Not really a fan of purchasing anything from a store that has clearance in the title I decided to…read morego in one day to see what it was actually like. The store is set out in five main section, foundation, eyeshadows, nail polish, lip colour and mascaras just to make things easy. The brands you will find are Revlon, Loreal, Elizabeth Arden, Maybelline, Covergirl, Almay and Rimmel and a few other random ones. The range is not overly large, hence the 2 score which is a shame. What they do have which is good are the eyeshadows. Many of the Loreal products must be US imports as New Zealand does not get the HIP pigment ranges that you will find here. These are really good, they apply well and stay put without creasing and you can pick them up for around $10. The other product worth coming in for is the Rimmel eyeshadows. They are this seasons colours that you will find in Farmers but at half the price. There is a big range of mascaras though these are not brands I buy but do so for the eyeshadow because I go through them quick and these ones are well priced and do the job well.

I was a tad bit skeptical about the makeup, I mean it was so cheap that I figured it most be those…read morefake parallel import products. I am all for a bargain but when it comes to makeup and things that you apply to the skin, it can be a bit dangerous. I decided to walk in to check out what it was all about, last time at a makeup clearance I scored a lipstick by Revlon that is still one of my favourites. After I walked it, the place had a whole lot of things going on, from the ugliest tights I have ever seen in my life to bangles bracelets and makeup. The makeup was good and so was the nailpolish. I still wasn't impressed by the makeup so I stuck to buying the Sally Hansen nail products.

First rule of Importers Clearance sale: have a plan. Second rule of Importers Clearance sale: take…read moreyour credit card. These things don't seem to run on a particular timetable but nonetheless have become a regular event at the Auckland Showgrounds. I'm not sure where the stuff comes from but I don't really care. It's perfume, cosmetics, makeup, haircare, toiletries and more, hugely discounted on a MASSIVE scale. It's an ugly crazy bun fight and this is the kind of shopping you need to prepare for. Be fed, watered, have your parking money ready in cash (or be prepared to walk as I do from Puriri Ave) and get your head in the game. Oh, and do not under any circumstances bring a handbag or bag of any kind. If you do, you'll have to leave it in an unpoliced bag area, thus creating anxiety and the risk of rushing. This place is overwhelming so take your time and be careful because you will spend thousands if you let yourself just go for it. So get a catalogue, figure out what you're going to buy and then (good luck) try and stick to it. I always spend more than I intend; I just can't help it. To be fair though, a shop here will see you through a year or so and you can buy better quality than you can usually afford. Just try to maintain self-control!

This is an interesting store and rather large. Until recently it used to be the Life Pharmacy…read moreoutlet and even though the name has changed they still stock the same stuff pretty much. So what can you expect to find in an outlet pharmacy/beauty store? Many things. Need to bulk up? They sell fitness supplements, protein powders, carb free foods and other concoctions to enhance your gym workout and if you manage to sustain an injury they have a good first aid section too. Need a gift for granny? No problem, this is talc and soap city. There is also a great range of shampoo, conditioners and other hair product. They sell large salon size product too, so many washes for such a low price and loads of hair accessories. Nail polishes, make up and perfumes and skin care are more towards the front of the store and often you can get yourself some pretty good bargains. For example I once got a tub of Freeze 24/7 moisturiser for $50 instead of $135 and it wasn't expired. Do check the expiration dates though, usually they tell you if they are close to being past their shelf life but you never know. Perfume to plasters if you are in Dress Smart have a look and see what you find,

This store has a very impressive selection of Korean and Japanese cosmetics at reasonable prices…read more In particular their selection of cushion foundations and sheet masks is extensive and most notable brands are present. While prices are a bit above what you might pay on the internet by 10-20%, for me this is outweighed by the convenience of not having to wait for shipping, and the testers available. These are important for things like eyeliner, brow products and base makeup where you might want to test the shade or wear time. I would also recommend this place for any hair dye addicts as they stock palty, liese prettia, freshlight, beautylabo, shakin' puddin' and more, and the staff actually know their stuff about the colour accuracy and lasting power of each type! The shop assistants are very attentive and friendly - they will give you advice if you ask, but are also happy to let you browse without pressure if you say you are just looking around. If you're looking for a gift or product recommendations this is a great place to visit.

I love this store! They have great Korean skincare products and cosmetics that are usually hard to…read morefind in Auckland and the interior is cute too. The variety is pretty great and they are stocked up on most of the popular products which is great. I recently got some stuff and it was cheaper than buying it online which made me pretty happy. Most likely going to be shopping there more in the future :)

I ventured into Mecca for the first time last weekend and left feeling amazed/annoyed that I hadn't…read moredone so earlier. Firstly, they have a fantastic range of smaller international brands, all of which have been hand selected not only because they produce great products but also because they are in line with Mecca's ethical stance again animal testing. Secondly, they have wonderful staff. I was looking for a new foundation having used Mac since forever and they happily talked me through the options then tested two on each half of my face so I could compare (don't worry, they did end up removing the reject and reapplying the winner to my entire face). Not once were they pushy with extra products but they did tell me that you can get your makeup done in store for $90, which is redeemable on products. They also have a great loyalty scheme and since I ended up spending a bit I got a free goodie bag with a whole bunch of testers.

