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It was somewhere around mid of 2010 that this online shopping era started dawning on to India. Before that there were very few players like Rediff shopping or Indiaplaza who have sadly lost themselves in the competition. Come 2011 these was this sudden wave of online shopping catching up among the masses. By 2012 we could see a new online shopping site up every single day. Even the popular stores where we loved shopping had their own online shopping sites (Shoppers Stop, FabIndia).
Today early 2013 we are spoilt for choice. We don’t have to search for a product on a particular site. All we have to do is google the product and find which site gives the best offer for it.
Since I shop online mainly for make-up and beauty products I have compiled a few sites that I have some across. I have categorized them based on Popularity and the ones I have used, the ones that are new entrants in the market and the hi-end brand sellers that cater to India. Yes, these sites cater to India also.
I have penned in my thoughts about these sites and some of my experience while shopping with them. Hope you find it useful.
Front runners and leaders (Popular – Tried and tested sites)
UrbanTouch.com – The numero uno site for make up and beauty product as of today. Its the most popular site among beauty junkie’s buying online. They sell most Indian and easily available in India Foreign brands. The uniqueness of their service is the signature packaging in which the parcel is sent to its customers. Their products are sent in an Urban Touch branded hard cardboard boxes. The advantages, the products reach you safely, neatly packed and those boxes can be used to store your make-up in. I have loads for them.
HealthKart.com – It’s mainly a site that provides health related products. Another popular site which offers most Indian and easily available in India Foreign brands of Make-up and Beauty Products. I have been lucky to find some great deals on this site too. Like Nyx blushes were the cheapest on this site.
MedPlusBeauty.com – Primarily a site that caters to health related products but has good stock of beauty and make-up products. I got lucky with a few good shampoo, conditioner deals with them.
Jabong.com – The Mr. Popular among the online shopping brigade with its quirky ads. Yes they sell some beauty products too. USP – They sell Makeup Academy – MUA. MUA is a UK based cosmetic company with great quality products for really cheap prices. How I wish they sold MUA earlier coz MUA has a dupe for Urban Decay’s NAKED2 palette. Yes, my beauties search for MUA Undressed palette. You love me for this right? 
Myntra.com – Great for clothes shopping. Beauty and Makeup products are not well stocked.
Flipkart.com – We all know Flipkart for its great mobile and laptop deals. But don’t miss out on their make-up stock. They are well stocked and offer great discounts. I have shopped a lot from Flipkart for my book and cosmetics. They have very prompt delivery services and good customer service.
MAJORBRANDS.com – They sell only the products they have introduced in India. Like Charles and Keith, Bebe , Mango , Aldo, Giordano, La Senza and Inglot. Inglot is the only make brand they sell. And Inglot is available online only on this site.
Shoppers Stop – Our favourite departmental store since ages. I grew up shopping at this store before their where any malls or any online shopping. I still prefer shopping in their real store rather than virtual store. They always give you the best customer relationship when you visit them. I have had great bondings with Shoppers Stop.
Yebhi.com – They have a basic collection of bath and beauty products. Not very good for makeup products. Mainly sell clothing and accessories.
Perfum2Order.com – As the name suggests its more of a perfume selling site with some beauty and makeup products.
homeshop18.com – They sell a few selected Indian and easily available in India cosmetics and beauty brands like Colobar, Sally Hansen, Konad. But they don’t really have an entire range of any product I guess.
indiaplaza.com – One of those first online sites I ever shopped from. I remember I bought my first online perfume from. I was a wonderful experience J Coming to cosmetics they need to do a lot of catching up with the newbies in the trade.
snapdeal.com – Spot your best deals on this site. Why don’t they give super deals on cosmetics too??? 
naaptol.com – Very little cosmetics option mainly Lakme and Revlon . They have a few beauty products options too
shopping.rediff.com – They have some anonymous looking makeup kits. I am scared to use those.
bigbasket.com – Well they are a great site for Groceries , Veggies and other Home stuff, but have a very limited range of beauty products. No Cosmetics at all.
Newbies in the market (Not so popular – Not tried yet)
These are the new entrants in the online shopping market. I haven’t tried any of these yet. But have come across these through online ads. Maybe in my next blog will write about them if I continue shopping like a manic 
(I just bought 2 blushes and 2 Eyeliner pencils , online today. I must be mad. Review coming soon). Has anyone tried any of these yet?
- purplle.com
- 365gorgeous.in
- grabmore.in
- koolkart.com
- buymebeauty.com
- tradus.com
- cosmetix.in
- browsecart.com
- justshecosmetics.com
- nykaa.com
- coollifeshop.com
- goodlife.com
- slassy.com
- khoobsurati.com
- violetbag.com
High End Brand shopping
These are the doors to heaven. They are the only point of access to the inaccessible. All the lovely beauties in the little jars, tubes and bottles that you lust for and crave for can be bought on the below sites. Most of they accept credit cards and paypal accounts. Yes ! Yes ! Yes! They deliver to India
A few tips for online shopping:
- Where ever possible opt for a COD option and refrain from paying in advance with netbanking or credit cards. It’s the best way to ensure you get your products in good condition and your money is not stuck. Specially if you trying a site for the first time or if it’s not a very popular site.
- We have ample options these days and most of the brands are available on multiple sites. Always compare the prices on different sites to get the best deal.
- For make –up shopping always google for swatches and reviews. This will give you clear idea about the product.
