Innisfree Jejuhouse at Samcheongdong

This is the biggest Alpaca Adventure yet! The alpacas went to Seoul for summer, and though they skipped going to Jeju, they found the only other Innisfree Jejuhouse store in Korea right in the middle of Seoul, in Samcheongdong!

Exclusive products such as the fresh topping packs, Innirang merchandise and diffusers are sold only at this store (outside of Jeju). The store even gives you a lucky coin when you spend 20,000 won (around S$24), which you put into a vending machine to get a little box of samples or coupons. Of course, if you like, you can also keep the coin as a souvenir.

How the fresh topping packs work:

There are 11 different flavours, each packed in a little sachet (W1000 each). Each one has different functions, for example walnut shells are for exfoliating, soybean is for firming and volcanic is for pore cleansing. Most of them are powders, and only the camellia and canola honey are essences. You're supposed to pick any two flavours to mix into the base. There are 2 bases to choose from: creamy or clay (W3000 each). Each base comes in a 15 ml container which is good for 2 uses (use it up within a week for maximum freshness). You could buy a spatula from Innisfree (1000 won) to mix the toppings in, but you could just as easily use something from your kitchen. They recommend adding just 2 toppings so that your skin can absorb it all. Do not use 2 essence-type toppings together or it may get too oily.

 Other exclusive merchandise (notebooks, bags etc.)

Lucky box!

Coins for the lucky box

The other highlight of this store is the cafe which serves organic food on the 2nd and 3rd floors. They have a good selection of drinks, cakes, tarts, and soup which comes with bread. The food is really nice and it's organic, if you happen to be a health-conscious alpaca. The cafe overlooks Samcheongdong street and is located opposite a popular Samcheongdong Sujebi restaurant. It was not crowded on both days the alpacas had lunch there, even during the usual lunch hours.

Order at the 2nd floor

2nd floor

2nd floor

3rd floor

View from the 3rd floor

Citrus Sudachi cake (W6000)

Pumpkin tart

Potato soup with walnut bread (W8000)

The store sells various types of fruit jam and tea as well.

The only thing to take note of is that this store does not offer tax refunds for tourists, so you might not want to do all your shopping here -- just the exclusive products. They also don't carry make-up and some of the other products you usually find in other stores.

The store is located along Samcheongdong's cafe street, and is actually along the course of the Bukchon Hanok Village walk, according to the map you can get from tourist information booths in the area. Make a right turn after you come down from the stone steps. It is across the road from a Samcheongdong Sujebi restaurant which always has a queue outside.
Address: 104 Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Tel: 02-734-0585
Opening hours: 10 am to 10 pm

Foxy Hauls (masks, Etude, Innisfree)

Its been a busy period for the alpacas, but its the weekend now, so things are going to get NOISY!

(1) Foxy Fashions 

Bubbles has amassed a sizeable collection of paperbags, so Foxy is fashionably decked out in Chanel - the ribbons look rather fetching, don't they?

(2) Etude House haul

Bubbles LOVES Etude House and the Play Colour Eyes eyeshadow palettes got her tail in a twist. Etude House rarely releases such large and varied eyeshadow palettes (the only other one being the Rose Flowering Eyes palette for autumn 2013) so this was a must-buy. Bubbles picked the So Chic palette ($39.90 but there was a 10% discount and it came with a free cleansing oil) because the shimmer shades were amazing, with tasteful pinks and blues and golds. The So Hot palette was passed over because it had a fire engine red, which Bubbles has NO IDEA how to use without looking like she's got a nasty eye infection. 

Bubbles also picked up a Help My Finger cuticle moisturizer because it was going at half price ($4.90), a mascara (called Shockcara) - which promises to give amazing volume for $22.90 with a free mascara guard and lash comb, and her usual cotton wool (not pictured). As one can see, "half-price" and "free stuff" are this alpaca's kryptonite.

(3) Innisfree haul

Cuddles has a part to play in this too - in fact, Cuddles is LARGELY TO BLAME for this haul. Cuddles could not resist the cute innirang (Innisfree's horsey mascot) pouch... but she could take it home if she spent $50. 

