Space.NK Customer Service

Hey Guys & Dolls

I've been away working some crazy hours (as in, 3 night shifts in a row, ergh!) and i've also had a huuuge pile of studying to contend with in between working, eating and catching up on sleep. Oh how its lucky i love my job.

So after my little moan/rant on twitter about the poor service i received in Space.NK, they got in touch with me and we had a good old chin-wag about it all. First of all, the customer service team are actually lovely - the nicest i have come in to contact with in a long time. They were quick to respond, very polite and totally apologetic. I was really touched by just how attentive they were. So - BIG round of applause to them!

As i said, we had a discussion about my experience and everything was resolved. Its nice to be told that all comments are passed up the food-chain (i can't think of a better word? You know what i mean!) and i was even given the names of the Big Bosses for my area. 

Literally the day after we had spoken, a parcel turned up at my front door. Now, this doesn't happen often so i was VERY curious and thought maybe i had a secret admirer ;) But alas - i do not. *awww*

HOWEVER - it was a large box which contained a few goodies from Space.NK. Now, i was TOTALLY excited about this, especially as it was unexpected. The box contained some skin care goodies which i'm DEF going to review as they are beautiful. As i said, this was totally out of the blue, and goes to show just how much Space.NK value their customers. They really didn't have to do that, but it was such a lovely gesture.

So all in all, my experience with Space.NK as a company has been fantastic - the Customer Service Team are genuinely lovely, helpful people. 

Have you ever had experiences with Customer Services that has really surprised you - for better or worse?

Space.NK

Hey guuurls!! Hope you all had a lovely weekend and HAPPY MID-WEEK!!

Unfortunately i have been working the past 10000 days (it feels like that anyway) And my first day off was yesterday. Que - Shopping time!

It's a close friend's 21st this week so i met another Med student girlfriend of mine and we had a spot of lunch in town, and went browsing for a present. We ended up in Pandora - surprise surprise! We planned to buy a penguin charm, but Pandora have discontinued them which is a shame as they were so cute! So instead we bought her a "dangly" 21 charm. 

I should of stopped the spending there and then, however i knew Space.NK was around the corner.. big mistake! Firstly, after the terrible service i had in there last time, i shouldn't of gone back. However, they are the only retailer in this area that sells Nars and i HAD to purchase something. So, back i went. I should of learnt my lesson. Again, the service i received was just as terrible as last time *sigh*. I went hunting for Albatross - i HAD to get my hands on it - i read about it everywhere and its just so beautiful. I asked the assistant (a different one to last time) if they had any and she answered with "i dont know." So i requested (politely!) that she have a look for me. She huffed and puffed, rolled her eyes...... and then walked the 5 paces to the cupboard. Honestly, anyone would think i asked her to climb a mountain! When she returned with the albatross, she literally threw it down at the till point! I also purchased a Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil (Frivolous) and asked about their foundations. She told me they were fantastic, but before i asked - no they don't do samples. As a matter of fact, i wasn't even going to ask about samples - i was simply going to ask which foundation she would recommend for a dewy finish! However, i decided i couldn't be bothered to argue so purchased just my Highligher and Lip Pencil.

Again, this left me in such a foul mood. I know - i had a bad experience first time around, but like i said before, nowhere else in this area sells NARS and i was simply desperate to get my hands on Albatross!

Half of me is tempted to email the customer service department at Space.NK and inform them about my bad experiences, but the other half of me says don't rock the boat. I don't think its fair that these shop assistants treat their customers the way they do in there - so much for customer satisfaction! Its people like them, that give other shop assistance's a bad name, which isn't on! 

On a brighter note, i now have my laptop back and working (YAY!) so i can do a full review on my beauuutiful new Albatross and Lip Pencil. 

Has anyone else had a terrible shopping experience? How did you manage the situation? 

My Identity

So i know that most Bloggers will happily tell you their names and post pictures of themselves. However, i'm different. 

