You know those places you go to that as you walk past you stop, then you turn around and go back…read morejust to go find out what that smell is? This is one of those places. It's a small corner store just as you get out of Town Hall train station and walk into the QVB. However, don't be disappointed by its size, the smell is all encompassing. I will make a note here that these candles, oils, cremes and other beauty products are not cheap. There is a reason for this, I swear. It's because their products smell divine for hours after. The candles you pay $40 for a 300g but it goes for months and never once looses it's scent. Other candles you buy stop smelling nice by the time you burn it half way. Not so with these. The 350g ones come in a beautiful glass jar with a lid to extinguish your flame. It's double wicked and will have your home smelling divine in under 5 minutes of lighting them. Why the double wick? Well from what I gather a double wick means that it burns more evenly and that there's always a good liquid layer on top. It also burns all the way to the bottom so you don't waste any wax. A double wick also means that there's less soot and the scent, it releases the scent of the candles nicely. So do what I do, treat yourself on occasion. My next one will be the lemongrass. Or maybe the coconut and lime? Decisions!

If you're as guilty of as much online shopping as I am, you've probably ordered as many cosmetics…read morefrom strawberry.net than you possibly need or ever will use. If you're the impatient sort like myself and don't like waiting the 4-7 days when your next delivery comes, then this is the find I want to brag about. For such a small cosmetic store (one that I'm hoping gets all the more attention it deserves), it holds a mega load of different products. I recently found a Guerlain lipstick online (Rouge G - Try it!) because I refused to pay the enormous rip off they charge at the major department stores. On this opportunistic day, I happened to find the same shade of lipstick at this store and I found it was even cheaper than strawberry.net (50c cheaper, but still...) AND it was minus the wait. They stock all kinds of cosmetics, facial cleansers, eyelash curlers and of these, most of them are quality brands like Clarins, Guerlain, YSL, Bobbi Brown and more. The stock is constantly changing which is annoying when you finally find that favourite shade of lipstick, but be mindful of purchasing old products as they may have deteriorated in quality. Hopefully you can tell how excited I was about this place but I'm no good at keeping secrets, have a look!

Ladies, Cosmo Cosmetics has opened in the Metcentre-and it has some great deals!…read more They sell quality makeup products and genuine perfume at discounted prices. It's usually discontinued products so you can find stuff that may no longer be available elsewhere. They stock premium brands: Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Calvin Klein, Shseido and Lancôme, as well as familiar brands such as Clinique, Dr Lewins. Revlon, Maybelline and L'Oreal. You can get Chanel single eye shadow for under $20! I have also bought quite a few skincare products here from the Dior and Clairns range. Around Mother's Day and Christmas, there are plenty of make-up gift packs and skincare/spa sets which are great value for money and will impress the recipient.

As a makeup affectionado, this place is a gold mine of quality makeup and skin care products. What…read moreis even better is that the service is exceptional. I have always found the staff to be enthusiastic, knowledgable and friendly. Yes, it may be more expensive than Sephora in the USA, however the combination of product knowledge and service makes it worth it. I love this place!

From the owner: Shop the exclusive edit of over 100 beauty brands across makeup, skin care, body, hair, nail &…read morefragrance at MECCA, Mecca Cosmetica & Mecca Maxima.

Mecca Cosmetica can be a little intimidating, especially if you're like me and your beauty products…read moreconsist of a body moisturiser and maybe on a special occasion you wear tinted moisturiser. But when I started living with a friend whose beauty products smelt divine, worked well and were worth a small fortune I did find myself wanting to jazz up my very bland collection. Once you walk through the doors at Mecca Cosmetic my tip is to grab a sales person straight away. The girls know their products inside out and it'll save you trying to negotiate what's what in this collection of worldwide boutique beauty brands. Be prepared to spend up as this beauty doesn't come cheap. That said the products are so unique and beautiful quality. I walked away with a Diptyque EDT ($120) and Kai Body Buff ($65) that I am so exciting to own and use!

Mecca Cosmetica is aptly named. It's certainly the mecca of all beauty products to service all your…read morecosmetic needs. This store sells a variety of products from makeup to hair care to perfumes and many more. Whatever you need to maintain and improve your looks, they have it and more. With so many brands from all over the world to choose from, shopping here is an absolute delight. You'll end up with so many things to buy with so little time. So if you're ever looking for a lip balm, or even your new signature scent, Mecca Cosmetica is the place to be!

So here I am, super excited to spray on some Vera Wang perfume only to have a store assistant try…read moreto hand me over a prada sample, feeling accosted I went to try spray the new Marc Jacobs and suddenly a flock of assistants pound on me like I'm shop lifting for wanting to smell nice.... Not an ounce of floral goodness made it onto my skin because wherever I went I was surrounded by non stop questions, options and looks...and all I felt like screaming (though never would) were three simple words LEAVE ME ALONE! I want to browse through Duty Free, put on some La Mer moisturizer ($200 + a bottle) and not feel like I'm doing something really evil for wanting to sample a product. I want to be left alone when someone says to me "can I help you" and I say "no thanks, I'm browsing".. This didn't feel like customer service it felt more like customer harassment. I didn't need to be followed through the store like I was a terrorist, I wanted to play with the pretty make-up and try the lastest perfumes. Here's the thing - before you think I maybe looked like some homeless person who fell out of my cardboard box and walked around the store perhaps evoking some feelings of concern, let me assure you I looked like I walked out from a Ralph Lauren catalogue.... Thanks Duty Free for reminding me I can get better bargains and less judgement by shopping online!

Tax free booze (gotta make use of that allowance!) and sampling of booze before noon in the…read moredeparture side (helps adjust to your new timezone!). And its in a very convenient place either after you leave passport control on the departures side, or before you enter passport control on the arrivals side. I only wished they didn't slug you with a surcharge for cards.

The Queen Victoria Building (QVB) was built in 1898 and designed by 28-year old architect, George…read moreMcRae, replacing the original Sydney markets on the site. Built as a monument to the long reigning monarch, construction took place during a severe recession. How? The elaborate Romanesque architecture was specially planned for the grand building so the Government could employ many out-of-work craftsmen - stonemasons, plasterers, and stained window artists - in a worthwhile project. The Stained Glass The visual message of Sydney's coat of arms on the cartwheel stained glass window, is that the beehive depicts business, the sailing ship - trade, and the dolphins - the harbor. Panel 1 (on the left-hand side) represents the Council of the City of Sydney and symbols of architecture, while the letters I.G.B., on panel 3 (on the right), represent Ipoh Gardens Berhad, the Malaysian company who restored the QVB in 2009. The symbols are of property developers - the builders. The bottom central panel represents the heraldic symbol of a finished building, and the joining of two hands denotes the fusing of two cultures. The Queen's Secret Letter There is a letter from Queen Elizabeth II to the Citizens of Sydney, to be opened and read by the Lord Mayor of Sydney in the year 2085. The Queen Victoria Statue Outside the QVB, on Town Hall Place, facing The Town Hall are the Royal Wishing Well and Queen Victoria's statue. My experience: This is the second time I have visited this building and on the second time, I found even more hidden historical things of note. It's a remarkable way to feel like you've stepped back in time, whether that's through shopping or through grabbing a coffee or tea and sitting in the atrium, taking it all in. TIP: Go to Haight's for some chocolate!

A must see building and a wonderful place to shop! Such fun stores and an incredible building to…read morewalk through. Very skinny as a building design which makes it so interesting to go through. Different floors to explore too! Love the historical building with some modern twists of restaurants and shops.