Hi Divas

Firstly I want to apologise for my complete absence on the blog. I have been travelling the Middle East again and doing shows. Unfortunately during that time I suffered severe insomnia and my brain just wasn't functioning properly at all. When I came back from my trip I really needed to sleep and rest. I wanted my body to get back to its normal sleeping patterns. I don't know if I will ever recover from the sleep I lost but I definitely feel much better and more energized. If you follow me on Instagram you can see some photos I posted from my trip. I won't be doing a blog post on it as it was a short trip and I didn't do anything exciting besides work. Now onto the blog post....

When I wake up in the morning the very first thing I do is go to the kitchen to make me a strong cup of coffee, with no sugar. I swear I can't do life without that first cup to kick me in my soul. I am not a morning person at all. So don't even think of trying to have a conversation with me when I just woke up. It's never going to happen, ever! LOL. About two months ago I shared my night time skin care routine with you. You can read that post here. This time I want to share my morning skin care routine too. It is not as extensive as my night routine though. I do most of my deep cleansing and moisturising in the evenings. I love to leave serums and creams on my face overnight to really soak in and do its magic. Since mornings are usually such a rush and a complete blur for me, I keep my skin care steps very simple.


My 4 Morning Skin Products:

1. Etude House Wonder Pore Freshner: As most of you know this is my holy grail toner of all time. It cleanses and wipes away oil and grime while controlling sebum and balancing the PH levels of my skin. I do not wash my face with a foam cleanser in the morning as I don't feel the need for a deep cleanse. This toner is sufficient for me to purify my face. Read my review on the toner here. (Available on Amazon and Ebay)

2. Goodal Waterest First Essence: Korean skin care consists of essences which are lighter than a serum but is packed with ingredients that are beneficial to the face. I like to use an essence that contain niacinamide as it is proven to brighten the skin tone and help prevent ageing. The Goodal essence contains brightening and moisturising ingredients that penetrate deep into my pores which gives me a healthy and youthful glow. It is such a pick me up for tired and dull skin. (Available on Amazon and Ebay)

3. Neutrogena Visibly Even Daily Moisturizer SPF30: I have tried many different moisturises with SPF but none work as well as this product. I always come back to this cream no matter the season. It blends wonderfully into the skin without leaving the face greasy or with a white residue as some SPF creams do. I like that it is light on the skin but moisturises really well. It works great with all types of foundations. It does not separate my makeup, make it oily or cakey. This is truly a holy grail day moisturiser for me.

4. Tony Moly Pocket Bunny Sleek Mist: When my face is feeling dry or tight I like to spritz this mist all over my face. It revives the skin and adds extra glow and hydration. The great thing about this mist is that you can spray it anywhere and anytime during your skin care routine. Sometimes I use it before I apply moisturiser and sometimes I apply it after my makeup to revive the skin. Plus the packaging is super duper cute. How could you not resist this?! Tony Moly is available at Sephora, Amazon and Ebay.


Hope you enjoyed my mini reviews on these products. What are some of your holy grail morning products that you love to use. Let me know below!



Divalicious Kisses
Xxxx

All About Sheet Masks:

Etude House, Innisfree, Beyond and Tony Moly

Hello Divas!

This week on the blog we will learn and explore all about Sheet Masks. Sheet Masks have been all the rage lately. Koreans were the first to pioneer it and the masks have been one of their skincare essentials for years. The Western World has only recently caught on the sheet mask craze. I first found out about sheet masks when I started exploring the world of Korean cosmetics. The first time I saw and used a sheet mask, 2 years ago, I was super scared. I did not know how to apply it and if it will be too harsh for my skin or not. Plus the instructions were in Korean so I didn't know what the heck was going on. I decided to cross my fingers and my toes and give it a go! To my surprise, sheet masks was the best thing that happened to my skincare routine. I am now 100% hooked! In the Asian markets there are hundreds of different types of sheet masks all catering to an array of skin types and needs. Today I will introduce and share some of my favourites with you.

What is a Sheet Mask?

