Disclaimer: this post is the long confession of a shopaholic disoriented by the change of environment.
I love shopping.
Being Parisian, shops are part of the scenery, full of treasures to ferret out. They awaken the hunting and gathering instinct in me. In short, they are my favorite playground.
And as a beauty blogger, I have the perfect excuse to go shopping!
Coming to Dubai, I expected to land in the magical world of a Thousand and One Nights, shops like the cavern of Ali Baba, a place where shopping centers are bursting with products from all around the world, side by side with novel products unavailable anywhere else.
I naively thought my good old Parisian shopper strategies would work here, allowing me to indulge in my passion and benefit my readers.
But life is not a fairy tale and I had to adapt and evolve to survive!
Expectations of a beauty addict who has just arrived in Dubaï:
Moving to Dubai, I was expecting a high class, totally exceptional beauty shopping experience!
The coquetry of women in the Middle East is not a legend. They love cosmetics and are very big consumers of everything beauty related. Sophisticated fragrances, innovative skincare products, bold make-up trends, they want to, and do, try everything!
They are highly connected, always on Instagram or Snapchat sharing their latest makeup looks or exchanging information on a new cosmetic trend.
Dubai is famous around the world as a major destination for shopping. And shopping is a real touristic activity here. The Dubai Mall is even part of the ‘City discovery’ tour along with 4×4 sand dune bashing in the desert and visiting a camel farm.
With malls here being gigantic, like everything else here, I was hoping to find plenty of exclusive brands and some very different products to those I know from Paris.
My expectations in terms of quality of service were to see the same level of service as you would in the magnificent palace hotels that fill the city: impeccable! The UAE like to define themselves as a nation obsessed with quality of service, making it a popular destination for tourists.
So naturally, I expect well trained and qualified sales assistants in the shops able to answer my (many) questions, aware of the latest and upcoming releases from their own brands.
Finally, Dubai is very focused on digital, promoting the integration of new technology in its stores, with multiple initiatives to become a “smart city” it makes sense that purchasing needs to be ultra simplified, easy and accessible.
Knowing that tourism and shopping are constantly growing in this city, I imagine the huge economic stakes behind this…
So I was expecting to find in stores a digital appearance allowing me to live a unique and innovative “shopping experience“.
From the dream to the reality: what a disappointment!
The least I can say is that it was a bit of a shock…
In Dubai, there are many brands that you can find anywhere in the world, however product launches or makeup collections are usually released very late compared to the rest of the world.
And when they arrive (not always the case), it’s often several months late.
For example at the moment, MAC has in store ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show‘ collection that came out for Halloween in the rest of the world… Great timing, don’t you think? wink
I tried looking for brands I’d never come across before, but hunting for new products has been really complicated and unfruitful so far in the region.
Many brands don’t have a website just a simple Facebook page, which is not practical at all to gather information! It’s quite difficult to learn about products, launch dates or any other specific information.
I was ultra disappointed with Sephora’s lack of communication which, despite its presence on social networks, hardly uses them. Its Facebook page is a bit more lively than the rest but its Twitter page, that is 4 years old, is currently empty… What’s the point of having a Twitter account if you don’t use it at all, really?
When I think about the conversations and amount of information that can be shared this way with customers, it’s such a waste!
As a blogger, I’m basically hunting for news from beauty brands, new releases announcements… If there is something going on in the store, it’s really interesting for me to know about it!
One example:
I arrived in the UAE at the end of 2013 and at the time, in the beauty sphere, it was all about the launch of the Naked 3 Palette by Urban Decay. So I naturally visited the Sephora store at the time of its launch (early December 2013, if I remember correctly) as they distribute the Urban Decay brand.
The palette was not yet available in the UAE. I asked the Urban Decay sales assistant (in Sephora, Dubai Mall) for the launch date in the region, she told me April 2014 (yes, I was shocked! What a long time to wait!!!)
Yet in early January, I realized that a Dubai beauty blogger, Aseya of Pretty in The Desert (who has become a friend) announced on her Twitter account that she had seen the Naked 3 palette was available at Sephora in the Dubai Mall.
