Paint and Belts

SHINee has always had slightly confusing teaser photos.

I even posted about it before - once in 2012 for Sherlock and again in 2013 for Dream Girl. I’m sure their teasers for every release since then have been as equally weird, but I didn’t post about them.

SHINee are currently gearing up for their comeback, which coincides with their 10th anniversary. A few teasers have already been released, and I already talked about that a little bit in my post complaining about Onew’s hair. SHINee’s fashion choices have also always been a little out there, although I think Key is in charge of that.

Anyway, back to the reason for this post.





These boys crack me up.

Korean Skincare Haul and First Impressions

At the start of April, I decided to use my Yesstyle account again for the first time in about 6 years. Having brought much of my current korean skin care collection on amazon, I was now finding that it was not only expensive, but also difficult to find all the products I wanted to try out. Yesstyle solved both of these issues, along with free shipping for orders over only $35, although the wait time was longer. However, I decided it was worth it and placed a small order, deciding that buying little and often was more efficient than buying everything all at once. I then placed another order at the start if this month, using the $10 off voucher from my first order and timing it with their upgrade to silver membership offer, which will afford me another $15 off and 6% off everything for my next order. The whole system is a little confusing, but anyway, here are the products I brought and my thoughts. 

Heimish All Clean Balm - $16.65

I’ve tried this a few times now, and the jury is still out. I’ve not used a balm cleaner before, but it melts in your hands to a standard oil cleanser consistency so wasn’t that confusing to use. It smells much stronger than I expected, but it’s a nice, clean, medicinal tea tree type of scent. It seems to do a good enough job of cleansing, but no better than my current oil cleanser, and it does seem to leave my vision cloudier than normal. I do like it, but I think that’s more because of the novelty of a new type of product. For the most part, the Simple one would still be my go to oil cleanser, because it’s cheaper (especially when it was on offer for £2, how I wish I’d brought 60 rather than just 6) and more easily accessible. 

Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop - $18.96

I’ve been using this every evening, and I do think my skin has started to look brighter. The consistency is different to what I was expecting, it’s much more of a lightweight oil than the serum or essence texture I had imagined. This does mean that it takes a little longer to absorb into the skin, and the first night I was a little worried that I would remain slick faced until I washed it off, but my skin soaked it up nicely. The dropper was fun to use, and I experienced no tingling, warming or irritation. I know you have to be careful with mixing ingredients with vitamin C, so I don’t use it when I have used my neogen bio peel pads, and while I’m currently only using it in the evenings, when I build up to using it in the day, I’ll make sure to use a sunscreen as Vitamin C can make you a little more sensitive to sun damage.

CosRX AHA BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner - $13.54

I haven’t really given this much of a go yet as I was far more focused on the klairs vitamin drop and far too scared to mix vitamin c with these acids, but the couple of times I have tried it, I’ve mostly thought how awesome is is to have a toner in mist form. I still class myself a fairly new to toners full stop, and alternate between using pads and my hands to pat the product in. Misting seems to make so much more sense than either of these options, as well as saving money and waste on cotton pads, so next time I buy a toner, I’m going to look for a mist one. I’m currently eyeing up the Pyunkang Yul one as a non acid toner, but research has also told me that I should be able to use this toner with the klairs drop as I don’t have sensitive skin and they are of a similar ph, so maybe I’ll start giving it a go in the mornings. 

CosRX Pimple Master Patch - $3.45

These are A M A Z I N G. Luckily, or not, depending on how you see it, I had a pretty big cystic break out on my chin right as these arrived. I popped one of these on, and while it wasn’t invisible, it wasn’t obvious either and I felt comfortable enough to go out with it on. Within a day, it had brought all the gunk to the surface, which normally takes multiple days if not over a week. My breakout was also much less painful as the swelling went down so much quicker. Definitely would repurchase, and will definitely use them every time I break out. 

Face Liftimg Roller - $4.25

This was a bit of an impulse buy because I was feeling fat faced at the time. The reviews were good , but I think you’d have to use this consistently for like half an hour every day or something to actually be able to judge it’s effectiveness. So far, all I can tell you is that it bemuses my cat and makes her swipe at it, which isn’t ideal when it is in such close contact to my face. 

