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 was slightly skeptical when I entered and there were two old men having their hair cut, another…read morewaiting and I wondered if this was a barber shop. I asked the lady if I could make an appointment to which she replied "you want hair cut now?" Why yes that was what I wanted actually, I said yes and like magic another lady appeared from a back room, I was going to get my hair cut! She asked what I wanted, so I told her and when I mentioned tidying up my fringe she nodded and vocally agreed that this was in order. First off, to wear non covered in footwear, she must be fairly confident with the scissors so I was confident I had come to the right place. After all, cutting hair for over a decade, I'd say she was pro. I had a dry cut, which lets face it, after your hair is washed and towel dried it is about as wet as what it was when mine was sprayed with a water bottle. My hair was layered, ends trimmed and fringe cut all in around 30 minutes, I was so impressed. My hair looked way better than it did previously and for only $35. You can't beat that. There isn't anywhere that would but hair of my length for under $65. I was stoked.

Is it racist to say that Korean hairdressers are better than people from other cultures? Political…read morecorrectness aside, that has been my experience. I have been to several Korean hairdressers and they are always so good at what they do, and the ladies at Missha hair are no exception. When I first sat down and discovered that there was a significant language barrier between myself and the girl who was about to cut my hair, I felt skeptical. I described to her what I wanted done, nothing to fancy, just a bit off the top and a bit more off the sides, she nodded her head and smiled in a way which revealed that she understood none of what I had just said. In a charade of hand gestures, I made a second attempt to tell her what i wanted, soon just giving up, and giving her the thumbs up to let her know she could start cutting. I was taken aback by the speed which this woman could use scissors, 10 minutes later I was left with one of the best haircuts I have ever had (nothing close to what i asked for).

Cute little shop in between the city, if you're looking for something from Japan! The with lots of…read moreitems in stock from basic home goods to crafting the variety of choices are available! The shop aisles are narrow, and because of the tiny space it does get over crowded. If you're trying to shop with a baby stroller/pram, it'll be very hard to navigate in the store. I recommend leaving the pram outside with a family member/friend while you shop inside. If your pram is narrow it'll fit just fine. The staff are quick to serve you if needed. The prices are 3.50$ each for any item in the store. If you purchase 3 items they are 10$. It is always being stocked with new items! I would recommend this place if you're looking for some cute but cheap items for stationery use and or household decorations!

Imagine the department store that Hello Kitty would shop in, and you'll get an idea of what Daiso…read moreis like. It's tiny, it's jam-packed from floor to ceiling, the aisles are only big enough for one-way traffic, and everything is so cute it makes me want to squeak. Unlike other discount shops, Daiso $3 Japan contains higher-quality, made-in-Japan products. I've been shopping here for years for everything from kitchen equipment, to gift wrap, to cosmetics, to crockery. Plus they have all the wacky Japanese products you've never heard of - refrigerator curtain, anyone? I guess Even food needs privacy sometimes. But don't be fooled, everything in store in actually $3 plus GST, making everything $3.50. Or you can get three items for $10. Check it out and spoil yourself with a fluffy toilet-seat warmer.

I was a late bloomer in terms of personal grooming. Like I'm just not that good at make up and hair…read moreand all the primping and priming that most girls do everyday. My older sister is the complete opposite and is a magician with that sort of stuff, so for Christmas she bought me a heap of make up and what not. However, at the beginning of last year I had an overwhelming desire to dye my hair purple. Yes, yes I can hear the sighs. Every man and his dog had hair of a colour for awhile there, I still do. The thing is I had to bleach my hair first and then keep dying it purple to retain the colour - I soon realised my hair was suffering. I walked into Shampoo N things and pretty much pointed to my head and they were amazing. The girl was super knowledgeable and pretty much knew everything that I would need. Most impressively, she didn't take advantage of my lack of knowledge and make me pay heaps. She helped me find very reasonably priced stuff but with great quality. The store is really well-stocked with a huge range of pretty much everything you could need.

I was so excited to stumble across Makeup Direct. It looks fresh and exciting from the outside and…read moreI made a quick beeline to the door. It all went a bit pear-shaped after that. First thing I spotted? OPI nail polish (I'm the biggest fan) selling for $23.90 each. "Huh? But I thought this was a discount shop?". Fair enough, Farmers now sells its OPI for $26.90 each (ridiculous), but there are plenty of places online where you can get your OPI fix for much less. So I figured the really exciting discounts must still be to come. But no. There was a jumbled range of products, organised by item type (eyeliner, bronzer, mascara, etc) rather than by brand, which makes it hard if you're on the lookout for something in particular. On the plus side, there were two sales assistants who were very friendly and approachable, and you can certainly get products there cheaper than at other retail destinations. Perhaps I just set my expectations too high. Le sigh.

Located on Darby Street in Auckland's CBD, Makeup Direct has a wide range of cosmetics and beauty…read moreproducts on hand. Reputable brands such as Maybelline, Loreal and Revlon are stocked by Makeup Direct, and at very low prices! A great range of nail polishes and make up brushes, fake eyelashes, removal pads, tanning lotions and other such essential products are also available at Makeup Direct. Everything a fashion loving, makeup conscious young woman could need can be found here. It's the perfect place for struggling students to get their makeup fix. Don't waste your time and money at the normal beauty counters - make Makeup Direct your first port of call, and you could be amazed by what you find. Makeup Direct's extensive range of stock means that it doesn't just cater to younger women - my mum also gets her basics from this store. The staff are always really helpful and knowledgeable. As makeup lovers themselves they are full of handy tips and advice - make the most of them!