So thanks Aseya for doing Sephora’s job for them! uneasy
Of course you can leave your phone number for a call back when they receive your dream product.
But I wasn’t very lucky with that strategy either, because when I did it, I rarely heard back… I’m still waiting for a call about the Defining Eye Liner Pen by Tom Ford from Harvey Nichols in the Mall of The Emirates. I left my phone number 4 months ago.
And speaking of which, I had the unfortunate opportunity of experiencing the incompetence of some sales assistants, desperate to sell, going as far as lying to my face to sell something!
They sold me a Tom Ford a limited edition lipstick from last year telling when I was asking for new releases. I know, I should have known better but I wanted to trust them…
It was a very nice lipstick but as beauty blogger I try to always feature products that readers should be able to find in stores. It’s a #bblogers law!
So I took it back.
And yes, it hurt to take a Tom Ford lipstick back. (for non lipstick-addicts out there: Tom Ford lipsticks are like the holy grail for us. You need to try it at least once in your life time, it’s like a rite of passage… wink )
Being lied to has happened to me many times here. Sales assistants who don’t know the answer to a question, just lie to my face in general.
To tell you the truth, it basically infuriates me. Why not ask a manager, not a problem for me if you get back to me later?
I guess that the sales assistants are under pressure to make their sales fast and don’t want to risk loosing a sale. People are also in a hurry here in Dubai in general.
But I just can’t stand it. When somebody lies to me, it gives me the creeps and I don’t go back. Ever.
Another thing I noticed when I wanted to buy some products that I used in France: the prices are much higher!
Of course, there is a cost to import products from France, but clearly, to pay my Avene thermal water spray 5 times the price I was paying in France, it really hurts!
My counter-attack strategy: online shopping
Obviously, I didn’t wait to be in Dubai to diligently engage in online shopping! ^^
In France however, I was used to purchasing clothes online, not really beauty products.
Indeed, in Paris, I had an amazing choice of beauty products and I haven’t really had bad experiences with sales assistants. Not everything was ideal of course, but sadly, the “lie to your face when I don’t know how to answer you” strategy is really something I discovered here. In France, it’s not a drama if you can’t answer a question. You go and ask to someone who knows, that’s all. No big deal.
So I started doing research online and I found some quite original online shops distributing very exciting foreign cosmetic brands (American, Korean, etc). I could finally get access to brands that beauty addicts know very well: Tarte, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Kat Von D, ColourPop etc
The shops I used the most are Alshop.com, Estilo.ae and also Souq.com. I called them my “cosmetics dealers.” wink
These shops are certainly not authorized retailers for all of these brands (I doubt it very much) so they don’t stock everything and the selection of products is quite random.
It’s better to take a look quite regularly, and quickly decide if you want a product: stocks go fast!
I really feel that the choice of brands available on these online shops is closely related to the beauty gurus on YouTube… It actually provides an accurate measure of the impact of YouTube gurus on cosmetics clients in the region.
Each time a brand is buzzing on YouTube, it quickly appears afterwards on these online stores.
And then a few months ago, I had a revelation. I discovered a service called Shop and Ship.
The principle? You subscribe to this service for a few dirhams and they provide you ‘drop point’ addresses in different countries to deliver your online orders to.
Basically, you just do your online shopping on the site of your choice, in any country, and when you have to give your address of delivery, you give the address provided by Shop And Ship corresponding to the country where you’re making your shopping.
This location contains a code that allows Shop And Ship to know who you are and where to send your order (aka your place).
You pay for a national delivery, which is often free of charge, as well as the cost of the delivery provided by Shop And Ship (Aramex), which is very reasonable: the price depends on the weight. For 1 parcel of a little less than 1 kilo, I paid 77 AED ($20 or 19 euros), still far cheaper than an international delivery, especially for small orders.
This system provides access to shops that are not available here, but also to the local prices in these markets. I can find my dear French ‘pharmacie’ products at a price I’m used to (my beloved Avène thermal water for 5 euros: yeaaah!)
More exotic (for me), I also have access to shops such as Boots in the UK, or Nordstrom in the US. For a beauty addict like me, this is heaven!!!
Delivery is quite fast, it generally takes less than 10 days, often a week.
