Multiply Gives In

Multiply announced that they are changing their policy which technically prohibited the selling of goods through the site. The rule created a scare among sellers a year ago or so, but Multiply, realizing that the bulk of its users are entrepreneurs, brushed aside the violations issue and gave the users a leeway so long as they don’t spam. Recently, they decided to give the sellers some peace of mind by revising the terms of service, finally making online selling at Multiply legit.

While Multiply is a good site for building portfolios whether as a photographer, makeup artist, etc, the features also provide a convenient set up for a free online store. Had multiply insisted on its previous rule, they are sure to lose thousands of users who can always turn to Sulit, Ebay and other online marketplaces.

I am happy about the news because I am a regular shopper myself at various multiply stores that sell makeups and accessories, fashion items and skin care products. Among my favorite shops are the following:

• Suesh – supplier of affordable yet excellent quality makeup brushes, traincases and other makeup artist accessories.
• Nui Clothing- although they have their own site where they sell their up-to- date fashion pieces, the multiply site gives a preview of their collections every month.
• Kimi’s Drawer- a Cagayan de Oro- based online boutique. Stylish yet affordable merchandises that are easily sold out.
• Beauty and Wellness 22- Derma soaps and formulations that work.  Quick shipping.
• Stellar Closet- GMA talent Chynna Ortaleza  sells fabulous fashion finds at low prices through this shop. Her Celebrity closet raids are worth checking out!

The list is endless. There are just too many multiply shops you can indulge on. If you’re on the hunt for great bargains without leaving your home, you may want to try out shopping at the “Multiply mall.” If you have stuffs to unload, you can open a store as well, now that Multiply has fully given its nod to enterprising netizens.

TameraOnline: A New Makeup Shopping Haven

A few months ago, I wrote on my facebook status update: “I wish Sephora would start shipping to the Philippines.” Don’t you just hate it when you know there are a lot of good stuffs out there but you can’t have them because of geographical restrictions? When I tried shopping online at Sephora and MAC to have my orders delivered to a friend in Cleveland, my excitement went phloof when I learned that they only accept credit cards that are billed in the  U.S.  I guess a lot of online shopping companies still have trust issues on international customers.

My next best bet would be eBay but good luck on the mark ups or the bidding. The cult favorite makeup you’ve been eyeing on will either have skyrocketed its cost or have gazillions of bidders edging each other out til it reaches a price higher than its SRP.

Living in a city down south in the Philippines, I have been deprived of access to the best cosmetic brands that are only available in Manila. No fancy brands like MAC, Shu Uemura, Smashbox or Make Up For Ever here. At best, we have a Shishiedo counter at Limketkai mall. When a new collection comes out, I can only ogle at it from afar or use my deadly weapon in the form of a credit card to order online wherever available. That’s how I mastered the art of online shopping.

My wish of Sephora extending its services to Philippine customers hasn’t been realized yet, but TameraOnline is something which brings me closer to that hope. It is a newly establshed online cosmetic company owned by Tamera Szijarto, a former Miss Philippines Earth finalist. I checked out the site and I must say it’s very promising. To date, the products are still limited (sorry, no MAC or Shu or MUFE) but they offer products that are hardly available locally. Benefit and Physician’s Formula goodies are ready to ship anytime. Apart from these two, they also carry Neutrogena and Smashbox (at least the primer is in the catalog). Not to be missed are the Benefit brushes and tools.

For starters, check out Benefit Posie Tint which was recommended by celebrities Alex de Rossi and Ciara Sotto when I tweeted them asking what’s their staple blush. The one available in the site comes in mini size but that should do for now. I think they are still filling in stuffs because some categories are left blank.

The good news is, they ship for free in the Philippines! Yayness.  International customers are also welcome to buy. Prices are quoted in dollars and pesos. As a bonus, they throw in samples for every order above $35. Payment is through the trusty Paypal. No need to go to the mall to load your gcash wallet (Gcash being the popular mode of payment for most online sellers in the country). Since it is within the Philippines, local buyers don’t have to wait for weeks to receive their orders. However, the prices are something they should work on. The Smashbox travel size primer that normally sells for $16 is sold twice its price for $32 on TameraOnline.

The store is fresh and I  hope to see more variety in the cosmetics array soon. To ensure their success, they should offer competitive pricing of goods. Otherwise, customers could always turn to eBay or Strawberrynet which ships internationally for free.   If any of you have tried shopping through the new online store, please don’t hesitate to share your experiences. I’m not in any way affiliated with them so I would love some information too.

Online Shopping

I love my city, CDO. This is where I grew up. However, a major drawback of living this far from the country’s capital is the inaccessibility to the hottest makeup trends. No major brands like Mac, Shu Uemura, Stila, Smashbox, or Bobbi Brown in this city. So far, only Shisheido is the high end makeup available here. Drugstore brands like Maybelline, Revlon, and L’oreal are the usual cosmetics readily sold, and of course, some local brands such as Ever Bilena and Avon.

Being a makeup artist and junkie, I cannot limit my collection to whatever is available locally. I simply couldn’t help myself from drooling over cult favorites which unfortunately aren’t sold in the city. The latest makeup reviews from fellow beauty enthusiasts make me itch to try them myself. Traveling to Manila used to be my only hope for buying my tools.

Today, with my growing collection of make-ups, my clients and models often ask me where I get them. Well, I’ll let you in on my secret: online shopping. Almost anything I browse online, I could find a site to shop for it. With just a few mouse clicks, I’m done..so is my credit card.
With the convenience of secure transactions like paypal, online shopping can be truly addicting. It is the prohibitive cost of shipping that can halt my favorite hobby. The shipping cost is sometimes more than the item ordered.

In searching for my favorite cosmetics, I came across a cool site that offers free shipping worldwide. At first, I was cynical about it. The prices were lower than usual. The famous YSL touche eclat is worth more than P2,000 at Rustan’s in Manila but I bought it for P1,000 plus from Strawberrynet.com. But well, knowing the markup of cosmetics once it reaches the Philippines, that shouldn’t be surprising. With free shipping, that was definitely a steal. I checked the feedbacks of people who brought from that website and most of them could attest that the products are genuine.
I tried shopping with Strawberrynet.com to see for myself. Their product lines were impressive. Aside from makeups, perfumes and skin care products are also being sold. I was able to avail of a free stila pivotal liquid foundation for first time customers. There were also items that were on 50% sale. Definitely the makeup junkies haven! I was pleased with the neat packaging and quick shipping, considering it was christmas season when I ordered. I have tried the products myself and I can vouch that they are authentic.

Strawberrynet.com offers additional perks like discounts for returning customers. I have signed up for their newsletter to be updated with the latest store promos, which are often hard to pass up. With the rising price of gasoline, driving to your favorite department store when the products you want are not even there, can be frustrating. Sometimes online shopping is our best option. Free shipping is a big bonus to be taken advantage of. Convenient but addicting.