Awesome Sephora Hacks You Wouldn’t Want To Miss

If you are looking for beauty products in Singapore, one store usually comes in mind – Sephora. The name Sephora originated from the Greek term for beauty: “Sephos” and the gorgeous wife of Exodus’ Moses: “Zipporah”.

Founded in France in the 70s, Sephora had become one of the world’s leading stores for quality bath, cosmetics, and other lifestyle products. It has become a home to many luxurious brands that shape the hottest trends today. In addition to that, they also have their own private label containing assorted products. But, beauty comes with a price tag, which is often at high cost.

So, as much as I love Sephora, I still value my frugality by following these few tips:

1. SIGN-UP FOR THEIR LOYALTY PROGRAM

One of the sure-fire ways to save while you shop at Sephora is to sign-up for their loyalty program – for free! The Loyalty program is called the Sephora Card program whereby you are able to earn points and receive as much as 10% discount and other exclusive benefits such as birthday gift surprises and news updates.

There are two types of Sephora Cards namely: White and Black. But, everyone starts of at with the White Card. Upon accumulating 250 points, you will be upgraded to the Black Card. To start, sign-up by filling a quick form at the cashier or by politely asking their staff.

2. DO YOUR RESEARCH

Before purchasing anything, it is good to read the reviews first so that your money would not go to waste. Do not shy away from Sephora’s products because they are well reviewed as well.

Image Credits: Pixabay (CC0 Public Domain)

Image Credits: Pixabay (CC0 Public Domain)

Browse for yourself. 🙂

3. CONSIDER THE LOCATION

The location of products at any Sephora outlet says something about its price. Those that are far more expensive are clustered in the middle while the less-expensive brands including the in-house label are at the sides. Thus, as much as possible, avoid the center of the store.

4. FOLLOW THE DEALS

Stalk them on Facebook or Instagram to get an inside scoop of their great deals on cosmetics, skincare, fragrances, and so much more.

Currently, Sephora’s Facebook page shares that you can get discounted items from now until September 2 at the ION branch. For example, the once S$82 STILA Glam Gift Set retails for only S$50. The same goes for the once S$70 LAURA MERCIER Artist Palette for eyes & cheeks that are now sold for only S$50.

Image Credits: facebook.com/sephorasingapore

Image Credits: facebook.com/sephorasingapore

 

 

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5 Shopping Hacks Everyone Should Know

In the celebration of Singapore’s 50 years of progress, several online and physical shops have been offering discounts of 50% or above. To name a few, New Look  is having 50% on dresses, bags and Footwear in their Somerset, City Square and Westgate stores while Zalora offers  50% on local designers and international labels.

So, whether you are shopping online for the perfect holiday outfit or considering a huge appliance purchase, spend your money wisely and save along the way with the 5 Shopping Hacks Everyone Should Know:

1. COMPARE PRICES

Before purchasing anything, compare the different prices offered by various shops for a particular product you have been eyeing on. Do this by intelligently finding information in the comparison website called PricePanda Singapore. When shopping online, it is best to get the biggest discount by using a coupon code. You may use the coupon codes available at Singapore’s CupoNation.

2. READ THE MEASUREMENT GUIDES

You are just wasting money if you bought something online that is not true to its fit. This is why it is essential to read the footnotes or the measurement notes. It will tell you the size and measurements across an array of countries. Also, it will tell you if the garment is tight or loose. Then, get more information about the clothing article by reading the height and the size of the model.

3. SAVVY QUESTIONS TO ASK AT A STORE BEFORE YOU PURCHASE

a. Do you give rebates?

b. Is there a mailing list that announces the promotions or sales earlier?

c. Do you offer a loyalty or membership program to earn back points or cash on purchases?

d. What is the return policy?

4. ADD UP THE COSTS

Do not be fooled by the flashy “sale” sign on the window or on the website’s sidebar because some shops will make you spend extra for shipping, minimum purchases, restocking fees, return policies, or even discount exclusions. Therefore, you must add up the product price plus the extra fees first before making a purchase. Also, make sure that your online retailer is reliable.

5. EMPLOY THE “URGENCY TEST”

If you are on a physical store and you are thinking twice on purchasing an item, ask yourself if you are willing to try it on the dressing room at that very moment. If you are not really excited to wear it then, do not bother to buy it.