All this allows me to avoid waiting for beauty products that I have on my radar. Otherwise I would have to wait 3 to 6 months longer than the rest of the world for the products to launch here in Dubai! wink
Why I still keep on going to the malls:
I still have had good experiences in the stores here, I don’t want to make the situation appear worse than it actually is. wink
I noticed that very often, I have been very well advised in more technical makeup brand stores: MAC (not always but some shops have some great sales assistants, like those,in the Marina Mall for example), or Bobbi Brown, Laura Mercier (sales assistants in Harvey Nichols or Bloomingdales are extremely helpful and professional).
Having been a trainer for a cosmetic brand for almost 10 years, I really think that what makes a difference from one sales assistant to another is clearly the training he or she received, especially from the brand he or she works for.
A qualified and trained sales assistant is more effective because he or she will help build customer loyalty. With a solid professional in front of me, I will trust him or her and I will definitely come back to the store!
As I said earlier, Dubai is obsessed with the service, and here, almost everything can be delivered directly to your home.
However, none of cosmetics online shops I have spoken above (Alshop, Estilo etc) provide a super-fast delivery (same day or next day delivery) even at a premium, the option just doesn’t exist.
These same sites don’t have any arrangements with physical shops, so that you can pick up the product in their store, after shopping and purchasing online. The fastest way to get something still remains the good old in store purchase.
The swatches I can find by searching on Google Images or on a website like Temptalia help me a lot in my choices before buying a makeup product for example.
But sometimes it’s complicated to choose a product without trying it first.
I recently ordered the new Clinique foundation online, Beyond Perfecting, trusting the Temptalia’s swatches and I ended with a product that made me look like a giant orange… #epicfail
Buying online in some cases remains quite risky.
Digital technology to the rescue of the stores:
Recently, some new digital systems to make purchases easier have begun to appear in stores.
The Dior example in the photo above is just a tablet in a large mirror to introduce the new products for the latest collection, so not really groundbreaking.
But some other solutions and systems are very innovative.
Two examples (from the fashion industry but it can be relevant to beauty as well):
– some screens in the fitting rooms of a clothing store to allow you to know if the item you are currently trying exists in another color, or is available in other sizes (photo above),
– applications for your smartphone that are used to make a selection of articles before you even enter the shop and that you can show directly to a sales assistant via your phone so he can just prepare your order for you. Of course, it will be delivered directly to your place.
When it’s difficult to get good advice, these new ways to buy via digital ‘smart store’ solutions make sense and will probably be successful.
But I’m still convinced that promoting more appropriate training of the sales team around product knowledge, and sales methodology will be more efficient and guarantee the human side that is really part of the experience of an in-store purchase.
In my case, when I see the complexity of taking faithful product photos for this blog, I still have big doubts about the effectiveness of digital systems such as ModiFace, for example.
ModiFace produces smartphone and desktop applications to simulate cosmetics tests on yourself by taking a picture of the person.
If the system can suggest colours based on skin tone/eye & hair colour then this may be interesting but a good sales person would generally have an eye for this kind of thing and would not be fooled by bad lighting etc.
But from my own experience, the sunlight in the morning and the evening or artificial light change dramatically the color of my skin but also the color of the products I shoot. So I’m really not convinced how efficient this technology currently is…
Recommendations need to be precise and a perfect fit for the customer not roughly what may be a match.
Here is how this technology can be used in a store like Sephora:
For now, I have not seen anything like this in the shops of the region, but given the interest in digital here, it probably won’t be long before it arrives!
In conclusion:
The keys on my keyboard are exhausted (me, never!) But thank you for staying with me so far! smile
I understand that the UAE is obviously very different from France beauty shopping wise and I have to find my way and create new habits to devote myself to my favorite pastime.
There are probably all kinds of reasons for these differences and the country’s legislation on cosmetics are probably not unrelated.
For a cosmetics company to establish itself in the UAE, a cosmetic brand has numerous procedures to complete for the registration of each and all of its products and it’s not an easy process (and it’s not free either!). I experienced this when I worked for the distributor of the brand I worked for in France for several years.
I also know that the digital revolution is in process, so stores will certainly evolve in that direction in the future. And I look forward to taking part in these changes!
