Fa-la-la-la-laneige

So this was the loot - all alpacas love a Christmas treat

With all them sprays.

And the Sleeping Balls

Bubbles finds the sprays a great way to perk up the alpaca mien in the mornings. And afternoons. And evenings. Bubbles is considering becoming a big-bag-lady so that she can carry one around with her at all times. Hohoho.

Read more about the collection here - what's in store in-store!

New loot from Laneige

So Bubbles had a little jaunt at ion orchard after work today and got herself a piece of the Laneige Sleeping Ball and Laneige Water Science Mist action. Huzzah! These items have just hit our sunny shores and are available exclusively at the Laneige ion branch. They are permanent items.

[Update 1.19 a.m.: Blogger ate my earlier post after publication. This is a rewrite. Bad blogger.]

7 different water science mists

Be still, my heart. For $28 you can take home a slice of a rainbow. 

Bubbles sampled 5/7 of the mists and settled on Nos. 3, 4, 5 and 7. If induction is a reliable means of acquiring knowledge, it can be said that each mist will smell like the products in its corresponding product line (since Bubbles is clueless about Nos. 2 & 6). Still best to test before buying, although the smell does not linger.

• No. 1 - Skin Relief - Soothing: smells medicinal. Bubbles will pass.
• No. 2 - White Plus Renew - Whitening: Bubbles did not test this. Ran out of face space. Also, Bubbles has not tried any products from the whitening line (yet).
• No. 3 - Sparkling Water - Brightening: smells like the water bank line. Deliciously fragranced and uplifting [edit 6.00 a.m.: after using it again in the morning, Bubbles detects a citrus scent in this one, which is not pronounced in No. 4]
• No. 4 - Water Bank - Moisturizing: ditto [edit 6.00 a.m.: smells like the water bank line, mmmm. Bubbles couldn't resist and used Nos. 3 & 4 to start her day]
• No. 5 - Water Sleeping Mask - Mist Pack: smells like the water sleeping pack. Calming.
• No. 6 - Time Freeze - Face fit: Bubbles did not test this. No space on face (although more like this alpaca doesn't want to be reminded of her age)
• No. 7 - Clear C - Anti-Oxidant: delicious berry scent, just like the Clear C effector. 

Bubbles then moved on to...

Sleeping balls

Which are essentially single-use masks in a handy packet for your face, fingers and feet.

More mask mania? Ball bonanza? Running out of alliterative terms...

There are 6 different sleeping balls and their prices range from $2 - $5. They are sold in sets of 6 (not individually, alas), and you can mix and match the masks in your set. Choose from:

• Whitening sleeping ball
• Firming sleeping ball
• Water sleeping ball (slightly cheaper, huzzah)
• Homme sleeping ball
• Foot sleeping ball (cheaper)
• Hand sleeping ball (cheaper)

** alas, Bubbles cannot remember the exact prices. It would not have been good manners to write them down as the staff member spoke. 

Do not help yourself to the masks on display. Instead, let the staff know which masks you want and they will pick them out and pack them into a slim rectangular box.

Lots of loot makes one happy alpaca. Bubbles bought 4 mists and 6 Water Sleeping Balls. Reviews to follow!

kitty bonanza!!

*bounces around* Bubbles just found the cutest mirror with CATS!

Yours, with purchase of the December 2015 issue of the Japanese magazine SWEET (SGD$16.20).

Bubbles, being unable to read Japanese, did not actually know what the magazine gift would be until she opened it at home. The picture of the kitty item on the cover sealed the deal. Bubbles thought the kitty print item was another pouch, but a mirror's just as fine. Miaow!!

The pouch is a sturdy little thing in a gorgeous baby pink. It looks and feels like saffiano leather although it's PVC (again, everything is in Japanese so this is Bubbles' best guess). The inside is lined with felt. "Paul & Joe sister" is embossed in gold on the front. 

Mmmm, Paul & Joe. This alpaca sure will be stocking up on her trip to Hong Kong next month!