Image Credits: Pixabay (License: CC0 Public Domain)

Image Credits: Pixabay (License: CC0 Public Domain)

Sources: 1 & 2

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5 Wallet-Friendly Ways To Appreciate Art In Singapore

ART. Whenever I hear this word, I picture beauty, expression, emotions, and empowerment. Truly, Art is a powerful medium that can produce all those. By definition, art is the application of one’s creative skill and imagination that is translated in tangible form such as a painting or a sculpture.

As you witness art in your daily lives, you may wonder what are the active ways you can appreciate it. Appreciation is not only in the knowledge of the different eras and style but is also in the understanding of its timeless qualities. If you think that art appreciation is expensive then, think again! There are a lot of budget-friendly ways you can start with…

1. READ MORE

If you know nothing about art, a good place to start small is by reading about it on the local library. Find books about painting, photography, performance arts, and so on. You can also save time by logging onto your computer or mobile device to search for videos that tackle art.

2. CAPTURE YOUR SURROUNDINGS

Step out of your comfort zone and be brave to take off your shoes and capture whatever you deem as pleasing. The country’s culturally diverse environment shall enrich your knowledge of art. For instance, you can snap the entertaining street performance of “the bead man” at Orchard Road.

Also, in the spirit of the National Poetry Festival, there is creative featured poetry on the different MRT platforms. Follow what catches your eyes – this can never go wrong!

3. VISIT THE LOCAL MUSEUMS

Indulge on the cultural art that is FREE for your viewing. Focusing on one genre that is Asian culture and arts, you can visit the two of the renowned museums in Singapore named Peranakan Museum and Asian Civilisations Museum.

Peranakan Museum is all about the Peranakan ethnic group that is a combination of the Chinese and Malay people. There you will see various documents, jewelries, furniture, textile, wedding accessories and so much more. Admission is free for Singapore citizens and P.R. while it starts at S$3 for children of foreign visitors.

On the other hand, the Asian Civilisations Museum showcases more than 1,300 artifacts from several Asian civilizations such as China, India, and Indonesia. Admission is free for Singapore citizens and P.R. while it starts at S$4 for children of foreign visitors.

4. MAKE DIY PROJECTS

Making art with your own hands is scientifically proven to be self-satisfactory. It makes you value the things you built even more. Also, it adds value to the object’s worth. You may start with simple Paint By Numbers Kit by Paintastic or Canvas Wall Art in these forms:

or

5. LEAVE GENUINE COMMENTS OR REVIEWS

Beyond appreciation, you can support the arts by leaving positive and sincere comments or reviews on the online products or videos by musicians, artisans, and writers. Each type of art is translated through personal taste; so do not be shy to state your own opinion.

Your taste is wonderfully unique anyway! 🙂

Sources: 1 & 2

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Shops That Sell Fabulously Affordable Hair Products & Accessories In Singapore

There are a lot of expensive hair items that may look great but are not necessary. You are bound to lose those thin hair ties anyway. Am I right women? Then, perhaps the S$2 pack of 200-pieces Daiso hair ties would interest you!

If you are searching for fashionable yet affordable hair products and accessories to make you stand out then, look no further! When you are on a budget and are prioritizing your shopping essentials, these shops prove that you do not have to spend loads just to look fabulous:

1. H&M

Shop here.

H&M or Hennes & Mauritz was originally founded in Sweden and has now become one of the fastest growing fashion clothing for children, men, and women. It comes as no surprise that this mega brand carries its own hair products. Their hair ties, hair clips, hair bands, and hair claws are priced at S$2.90-19.90.

And, my favorite items in their stores are the 10-Pack hair elastics or hair ties and the Patterned hair bands. The 10-Pack hair elastics retails for only S$2.90, which includes assorted colored elastics that are made with 60% elastane and 40% polyester.

Image Credits: http://www.hm.com/sg

Image Credits: http://www.hm.com/sg

While the versatile hair bands are woven with printed patterns and have twisted detailing. Do not worry about the size because it is elastic at the back.

2. COTTON ON

Shop here.