However, I hope that brands will not neglect the human aspect and that the training of their ambassadors will always be at the heart of their development strategy. Because even if the convenience of shopping online is undeniable, I am convinced that a screen will never replace real good and personalized advice from a professional.
I’d love to know your thoughts, you beauty-addicts who read me.
Do you also think that shopping online is the only way for you, even if you don’t live in Dubai? What is your favorite place to shop: in-store or online?
Give me your opinion on this topic, I’m very curious to read it! wink
Photos credits: bonnie-garner.com
Cet article est aussi disponible en français: Shopping en ligne: la seule option pour une beauty addict à Dubaï?
Dear Bonnie,
Oh how your words made me miss our Douce France….
I used to work as manager of By Terry in the Middle East and I must say that I know how tough it can be to keep up with the launching calendars worldwide. It is not just the distributor’ logistics,but Also retailer’s delays, and so on… And the BCs, well you are right, the lack of training and the pressure on sales lakes it that even myself, as I know the Dubai system from inside, I prefer being a lone shopper… Still, as you said, there are brands who try to make a difference through staff, as added value… I would be so happy to meet up one day and make a plan, allowing myself better development of the brands I am about to work with. Your article is so damn right… Thanks!
Dear Alina,
Thank you for your very interesting comment! Your words are also music to my ears. :)
It probably makes sense since we seem to have similar backgrounds!
I’d be very happy to meet up when you’re in town!
Even though Dubai isn’t a virgin territory, I agree that there are so many opportunities just waiting to happen if you have good ideas and you understand the industry and the clientele. :)
As a beauty addict coming to Dubai soon on holiday, I’ll say I love the look of the place, it looks exotic and familiar at the same time :)
I’m a lipstick junkie so totally agree about Tom Ford, such a pitty that the you have a to pick and choose the place to buy though. Had planned on bringing back a stash of local beauty products and go light on beauty necessities, my have to rethink that one, even Harvey Nicks is getting it wrong, disappointing! Great article <3 Carol
Hi Carol!
You nailed it: Dubai is exotic and familiar in the same time, it’s exactly that.
Hope the beauty addict in you will still enjoy it and glad you enjoyed my article! :)
You’re absolutely right !!! for Dubai are high expectations but rather it is often disappointment !!!
Beauty Purchase (makeup and skincare) = disappointed = prices are much higher than in the USA for example in a range of Sephora Dubai much smaller than in the USA !!!
Limited edition or new products here in Dubai are to late and only in a limited number of pieces – 2 pieces of the product for the store is really not enough (my personal expirience)!!!
Brands such as Chanel, Guerlain, Dior etc. are so much overpriced here in Dubai than in the USA !!
And my experience with bad service from Sephora Middle East is very long story!!! because as a Black Card member since I never got GIFT VOUCHER – really nothing and also just wonders – why to be loyal customer – it is better to shop products elsewhere or on -line, where will be much better prices or better service!!
Btw. do you have good expirience with shipping from USA to Dubai?
Ah ah ah I feel your pain for the Sephora Black Card here!
In France, I was used to receiving promotions all the time as a card member, I never bought something full price in the French Sephora, but bought far too much because of it… ;)
About your question, I’m using Shop And Ship to ship my US orders to Dubai and it works wonders! :)
Love the pictures and have just got back from Dubai trip. As a beauty addict always on the look for new products and hauls to share with friends I must confess I was disappointed not to find more trendy products. Even felt there was little to no local beauty products (unless I count perfume). Hope you can change that if you’re working with local beauty companies ;)
Carla
Hi Carla, :)
Yes, you’re totally right, there are just a few local beauty companies and they should have more exposure, in my opinion! I would love to be part of it! ;)
Ah, finally someone who understands me. I despise shopping in Dubai!!! MAC employees are always rude and Sephora employees are even worse now. They are just hired to sell, because you know, who cares if they know anything about makeup, a lie here and there will do the trick, pft.