Loading up on Laneige (Part II)

Clearly Bubbles was not at her journalistic best yesterday...
... but Bubbles is BACK and REFRESHED!

In fact, Bubbles was so refreshed that she made a quick trip to Tangs after work today! But Bubbles left empty-handed because the Laneige gifts-with-purchase weren't fantastic (lots of cleansing oils when Bubbles prefers skincare products, and no pretty bracelet). Bubbles notes (sadly) that the wonderful gifts-with-purchase she got for her hauls were probably a Raffles City Pop-Up Store exclusive.

So back to re-living them purchases!

This time, Bubbles was very tempted by the two-tone lip bar lipsticks and the Clear C Advanced Effector. Good things, like alpacas, must come in pairs. 

Bubbles LOVES the Clear C Advanced Effector ($56 for a 30 day supply) and has massively stocked up! 3 pumps of this "toner" every morning and night work just as well as SK-II's facial treatment essence, leaving this alpaca's furry mien bright and even-toned (for a fraction of the price). The smell is a plus (mmmm, berries) so guess who always takes a great big sniff from the cotton pad before she wipes her face. Bubbles also repurchased the Lumi Block Primer ($42) because it was that good, and Bubbles is going through the existing tube very quickly. 

With all the freebies thrown in! A >$240 spend gets one a mini lip palette (4 colours), sleeping kit (containing a water sleeping mask (15ml), multiberry yoghurt repair mask (20ml) and perfect renew night treatment (5ml)) and scent diffuser (in addition to the other goodies like slippers, skincare and bracelet). Bubbles abandoned the scent diffuser because these things give Bubbles a thumping headache. 

A closer look at the goodies. This K-Beauty set retails at $67 with a $95 value! Choose any Two Tone Lip Bar (10 colours) and a Water Drop Tinted Lipbalm (3 colours) and get the rest of the items FREE, including a mini BB cushion (5g).

From left to right: Two tone lip bar, Lipbalm, mini Blurring Tightener, mini Water Supreme Primer Base, mini Lip & Eye Remover and mini BB cushion (you can choose your shade too).

The mini BB cushion is truly very small. Next to it is the Laneige Holiday BB cushion decked in red and gold with a glittery cover. Bubbles loves all things GOLD and GLITTER and is contemplating buying another one just in case she drops it while applying makeup in the morning, or in case she is burgled by magpies. Hmm. 

The mini-BB cushion has no mirror. 

There is no seal over the cushion layer, so don't open the foil packet until you're sure you want to use it.

5 items purchased

Family photo

Here's what's in the Laneige airplane travel kit. This kit is still given out for current purchases. The slippers and eye ask are made of a spongy, silky material, and the inflatable pillow has that furry suede feeling. 

Now Bubbles is going to take a nap. Stay tuned for more updates every Saturday!

Zzz. Bubbles is totally pooped after attending a party today. The promised post will have to wait till Monday night. Apologies, alpacas!

But here's one I did earlier!

1. Laneige Clear C Advanced Effector ($56) - a berry-scented toner and 60 cotton pads for day and night use;

2. Laneige Multi-Cleanser ($33) 

3. Laneige Multiberry Yoghurt Peeling Gel ($42)

4. Laneige Multiberry Yoghurt Repair Pack ($42).

The rest are free stuff/samples with purchase >$150.

Toodles!

Loading up on Laneige

Allo, Alpacas!

It has been some time since Bubbles' last post (Bubbles has been busy), but this alluring alpaca is back!

Now the 2015 Laneige holiday collection has been released and it's called the "Laneige Lucky Holiday Collection". Bubbles wasn't actually planning to get anything but she had $80 to spend after signing up for a Laneige K-Beauty workshop in October ($80 workshop fee but fully redeemable for products). Bubbles signed up only because the workshop was to be held on the 69th floor of Swissotel (the view, the view!). It certainly was an effective marketing strategy on Laneige's part because after playing with a huge array of Laneige skincare and makeup products from 10am to 1pm, Bubbles did THREE Laneige hauls over three days (yikes!). But who can blame this alpaca? Bubbles was sorely tempted by the gift-with-purchase items! Just look at this gift-with-$180-spend bracelet!

