Having my own online store can be quite taxing, believe me. When I started out with Lauren I thought that it wouldn't be too hard since I've been shopping online for some time now, and thus have experience. It was not too long until I found out that managing an online store could be a nightmare - supplying, taking care of the logistics, demanding customers - the list is endless! We have a shopping cart store though so it's a little easier.

It's for sellers like me that Platform2U made their advanced e-commerce platform called SMilDS. It's a comprehensive online shopping system that provides you with a user-friendly CMS (Content Management System), allowing you to upload content, customize your store's design, organize orders, basically manage your website. It also provides logistics solutions in terms of payments and shipping - your buyers can pay you through credit cards and other mainstream means, and SMilDS is affiliated with the major shipping companies as well. It has customer support that monitors your sales too.

The starter kit with the manual and CD. SMilDS also provides their own debit card for customers! 

The popular Korean skincare and makeup brand is now in the Philippines! Etude House is best known for its blemish balm creams and powder compacts that fans swear improve the appearance of their skin. To be honest I never got on the BB cream band wagon since I thought that they’re just glorified tinted moisturizers, but when the well-known BB cream brand landed in Megamall (Mega A, Upper Ground Level), near where I work, I just HAD to pay a visit.

The items inside the boxes are Christmas gifts. For myself, I got a BB Magic Cream(P598) and the Surprise Essence Concealer (P298). Since my purchase exceeded P1,000, I got a free eyelash curler. 

You know what’s awesome about the store? The items are not overpriced! In fact, I’d say the stuff they sell are cheap compared to The Face Shop, Elianto, and Skin Food. Your P1,000 pesos wil go a long, long way in this place. For example, their cheapest blushes are only around P248, retractable eyeliners at P128, single eyeshadows at P148, makeup removers at P198, and nail polishes ranging from P48 to P98. 

The Precious Mineral BB Cream is P698, BB Magic Cream with SPF 30 is P598, and the BB Magic Cream Refreshing and Moisturizing variants are P548.

I’ve been using the BB cream and concealer I got these past few days and I must say, I like them! Reviews to follow, of course. In the meantime I’ll be coming back to Etude House to get the white retractable eyeliner and maybe take a closer look at their powders. 

So, what do you think about Etude? Tried any of their items?