I received a message asking why i'm "hiding" behind a "false identity". Instead of replying to the message i thought i'd post on here, so nobody would have to ask me again and it might answer some of your questions!

There is nothing "false" about me, aside from my Username. I'm not "hiding" behind the username, i just don't feel comfortable publishing my real name and any photos of myself. I study a form of medicine, i am regulated by a Professional Body and there are strict rules about Social Media. I don't think i would be able to reveal my "true identity" as i would be worried about any backlash. Not for what i post - everything i post is my own opinion, but i don't want to rock the boat with my Professional Body. I have heard numerous stories of other medical/nursing students having complaints filed against them for being Unprofessional.

Again, i won't be posting anything regarding my job, my status in the medical profession, or thoughts/views on my job. 

I just don't want to risk it. Unfortunantly there are people out there that will go out of their way to try and cause you problems, and as much as i love beauty and products, i love my job more and have worked hard to get to where i am today.

So if you think i'm "hiding" by not posting my true name or photographs, then that's your own opinion, which you are entitled to have. But at least now i have told everybody why i am using an anonymous username, and i believe my reasons are valid. 

Obviously i would love to be able to use my real name, and if i happen to make friends via beauty blogging, then of course i would tell you my real name!! However currently as things stand, i'm more than happy to "hide" behind a username.

I hope this has cleared a few things up - if anybody has any questions then please feel free to ask. Just please don't accuse me of being fake and hiding, because i'm not!

Have a great weekend girlies xx

Barry M - "Denim"

My latest obsession is Nail Polish. Despite not being allowed to wear it at work, i seem to have accumulated a rather large stash of various brands. Even if i only have 1 day off, i HAVE to paint my nails; i feel naked without a splash of colour on them. 

I popped in to Superdrug for a few essentials the other day and left with the Barry M shade "Denim". 

I'm a huge fan of all these new nail effects and i love the look of the Denim & Stud's from Nails Inc. However at the moment i cannot justify spending lots of money on these higher-branded products as i'm not wearing them as much as i would like :(

So yes, i bought "Denim" (325) from Barry M as it was 2 polishes for £5, so i also bought a lovely pink shade "Fuchsia" (302). As if i need any excuse to buy any products, but seeing the 2 for £5 made me feel better about it!

So this shade isn't labeled as an "effect" but i think it applies like one, so that's what it is to me! I LOVE this polish. I understand its been around a fair time, so isn't a new product as such, but i have only just discovered it. I normally wear Nails Inc or Rimmel polishes, but couldn't resist this shade. I only applied one coat on Monday, it's now Wednesday night and this polish hasn't chipped at all. I didn't have time to apply a top coat either so i'm very impressed! It goes on matte, but as i was in a rush i had a few squirts of a Quick Dry Nail Spray which made it look glossy, but either way it looks lovely. I'm really impressed with this shade, as some of the other Barry M shades i have used in the past had to have at least 2 coats applied for a good finish. I honestly cannot fault this in any way, its a fantastic price and looks lovely. A few of my friends have asked where i got it from as they really like it, which is a bonus. I really wanted to get a swatch up of this shade but unfortunately my precious laptop is broken, and i don't think the university would be overly happy with me using their computers to upload my beauty pictures!

I haven't used the other shade i bought yet, as i'm now working through to Tuesday. However, after that i'll be sure to get another review up! 

NARS Blusher - Orgasm

I have some sad news... my Laptop has gone kerput! So unfortunatly i'm having to blog from the University computer's, and obviously my camera isn't set up for this, so i can't swatch. **Sad Face**

I had a rare day off yesterday and ended up in:  Space.NK. 

Now, I'm fairly new to the area as i only moved here to study, so i'm still finding my feet and also the shops! As luck would have it, i was SO super happy to come across Space.NK! It literally made my day! In every other store i have always spent a lot of money and had fantastic service, so i was slightly upset and frustrated by my experience in this store. It was early morning and a week day, so the shops were quiet (lovely!) however, from the moment i entered the store i was received with a quick glance from one shop assistant, and the other looked me up and down! So i didn't feel instantly at home like i do in other Space.NK's. Not a good start! I was planning to spend a while browsing and checking out some new products, but as i didn't feel very welcome i literally made my purchase and left. Such a shame.