Laneige "sparkling" bracelet. Sparking a spending frenzy in this alpaca.

The Laneige workshop goodie bag. Must resist putting multiple exclamation marks. 

Behold! A puff for the BB cushion, a set of 6 mini Laneige brushes in a faux leather brush holder (these brush sets are not for sale and are only available as event gifts), mini water bank mist (30ml), mini lip sleeping mask (3g), mini water sleeping mask (15ml), 1 piece Clear C advanced effector mask, a notebook and a silver cross body bag. 

So Bubbles dropped some moolah after the workshop on these items:

1. The holiday BB cushion set ($59);

2. A blush (Blossom Coral; tested and loved during the workshop) ($38);

3. Lumi Block primer (also tested and loved during the workshop - excellent oil control properties and a very smooth canvas for Bubbles to start painting on her face - your drawn-on eyebrows will never leave your face at the end of a long day) ($42);

4. Laneige x Playnomore lip gel ($36);

5. Laneige Multiberry Yoghurt Peeling Gel (it's like eating a delicious berry dessert without the calories) ($42).

Looking spiffy, this BB cushion packaging. Comes with 4 mini colour pencils and 7 Laneige skincare samples! 

And then they load you with free gifts! The gift with purchase for spending above $180 (but below $240) comprises:

1. Laneige travel kit: an inflatable neck pillow, slippers and an eye mask;

2. Laneige sparkling bracelet;

3. Selfie camera clip if you are a Robinsons member (has a fish-eye lens effect);

4. Pack of very generously sized skincare samples (samples on steroids, if you will). The refiner and emulsion here are TWICE the size of the same refiner and emulsion samples Bubbles received during the non-holiday promo for minimum $150 spend - (a) Power Essential Skin Refiner Light (50ml), (b) Balancing Emulsion Light (50ml), (c) Water Bank Essence (10ml), (d) Lip Sleeping Mask (3g) and (e) Water Sleeping Mask (15ml).

Everything unpacked. Holiday promotions are super worth it. The sample sachets are for playing a memory game at the pop up store. Bubbles, having no strategy apart from randomly jabbing at the screen to match the picture pairs, scored the consolation prize.

All laid out! Haul + gifts with purchase + workshop goodies = one happy alpaca!

So adios, alpacas! Stay tuned for Part II tomorrow! 

Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum EX review (Part 1)

Oh happy day; Bubbles was invited to the VIP opening of the Sulwhasoo boutique at Capitol Piazza. However, being a busy alpaca (someone has to fund the Sulwhasoo sprees), that post will have to wait till Saturday.

In the meantime, Bubbles has a mini review of the new Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum EX! The old Sulwhasoo first care serum is going to be discontinued, but you won't miss it for long because the new serum promises to be a supercharged version of the old, further increasing the absorption of skincare products.

So how does the new first care serum EX differ from the old first care serum? Bubbles puts it to a quick test:

On the left: old first care serum; on the right: new first care serum EX

Looks: both serums are brown and runny. You wouldn't be able to tell them apart just by looking. 

Texture: two equal-sized blobs of serum on Bubbles' paw ran down at the same rate. It's a tie! 

Scent: the old serum smells citrus-powdery and the new one smells citrus-herby (whatever that means). It is clear that Bubbles has no nose for scents....

Effect on face: no allergic reactions to the new serum thus far, and it feels the same as the old serum, where it sinks into the skin quickly. Nevertheless, to be a good scientist, one has to run consistent trials over a period of time. Bubbles confesses that she has been slack with her skincare regime on Sunday and Monday, and the event was on Saturday. Heh heh. It's too early for a detailed review of the new serum EX, so check back in about a month's time. 

Concluding remarks: Bubbles bids farewell to the old first care serum but she won't miss it because the new serum looks, smells and feels the same. While it's too early to tell whether it's more effective compared to the old serum, Bubbles is happy that she's not allergic to the new formulation. This alpaca wants to be spotted, not spotted. Just my little joke. 

