DHC After Bath Hair Treatment (Oil Type)

DHC, or Daigaku Honyaku Center, you may be surprised to know, started in Japan as a translation center. The company is more famous now for its ventures into cosmetics, vitamins, and healthy food. See the US website here for more fun facts. As it is hard to find DHC brick and mortar stores even in Asia, I chanced upon their UK website when in England and saw a discounted offer on this popular hair serum. (Thank you S, for this.)

The After Bath Hair Treatment Oil is a hair conditioning serum enriched with virgin olive oil, squalene, and shea butter. It promises to add shine and tame frizzy hair without weighing it down. The sturdy box it comes in is so beautifully done I kept it with me for quite some time to admire. The font and colors are well-coordinated, adding a dreamy quality to the packaging. The shining stars, seemingly dancing and twinkling, give off a magical effect to the overall design.

Neither did the plastic bottle allow itself to be upstaged. A pale pink lotus encapsulates the body which rounds itself up again at the bottom. I'd say this must be my favorite DHC among all its products.

The directions state to use one to two pumps of the oil and massage on clean hair (dry or damp). I personally only use this oil on the lower half of my hair. Half a pump is sufficient, as I found one full pump to be too heavy for my fine hair to handle. There is a light scent to it; nothing to fuss about.

Since I don't have time to wait for my hair to dry in the mornings, I use this mostly on wet hair. It does not feel oily or weigh my hair down as long as I am careful with the amount used. When my hair has dried, I do feel like it has an extra bounce and softness. It is also a tad shinier than when I do not use it. Sometimes it tames the frizzy strands, but most times it doesn't. It can't give the sleek-straight effect a good blowdry does. On the occasions which permitted me to, I found this best used on damp or dry hair, where the good effects were multiplied, and hair was actually less frizzy. Overall, this hair serum is a hair vitamin foremost, and a tress-defrizzer next. Hence the name -- Hair Treatment.

Peering into the box. The heavily-padded carton makes sure the item is shipped safely and arrives intact.

Dior 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette in 834 Rose Porcelaine

Happily, happily, my grubby hands ripped open the box that was my birthday present. Imagine my delight to receive my very first -- lo and behold -- Dior 5-Colour Eyeshadow Palette in 834 Rose Porcelaine (thank you 大姐 and 三姐)! I spent the next few hours ogling and ooh-ing the lovely thing.

Dior eyeshadow palettes are one of the most established in its category. From the numerous awards the shadows have won, they clearly have a firm grip in the cosmetics industry. The box comes in a beautiful midnight blue with a holographic CD logo stamped grandly.

The palette is protected with a velvet pouch, with CD again printed up front. 

It is obviously a dirt-magnet but nothing that a good wash can't take care of.

The most beautiful thing about this palette is the case. The CD logo comes to life at certain angles when it hits the light, as if glowing from within.

Under normal conditions this is how it looks like. The case carries a substantial weight and bespeaks pure luxury.

The plastic protective cover is clear, sturdy, and actually serves its purpose unlike those of old versions of Lunasol palettes where the thin film of plastic just slides and slips off on to the floor each time it is opened (very annoying).

Rose Porcelaine 834 is part of Dior's Spring 2012 New Look Collection, a campaign that pays homage to Christian Dior's first New Look runway show back in 1947. This nostalgic incarnation certainly adds a special touch to the product.

The colors from bottom left clockwise include a plum violet, a candy pink, a beige white, and a cool light pink. In the center is a warm-toned baby pink.

Standing like guards on opposite ends of the palette are two sponge tip applicators. The separate receptacle for each applicator keeps it clean and hygienic. It is a very nice, well-thought out design.

Above, the eyeshadows are swatched in similar order (from bottom left clockwise and then the middle). As can be seen, they apply very sheer. I am starting to think that the Rose Porcelaine name was derived from its glassy finish.

This is essentially an extremely cool palette that does not work well with my warm skin tone, which could also be one of the reasons why I have a hard time making the colors show up on my lids. The texture is satiny soft, and while build-able, are not as velvety as Urban Decay's formula. As most of the main colors are very light, the look I was able to create made my eyes look even more convex, which is not the most flattering result. 
Though it may take certain skin tones to make it work, Rose Porcelaine 834 can give a natural, clean, elegant look that does not compromise on quality and texture. The shadows stayed on my lids well throughout the day without creasing (under Lunasol Eyelid Base (N)). Paris of My Women Stuff created a beautiful look in her review.

An introduction to Dior eyeshadows. 

Various ways to maximize the use of 5-Colour Eyeshadow Palette.

The rear is a visual treat itself.

Ingredients list.

Product identification.

Bottomest bottom.