ANYWAY - i had the tough decision of "Orgasm or Super Orgasm" ... for those of you that have never used this brand, i am of course talking about NARS! The majority of their products have saucy names, which i think its fantastic. 

I have used both of these blushers in the past, and cannot decide which one i prefer! I was planning to sample both of them whilst i was there and way up the pro's & con's of each of them, however due to the atmosphere i didn't feel like i could, so i settled for Orgasm. 

Of course, this shade is their best selling blusher and absolutely beautiful, so it was no hardship having to purchase one! 

As you can see, it's an absolutely beautiful shade. I have tried a lot of blushers and seem to butterfly from one to the next as i can never settle on one that i'm really happy with; apart from Orgasm. I love how it is so soft and gives you a healthy happy glow. Its perfect for me, as i can have a quick sweep of it for work, then layer it up for drinks after work! I find that just 2 layers give me a delicious intense glow that is perfect.. it's not obvious and doesn't give you that "dirty" streak that some blushers can, it blends in perfectly. 

It RRP's for £21 which is quite steep, but i can't help but purchase it time and time again! Next time i will def be getting Super Orgasm though, as that is equally as beautiful!

Have you tried any of the naughty-named NARS products? What would you recommend? 

My All Time Favourite Make-Up Products

So, kicking off my first "proper" beauty post. I thought i'd give you all a quick run down of my favourite make-up products ever. As in, those products that i swear by, that i am always recommending to people, that i have about a thousand of them lying around my house and in various handbags. They're also the products that i can turn to if i'm having a "blergh" day - where my skin isn't great, i'm tired from working too much/long, and i just need something to give me that instant pick-me-up to boost my confidence and make me feel a bit better about facing the world! This is purely my all time favourite make-up products, and i hope to do another post featuring my favourite skin-care products at a later date.

First Up... Lacome - LA Base Pro 

I wouldn't dream of putting my make-up on without this little beauty. I first discovered it when visiting a Lancome counter to buy their Cils Booster (more on that later) and now i am absolutely hooked.

Lancome state that "skin feels re-surfaced, leaving a non-greasy film, as if a second skin", and i would agree with every word.

You only need the smallest amount for the whole face, and it glides on effortlessly. Due to this, one bottle will last me approximately a month and a half and i use it every day without fail. 

I work 12-13 hour shifts, and i find that this holds my make-up in place all day.

It RRP's for £27 on the Lancome website, which is also the same price on Feel Unique.com. As this product lasts me for so long, i don't mind paying that amount for it. However, if anybody knows where to find it cheaper - let me know!

Mac - Pro Longwear Concealer 

Another fab buy. I have very temperamental skin, which can break-out overnight. I first purchased this in New York, i wasn't in need of a concealer at that point however the MUA insisted that i couldn't be without, and she was right! You only need the smallest amount for a lot of coverage, and it is true to its name - it stays on all day. I find the colour suits me perfectly, which i'm pretty impressed with as i have really pale skin. It glides on nicely, and isn't so thick that it looks "cakey". It has just the right consistancy to cover up any redness and blemishes. 

For a poor student living off of a budget, the RRP of £14.50 seems quite pricey, but just like the Lancome primer, a little bit goes a long way and the current bottle i have has lasted me  a fair while! 

Benefit - HighBeam

Wow. This can give you cheekbones that you don't have, it makes your eyes sparkle and lightens up your whole face. I discovered this many years ago, and have been obsessed with it ever since. I would hazard a guess that i've worked my way through about 5 or 6 bottles of the stuff! It is b-e-a-uuuutiful. 