The alpacas thus bought 2 bija masks ($2 each), 2 green tea mineral mists ($8.90 each), 1 fruit scented hand cream (smells divine), 1 sugar berry hand cream, 1 fig hand cream, and 4 assorted mask packs. The free samples came fast and furious, and Cuddles turned down the offer of a "free Lee Min Ho poster with purchase" for more samples. The samples are all from the green tea seed range, with creams, serums and oils.

(4) My Beauty Diary masks 2013 limited edition 

Finally, Bubbles got her mitts on the 2013 MBD limited edition mask set. It costs $15.90 and contains 12 masks (6 varieties), making it fantastically value-for-money. The packaging with the cat illustration was a nice surprise! Bubbles loves MBD masks because they are cheap and effective. The collagen one is especially good, and Bubbles will be sure to stock up whenever they are on offer. Right now, SASA is running a "buy 2 boxes for $26" promotion (a box of 10 normally retails for $16.90).

Alpacas out and about (Innisfree, Etude, SK-II hauls)

Bubbles is back with the beauty blogging!

It has been a busy December/January for this alpaca, but Bubbles managed to squeeze in some hauling with Cuddles. Bubbles will do the mask post (on pain of death, and Cuddles will ensure it will be a very painful death too) after this post.

Masks from Innisfree at $2 a piece.... Bubbles is excited about all the flavors. Cuddles says the Bija one is very good, but Bubbles has her eye on uncommon things like BROCOLI and GOLDEN KIWI. 

Haul from Etude House last Sunday The alpacas picked up loads of masks for face and hair.

From left to right at the front row, we have the Sunshine Spoon yoghurt (raspberry) pack ($2.90), the I Need You mask packs (honey and yoghurt) at $6.90 for 4 pieces, and the Moonlight in Spoon sleeping mask pack in blueberry ($2.90). At the back row, from left to right, we have a free lamp (lucky dip), a free moistful set (GWP if you spend $40) and 2 silk scarf hair masks. They keep Bubbles' fur shiny. Finally, a juicy cocktail gradation nail (3 polishes) in Peach Crush, at 50% off (normally retails for around $12.90, if Bubbles' memory serves).

An SK-II bee somehow found its way into Bubbles' bonnet last Sunday. Bubbles got the $99 facial treatment essence set, which has 75ml of the famed Facial Treatment Essence, enough Facial Clear Lotion (a toner) to last for 2 weeks and an SK-II facial treatment mask. Bubbles also got samples of a spot lightening gel, intensive pitera concentrate, and sunblock. Some of the samples were for Cuddles but she has turned them over to the elder alpaca. The elder alpaca is supremely concerned that her skin age is THIRTY-ONE (as analysed by SK-II's magic ring), given that she's only twenty-four!

So anyway, exactly a wek later, the bee buzzed again and Bubbles bought the SK-II Stempower Cream set ($149) which has 50ml of creamy goodness, a small bottle of Facial Treatment Essencce, n anti-ageing mask and 10 pieces of cotton wool. The Facial Treatment Essence and its friends are working well!

Luxuriating in the SK-II goodness. A post on Bubbles' SK-II experience shall follow in about a month.

Toodles! Now to do that mask post!

I Like Innisfree, Says Cuddles

Innisfree opened in Singapore. The alpacas went to Innisfree.

Left to right: Green Tea Pure Deluxe Kit (gift with $50 purchase), Welcome kit for members with some samples inside, No Sebum Mineral Powder ($10), Wine Jelly Peeling Softener ($17), Cotton wool (gift with $50 purchase), assorted capsule masks ($3-4 each), Gel liner in 09 Black ($11).

A closer look if you like

The green tea set has green tea seed serum x6, green tea pure skin x1, green tea pure lotion x1, green tea pure sleeping pack x1 and green tea pure cream x1. So far, Cuddles has tried the eyeliner, which glides on easily (good) but a little heavy on the glitter. Cuddles has also been using the wine jelly peeling softener daily and it smells so heavenly. It is gentle enough to be used daily, said the Innisfree lady. Use a cotton pad to apply it on a clean alpaca face and then rinse off with water or proceed on to toner. Makes your skin nice and smooth. There isn't much in the store that Cuddles doesn't like. Next on Cuddles' to-try list is the soybean finish cream which smells nice and beany and fresh. 

Bubbles will discuss the capsule masks when she has tried them all. Look out for her massive mask collection post!