A few months ago I commented on one of your instagram posts and you told me about shopsndship, I did an account the next day and I started shopping like crazy. I bought so many products from Drugstore.com. I dont care how much I pay for shipping! I swear I was eyeing the loreal true match at centerpoint for months but I never wanted to pay 95dhs for a drugstore foundation when I could pay a few dhs more and get a high end one. Anywho, I ended up buying 2 bottles from drugstore.com for 10$ each. It felt so good! My total amount was 400dhs and I am pretty sure if I bought everything from here I would have paid a 1000dhs easily. Seriously though, you saved my life with shopandship (how sad does this sound :P)
Oh, last thing, check out findation.com. It helps you find the foundation shade you are in by comparing it to everything else you have!
Ah ah ah Sarah, I knooow! Shop and Ship is such a blessing!!!
I almost stop buying beauty products here, I swear! ;)
Thanks a lot for findation .com, I’ll check it out! :)
Hi
Can I ask you how much you had to pay extra for the shop and ship people for the 400 dhs purchase you did ??
Hi Winny ????
The Shop and Ship fare depends on the weight of your parcel, not the price.????
Hi Bonnie,
I just read your article and I am very excited to hear about shop n ship! I hope they are still active! I discovered the world of skincare and its many product offerings last year (only!..hehe) and it definitely is disappointing to shop for beauty products in Dubai when most products are either out of reach(Korean, Japanese, drugstore, Australian, etc) or simply outrageously expensive.
Talking about the attitude of sales assistants or the so called beauty consultants, I completely agree with you. Recently I was @ Sephora looking for something from the Philosophy range only to find out that the whole range has been discontinued at all Sephora outlets in UAE. Anyways, that aside I was immediately accosted by one of the SAs trying to get me to buy another range while simply ignoring my preferences :/
The highlight was when she suggested that I didn’t know how to apply moisturizer when I showed her how the product tested on my skin was rubbing off of my skin (picture the strands that form when you use an eraser to rub pencil marks)….And yet another SA insisting that the moisturizer from the brand she was promoting (Clarins) must suit me even when I said I had tried them and that I didn’t like them. She insisted that I must have been mistaken and that I didn’t know what I was looking for. Go Figure!!
It was a sad experience and would have very nearly put me off of Clarins products altogether…that would be such a shame since they do have a great range in skincare.
I wish companies would wake up and take notice when it comes to training their SA/BC since consumers are much more aware and educated nowadays than ever before!
Hi Sara! :)
Yes, of course Shop and Ship is totally active! I’m using it very often (probably too much :D).
You know, as a cosmetics trainer, the story you described about the Sephora sales assistants just horrified me. It’s such a shame they didn’t listen to your preferences because it’s just the first thing you have to do as a good professional! I always tell my trainees that asking questions is the first step to good cosmetic advise. And listening to your client is obviously essential!
I really hope that companies will invest more in training because you’re absolutely right: people are so aware nowadays and there is nothing more irritating than a useless sales assistant who knows less than you do!
Thank you for such an interesting article ……. Cosmetic junky trough and through . On every level you are so right , I’m from the Uk and I miss the whole excitement buying purchases here as there is normally not much knowledge behind the brand so it’s all an expensive risk. I also find that cosmetic assistants are really mean when it comes to letting you have samples unless you have bought a ton of make up first, or they might just let you try a sample but in the wrong colour . Im amazed when a high end product such as La Mer don’t have the full range here or don’t even know if they will receive some new items within 6 months or at all !!! (Eg ) La Mer – The powder
The shop & ship is something I am contemplating as I have to wait tooooo long to go on a rampage like a bull in a china shop in the stores in Europe looking for my latest cosmetics !! Loving ….. Hourglass , Charlotte Tilbury , Kevin Aucion………
Thanks for your comment Paula! :)
Ah aha yes, I want that powder too, since I heard Tati (from GlamLifeGuru) talks about it in one of her great “WTF” reviews!!!
Well, I won’t deny that Shop and Ship helped me to manage my cravings for new cosmetic products, but I have to warn you: it’s very dangerous because you get addicted to it! ;)
Bonnie,
I just came across your page…thanks for an interesting and informative read!
I am so tempted to open a Shop and Ship account after reading this, so that I can shop from UK and US stores. But how does it work with taxes/customs charges in different countries, I presume that is extra on top of delivery charges?