There are so many uses for this, and i think i've tried most of them! If i've had a terrible shift at work, or been studying for a ridiculous amount of hours and my skin needs a huge boost, then i'll mix a few drops of HighBeam with whatever foundation is my latest find. it lightens and brightens your whole face, giving you a gorgeous glow. I tend to do small drops of it along the tops of my cheekbones to make them really "pop", and also underneath the arch of my eyebrow and the outer corner of my eyes, to make them look even whiter and brighter. It gives a fantastic shimmer which shows up in Photos, so this is a key product for nights out.  Basically a fantastic buy that i thoroughly recommend to everybody! There is also a golden version called MoonBeam, which looks amazing on olive/tanned skin, however as i said, i'm fairly pale so MoonBeam is perfect for my complexion. This currently RRP's for £18.50 from Benefit

Lancome - Cils Booster

Another Lancome product to hit my All Time Favourites. I have no idea how i stumbled across this little gem, but i am SO glad i did. Just like the LA Pro Base Primer,i wouldn't dream of putting on my mascara without Cils Booster first. It's a white (yes, white!) mascara which you apply before your normal mascara. It's been enriched with XL Micro-primers to protect your lashes, and also enhances the colour of your mascara. Since wearing it, i have found that it gives my lashes a HUGE boost (which is much needed, i detest my eye lashes) and makes my lashes look much longer. I tend to chop and change mascara's on a weekly basis, however this is one staple item that i cannot do without. Again, it is quite pricey at £20.00 but i don't care, i cannot apply mascara without it. I have tried various other lash-primer, but i always end up disappointed in them and come running straight back to Cils Booster!

Rimmel London - Lasting Finish

The ultimate in lipsticks. I have yet to find another lipstick which does what it says on the tin - Last. Please, recommend others to me if you have found some, however this is the only lipstick i have tried that actually stays put! I've got various colours (Nude Pink, Heartbreaker, Pink Blush) but my absolute favourite shade is 004 - Indulgence. Its a gorgeous shade of bright pink, one that i can wear everyday, yet one that also looks gorgeous on a night out. I think i've had about 3 of these? And at £4.99 each, you can't really go wrong! The one thing i would recommend is that your lips are smooth and soft before you apply - as with all lipsticks, its not a good look if you have cracked lips as the colour tends to stick in all the wrong places! (Also, i don't know about others, but i find the actual lipstick has a fruity scent?!) 

If you have tried any of these products, what do you think of them? Any hints & tips you'd like to share? Or any products you want to recommend - i always welcome new ideas!

Lotsa Love xXx

Newbie Alert!

Hi Guys & Dolls.. Newbie over here!

Just a quick intro about myself before we get down to the nitty gritty..

I'm a 24yo Female living in the South East of England. I'm currently studying Medicine at University, which i love, however my one true love is Make-up <3 

I was fortunate enough to work for a higher-end cosmetics company a few years ago, and through that i got absolutely addicted to make-up. 

I currently have the biggest make-up case ever, and also 2 vanity drawers which are teeming with products - not just make-up, but also skin care, hair care and my latest vice; nail polish.

A lot of people always comment that i'm "too glam" for medicine, but i don't agree. I'm just your average girl looking to make the best of what God blessed her with! (And what he didn't bless me with, i can always fake with my various products!)

I hope you enjoy my posts, i aim to be as frequent as possible, however due to my studies i may miss a few days.. i apologise in advance for this. 

I want to credit this blog to the lovely British Beauty Blogger who totally inspired me to do this. I feel it's only fair that us girlies get a frank and honest opinion/view on the various products out there.. so the more of us that can provide those opinions, the better! That gives us all the perfect background reading before we go and spend (potentially) a lot of money on products that may not be as fabulous as the companies let them on to be!

Anyway, i hope you enjoy my blogs and that they come in handy somewhere along the line. Feel free to drop me an email and i'll aim to respond as and when i'm not drowning in books in the University Library 

Lotsa Love,  MSB xXx