Shopping from look fantastic

I always find better deals in online shopping sites, plus they're super convenient - no commute to store, no long queues, no claustrophobic aspect etc., However, while I was in London, I quite enjoyed shopping in stores. There are super drug and boots stores almost every corner and, most days, we used to roam around those stores during lunch or coffee breaks. They also have amazing offers very often and billing always take very less time no matter how long the queue is. As a result, I never explored on-line options for cosmetics/skincare unless the product I was looking for is out of stock in the store and, even in that case, I order from their website to be picked up from store - I find online shopping in London with home delivery option not very convenient. So I went on my merry way, store hopping, until I left London which is when I remembered lot of things I wanted to buy and missing the Christmas deals added to my misery. Then, while I am adding to the pain browsing through the sites checking out things I couldn't get, I came across this site. I noticed they're shipping to India and, after jumping up and down for a while, added benefit girls gone wild box and fake up concealer. A sample benefit kit and brush kit were included as free gifts and when I was about to place order I saw that benefit products don't have option to be delivered to India 😭. Fortunately, one of my friends is travelling to India on a break and kindly agreed to get those for me (gal pals rule 😁).

Well, if I stopped, I wouldn't be accused of being shopoholic 😄. Next I got to their India site, so I could browse products which are delivered to India. I took some time deciding what to get: 

1. Maybelline eye concealer and curvy eyeliner are in my list for a while. However, eye liner went out of stock by the time I placed the order 😔

2. Lord and Berry eyepencil: I was quite impressed by this when I tested it in Selfridges, however found it quite expensive. When I saw it on offer price, couldn't help but adding it to the cart.

  3. Rimmel brow kit: I always eyed it in London, however since I don't use brow products, didn't get too tempted to it. By the time I heard too much of brow products, I realized it would have been perfect for beginners as it is quite affordable and unavailable here - the alternative is Loreal kit which is more than twice the price. I had to be content with Maybelline brow pencil, but when I saw the Rimmel one in the site for less than Rs. 300, I had to get it😊.

4. Burt and bees lip balm: I was quite skeptical of this product as I already own lots of lip products. Then I successfully completed Clinique lipbalm and justified the purchase as replacement (I heard that🙄).

5. Lord and Berry eye shadow: well it's actually brow powder, but I thought it's eye shadow. Plus I got it for free on buy 2 get 3 offer. I am anyway using it as eye shadow.

I was quite worried since the order was placed as it is the first international online purchase. The online tracking added to the pressure as it showed issues in transit stages. Finally I received the order after 3 weeks. I wasn't home when the parcel came and usually I get a phone call in such situations, this time I didn't get any. Then I called the courier service, rescheduled and requested to call if unavailable. Overall I paid ~Rs.2500 for the products, 500 for shipping and approximately 1500 custom charges. Initially it felt too much, but after checking the price of products, if available, are quite high here. Having said that, my first preference would be get stuff when I travel (would be another motivation).