IPPONDO ♥ Haul & Store Review

I was meant to go to Farmers this weekend as I have been wanting to get those new shades of Australis Velvourlips that I have seen floating around Facebook awhile ago; actually, I am not sure if the new shades of Velvourlips have been released yet or nohh?! I can't seem to find them anywhere online, not on the Australis website nor on Farmers' website, someone please update me if you know! I'd love to get my hands on them ^^ the colors are so gorgeous! Especially the nude and the pinks.

Anyway, totally gone off topic here ~ I was meant to go to Farmers, but I ended up at Ippondo! As soon as I saw Ippondo, I was like... This is my kind of store! Forget about Farmers!

As always, I don't pay a lot of attention to things, so of course I walked pass the shop without acknowledging that it's heaven haha... Until my mom pulled me back and said... STOP! There's an Ippondo! At first I was like, what? Yeah I admit, I didn't even know what Ippondo was LOL, but my mom she loves all things Japanese beauty and skincare, even thou she doesn't wear any makeup, she is very familiar with Japanese brands and stores.

As soon as I walked in the store, I couldn't stop staring! The staff at the shops all dressed so kawaii, their makeup are all glitter and pretty; all the products in their shops are those I have saved in my eBay Japanese beauty wish list that I have been wanting to get but either not patient enough to wait for them to arrive or that they are too expensive and I can't afford at the moment. So glad to finally have a store near me that I can just walk in and grab whatever I have in my wishlist! Of course, that'd have to be when I am rich enough to own everything hehe.

~ Ippondo Haul ~

º ☆.¸¸. Candy Doll Cheek Color Duo - Candy Pink

º ☆.¸¸. Candy Doll Liquid Foundation - 02

º ☆.¸¸. 3 Concept Eyes Lipstick - 202 Momo 

º ☆.¸¸. 3 Concept Eyes Lipstick - 202 Momo 

º ☆.¸¸. 3 Concept Eyes Lipstick - 309 Celebrity

º ☆.¸¸. 3 Concept Eyes Lipstick - 309 Celebrity

º ☆.¸¸. 3 Concept Eyes Pink Gradation Bold Blush - Plum Candy (left)
º ☆.¸¸. 3 Concept Eyes Lipstick Duo Color Face Blush - Miss Flower (right)

º ☆.¸¸. Diamond Lashes 

º ☆.¸¸. Pure Smile Choosy Lip Masks // love these stuff! Check out my previous review ~

~ Ippondo Store Review ~

If you live in New Zealand, you would know how hard it is to buy Japanese and Korean cosmetics over here; I mean we have cheap $3 made in Japan beauty items that you can find in the Japanese dollar store, but those you can not compare with well-known brands such as Dollywink and Candy Doll. Buying Japanese and Korean cosmetics is like as much hassle as buying non-Asian brands cosmetics, it's like if you're not patient enough, like me, you'd be fed up with the weeks it takes for your items to arrive from overseas and sometimes if these items are available to purchase in-stores, their prices are crazy!

Ippondo Japanese Cosmetics claims to be the only beauty store dedicated to everything made in Japan, they forgot to mention Korea too! (3CE is a Korean brand).

♥ Prices
I was surprised at their super affordable prices! I usually buy 3 Concept Eyes products from the Stylenanda English website and don't even mention their prices (SOOO EXPENSIVE!), their shipping price is not as affordable as well, unless if you buy a lot of stuff then it's worth it. Seriously thou, who's got that much money floating around? Not me! I wish! LOl ~ I also purchase 3CE products from RoseRoseShop, their prices are sometimes more affordable and their shipping aren't as expensive, but since it's all in USD, once you have add all the prices up and do a currency exchange to NZD, it's like... crazzzy!

I was like... OH MY GAWD! When I was told all 3 Concept Eyes lipsticks are NZD $19.99 each ONLY and that's not even a promotional price! Stylenanda is currently pricing at $19.71 USD and RoseRoseShop $24.36 USD (on sale).

Can't remember how much the 3 Concept Eyes blushes were, pretty sure it was under NZD $25.00; I pretty much just grabbed whatever I see cause these items purchased have been on my wish list for such a long time! Especially the 3CE gradation blush! Ever since 3CE released their hot pink packaging, I have been trying to 'save' LOl and get my hands on them. Obviously me saving money is like... it won't really happen unless if someone cut up all my credit cards.