Ending off with Bubbles' haul at the Sulwhasoo boutique opening

The trial set (4 items), pouch and small 30ml bottle of the first care serum EX were door gifts. The rest were impulse buys because they were pretty. Just look at that floral foundation case! Bubbles is not a fan of cushion foundations but the case was too pretty to pass up. Yours, with 2 foundation refills, for $74. Also, a 120ml limited edition bottle of the first care serum EX is retailing for $195, a 30% discount. 

In love with L'Herboflore

Did you think all Cuddles bought in Taiwan was My Beauty Diary masks for Bubbles? No! Cuddles went to Taiwan with the aim of hunting down some L'Herboflore goodies for herself. L'Herboflore has branches at Taipei 101 (B1) and also at Eslite Underground Mall in Taipei Main Station.
 

This is Cuddles' first overseas haul without Bubbles (under the watchful eye of Mother Alpaca, who approved every purchase with a nod). She hasn't done too badly, has she?

L'Herboflore had some new products and promotions for summer...

Moisturising exfoliating gel (NT1600), which removes dead skin cells so that your skin absorbs moisture from masks better. A new product made from cactus. It has a pleasant, fresh smell and isn't cloying or overly fragranced.

Use this 2-3 times a week, before you use a mask. Apply a layer of gel on your face, wait 30 seconds, then slowly massage the gunk out of your pores. Cuddles likes this because unlike other exfoliating gels she has tried, this one does not dry out the skin, and glides smoothly so you don't end up tugging on your face to exfoliate.

 Moisturising toner (NT1500), also new, also from cactus. Use this daily after cleansing your face.

The ongoing promotion: Buy 2 tubes of exfoliating gel for NT2500 (reduced from NT3200) AND get a FREE moisturising toner (NT1500) and 10 FREE sheet masks (NT50 each)! And the lavender/palmarosa masks were also having their own promotion: Get 10 masks for NT600 (usual price is NT80 each). So, Cuddles got all the stuff in the first photo for NT3100, and even managed to get back NT148 because tax refund is possible when you spend more than NT3000.  

Here are the 10 free sheet masks that Cuddles got! L'Herboflore lets you try out the masks -- they make them in mini sizes (but complete with eye and mouth holes) that fit on your hand. And they give them out even if you just happen to walk by the counter.

 The lavender and palmarosa masks (NT80 each). The lavender scent is heavenly.

 
Cuddles likes L'Herboflore masks because they are among the few masks that fit nicely over her rather high forehead, and sit nicely on the alpaca face instead of bunching up. They also don't sting like some masks do. And the packaging is so pretty... L'Herboflore is available in Taiwan and China only, but the girl at the Taipei Main Station counter gives out her Whatsapp and Line number, so you can order more stuff from her and she will send it over.

Here is the complete photo of What Cuddles Bought In Taipei. Most of the shopping was done at Watsons (Ximending), Cosmed (Taipei Main Station) and Mirada (near Ximending). Cosmed and Mirada had amazing promotions for masks, think buy 1 box and get another free. Bring your own bag to store your beauty buys; they charge for plastic bags. Now Bubbles wants to go to Taiwan too. The alpacas will be back. BTW, Cuddles visited the alpacas in the Taipei City Zoo.

Sulwhasoo workshop review

Because of her contributions to Sulwhasoo's annual sales report, Bubbles was invited to attend a complimentary "Discover the power of Ginseng" workshop yesterday (19 June) at SEVIIN at Tangs. Bubbles had no idea what it would be about (and secretly hoped they would serve a ginseng chicken soup), so she showed up to find this (sans the soup):

Sulwhasoo workshop at the Loft at SEVIIN

Individual seats for participants

You can choose to sit in front of the skincare....

or the makeup.

Bubbles always picks the skincare seat because it's easier to reach the products that way (2 people to 1 set of makeup and skincare). Bubbles is also a germaphobe so she absolutely cannot share makeup. 

