As we announced in this post, the popular Korean brand Etude House opened its worldwide online shop. Did you already made your purchase? Our Debby couldn’t miss this chance, also because for the event there were a 20% discount, a sample set and an eco-bag for free. So here’s a long, but hopefully useful and interesting review of her experience as an Italian Etude House client.
The order and the shipping
Necessary premise: this was my first online order of cosmetics from abroad. I’m not a true make-up addict, but just someone who likes makeup which as usual is more attracted by the package than the rest. So I immediately stumbled in the first mistake: the compulsive and excessive purchase! My order was of 10 pieces, for a total of 63 dollars, which resulted in an inevitable prolonged stop at the customs and an additional 20 Euros of taxes. If you’re not in a hurry, it’s still worth it because the price of the products is very low.
The procedure was as follows:
- The order was made on October 1st (the day of the store opening). For Italy, the only shipping method is the standard one, that takes almost 15-30 days to arrive.
- The package arrived at the customs for inspection.
- On November 7th the modules for custom clearance arrived, to send a the indicated email in pdf format with a copy of the ID card, tax code and paypal receipt. They are papers to self-certificate that the products are for exclusive personal use, that they will not be sold or used on other people. This happens because the European and not-European security standard are different, so they want to avoid that not regular products enter the Italian market. If you buy a lot of items and maybe more of the same product is alarming so it triggers the customs check.
- The package with the customs tax to pay arrived almost 2 months after the order.
So, my advice is to buy few products at a time (and hope in the possibility that small orders are not stopped by customs) or take advantage of free shipping promotions in order to compensate for the customs fees.
The products
And now let’s start with the proper review of the products. As I said before, I’m not a make-up expert, so you will not find technical or particular advises. It’s just the daily experience of a common person.
Wonder Pore Freshner and Wonder Pore Soap
They are a toner and a soap/scrub to use after normal skincare. Personally, I’ve many skin problems so my daily routine includes mainly products recommended by a dermatologist. I use the toner each morning after washing my face and each evening after taking off my makeup, instead I use the soap once or twice a week because is very degreasing. For this reason I alternate it at the daily use of Clarisonic, that I use with my specific detergent.
After months of use, I can say that I’m very satisfied of these products! My skin seems much better: the hated pimples which torment me since I was a teenager now appear only in certain periods, my skin is much bright and smooth. I will surely buy again this product.
Juicy cocktail Gradation Nails
We talked about this product on the syrup nail art tutorial but we haven’t had the chance to try it on before. In fact, we told you how to make a DIY syrup nail polish. Now we both have the original product (as you can see on Instagram). The set is made of 3 nail polishes to use in sequence: a semi-transparent base, a darker shade with glitters and a transparent nail polish with coloured glitters. The final effect is lovely and the single nail polishes can be used alone or combined to others.
Help My Finger Quick Dry Drop
It’s a liquid product to quicken the drying and fuse together the nail polish layers, to make it more strong and lasting. It you follows all the rules for applying the polish (that is: transparent base, first coloured layer, second coloured layer and protective transparent top coat) this product helps you to avoid staying still for a long time while waiting for each layer to dry.
Attention! The drying happens on the superficial layer of the colour, so I suggest you to wait anyway for a little while after the second layer and at the end to be careful in the end not to take in or pushing objects on the nail.
Dear Girls Oil Control Pact
It’s a white/transparent powder to control sebum production, touching-up the parts of the face that seems shiny and giving a smooth effect. It was hard for me to start using this product because I was very sorry to ruin the bird and flowers drawing stamped on the powder but at the end I got strength and now it’s always on my bag for quick finishing touches during the day.
Color My Brows
It’s a mascara for eyebrows. It does its job and let me avoid the dirty work I was doing before: using another product of a lighter shade that I had to adjust with some eye shadows, with a little trasht result. Even if the rimmel by Etude is a little dry, I think I’ll buy it again because it could be a flaw of just this sample.
Dear My Blooming Lips-talk
I have chosen this lipstick because I’ve used it before thanks to the purchase made by our friend Miria in Japan, and I find it very good. Personally, I’ve always had problems with lips products: I only use a chapstick specific for herpes issues and I don’t like sticky textures or product that makes my lip dry. This lipstick is perfect for me: I can’t even feel it on my lips!
The colour is “adaptable”, in fact to obtain the full colour you need to apply it a few times and for me this is a good thing because it’s like I have more shades on one. Needless to say that the packaging is beautiful with attention to the smallest details, from the exterior box to the little heart stamped on the lipstick. An advice for Etude: you should suggest the ideal lip pencil for each colour. Sad note: compared to the Asian market, the shades available, as well as the choice of products, is smaller.
Missing U Hand Cream
Pure delight! Adorable pack and design, amazing smell, good texture… The only flaw is that it ends too quickly (and I’m not even a hand cream abuser). But seen the kind of package I’ve refilled it with another cream (not so good) that I’ve received at Christmas.
Lastly, here is our usual video unboxing. Beside showing you better the products and their characteristics, you will found also our votes in “stars” for each of them. Did you have shopping at Etude House as well? Tell us your experience in the comments! 🙂