Etude House Collagen Eye Mask - Free

I haven’t used this yet so I can’t comment on it at all, but I guess the packaging looks cute?!

This has turned out to be quite a long post, and this is only the first order. I think I’ll have to do another haul post tomorrow or something! Overall, I’ve liked everything I brought so far, but time will tell how many of these products I will repurchase when these ones have run out. 

Light

SHINee announced their comeback today.

They released a video of the four members, and while Minho and Taemin were looking their normal, idoly selves, Onew and Key were sporting new hair cuts and colours which I hope will make sense during their promotions.

Key is fairly active on social media, so I was already familiar with his hair style change, started by a rather startling video of him shaving it all off (leading to the fear that they were all going to enter the military). I’d seen a photo of Onew at a concert where he was covered up head to toe, suggesting that he’d done something drastic. To be honest, they look quite similar - I know Key shaved his own head, and it looks like Onew cut his own hair.

I liked Onew with red hair when he’s had it in the past, I think it’s just the style that looks a little odd, and to be honest, it just makes me worry about him more.

Hairstyles aside, it was mostly just lovely to see them all smiling so confidently and naturally.

I was just looking for a photo of the clip to put on this post (why is it so difficult to add photos to blogger these days) when I discovered that SHINee released a new Music Video a couple of weeks ago and it totally slipped under my radar. Mostly, this is because it’s Japanese, and SHINee are represented by a different agency for their promotions there, so I’ve always missed their Japanese stuff.

What’s important here though is that Jonghyun recorded this song.

Shine

I am obsessed with this song at the moment.

I didn’t know much about Pentagon before this song came out. I still don’t know much about them, other than at least two of the members appear to be very small, and one of them wears a cape for some reason.

Changes

Last night, I was asleep by 11pm. I woke up at 7 and only snoozed my alarm once rather than my normal two times, so I was more awake in the morning. You’d think that getting up earlier would make me more tired and therefore keen to go to bed early again, but no. For some reason, I’m instead wide awake.

I’d also like to point out that getting up earlier didn’t mean I was ready any earlier, it just meant that I changed outfit 4 times. Twice because I decided that I was too fat for two of the dresses, one of which bulged at the buttons and the other being very tight to zip up, once because I decided the dress was too short with flesh coloured tights, and finally the last change was the dress I settled on.

I guess I’m going to find this more and more as we get into summer and the weather improves. A lot of my summer clothes were brought when I was much slimmer, and therefore, being probably 2 stone heavier than that now, they understandably don’t fit so well any more. If I only had the will power to do something about it.

I should really try to go to sleep. I could always watch some Six Flying Dragons, I cant seem to watch more than 20 minutes of it before I fall asleep.

Bank Holiday

I kind of had in my head that I would aim to post at least every other day this month. I didn’t post yesterday, which means that I should post today. But about what?!

It’s been a bank holiday weekend this weekend, and the weather has been stunning. We took full advantage and I have spent much of the weekend with my parents out and about doing the typical sunny day British family thing.

In case you didn’t know, the typical sunny day British family thing is going to a National Trust property or walking around either a wood, lake or some form of hill or small mountain. We did both. As in went to a national trust property and walked around a wood, not that we also claimed a small mountain - although my dad did seem to be suggesting that at one point.

It was lovely, although bordering on too hot. The problem is that here in the UK, I don’t feel comfortable wearing my abroad holiday clothes no matter how hot it gets. I have no idea why, but something about wearing shorts (if they fit me, which I’m pretty sure they don’t) just doesn’t seem appropriate here.

In all fairness, if I lost some weight and was happier with my body, I probably wouldn’t care so much.

Secret Shame

Yesterday, I was in bed for 10.30 and settled down to watch the remaining half of episode 2 of Six Flying Dragons. I was asleep by 11, and don’t really remember watching any of it. This may or may not have been due to a major sugar low.

Let me set the scene.

Saturday last week, my friends and I were in Tesco buying birthday gumph for another friend when we walked passed the Krispy Kreme cabinet. I suggested we buy some, we decided against it, we moved on. Every day since then, I have thought about Krispy Kreme doughnuts. On the way home every afternoon from Monday through to Thursday, I was half way to Tesco before I thought better of it and resisted. Then Miffy messaged me about the Krispy Kreme doughnuts someone had brought into her work, and all resolve was lost. Especially after a class of wine at the pub.

