The Alluring Alpaca: Etude House flagship store opens in Singapore & Play 101 pencil swatches

So Etude House opened its largest-ever flagship store today (17 October 2014) and Bubbles was invited to attend the private VIP event the day before! Sneak preview! Meet Pony (a Korean makeup artist who is a-w-e-s-o-m-e)! How could this Alpaca say no? This alpaca got an autograph AND a selfie with Pony. Huzzah!

So Bubbles headed down to Etude House on 16 October, to watch Pony's makeup demonstration from 6 - 7 pm. Pony is as perky in real life as in her youtube videos, and sooooo pretty. She spoke in Korean, which was then translated into Mandarin and English.

What Bubbles first saw when she stepped into Etude House

Pretty Pony giving a demonstration

However, Bubbles got distracted by the Play 101 pencils Pony was using because she was standing in front of... the Play 101 pencil stand.

Here are the 50 available shades swatched for your viewing pleasure (the handwritten number corresponds to the shade number). Bubbles took the (rare) opportunity to do this because it was a private event and everyone was either watching Pony or doing their own shopping. She was also hidden behind the display shelf. Bubbles doubts she would have been able to do it on an ordinary day without people having doubts about her sanity. But hey, a useful colour reference chart's now stored on her phone!

Play 101 pencil swatches #1 - #20

Play 101 pencil swatches #21 - #40

Play 101 pencil swatches #41 - #50

Bubbles' favourite is No. 27 (a soft sparkly coral-pink). As of today, Bubbles owns 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 33. Bliss! She bought 3 yesterday (25 - 27) and then went back for 28, 29 and 33 today to get a free storage tin.

Bubbles also enjoyed the Etude coin capsule machine... she got a bracelet and 2 tokens in her goodie bag, and promptly exchanged the two tokens for two sets of charms. Tokens can also be used in the Etude House photobooth, which works just like a neoprint machine. Currently, the going rate for 1 token is $20 spent ($20 gets you 1 token, $50 gets you 2 tokens, $100 gets you 5 tokens).

The downside of the capsule machine is that it depends on LUCK - Bubbles should have quit when she was ahead (with an Eiffel tower charm and a lock and key charm - the two prettiest charms), but she spent her additional 5 tokens (after dropping $100 into Etude's 2014 annual sales report) and was sorely disappointed. 3 pink "E" charms, a repeat Eiffel tower charm, and a handbag charm (which is sweet and sparkly but looks tacky compared to the lock and key & Eiffel tower). So alpacas, spend your coins wisely. Photos won't disappoint you (and you can use the makeup testers around the shop to spruce up your look anyway).

Pretty charms

Bracelet (it will cost you 1 coin) and 2 free coins from the goodie bag

Bubbles was delighted to see this princessy carriage. It is a cross between a sweet shop and her dream vanity table. Etude House had also conscripted 6 male models to pose with guests outside the carriage during the event. However, Bubbles was more attracted to the carriage. If she could win this after spending a certain amount (instead of autographed Xu Bin memorabilia) Bubbles would have maxed out her credit card.

Limited edition Princess Happy Ending products found ONLY in Etude House at Wisma! However, this alpaca got her paws on them while in Korea. Nevertheless, she bought more (the Cinderella eye shadows, which have a very spongy texture) because a girl can never have too many pretty things.