Tag Archives: Review

Darling, you are the only exception. Paramore video review & personal reflections.

It’s not the first time that I’m watching this video and if anything I think this video was published at least 3 years ago. The Sam Tsui version was published back in 2010. Nonetheless a conversation over dinner tonight contained the words “you are the only exception” – not directed to me, if you are wondering. Which reminded me of this song and thus I’m here to wax lyrical about it.

I love the video to bits. It’s one of those so coherent with the lyrics and just visually so in sync with the entire song- the persona, the set, the mood, it’s so beautiful and with emotions within me that’s partly forming over the recent weeks and perhaps also due to some monthly hormonal high that got me tearing up as I watched it tonight.

The lyrics ring true:-

And that was the day that I promised
I’d never sing of love if it does not exist

But darling, you are the only exception
You are the only exception
You are the only exception
You are the only exception

Maybe I know, somewhere deep in my soul
That love never lasts
And we’ve got to find other ways to make it alone
Or keep a straight face

And I’ve always lived like this
Keeping a comfortable distance
And up until now I had sworn to myself that I’m content with loneliness

No, I have not found a darling but I can still relate to the points of trying to find the existence of love on this earth, keeping a comfortable distance and affirming myself that I’m content with loneliness.

No I’m not saying I wish someone who loves me will pop up tmr and say hello but I guess I am saying that I’m still learning to admit that it’s ok to be vulnerable, it’s ok to say hi there, I’m not perfect and I need your help. And most importantly, it’s ok to be hurt and to be hurt in the process of developing friendships/relationships. We all learn and we all make mistakes. And if I remain forever clammed up in my own shell or walled in my own fortress I may be missing out on the joys outside of my own protective world.

Baby steps, I’ll take baby steps.

Hada Labo Whitening Lotion Review

Hi~!

Today I’ll be reviewing two sponsored products (edit* I’ll leave the 2nd product for another day~! ^^)  *update, check out my Deep Moist lip balm review here~* that I received a week back, starting with

Hada Labo’s Whitening Lotion with New Nano Formula

Hada Labo Whitening Lotion

The featured product of this post is the one on the right.

I’ve been using this product for a week now, twice daily in the morning and evening after showering.

What I like to do in my after shower beauty routine is to apply toner, moisturizing lotion, sun block before I apply my make up.

I usually use Hada Labo Moisturizing UV Milk which triples up as 1. Moisturizing lotion 2. Sunblock (SPF 50++ PA) and 3. Make up base after applying toner and before I apply my make up. You can read my review of the product which I wrote last year here.

The triple effect in one single product makes it convenient and time saving, I love the product.

But when I awake with more time on my hands, I will also use another series of products. In this case when reviewing the new Hada Labo Whitening Lotion, I follow up with a separate sunblock, the Estee Lauder CyberWhite Brilliant Cells UV Protector which also doubles up as a make up base. 🙂

Read the official product information of the Hada Labo’s Whitening Lotion with New Nano Formula followed by my personal review! 🙂

Hada Labo Whitening Lotion with New Nano Formula

One Drop Reveals Natural Fairness

A Combination of 3 Types of Hyaluronic Acid for 3X the Hydration Power

Screen shot 2013-04-24 at PM 02.39.44

It is available at Watsons, Guardian and NTUC Fairprice outlets, $22.90.

My review of the Hada Labo’s Whitening Lotion with New Nano Formula:

The Hada Labo’s Whitening Lotion with New Nano Formula is a very hydrating lotion. I squeeze a little portion on my palms and apply over my face in the day and it keeps my skin hydrated all day long, so much so that there is no sign of dehydration, of my skin drying from the day, which usually does in Singapore’s hot weather. It’s a nice little touch as it keeps my face dewy even into the evening.

In the evening, a little portion on my face after showering also keeps my face fresh into the night and till I awake the next morning.