I visited Mecca in Ponsonby a few weeks ago and had GREAT customer service from a lovely worker…read morecalled Karla. She helped me find exactly what I needed and left me very satisfied with my purchase.

Right on Queen Street beautiful Christmas windows & The only ones we saw in Auckland. They were…read morebeautifully done, music played at the puppets moment. The store was closed. We went inside looking for luggage and passed beautiful clothing and housewares. Santa was keeping Children busy. Luggage was around $1,000 so we moved onward

This was a wonderful find! I was in desperate need of socks, ha ha! My brother was looking for a…read moresweater and they were very helpful in pointing out where they were. There were several reasonably priced ones. Everyone was so kind and helpful.

This is only a little Farmers and it's not really very good. The beauty counters are okay, but…read morethere aren't that many of them and they're kind of squashed up. They do have a decent-sized beauty section here though, where you can get the more mainstream products at reasonable prices - so if you're ever in town an need an emergency hair tie or moisturiser, definitely head to Farmers rather than a pharmacy, as the prices are bound to be better. The men's and women's clothing sections are pitiful at this branch though, so I wouldn't even bother. The best Farmers for clothes are Botany or St Lukes. Don't bother either with the basement section of this Farmers either, it's an un-funky 'industrial' (read: we were too cheap to finish it properly) hell where tweeny clothes go to die.

Farmers had everything I needed and the customer service was lovely. I was desperately searching…read morefor a particular coffee machine and was delighted to find it at Farmers.

I won't lie the constant attention from the retail assistants is actually annoying. From the…read moremoment you walk in till you leave they ask questions. I mean yes yay they are actually doing their job and following their instruction manual but I just like to browse on my own. I guess what irratates me is how insincere they are. Yes it's their job but bloody hell pretending to give a shit is worse than just ignoring me. We need retails assistants who have a passion for the products! Anyway besides that I actually love the body shop products. Nothing gets a sister in a good mood than a strawberry lippy, body mist, body butter and bronzer from the body shop. The makeup brushes there are amazing and I have had my brush set for a while now. Although the place is pricey it is worth paying for body shop products, after all it is rare to find a body butter that moisturizes the skin without being oily.

I like the Body Shop well enough, especially because I signed up to be a member a while back, and…read moreit's surprising how quickly your rewards points add up, giving you a discount voucher. I've found the service at the Queen Street store can be quite variable. Sometimes I've wandered around the shop for several minutes without being greeted at all. This especially seems to happen when the sales assistants are in the middle of lengthy sales. At other times though, they're all over you as soon as you walk in the door, and they don't back down until you're at the till.

This place is a real find - make sure you have lots of time because there's bargains galore. I…read morepopped in to get a gift and ended up stocking up bigstyle for not very much money. Aromatherapy kits (bottle of oil and sticks) start at $3 and everything is beautifully packaged so your dinner party host/neighbour that fed the cat/person you just met and is now having a birthday won't think you're a cheapskate. And who ever buys decadent scented candles for themselves? There's a huge range of different smells available in lots of styles - there's a gardening range, men's range, cupcake "flavours" etc etc. Plus some cool random homewares (beach umbrellas and stuff), along with beauty accessories like cosmetic purses, Party Feet, lip balms and more. My husband swears by the Man After Shave Balm (score brownie points with surprise presents for loved ones) and I really love my $2 Eye Cream which smells and feels delicious. The shop is really well laid out, the stock seemingly perfect and the prices low. A ssshh shop - don't tell everyone.

If you like the products from the Aromatherapy Company, you absolutely have to visit this outlet…read moreshop. They have so many of their products here that are so much cheaper than they are in the retail stores. The most useful thing about this store are their gift packs they make such excellent gifts. They have mens gift packs that have soap, after shave cream and shower scrubs. They have baby ranges, gift packs of diffusers, candles, fragrances and creams. Nothing is over $30 here, it really is a bargain hunters dream. They also have homeware items such as candle holders, bags and décor like this amazing hot pink buddha candle, oh my goodness I wanted it so badly. They have really good free parking outside so you don't have to feel bad about spending a long time looking around. The staff are really friendly here but they aren't intrusive, they leave you to look around and only help you when you need it.

They perfectly placed this shop at the top of the escalator for international departures... like…read moreyou literally have to walk through the store to get to your gate lol. Anyway, loved browsing the different bottles to kill time. And was certainly impressed by the number of locally distilled gins. Ended up treating myself to two bottles and a few packs of cigarettes. Biggest downside is that they limited my destination/route (Hawaii) to a total of 1 litre of alcohol. So was only able to get a regular size bottle and a pocket size.

This was your typical gauntlet of duty-free alcohol, perfumes, cosmetics, jewelry, watches, candy,…read moreetc after clearing security at an airport. My wife liked the array of cosmetics and candy items (you can't get in the states.) I thought the selection of booze was pretty good. Everything was displayed beautifully and merchandise was well organized.