A Merry Diva Christmas!

Hi Divas!
It is the most wonderful time of the year indeed. I love Christmas and all the good vibes and festive cheer it brings. This year my family and I are very prepared for the upcoming day. We have done all our Christmas cleaning, hung up new golden curtains, finished all our crazy Christmas shopping and decorated the house. The only thing left to do is cook up a storm on Christmas Eve. In this blog post I decided to do a post on my top 5 favourite things for Christmas this year. And if you are wondering whether I was naughty or nice in 2016, then keeping on reading below.... ;-)

1. Favourite Christmas Decorations

2. Favourite Christmas Beauty Products

 I love getting all glammed up on Christmas day! I usually start with a gorgeous smelling body wash and lotion so the scent lingers on. I love the Bath and Body Works Warm Vanilla Sugar range. It smells like Christmas indeed. For my face I love to wear my absolute favourite makeup to make me feel special. This year I will wear my number one foundation right now which is Too Faced Born This Way. For the eyes I will use the pretty Too Faced Bon Bons palette for some sparkle and shimmer. On my cheeks I will be warming them up with my Too Faced Sweethearts Peach Beach blush. I love wearing bright red lipsticks on Christmas day. My most loved is the Etude House Etoinette red lipstick. To top it off I will be spritzing the sultry Victoria's Secret Angel Gold fragrance all over my neck and decollete.

3. Favourite Christmas Gift Collections

4. Favourite Christmas Treats
 My favourite treats for 2016 would have to be chocolates! From the gorgeous and cute packaging to the different mouth watering flavours and caramel or nougat centres. They make excellent Christmas gifts for loved ones, great for Secret Santa games and just pure indulgence to eat on your own. Big Yessss! ;-)

5. Favourite Christmas Music

 Christmas music always reminds me of my late grandfather because he had a Nat King Cole carols tape (back in the day when we still had cassette tapes) that he would play and sing along with. That memory will always be a favourite of mine. Like her father, my mom adores Christmas carols too. We play an array of different Christmas songs in our house. We love rocking to Elvis, feel playful with Bing Crosby, get all cozy with Buble and feel sentimental and blessed with Il Divo. My most loved Christmas song is O holy Night.


6. Was I NAUGHTY Or Nice This Year?

 I was plain blank NAUGHTY! LOL ;-D


*****
I want to wish you all a blessed and wonderful Christmas and Festive Season. Thank you so much for supporting me and being true Divas this year! I love you lots. Let me know below what some of your favourite Christmas things are and if you were Naughty or Nice this year? ;-)
Divalicious Kisses

Xxxx

 Hi Divas!

Recently everybody and their dog was doing the Ride or Die makeup tag on YouTube and I decided to be annoying and do it too, Hahaha. ;-D It was created by the very famous beauty Youtuber Jaclyn Hill. The tag is all about your holy grail products. Cosmetics that have never let you down and makeup that has been with you through thick and thin and will always be your number one. I have included Korean brands as well as Western brands because you know I am about that ''Cosmetics around the World'' Life! This is quite a long tag so hope you enjoy reading it and find some mini reviews helpful.

1. Ride or Die Primer: Clarins Beauty Flash Balm. This is a skincare and makeup product in one. I love that it brightens and lifts my face while creating a smooth and even canvas to apply my foundation.

2. Ride or Die Foundation: Peripera BB cream. This Korean product comes in the cutest packaging you will ever see. I am already on my second bottle. The BB cream gives me the coverage that I need while still looking natural on my face.

3.  Ride or Die Concealer: Rimmel Stay Matte Stick Concealer. This concealer is so creamy and blends like a dream! Unfortunately I have not seen it in stores for a while. Someone please tell me that this is not discontinued. *Crying face*.

4.  Ride or Die Powder: Innisfree No Sebum Powder. Another holy grail Korean product is this very famous Innisfree powder. It's similar to an HD powder which smooths the face and eliminates all traces of oil. It blends makeup well and has a super fine texture.

5.  Ride or Die Contour: NYX Contour Stick. I am not much of a contour girl, but I do enjoy a light application of it on special occasions. I use the nifty NYX contour stick as it is easy to travel with and to apply on the face. You can read my review on it here.

6.  Ride or Die Bronzer: Sephora Collection Shimmering Bronzer on Seychelles Cruise. I love that it contains three shades of colour and can be used as a bronzer or dark blush as well as an eyeshadow. Yay! ;-)

7.  Ride or Die Blush: Too Faced Sweethearts blush in Peach Beach. I feel like my cheeks were kissed by unicorns when I use this blush. Not only is the packaging gorgeous but the blush can be used as a eyeshadow and highlighter too. Read my full review here.

