed to check out.

Here’s my haul of RM1,480. I grabbed so much lesser than 99% of the crowd there but yet the damage is huge. The purchase limit for each person is RM2,000. I’m gonna let go certain stuff in the set(s) so do look out for a blog sales!

Note: Selling off Lady Grey. Regretted for not looking at the color carefully as I’m looking for blue shadow

MAC Fluidline Eye-Liner Gel & Pro Lash Set – RM50 – Mfg Date: July’2011 & July’2010

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