Cotton On hails from Australia. Also one of the fastest growing fashion clothing worldwide, Cotton On proves that their company specializes with kids (Cotton On Kids) and even stationary (Typo). Cotton On Kids has a wide range of lively hair accessories for girls that are priced from S$1-6.95. Who can argue with that?

Among these inexpensive items, my favorite is the S$4.95 KNOT MESSY HAIR TIES (10 pieces) because it is multi-purpose. Aside from colorful hair ties, girls can mix and match it as colorful bracelets.

Screen-grabbed from http://cottonon.com/SG

Image Credits: Screen-grabbed from http://cottonon.com/SG

3. WATSONS

Shop here.

Who is not familiar with Watsons? Watsons or Watsons Personal Care Stores is the largest health and beauty care shop in Asia. This big brand is complete with hair accessories and hair products such as shampoo, conditioners, hair dyes, and hair styling items.

A few of the Watsons’ stunners are the GIOVANNI Brazilian Keratin & Argan Oil Blow Out Styling Mist and the GATSBY Set & Keep Spray. The GATSBY Set & Keep Spray for men helps to style your hair and make it last for the whole day. It is priced at S$9.20 only.

While, the GIOVANNI Brazilian Keratin & Argan Oil Blow Out Styling Mist comes in 118 ml for S$13.90. It is supposed to de-tangle your tresses and protect it from the mighty heat of the blow dryer. Furthermore, Argan oil is proven to make your hair silkier, softer, and shinier.

 

 

 

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Amazing Date Ideas That Don’t Cost A Dollar

Dates can become a burden to the wallets of broke students. The idea of dating at a limited budget can sometimes be stressful and embarrassing. Well, not anymore! You can go on amazing dates without spending a dollar! Remember, there is absolutely nothing wrong about staying frugal while dating.

1. GO ON A TREETOP HIKE

Take your special someone to a morning hike while watching the sunrise at the MacRitchie Reservoir Park. MacRitchie Reservoir Park houses several long hiking routes including the famous TreeTop Walk. The TreeTop Walk consists of a freestanding suspension bridge that connects two highest points namely: Bukit Peirce and Bukit Kalang. This is the first of its kind. Your date will truly appreciate the unique experience of looking over the variety of plants and animals while being about 25 meters off the ground.

2. HAVE A GAME NIGHT

Turn your date night into a romantic game night. You can get to know each other while playing the infamous childhood game of Truth or Dare. Learn a lot about his or her boiling points while playing poker. Wage it with anything other than money (e.g., kisses or chocolates). Lastly, you can even play fun board games such as Monopoly, Scrabble, and Battleship.

Image Credits: Anders Ruff Custom Designs via Flickr with CC Attribution-NoDerivs

Image Credits:
Anders Ruff Custom Designs via Flickr with CC Attribution-NoDerivs

3. CONDUCT A VIDEO GAME SHOWDOWN

Get your XBOX, Wii, or Play Station ready for a showdown. Nothing beats a date filled with enjoyable video games. What is even more interesting are old-school video games. If your old console or Nintendo hand-held game is still operating then, spend the night by facing each other into a classic brawl of Super Mario Brothers or Street Fighter. This is a sweet trip down the memory lane!

4. HAVE A MOVIE MARATHON

Looking for a perfect first date experience? Look no more as MovieMob brings you the premier outdoor movie screenings that would not cost you a cent! MovieMob, an acclaimed Outdoor Movie Specialist, screens movies to various locations around Singapore. Instead of heading to a fancy and pricey restaurant, plan a picnic while enjoying a free movie at the park. Stay updated by visiting: facebook.com/apemoviemob.

Alternatively, you can host a movie marathon by watching free movies at home. Catch a free flick or two in the comforts of your own home by watching at YouTube’s Movies playlist at youtube.com/user/YouTubeMoviesWW. Turn the romance on by switching to scented (and safe) candles instead of lamps and by heating up a bag of popcorn.

5. LEARN A SKILL TOGETHER

There is nothing more romantic than sharing your interests to your partner. If you are a fan of cooking and baking then, teach him or her the basic recipes and techniques. And, if neither of you have a special skill, you can look up free online tutorials and make a DIY project together.

Image Credits: Howard Holley via Flickr with CC License

Image Credits: Howard Holley via Flickr with CC License

Having tight finances should not stop you from spending quality time with your special someone! 🙂

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

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