If you live in Australia, I am sure you have heard of Mecca. For the most part, the brand is very well-loved and I have had nothing but friendly experiences with staff instore and online service. Every quarter, Mecca gives out a free beauty loop box as part of its loyalty program. The contents depends on your level which is based on your yearly spend at Mecca (reviewed annually).
Level 1 – $300 – $599.99 spend per year
Level 2 – $600 – $1199.99 spend per year
Level 3 – $1200+ spend per year
Mecca also has a range of other gifts depending on what level you are which include: birthday gifts, complimentary makeup sessions & events, early access to releases, etc.
I want to point out that the beauty loop box can be picked up in store (no purchase necessary) or online. Because of the lockdown in Melbourne, no Mecca stores are opened forcing people to make an online order ($25 for free shipping) which i think sucks. There should have been a way around this because it seems really unfair for people in Victoria regarding an issue outside their control. I always pick up my box and leave and I would hate the idea of being forced to buy something to get my freebie.
I did read that people should pick up a $25 gift card if they’re ordering online which is so smart.
For now, let’s jump into the contents of the box I picked up. For reference, I am level 3 and picked this up at Mecca Cosmetica Bondi Junction (Sydney).
- Hourglass Caution Mascara 3.5g
- Kiehl’s Line Reducing Concentrate 5ml
- Dr Dennis Gross Stress Repair Face Cream 7ml
- Malin + Goetz Eucalyptus Deodorant 5.1g
I thought it would also be interesting to do a total value calculation of the box. Considering that you spend at least $1200 a year on makeup/skincare- hello.
- Hourglass Caution Mascara $46 for 9.4g $17.13
- Kiehl’s Line Reducing Concentrate 5ml $105 for 50ml $10.50
- Dr Dennis Gross Stress Repair Face Cream 7ml $115 for 60ml $13.42
- Malin + Goetz Eucalyptus Deodorant 5.1g $35 for 73g $2.45
Total Value of Level 3 Beauty Loop Box $43.50
To be honest, I was pretty disappointed with the box and the value and I usually am pretty happy with it. Ugh I don’t need another mascara and tbh I was pretty surprised it actually had the most value.
Level 3 does seem to incline towards skincare products which is a personal preference. I have been more into skincare but I used to only really buy makeup. Since my mum uses my Mecca card, I do attribute the majority of my spending and hence my rewards to my mum and not me. I usually give away the skincare samples or samples I’m not interested in to my mum.
Thus, I don’t really have an opinion on either the Kiehl’s or Dr Dennis. I don’t really use any products from either brand. I did try the Kiehl Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado and it did nothing.
The deodorant was the most useful to me. I go to the gym very often so it’s perfect. I was surprised at how little value the sample was (i guess it’s just deodorant) and the eucalyptus smell is quite potent so I don’t think I’ll pick up the full size.
Whilst the products differ depending on your level, they also differ store to store. Therefore, my Level 3 box may be different than someone else’s. Mecca will post the possible products in the box which gives you a bit of an idea of what to expect. This makes me really mad because one Level 3 option was the Sunday Riley UFO Oil. Ugh.
i did ask for a sample because it is also genuinely a product I’m interested in. My biggest skin problems are oily skin and congested pores. My skin is quite clear otherwise and I don’t get breakouts often (no acne). Because I’m also petty, I asked for a sample at both Mecca stores in Bondi Junction (the rich and poor side haha if you go to Bondi Jn Westfield you know what I mean).
Tip: Never hesitate to ask for a sample to try a product. This doesn’t just apply to Mecca. Don’t feel the need to spend your coin on something you’re unsure about. Makeup and skincare is expensive so people are understanding and I have had nothing but good experiences with asking staff.
This leads me to a sort of rant. Firstly, a lot of people do get disappointed with their samples no doubt. I mean even if you’re a Level 1, you’re spending a minimum of $300 a year. Which is still a lot.
I do say Mecca brand themselves so well and their service and staff are generally very friendly and welcoming. It also helps they do have a strong monopoly in the Australian makeup market. This is also why everyone sucks up to Mecca’s arse – which is my other huge issue. These are just an example of Mecca exclusive brands:
Beauty
- NARS
- Hourglass
- Too Faced
- Urban Decay
- Kosas
Skincare
- Tatcha
- Drunk Elephant
- Sunday Riley
- Mario Badescu
- Glow Recipe
- Perricone MD
Perfumes/Candles
- Diptyque
- Byredo
- Le Labo
- Maison Margiela
For example, as an Australian I can order from Cult Beauty (UK) but NARS will not ship to Australia. A lot of these brands are huge cult favourites (definitely NARS and Tatcha from my experience) and so Mecca can keep that customer and brand loyalty just by having these exclusive brands.
At the end of the day, I love Mecca, i love shopping there and have had nothing but good experiences but it just feels like the rewards don’t justify your spending. However, because Mecca has that exclusivity they can get away with the bare minimum.
For example, there is a love-hate relationship with Sephora but they constantly do 20% off sales for the entire line. Mecca does a half ass sale every once in a while and everything is discontinued, limited-edition and sometimes even broken. The disrespect.
The cult-like attitude that a lot of Mecca shoppers have is unlikeable and there is a lot of brand loyalty for Mecca which I completely understand. However, a lot of people also have resentment because they are forced to shop at Mecca because it is impossible to get the product elsewhere. The latter is not brand loyalty, it’s just the consequences of a monopoly – and not the monopoly I want to play with.
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