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.

If you're in any way interested in makeup, you will have heard of or been to a MAC cosmetics store…read more Or a MAC cosmetics counter, at least. The MAC brand is a worldwide leader. People flip out over their lipsticks. Personally, I'm not a huge makeup shopper, but I do like to visit the MAC store. What makes MAC different, I guess, is the variety of shades they do - they're very good for anything bright or a little crazy. They also do a skincare line and they've got this product called 'Fix' which is my jam - it's a spray that sets and refreshes your makeup. Get it. That and they have this new lipstick called 'Aprés Chic' which is probably the best colour I've ever come across. The packaging is amazing and the girls in the store are pretty good - if a little intimidating. A fail-safe shopping option if you're buying a gift for a young female. Note for experts: They sell MAC Pro products here, as well as the other retail lines.

I hate doing this.. But okay…read more I have been to MAC twice in one week. One time was to buy a gift for a friend, and while the girl that served me was lovely and gave me great advice (thank you, I appreciate it!) the other three staff in there were quite rude. I won't go into detail on that because there's little point, but they should know that being snappy doesn't work with customers. It also doesn't work with customers that have been to MAC stores all around the world and know how good it CAN be. Today I went in to specifically look for a new red lipstick. I went in... hung around the lipsticks, trying some on my hand... I was in there for a good 7 minutes doing that. Then I went to another part of the store to see if there were any other lipsticks... Still no one talks to me. Then while looking at the lipsticks for a second time, a staff member (clearly in a hurry) pushes up beside me and starts foraging for what she's looking for. No apology, no "hey, I'm doing this for x customer, can I ask what you're after and I'll get someone to come over and help you?" Argh... Maybe I'm asking too much? I love MAC make up, but experiences like this reinforce why I buy everything online. 2 stars - for the product only. As an aside, I went to Bobbi Brown straight after - had the most amazing help and advice. THEY will get my business.

This is the most smelliest store on Queen Street! However I love the smell…read more How can you not walk past Lush and not be tempted by the scent and wonder in for an explosion of bath and body products. I popped in on a super busy weekend day and was quickly chatted up by the super friendly sales assistant. " hi, wanna see something really cool' ? Ofcourse I obliged, she asked me to pick a ballistic of my fancy- I naturally picked the coolest one I could see which was called Phoenix Rising, she filled up a large glass bowl and popped the fizzing purple bath bomb in the water- as it fizzled away - waves of violet and exotic lavender scents swarmed about- just beautiful! If that bowl had been big enough I would have jumped right in. Of course Lush is full to the brim with amazing wonders such as the Phoenix Rising bath ball, you really do have to pop in and decide on the perfect match for you. I also really love my heart shaped Soft Couer massage bar, definetly perfect to set the mood with my loved one.

I stopped by just to see what new items they have since I haven't been to a store in a while. I…read moreended up purchasing a few things. The customer service here is unmatched. Luna ended up assisting me and she was amazing! So knowledgeable and very eager to answer all of the questions I had! Thanks again Luna!

LOVE Bobbi Brown!!!…read more I personally don't wear a lot of make up... not my thing but when I do it is very important for me to keep it light and natural. Bobbi fits that bill beautifully! Lovely natural colours and their products range from light and fresh to a bit more heavy if you want more coverage. Their make up technicians and great and give you lots of skin advice too which is always a bonus. Their products last great too! My go to place if I need my make up done for an event :)

One of Bobbi Brown's glorious emporiums and her Auckland flagship store. A lovely space with…read moreincredibly friendly and knowledgeable staff. But the best bit - unlike many department stores the staff aren't in your face and pushy. And will happily leave you to "play". You can be as interactive or as quiet as you want to be!!

I landed in Auckland looking dishevelled so when I got a call from a friend asking if I wanted to…read morego for a spontaneous blog dry I jumped at the chance. My friend had somehow scored a "2 for $70" blowdry deal that included a glass of bubbles and a chocolate for us to nibble on while we got our hair done. I really enjoyed the experience at Dry & Tea. The staff were lovely and took a few minutes to work out how I wanted my hair done, showing me some pictures and talking about what I normally do with my hair to make sure they approached the task in the best possible way. The hair wash was good, though if I'd had time I would have added on the extra head massage option for $15. Who doesn't love a head massage! My blow dry was excellent. There was plenty of body at the top and curl at the end, and I managed to keep it looking good for five days by putting it in a top knot to sleep. Even if I'd paid the full $45, this was would have been money well spent. To not have to worry about my hair while away on business was worth every cent.

I walked In without an appointment and they were nice enough to fit me in for a cut…read more First impression of the store was clean, cute and professional. I came in based on the looks and the interior of the salon. I had a few cm of my ends cut because it was damaged from bleaching, dry and very tangly, and just wanted to fix the ends where there were a few knots. I got a moisturising shampoo, a wed and dry cut with a touch of hair serum on the tips. My hair is now smooth and silky like there were never damaged. Michelle was chatty and friendly, she did exactly what I said and wanted. The result, satisfying. The price was 85, which was more than I expected. But defiantly worth it and I'll pick this place again for the next time I'll need a trim.