Perhaps the only concern is to not over apply the lotion on the face, especially for oily skin types. For such skin types, like myself, I would advise to apply a thin layer over the face, avoiding the T-zone where the skin tends to be more oily.

As for Whitening, the lotion is light on the skin does help to improve the complexion of my skin over the course of 5 days. The Arbutin and vitamin C does take effect and boosted with Hyaluronic acid’s hydrating effects reduced the dark pimple spots on my face, yay!  😉

Ena Hada Labo Whitening Lotion Review

For Singapore Only: Want to try the Hada Labo’s Whitening Lotion with New Nano Formula before deciding whether you want to commit to a full bottle? Here’s your chance! Simply click to their FB page, sign up with your details and await for the delivery of your FREE 20ml travel size bottle of Hada Labo Arbutin Whitening Lotion & Cleansing Oil samples! Let me know in the comments below how you find them! 😉

Btw, the Hada Labo’s Whitening Lotion with New Nano Formula is not to be confused with the Hada Labo’s SHA Hydrating Lotion. Personally, I would go for the Whitening lotion because of Singapore’s relentlessly sunny weather, the whitening effect comes in handy to keep my complexion fair. 😉

There you go~ Hope you enjoyed this review and keep a look out for my next one~ I’ll update the link when I’m done! ^^v

<3,

Ena

Liese New Jewel Pink Hair Dye Review

Hi!

I’m back! *SO FAST?* You may ask… That’s cause like what the title suggests, in between my travel posts, I’m reviewing Liese’s new Jewel Pink Hair Dye! Thanks to Liese Singapore and the folks at TheSampleStore /EK Media. ^^

I’ve been quite excited over it because I’ve never done hair dye at home by myself before so it’s an entirely new experience for me which I found to be quite fun especially after watching a few video demos on Youtube. *(^u^)*

So… I’ll let the photos do the talkin’!

Ena Liese Hamper

The Liese Jewel Pink Hair Dye arrived in a lovely basket with a hairband and pink rose… I love! ^^

Ena Before Liese Jewel Hair Dye

Now for a few photos of my dark brown almost black hair before the dye! 😉 Photo is without any filter.

Ena Before Liese Hair Dye 2

More pics… was in a fairly good hair and face day~ ^^,

Photos compiled on photo app Mei Tu Xiu Xiu. You can check out a review I did on the app a while back here.

Ena Before Liese Pink Jewel Hair Dye 3

This photo was “zhenged” (Singlish speak for blinged) using Japanese app DecoPic. Loving the Anna Sui vibe frame! ^^,

No filter was used for this but the photo got even grainer through this app. Lol.

Ena Liese Pink Jewel Demo Review 1

Getting ready for the dyeing process! Dressed in a shirt that I’m not afraid to be stained.