Sheet masks are cotton fibre sheets that are soaked in essences or serums. These serums or essences are usually liquid in texture and contain active ingredients which hydrate, soothe and treat problem skin. Think of it as a facial in a packet! Most sheet masks contain natural ingredients, that once opened you cannot use it again. Each sheet mask is meant to be used once and thrown away as it may expire or allow bacteria to grow on it. Choose a sheet mask that is most suited to your skin type or skin concern. If you are suffering from dry skin, try a shea butter or hyaluronic acid sheet mask to provide extra moisture to your skin. If you have tired and dark spots, then try a lemon or pearl mask for brightening.

How to use a Sheet Mask?
 The application is very easy. All you have to do is tear the mask packet, carefully take out and unfold the sheet mask. Depending on the brand, some sheet masks can be thin and break easily. Other sheet masks are quite runny and can drip on your clothes or down your neck. Make sure you are not wearing your Sunday best when doing your mask. Place the sheet mask on your clean and washed face. You will see holes for your eyes, nose and mouth. Most sheet masks don't fit perfectly as each face shape is different. You can adjust the sheet mask to fit your profile the way you want it too. Once it is on your face, you can leave it on for 20 minutes and have some tea, read a book or just relax. I like to leave mine on for 30 minutes. When the time has passed, remove the mask sheet and throw it away. You can squeeze the excess serum into your hand and gently pat it on your face. Do not wash the serum off. Leave it to soak into your skin for the rest of the day or night. You can go about doing your normal skincare routine such as applying creams and makeup if you want to.


Why Sheet Masks? What's the hype?
Sheet masks are by no means a miracle worker. If you have serious problem skin it is best to visit your dermatologist and get proper treatment. I see sheet masks as a convenient way to give yourself an at home spa treatment. It is a great pick me up for tired and dehydrated skin. Your face will look radiant and feel so good after a sheet mask. It is a temporary solution to your skin problem. I love to wear my sheet mask at night and leave the essence to soak into my skin. In the morning my face feels super hydrated, brightened and perky. If you don't go for regular facials at a spa then this is a great way to give your skin an extra boost or some extra love and care. Plus sheet masking is so much fun! There are many types to choose from and I love trying new things. A lot of Korean sheet masks have cute and interesting packaging which makes the experience even more enjoyable.

My favourite Korean Sheet Masks:

Tony Moly I'm Real Lemon Mask Sheet Brightening: The cotton fibre of this mask is very thin in texture and can break easily. It is also very juicy and has a tendency to drip down the neck if you are not careful. What I love about this mask is the affordable price and the packaging. Everything about Tony Moly is always so cute. This mask is great for dull and tired skin. It contains lemon extracts which brighten and refreshes the face. This is a great and fun pick me up mask! It does not contain parabens and it is not tested on animals. Tony Moly masks are available at Sephora.

Innisfree It's Real Squeeze Mask Black Berry: Innisfree is my absolute favourite Korean skincare brand. All their products are amazing. The Blackberry sheet mask contains jeju complex which is green tea, cactus, tangerine, camellia leaves and orchids all rolled into one. This mask promises to give clear and bright skin while adding extra moisture. It does not contain parabens or test on animals too.

Etude House I Need You Vita Complex: This is another affordable brand with cute packaging. It does not contain parabens or test on animals as well. This mask contains vitamins to brighten and create skin vitality. The most important ingredient is niacinamide also known as vitamin B3 which is known to clear acne prone skin, facial blemishes and discolouration.

Beyond The Real Pomegranate: Pomegranates are known for their anti ageing benefits on the skin. This mask contains pomegranate extract, B1 and B2 vitamin complex for a firmer and more energized skin tone. The cotton fibre is thicker than other masks and it fits quite snug on the face. It has a great smell and the serum absorbs quickly into the skin. It does not contain parabens nor test on animals.

I scared my grandma!!!! 
Yes indeed! I literally scared my grandma. I crept up on her while she was sitting at the kitchen table and gave her the biggest fright of her life! Lol ;-D I love sheet masks and will buy them over and over and over again. There are many great western sheet masks available at Clicks and Dischem stores in South Africa now. I haven't tried them yet but will soon. I purchase all my Korean sheet masks from Ebay and they are available on Amazon too. Maybe I will do a follow up post and compare a western brand one to an Asian one. I think that would be a great idea.



Let me know if you tried any sheet masks below
Hope you found this LONG review helpful ;-)
Xxxx