The other items purchased were also very affordable, I can't remember the exact prices but I have came home and compare the eBay prices to what I have paid for. Alphabeautyuk (highly recommended eBay seller for all things Japanese beauty) have Diamond Lash for sale from $16 - $22 NZD and Ippondo have set their price as $19.89 NZD for all Diamond Lash, each pack of Diamond Lash contains five pair of falsies.

Pure Smile Choosy lip mask is NZD $3.00 each or buy 10 for $15.00, of course I purchase 10! Pretty much received 50% off. Not sure where you can purchase them online, I have looked on eBay and a few sellers sells them but these sellers doesn't look as legit to me :/ so I am glad Ippondo sells them, cause they are some amazing stuff! I have previously purchased from the Japan mart in the mall, but they cost about $4 each.

♥ Customer Service
I remember during my university days, a lecture have told us if she was to buy something at a store and no one was around to serve her at the counter, she would rather leave and not return. I totally agree and I feel the same way! I used to think it's okay, these people stands all day on their feet, it's not an easy job, I have been through that stage myself, I feel them; but sometimes these people and their attitudes towards customer service just get to a point where it flips you off and you just want to grab whatever you can see and throw them in their face! LOl. Okay I swear, I am not a mean person, I am sure 99% of you feels the same when you are the customer.

Ippondo stuff members are very lovely, what I love about them is that the store employs a majority of Japanese girls (I think they are Japanese?! Or they could be Chinese / Korean but speaks Japanese? OK enough LOl). The fact that Ippondo have Japanese girls there to serve you just makes your whole shopping experience more authenticity, does that make sense?

The girls there were all very helpful, they dress pretty, their eye makeups are all glittery and kawaii and they wear like, wowey falsies! Overall their appearance is very nice and the girls do their makeup so nice that it makes you want to buy all the products that they are wearing to recreate their look!

The only thing that really ticks me off is when their staff members follows you wherever you go. If I would spend $200 on my first time there, you'd be damn sure I would not steal! The size of the store is pretty small, it's not huge like Farmers, even their beauty departments is bigger than Ippondo. I don't know I just get so uncomfortable and frustrated when people follows me around in store :( I know the girls were trying to help, especially when all the products in stores are written in Japanese, so it is nice to have someone around to explain and recommend stuff for you.

It just really annoys me because I walked in and I was greeted by this really pretty girl, seriously, she is so pretty I admire her! She asked if I need anything (I was looking at lashes) and I told her just looking and she walked away and came back again then just stands around watching me :( very uncomfortable! Then I walked away... I walked over to the Candy Doll stand and another girl came and asked if I need anything? I said no thank you just looking, (at the time I already have two packs of Diamond Lash in my basket). I then grab a Candy Doll duo blush and was looking at the Candy Doll liquid foundation, the second girl who asked if I need any help returns and just stands around and stares at me :( again, I felt very uncomfortable being watched, I felt like I need to add those items in my hands to my basket so she'd walk away. Done with the Candy Doll, I walked to the back of the store and I saw 3 Concept Eyes, I was like in heaven, one girl came and asked if I need any help, I said no, another girl came and asked if I need any help, I said no again but she just hangs around and stares at me even more :/ OKAY TOTALLY UNCOMFY HERE! Not trying to be mean, it's nice to have someone who is so dedicated to their customers, but could everyone just leave me alone for like a few sec! *Sigh* You get the idea...

Overall my first shopping experience is very pleasant, their prices are so affordable, it makes me a happy girl ^^ customer service is nice, but I really wish they don't follow me everywhere. The store is very clean, stylish and looks like a candy store, pretty much just a heaven in there.

I would definitely return! I still have to collect all the 3 Concept Eyes lipsticks and blushes! So SO CHEAP OMG! Oh they are located in Albany mall (next to homeware Farmers, in the same area as JB HI-FI downstairs) by the way, for those that lives on the North Shore, wanted to visit and spend away ~ There's also an Ippondo in town, I think it's in the Atrium on Elliott Street.