Before you head out to stock up on your favourite makeup and skincare, prep yourself for some of the changes to expect at the beauty stores.
You know the drill. Safe Entry check-ins are mandatory to help with contact tracing. So have your mobile phone ready to scan the QR code. Also expect the usual pre-entry temperature screening. And mask up.
Nothing beats heading out to buy something only to find that the store is closed. So check beforehand if the store has changed its opening hours.
Kiehl’s, for one, has confirmed that its stores will be operating at reduced hours for now: 11am to 9pm at Ion Orchard; at Vivocity, 11am to 8pm on weekdays, 10am to 10pm, on Fri to Sun, public holidays and eve of public holidays.
To prevent overcrowding, stores will allow only a certain number of people (both customers and staff) at any one time. So be prepared to queue outside to enter.
For example, The Body Shop reckons that four to eight people would be the store’s limit, while Skin Inc says its Ion Orchard concept store can accommodate six people, while its Junction 8 outlet will be able to take five.
And when you’re inside the store, the 1-metre safe distancing rule applies.
Besides removing product testers, other services such as product demonstrations, makeover services and skincare consultations will be suspended.
Yes, we know, a big part of being a beauty junkie is the thrill of experiencing the above at the store. The beauty stores know this and have come up with alternatives for you.
How will you know if the product is suitable for you? The good ol’ way, by approaching the staff to get your questions answered.
At the same time, The Body Shop and Skin Inc are going one step further: you can ask for sample sachets to try the products at home (subject to availability, of course).
Sephora too, has come up with creative ways to make your in-store shopping experience enjoyable and safe. When you’re inside the store, you can use their Scan to Interact feature on Sephora’s mobile app (available on the App Store or Google Play). Scan the product’s barcode or a QR code in that area of the store, to bring up product information and reviews.
To minimise contact risks, stores are encouraging contactless payment methods. So make sure your Pay Wave, Apple Pay or Grab Pay are enabled.
It’s fine if you’re not venturing out just yet too. You can still get your hands on your favourite skincare and makeup products via various e-commerce platforms and home delivery services.
The Sephora mobile app has a feature called Virtual Artist, which uses facial recognition technology to allow you to “try” on everything from lipsticks to eyeliners and different foundation shades, to see which suit you best. If you like what you see, you can click-to-buy right away.
At Skin Inc, you can visit their website (www.iloveskininc.com.sg) to get product information via videos and tutorials. The Body Shop, on the other hand, has launched weekly IG Live broadcasts (@thebodyshopsg) to share live product demonstrations.
You can also make use of the brands’ beauty e-concierge services that allow you to speak with a consultant before purchasing. These services include home delivery as well.