- Check the return policy before you place the order. You don’t want to end up with your money wasted on things you don’t want.
- While shopping for hi-end brands that are not easily available in India check the original prices in dollars/euros and convert. You would not want to end up paying multiple times its cost for shipping it into India.
You might like reading these also:-
- Sigma Lip Brush L05 Review
- Tips And Tricks Shopping During The Sale Season
- Elle 18 Glossy Lipz Lip Balm in Cherry Review & Swatches
- How To Prevent Foundation From Looking White Or Unnatural
- Must Have Kryolan Products
- MAC Natural Flirt Eyeshadow Review & Swatches
- Urban Decay Ink For Eyes Zero(Black Reviews
- Sigma Precision Tapered P86 Brush Review
- OOTD – Emerald And pink
very useful post!
Thanks Tapaswini!
MissBoPeep recently posted..MAC opens first PRO Store in India
just cant have enough of online shopping..Taps what to do..i always fall short of things.
Anu, This is gooood… Compiled well.
especially for online shopping lovers..
How was weekend Vineetha and where have yur 4 mac blush reached..?
Thanks Vineetha. Glad you liked.
MissBoPeep recently posted..MAC opens first PRO Store in India
You are such an online person..i love these kind of people..
My fav is UT, Medplusbeauty, cosmetix, flipkart and even snapdeal
Not UT any more..they have some how lost it some where .
even me feel it so, they have stopped introducing new make up products and have started stressing on other things like jewelry, dresses, footwear etc
They have also stooped putting offers
i know..they have been bought by fashion and you so they changed their strategy.
Anu, Totally agree with you. Once the first site i ever went to was UT, Somewhere in between I know the changed their strategy and all, I dont buy from them anymore. The nail in the coffin was when i brought a makeup mirror from them and it came all scratched and looking 10 yr old. It was also packed the same way Black box and bubble wraps. So…
i know..Fashion & you sells lot of old products ..
Whoa!! great compilations…kudos Miss_BoPeep…love your screen name
aonecentlife recently posted..RIP
Hi Vaish..how u doing babes? whats up on weight loss front ?
Ohh!! its so terrible to start with a heavy monday…damn!!! I have a new post (almost) ready and it will give you the updates Ana….yippeee
I could jump up with joy for the udpate
aonecentlife recently posted..RIP
YEYEYE! Waiting ..
Thanks all for the encouragement!! Love to write more for u all.
MissBoPeep recently posted..MAC opens first PRO Store in India
I have shopped from Violetbag and Goodlife. I had a good experience.
Violetbag has a variety of products especially products from Elle 18 which are not available in most e-commerce sites.
About Goodlife, I have combined the beauty product orders with baby products from Firstcry. Did not have an issues. I have read about your experience about Firstcry and a little apprehensive about ordering from them now.
Pranjali..thing with online shopping is..if you are lucky you will get all the stuff but if you are stuck then there is no where to go .isn’t?
So true
in the newbies, u gotta try purplle… amazing service and quality of products..
supriya recently posted..A Natural Giveaway
I am BMing this page… so i knw if i dont find something at one site ..i can check out the other sites…
Great post..A!
thas by miss bo peep but its quite a help
I cudnt find the MUA undressed palette. Help
Super post n like a one stop t find The products v luv
hi,
i have shopped from purplle.com, slassy, nykaa, goodlife, violet bag from ur second list.. all r very gooood. my favs are UT, Flipkart and slassy. And yes i pay thru COD
Now i shop regularly from medplusbeauty, goodlife and flipkart regularly, even snapdeal when they had flat 50% off on makeup, urbantouch, healthkart, fashion n u, long time forgotten, i also shopped recently from pretty secrets, its really good
Love these kinda compilations! Very useful and thanks for this post
shruthi V recently posted..Random EOTD on a boring afternoon
Pleasure is all ours
I know y u like these kinds of compikation..because u r makeuppedia .lolz
nice compilation… i’ve shopped from ut, first cry, medplusbeauty.. is there so many newbies..
dont knw abt them..
wow…..such an useful post…..but i don’t do online shopping
SERIOUSLY..AND WHATS THE REASON ?
my parents askd me nt 2 do so
Anu recently posted..My Weight Loss After C Section
hi tried beauty.com long back but they need you to be member with myUS do they ship to india directly btw thanks got my illamasqa lipsticks love atomic
i have shopped from vilotbag and goodlife 4-5 times … they are good.
i ordered my sony ebook reader from grabmore.it is a fab site with cash on delivery.
Do indian sites have good return policy? I think indian business especially huge corporates work on fraud principles and their ability to con people into buying their products.When one reads the fine print it seems more of a headache to return and a hassle. Indian shopping reality – both online and in person is very poor customer service and arrogance and things are usually exchanged and not returned. In India one should think 10 times before buying anything .I have always been given a hard time in stores and malls when i went to return stuff even when the shopkeeper sold me defective stuff in the first place.I usually have to prepare myself for an argument or a fight because the traditional customer service response are so standard and meaningless and pure lies.There is only seller’s arrogance in india – no customer service.The buyer is misinformed ,missold and if he is not alert cheated on price and quality.
Zee Bee recently posted..women and Public space
I am trying to buy Macadamia oil products. can someone please help me out as in which site can I buy it from at a cheaper price with international shipping. You guys have a lot of online shopping experience naa please help me out
u can check on feelunique.com. i havent seen on Indian site as such.
Is it safe to buy from beauty bay.com