Hi Tanya,
Thanks for your comment! :)
Actually, you just pay the taxes like you are living in the country you’re shopping in. No more taxes to add for the delivery in Dubai (or maybe they’re already part of Shop and Ship fees but you don’t have to add something extra to their price, that’s what I mean). It’s the beauty of it! :)
Hi Bonnie,
Thank you for your insights and blogs about online shopping for make-ups. I just tried shopping @ estilo and will be receiving my package in a week. So I was really excited to try it all on once it arrived. I also would like to suggest that if you are fond of korean products I happened to find thebbcreamgirl.com very interesting since, all of their products are from korea and they also deliver in gcc or in the uae perhaps which is good. So, you can check them out also if you have time! :))
Hi Josephine,
Thanks for your comment!
Yes, Estilo is quite convenient, it’s true! But I didn’t shop there since a very long time because I really enjoy Shop and Ship. Same delivery time (usually 1 week) and significantly less expensive!
I’ll definitely have a look at the thebbcreamgirl.com, it’s since very interesting, thanks for the tip! :)
Great article. I am from India and facing the same problem. Now I have 3 new foundations all wrong shades. (Wonder how m doing it wrong every time ) But yeah I ve been disappointed too.
Thank you Aditi! :)
Yes, I know what you mean. Fondation is not the easiest… :/
Hi! I’m in the UK but am moving to Dubai in August. Do you know if you can buy Charlotte Tilbury products there? Or, would I simply order from her UK site and send it to a drop and ship address? Thanks!
Hi Erin and welcome to Dubai! :)
You can’t find Charlotte Tilbury in the region (for now?) but you can definitely order from her UK site and send it to a drop and ship address. I personnally use Aramex Shop and Ship. Also, you can order Charlotte Tilbury from net-a-porter.com and they ship to the UAE.
I hope it helps! :)
Hello Bonnie!
I wanted to ask if you have used Shop and Ship to order from sephora in the US? I have heard that they cancelled people’s orders saying that they do not ship to forwarding addresses. Any ideas?
Hi Yomna!
I did but sadly Sephora recognized the Shop and Ship address and canceled my order every time I tried…
So, I found another solution which is really not ideal and not super cheap to be honest: because Sephora is now shipping to the UK, I use my British Shop and Ship address, which means that I have to pay for the shipping to the UK and then shipping to the UAE after that.
I don’t use this solution very often, but if I really want something and/or if I’m ordering a lot of different products, it’s kind of worth it. Some brands and some products (perfume, nail polishes) don’t ship to the UK but you still have a big choice with that solution.
I hope it helps! :)
If you find another solution, please do let me know! #beautyaddictsunited ;)
thank you it really helped :) but can you tell me some high end and drug products found in dubai mall? it would really help. thanks once again
Hi tasnia :)
You’ve got a lot of conventional high end brands at Bloomingdales (Dior, Chanel etc but also Laura Mercier or Bobbi Brown and a lot of niche perfume brands like Diptyque, L’Artisan Parfumeur etc) but also some cool indie makeup brands like Anastasia Beverly Hills and Kat Von D (they’re at Sephora). About the drugstore brands, they aren’t a lot (at least not really at drugstore prices, they’re quite expensive) but you’ve got some at Boots (Rimmel, L’Oréal, Maybelline…).
But maybe you can check the Dubai Mall website to see if there are some of the brands you are interested in? :)
Hi Bonnie!
Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a helpful article … God bless! I opened up a shop and ship account got UD palette from Amazon US but was disappointed from Sephora . But now near Christmas time all the holiday palettes are coming out ….eeeeekkkkk .do u know if Ulta ( lorac mega pro 3????????) or Urban Decay.com work with shop and ship .. I have a Big wish list to buy from them ! Lolz my poor credit card ????????????
Hi Sadie!
I’m happy my post helped! ;)
Sadly, Ulta and Urban Decay.com don’t work if you don’t have a US credit card… They cancel your order. Same for Sephora.com. :(
Thankfully, you can still order from a lot of cool shops, like beautylish.com, cult beauty or other brands online shops. :)
Awwwww that’s such a shame ….I was looking forward for Urban decay full spectrum palette ???????? .thanks so much for your quick response ????????