Ena Liese Pink Jewel Pack Items

In the box, you’ll find:
1 large hair dye mixture,
1 smaller dark bottle of hair dye for mixin’
1 satchet of hair rinse treatment,
1 foam dispenser cap, 1 pair of gloves,
1 large piece of instruction sheet and 1 additional small sheet of instructions.
Before you begin, it’s important to read through the instructions.
I also suggest watching demo videos found on Youtube, very helpful! 😀
So what’s recommended:
1. to wear an old shirt you won’t mind staining.
2. Dye your hair in an open space as the mixture gives off a hair dye smell which can be choking in an enclosed area.
3. Apply oil based moisturizer on the skin of your face and neck near the hair line, this is to prevent the dye from staining your skin. You can use Vaseline as well. This is not provided in the box.
4. Have tissue and cotton pad or ear buds (also not provided) ready to wipe the foam away from your skin. This is important! Haha, cause confirm will happen.
5. Comb through your hair so that it’s not tangled!
image-1
Here’s a gif of me grinning crazily while I comb my hair…
I have totally upped my game by creating gif files on my blog…. 😛
Ena Liese Pink Jewel Demo Review 3
Get the two hair dye mixtures ready for mixin’…
Ena Liese Pink Jewel Demo Review 5
6. Empty the small dark container into this larger container before capping it and gently turn it for 5 times. They are pretty exact about the number, 5 times! Haha.
image-3
Yes, I did a gif for this too. Turn it up and down for 5 times and let the mixture work its
***~MaGiC~*** ^^,
The container does warm up a little after you’re done. Don’t worry about it heatin’ up! 😉
Ena Liese Pink Jewel Demo Review 6
7. When the shaking’s done, change the cap to this foam dispenser head.
8. Now don your surgeon gloves! ^^
No photos for the consequent steps because I couldn’t snap photos with foam in my hands. 😛
9. Squeeze the foam out into your gloved hands before proceeding to apply and massage the foam into your hand beginning from the roots and then the end of the hair…
10. Then you twirl your hair if it’s long and place it into a pile on top of your head and allow it to settle for 20-30 minutes…
Ena Liese Pink Jewel Demo Review 2Here’s one shot with half the amount of foam from the bottle… ^u^
I took the gloves out in order to take this photo. 😛
Ena Liese Pink Jewel Demo Review 4Here’s when I’ve used up as much foam as my hair/head could take…
There was more than enough foam for my beyond shoulder length hair! ^^
Looks like an orange foam towel on my head. 😛
The foam application, massaging and leavin’ it on took me a total of 40 minutes (beyond the recommended 30min) because it took me some time to apply the whole (almost all of it) bottle of foam on my hair/head… I’m guessing if you have longer hair it will take you longer…
Then when you’re done, rinse it off with the sachet of rinse off treatment formula! It’s by Kao Essentials and it smells really really (I cannot emphasize more) ***lovely***
so much so that I think I am going to go get a bottle of Essentials shampoo soon just for the lovely scent they have.
Now for the after dye reveal~~~ *drum rolls*
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Under the ***sunlight*** (^ω^)v
#nofilter photo decorated with #POCO beauty cam appEna After Liese Pink Jewel Hair Dye 2
Not under the sunlight…
#nofilter photo decorated with #POCO beauty cam app
It isn’t as obvious as when under the sunlight but it does lighten my dark hair especially where the light hits at the top… ^^
Ena After Liese Pink Jewel Hair Dye 3
A final shot of me in my newly Liese Jewel Pink hair dyed hair~ (✿◠‿◠)
#nofilter photo decorated with #POCO beauty cam app
In review:
I enjoyed the process because it is fairly simple and now that I’ve done it once, I am more confident of attempting it again next time. However, for the first try, I think my hair colour application was not as even as possible, with more dye concentrated at the top of my hair compared to the bottom of my hair, so I think on hindsight it would have been better if I segmented my hair into upper and lower tiers and dyed them from the lower tier up. As for the colour effect i think the before and after colour progression chart on the box is accurate, but the colour isn’t pink at all, I think it’s more accurate to call it orange brown or amber! haha. It is definitely more affordable and time saving compared to going to the hair salon, as it would cost me at least SGD$60 for my hair length and a bottle of Liese hair dye is only $17.90 at a promotional price at Watsons or Guardian. ^^
For more Liese Hair dye colours and information, check them out here.
Ena After Liese Pink Jewel Hair Dye
To end off this post… here’s me in my before and after Liese Jewel Pink hair dye~ `(*^ω^)ノ
Because I know how much we love before and after contrast photos… … … o_O?!
Well at least I know how much I google <insert celebrity name> before and after <insert usually is plastic surgery>. 😛
❤ Ena
~*~*~*x*X*x BoNuS x*X*x~*~*~
image-2
Final bonus gif of me bobbing to disco lights.
I took a series of aegyo (asian slang for acting cute) photos when I had a really horrid night sometime this week and this is a way of me entertaining and cheering myself up. ^u^
I give you permission to download this and keep it in a place to refer to when you’re feeling down to cheer yourself up.
✌♫♪˙❤‿❤˙♫♪✌
PEACE out~!