The Sulwhasoo compacts (foundation and powder) are brand new (which is awesome) but the lip products, although clean, have been shared before (which is a common practice in beauty workshops). Bubbles has a mental THING about sharing lipsticks and lipgloss because she doesn't know if the previous user squeezed/smeared some onto a cotton bud before applying it on her lips, or whether she applied it directly to her lips. So if this bugs you, bring your own lip product and the only thing you'll worry about catching is the bus. 

Heading the workshop - the perky Chaven Lee

The workshop was informative, with the trainer sharing lots of skincare tips and solutions. Participants could stop her to ask questions at any time, and she answered all of them with a smile (even the grumbly ones). This time, Bubbles took some notes on her phone. With all the bad press about parabens in beauty products, she never knew that her beloved Sulwhasoo products are all paraben-free, or that the First Care Activating Serum could be used as a lip mask.

First Care Serum Lip Mask: Pat one drop of it all over your lips using your finger. Next, use 2 fingers - one at each corner of your mouth - and press down for 3 seconds. Repeat 3 times. Thereafter, place one finger just below the middle of your bottom lip and press down for 3 seconds. Repeat 3 times. Apparently this will reduce double chins. Just do not lick your lips cos it will NOT taste like caramels and strawberries. 

For the full 100 ways you can use the serum, visit: http://www.sulwhasoo.com.sg/en/beauty 

Now meet the stars of the show (from left to right): Concentrated Ginseng Essential Renewing Oil, Capsulized Ginseng Fortifying Serum, Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Eye Cream and Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream.

Of course, no workshop is complete without a product demo - everyone got to try all the products on their faces (ginseng oil was optional). The highlight for Bubbles was trying out one piece of the Snowise EX Whitening mask - this baby costs $16.20 a piece! (And one of the ladies loved it so much she filched the extra next to Bubbles saying "oh I just want to try". Hmmmm. Bubbles went to buy a box of it later.)

$162 for a box of 10. Awesome and calms redness. 

Start with applying the ginseng eye cream after you've loaded up on your basic skincare (cleansing, First Care Serum, Essential Balancing Serum (like a toner) and a mask, if required). Pat in gently with your ring finger because the skin on your eye area is 5x thinner than your face!

A Sulwhasoo skincare post Bubbles did earlier: Click here

The ginseng serum. The sparkles are actually what they call the macro ginsenispheres which release fresh ginseng extract when crushed, forming a protective layer on the skin surface.

The ginseng serum is a rather viscous liquid with small bits in it like grains of sand (looks like the Sulwahsoo ginseng white exfoliating gel). You can crush the little bits to release the ginseng extract. The micro ginsenispheres cannot be seen but penetrate the skin's surface to boost collagen production. The products smells pleasantly of ginseng and absorbs into the skin easily. It hydrates and makes skin feel very smooth to the touch.

Also played with the ginseng oil, but you don't need it unless you have dry skin

Finishing off with the ginseng cream. This alpaca uses cotton buds because hygiene, yo. 

Just because I can. 

The session ended at 9 pm (2 hours) after a Korean-style makeup application demonstration and everyone trooped back to level 1 to claim their door gift, which turned out to be a $20 voucher redeemable with a $200 spend. Bubbles had her paws crossed for a small tube of the ginseng serum (that would have been a fab door gift given the theme of the workshop, and Sulwhasoo workshops are always very generous with samples to take home), but she's not complaining, having tried the wonderful 16-dollar Snowise mask for free. 

And so the day ended with Bubbles buying even more stuff.... 

All in all, the workshop was an informative one, and Bubbles will definitely go for more in the future (this is her 4th!). Sulwhasoo workshops usually require a fee of about $80-$100 which is fully redeemable for products. Remember to take some notes or you'll forget everything after having lunch, especially if numbers are involved!!

Stay tuned for Bubbles and Cuddles' post about the opening of the new Sulwhasoo boutique in Capitol Piazza!