I went to Tesco, and made it all the way there.

It was late so the choices weren’t fantastic. No prepackaged variety packs, it was help yourself.

I could have got one. I did not. I could have got three. I did not.

I got six.

And then I went home and ate them all.

Two classic glazed rings, can’t go wrong. Strawberry and Kreme, surprisingly good. Salted caramel, divine.  Lotus biscoff, disappointing. Classic glazed jam, can’t complain.

I would for sure have the salted caramel and the strawberry and Kreme again, as well as the classic glazed rings, obviously. The biscoff I wouldn’t bother with, I just didn’t like the custard and the doughnut itself wasn’t squidgy enough. The glazed jam one was nice enough but just oozed everywhere, so a bit too jam heavy and full on dangerous to eat.

In my defence, I didn’t eat them all. I left about a quarter of the biscoff one. Agi enjoyed the custard. Then I emptied the bin to hide the evidence from my visiting parents. Fat load of good that did when my mum reads this blog.

Six Stationary Dragons

I’m half way through the second episode of Six Flying Dragons. I have been for days. I have little to no desire to watch it, instead finding myself loosing time doing nothing and then deciding it’s too late to watch it now.

I know I need to give it a good shot. I’m watching it because it’s one of the most highly rated dramas on Viki, so it must be worth watching. It wasn’t even that I didn’t enjoy it, more that it just didn’t hook me in.

The ever growing desire to watch Decendants of the Sun might also have a little something to do with it.

I also thought of rewatching The 100, seeing as that is restarting fairy soon, so that’s probably not helping either.

Not that I’ve started watching either of these series instead.

Mostly I’m just too tired to be bothered to put it on.



EDIT: I was just about to settle down to sleep when I decided a security wee would be wise, seeing as I have drunk 2 litres of redbush tea since 6pm. I was surprised to find an empty landing, and even more surprised when the patter of little paws didn’t come racing up the stairs within seconds. Then I heard a very pathetic sounding mewling. Agi had shut herself in the lounge, and she was very lucky that I decided to pee or she’d have been stuck there, minus food, water and litter, all night. Not that she seems to like her food or water staying in their bowls at the moment, or her poop in the litter tray ...

Infinity

I saw Avengers Infinity War this evening. It was ok.

The problem is that these sorts of films always get bigged up. My feeds have been full of people saying that they cried buckets, and that sets an assumption that you will also shed a tear or two. I did not.

You see, I very much judge a film by its ability to make me cry, especially if it is a film that other people say have made them do so. Its why I didn’t get along with The Fault in our Stars. Everyone said it’s a tearjerker, and I just sat in the cinema totally dry eyed while everyone else bawled around me. One of the most surreal moments.

I am too tired to go into it in anymore depth. Basically, I didn’t cry and that ruined the whole movie for me.

*whispers* SHINee’s back

I started watching Six Flying Dragons. I currently have no idea what the hell is going on.

In other news, I found out two interesting things today. Firstly, that Henry is at the end if his 10 year contract with SM and has decided not to renew. This is no surprise really, he’s been quite vocal with how difficult he has found the company in recent years, but it does make me sad. I worry about what will happen with Super Junior M. I’ll also be sad to see his influence gone in other SM artists work too. But I hope it works out for him and he can have the freedom that SM never afforded.

It does seem like SM are loosing a lot of their talent lately. Obviously not counting the law suits, but first half of SNSD didn’t re-sign, and I’ll bet that f(x) are coming up for renewal soon and I’ll be super surprised if Amber at least doesn’t leave - judging by her recent YouTube career building and solo releases. Super Junior all re-signed, so it looks like they are all here to stay, and TVXQ probably are too. Hopefully SHINee are as well, but I can’t find anything solid about their contract situation, only that they are coming up to their 10 year anniversary.

In celebration of this, SM announced that SHINee would be making a comeback. I’m both really sad and super happy about this. Sad because a comeback minus one member is heartbreaking, but happy because they are and always have been one of my most favourite bands and I will always be excited about their new releases. The members all seem to be keeping busy, except Jinki, I’ve not really heard anything from him other than speculation that he wrote the 10th anniversary comeback advert.

I still feel my eyes prickle when I see the 5 of them together.