YesStyle.com – A Dubai Expat Shopper’s Review

I am both a stereotypical Chinese cheapskate and a huge fan of online shopping.

Aside from the obvious comfort of shopping in, say, your own bed, online shopping also allows you to switch between shops and compare the best prices, find outfits with less probability of running into another person wearing the exact same piece (as opposed to the mannequin-modeled mall displays)…

… And my personal favorite: not having to talk to overly-helpful sales people.

The fact is, market strategists purposely design megastores to dull the senses with labyrinthine displays and a bajillion in-store merchandise; the shopper is then unconsciously herded to the cashier and exits the store with barely a memory why she got another pair of jeggings.

Online shops may pop up some ads in the unlikeliest of places, but their manipulation is limited to just that – suggestions (which are very easily warded off with a click of the top “X” button — significantly unlike finding Ikea’s exit).

The Shop

I “discovered” YesStyle in much the same way: a random ad popping up in a random place.

YesStyle mainly specializes in Korean, Japanese, and Chinese products. The website is designed to be straight-cut and easily navigated, but one hour is not enough to browse through all of YesStyle’s beauty products, fashion pieces, accessories, footwear, and yes, even a home and lifestyle section.

Shopping for the whole family. Pets included! (Buy this pet raincoat for $25)

It helped a lot that I had already been eyeing on some quirky Asian stuff off the internet.

The List

Shopping Item #1: An iPhone 5S Liquid Glitter Case

Okay, this one I had been debating with myself for months, because sure, it’s pretty, but it’s also very very impractical. If I drop my phone (or when I drop my phone), it’s bye-bye phone case and phone.

–Which is why I wasn’t keen on purchasing a liquid glitter case from a Dubai-based online shop (the few ones that actually have it sell it between AED 40 to 75 apiece!). But can you guess how much YesStyle’s selling this for?

USD 4.90.

Yes, AED 20.

SOLD!

Shopping Item #2: Panda Sleeping Eye Mask

The genius combination of my spirit animal and my favorite pastime made purchasing a panda sleeping eye mask a natural reflex action.

I’ve been using it on and off for a week now, and though it makes me look equal parts funny and cute, it’s not the most comfortable eye mask I’ve owned.

The garter is not nearly big enough to fit my average-sized head, and the fleece-type cloth is too warm for the Dubai summer but too thin to completely block out the light.

But for just USD 2.61 (or AED 10), it’s still a great – if not practical – find.

Shopping Item #3: Etude House Face Blur

I know the airbrushed models of Korean makeup ads are unrealistic beauty goals, but that hasn’t stopped me from always going on the hunt for the holy grail of skin perfection.

Etude House Face Blur came in highly recommended by Asian beauty bloggers. Its baby light formula works real-life miracles on T-zone pores, all with that distinctly Korean dewy skin finish.

And though I’m not so bold as to post a full review of the product (you know, complete with those before and after shots), you’ll have to take my word for it.

Girls (okay, and guys) with other skin issues may not like Face Blur’s minimal coverage as much, but if you’re like me and your only skin problems are pores and occasional red patches, it’s a real treat.

Whereas a Dubai-based online shop would cost me AED 70 per bottle, YesStyle practically gave it away for just USD 11.96 (or AED 45).

Shopping Item #4: Heel-To-Toe Glitter Platform Pumps

There’s a major event coming up, and I have been planning my OOTD (Outfit for That Day) for almost half a year now.

For the love of inside irony, I’ve decided to make my feet the crowning glory by purchasing a pair of Cinderella-inspired shoes.

These platform pumps may not be made of glass, but they are sprinkled with glitter from heel-to-toe creating a fairy tale illusion just as lovely.

And at just USD 44.91 (or AED 167), I easily bought it without summoning my absentee fairy godmother.

The Purchase

With an extra 10% discount for first-time shoppers (just type coupon code YESSTYLE upon checkout), I racked up a bill of just USD 66.99 (AED 201).

What killed me was the express shipping rate of USD 22 (AED 82) because the UAE is part of Region IV, and since YesStyle ships from its warehouse in Hong Kong, shipping to the Middle East is considerably pricier compared to other regions (there’s an exhaustive guide to all things shipment on their website).

The good news is, with a total bill of just USD 35, you are already eligible for free standard shipping to the UAE.

But for my first YesStyle purchase, I opted for the USD 22 express shipping, because aside from being shipped faster, I also get a tracking number (and peace of mind).

There are multiple payment options including PayPal, but I paid by credit card, because I am armed with a scam-proof prepaid card which I use exclusively for online shopping.

The Delivery

This is it, the deal maker or the deal breaker: How fast is YesStyle’s delivery exactly?

The website promises 3-5 working days’ shipment for the express option and 7-30 working days’ shipment for the standard option.

But that is only after all of the items have reached the Hong Kong warehouse, and some items take up to 14 days to become available.

To be fair, they do clearly indicate if the item is already on-hand and ready to ship.

In my case, most of my items were not on-hand, so I waited for a couple of weeks for my package to arrive.

I placed my order on 24 June, and they got here on 9 July – not bad considering I was expecting them at a much later date.

As this was also my first international shipment here in Dubai, I braced myself for additional taxes (which always punched me in the gut back when I was Ebaying from the Philippines), but NOPE! No taxes or additional payments, alhamdulillah!

So there you have it.

A totally honest, non-sponsored review of YesStyle.com.

Go ahead and click on the link — just don’t lose your head (or budget).