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! 

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.

The packaging is gorgeous

And the insides are equally beautiful. This is the Belle blush (coral). Toodles, alpacas! Bubbles is off to enjoy her purchases!

Ettusais Premium range review

Aloha, alpacas! Bubbles is back with some Ettusais Premium goodies!

Bubbles went for the Ettusais Luminous Skin Party yesterday because beauty workshops are her new "in" thing. Not only is the $$ you pay for the workshop fully redeemable for products, you get the following benefits as well:

1) Door gift (Sulwhasoo is VERY generous with their door gifts, but that's for another post);
2) Make up/skin care lesson; and
3) Refreshments

Bubbles concludes that beauty workshops are the only way to go. So Bubbles went to the Shiseido office at Orchard Building and walked in to find this:

(1) Launch of the Ettusais Premium range (freebies if you buy 2 premium range products - you get one cosmetic pouch and one gel effect top coat)

(2) White bags are the door gifts, pink bags are for your purchases

(3) All laid out for the hands on session.

(4) Refreshments - cupcakes, fruit tarts, macarons and apple juice

(5) All laid out for the shopping spree

(6) Ettusais premium chiffon foundation powder. It has an interesting puff with 2 textures. The fuzzy side is for the entire face, and the spongy side is to get at the bits around the nose after folding the puff to get a point. The powder is very lightweight, and the Ettusais folks shared that to achieve this effect, the oil is drained off after it is mixed with the foundation powder before it is pressed into a cake. A makeup tip from Oki-san, Ettusais' Japanese trainer: to cover pores, pat on your foundation in an upward manner. 

(7) Ettusais amino caviar cream - contains little spherical capsules which break when you apply pressure to release the essence goodness inside. It has 7 benefits, so one product is all you need 

(throw out that essence, toner, serum, makeup base....) for day and night.

(8) A close up of the amino caviar cream and its texture (very creamy). You only need an almond sized amount for the whole face. It can be applied on the eyes as well, and on the neck if you're feeling extravagant. Bubbles found it very cooling when applied on her mien, but she may have applied too much as her face felt sticky after that (as though there was a thin layer of serum sitting on the surface). Bubbles fixed the sticky face by blotting it with tissue. 

This cream is hydrating, but Bubbles gave it a pass as she's a Sulwhasoo alpaca at heart. The little skincare spheres in the cream are fun to squish between her alpaca paws, but take some effort to break/spread out when put on the face.

(9) Ettusais Premium CC amino cream. Bubbles bought this. It gave an instant glow and evened out Bubbles' skin tone. It is also pink!

(10) A blob of the CC amino cream. Bubbles was surprised that it was pink. It looks very light against Bubbles' human

(11) But it blends out well and will become invisible on the face. The pink adds radiance.

(12) Ettusais Premium Luminous Powder. This is a powder and highlighter all in one. To use it as a powder, mix the shades. To use it as a highlighter, pick up the shade on the left only. The highlighter powder is non-sparkly, unlike Bubbles' Cle de Peau one, so it looks like we have a real winner here!

(13) The powder brush is housed on top

(14) Mirror and powder/highlighter below. The powder is very fine. Bubbles asked if it had oil control properties, and the Ettusais folks replied that it controls sebum and gives hydration. How could this alpaca resist!? It followed her home. 

(15) Testers we played with. 

(16) Bubbles' haul - pink bag with purchases, white bag with door gift

(17) Bubbles bought the powder and CC cream, and got a blue pouch and clear gel effect top coat free. The door gift contained a mirror, an eye make up remover, and some acne thingo which Bubbles will figure out in due time.

(18) A contented alpaca.