I’m almost sure it will be in Dubai soon! Sephora is getting better with the Urban Decay launches! ;)
Hi Bonnie,
Great blog and really enjoyed your post
With Shop & Ship have you experienced any issues when ordering cosmetics from US and having it shipped to your UAE address? In terms of what products are allowed in the package, liquids, weight, etc.
I’m wanting to make an order, but I’m dreading the fact what if my package gets held in UAE customs and won’t release my order.
Thanks in advance!
Crys
@madame_barocco
Hi Crys, thank you very much for your comment :)
No, I never had a problem with the customs here. Some products aren’t allowed but regarding cosmetics, you can basically shop and ship everything. Some items will take more time and their delivery will cost more because they send them in a specific shipment, like perfumes and nail polishes. But regarding the rest, no problem at all. :)
You have a list of forbidden items in the Shop and Ship website, if you want to be sure ;)
I hope it helps :)
Hi Bonnie,
I love shopping especially skincare products make up n shoes. And u r on spot about the availability of products n the sales assistants. I have now shifted my attention to online sites for stuff I want but dnt get here. But then how do we know if the site is authentic n the products r original. I heard of this site called bashara.com . Products get delivered free of charge n in a day.. I just gt a mural product I wanted.. have u heard about it ?? Would love to know what u think about it
Hi Shweta!
No, I don’t know this website, I’ll definitely look into it. :)
hi there; from where do you shop drugstore makeup (like milani, wet n wild etc) in Dubai?
Hi Areeba! :)
Wet n Wild is available in Carrefour, here in Dubai.
I order Milani from Walgreens in the US and I use my Shop and Ship account (as explained in the post).
I hope it helps! ;)
Hi
Your blog was really helpful. I would like to know if I can purchase through Amazon.com and ship it through ship Nd shop ?
Hi!
Thank you Winny!
Yes, absolutely, I use Amazon.com all the time with Shop and Ship for beauty shopping. ????
Hi
I want to ask you one more thing . I have a doubt that if we purchase from an online website and when it mentions free shipping then do we have to pay anything extra other the price of we have to shop internationally to Dubai ?
I’m not sure I understand your question ????
You mean if you want to deliver directly to Dubai or if you use Shop and Ship?
In my experience, at first, I tried to use the free international shipping some websites offer to ship my products directly to Dubai but a) my parcel took ages to arrive (more than 1 month) and b) I had to go to the big Post office in Karama and pay a tax. So that’s why I prefer to use Shop and Ship.
For example, if you get your parcel delivered in the US adress Shop and Ship gives you, it’s usually not super expensive or even free shipping and you only need need to pay the Shop and Ship fare. The delivery to Dubai with Shop and Ship is quite fast (1 or 2 weeks) and they deliver to your door step. Super convenient ????
I’m an Emiratie and my biggest concern is the LACK of knowledge and guidance the Sephora sales people have. They are lableled as “makeup artists” when in fact they know nothing about makeup! The lies and the desperation to sell is appalling! They barely want you to try anything on and they would say “trust me this colour is for you” when trying to sell me something that is clearly 2 shades too light for me ! Now whenever I go into Sephora I am flat out rude when approached and I just say “it’s okay I don’t need any help. I just need my mobile to go online to know what I want…” and then I am left the well alone (although I do see the sales people whispering to one another about me when it’s been 30 mins and I’m still browsing different shades myself)
Hi Alia! :)
Yes, I know exactly what you mean, it’s very frustrating!
I really feel that Sephora is the worst… I don’t understand why they don’t train their sales assistant properly. It’s really not acceptable, especially as they pretend to be a luxurious beauty destination. But to be honest, I had this problem in other shops too. I went to the US and Canada last year, and I “visit” Sephora there (lol). I was so shocked by the difference!!! The sales assistants there are extremely well trained, qualified and super helpful! I probably bought more than I intended to because of the good advice lol! But you know what? I was actually happy to! ;)
Hi I can order products from ultra.com through shop and ship pls reply
Hi! ????
No, sadly, you can’t use Shop and Ship, you need a US credit card with Ulta ????