8.  Ride or Die Highlighter: The Balm Mary LouManizer. This is a great universal highlighter and perfect for travel. Read my review on it here.

9. Ride or Die Eyeshadow Primer: Urban Decay Primer Potion. I have used many eyeshadow primers but nothing has ever come close to Urban Decay. It is seriously holy grail material.

10.  Ride or Die Eyeshadow Palette: Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette. This palette has a lot of sentimental value to me as it is the first Sephora product and Too Faced product I ever bought. I love it so much and we will never ever part! Review here.

11. Ride or Die Single Eyeshadow: Essence Single Eyeshadows. I am not much of a single eyeshadow person, but I do enjoy the Essence single eyeshadows. They are super affordable and some of the shades can double up as a highlighter and bronzer.

12.  Ride or Die Eye Liner: Essence Super Fine Liner. No product can create a wing that can cut my worst enemies like this liner. Plus it  retails for under R50/ $5. Hello!!! Review here!

13.  Ride or Die Mascara: Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara. I love this mascara as it gives bold dramatic lashes which stays put all day. I will buy this mascara over and over again.

14.  Ride or Die Lip Liner: NYX Lip Liner in Pinky. I only use on lip liner and this one by NYX is my holy grail product. It remains in my cosmetics purse and compliments all my lipsticks.

15.  Ride or Die Lipstick: Wet n' Wild Bare It All and Mauve Outta Here Lipsticks. I cheated and chose two lipsticks. These are my favourite as they are light on the wallet and give a beautiful semi matte finish on my lips. They also work with any makeup look. LOVE!!! Review on them here.

16. Ride or Die Lipgloss: NYX Butter Gloss in Peaches And Cream. I am not much of a lip gloss wearer but these glosses smell so good and give a beautiful sheen on my lips.



Thank you for reading!
Divalicious Kisses
Xxxx

Hi Divas!

I am excited to do another makeup review for you. I don't own many products by Becca and have only recently started using the brand. The brand hasn't been very accessible to my fellow South Africans until now. I did a review on their famous Shimmering Skin Perfector which you can read here and I wrote a review on a lovely sunscreen which you can read here.  As most of you know Becca is very famous for their stunning face highlighters. These are still on my wish list and I would love to purchase one soon. Besides gorgeous illuminators Becca has a lovely makeup line. This week I will explore some more products in their makeup realm. I own three face products which are a shimmering eyeshadow, a lip and cheek creme tint and a juicy lip gloss. All the products come packaged in the same dark brown box with the elegant Becca silver logo.

 The packaging for all three products are very sleek and sturdy. I love the silver accent on the lip and cheek product as well as the eyeshadow. The lip and cheek creme has the same packaging as their highlighters, just smaller. It is really cute and compact, which is great to pop in the smallest clutch. The eyeshadow is held in a plastic square pot with a twist top. This too is very cute and not too bulky to put in your travel makeup bag. The lip gloss comes in a 7ml tube with a doe foot applicator. The top is very sturdy and won't leak or break in your bag.

Becca Jewel Dust in Laila

The eyeshadow pigment I own is in Laila. It is a gorgeous duochrome loose pigment with white, silver and specks of iridescent blue glitter. It looks stunning on the eyes and reminds me of a mermaid's tail and the White Queen look from Alice in Wonderland. This is a loose shimmery pigment that works best by applying it with your fingers onto your eyelids so that the glitters won't get lost in the brush fibres. The pot comes with a sifter. This is great as you can be fully in control of how much eyeshadow you want to use without it spilling everywhere. The lid of the pot is deep enough to deposit eyeshadow in there and lift it with your fingers onto the eyes. You should definitely use a eye primer when you wear these loose pigments. If you want a bold shimmer effect glitter glue would also be a great option. I love this eyeshadow for a very dramatic look. You should wear this if you totally want your eyes to stand out and be the focal point of your face.

Becca Lip and Cheek Creme in Petal

I don't own many cream blushes as I prefer powder ones. This compact is perfect for travel as you get a two in one product and it comes with the cutest mini mirror inside. This is especially great if you are stuck at an airport and you want a lovely flush of colour on your lips and cheeks without too much fuss. I have the shade Petal which is a pretty peach shade. This actually looks darker in the compact than when swatched on my skin. It kind of has a pastel peachy colour with bubblegum pink undertones on my skin tone, if that makes any kind of sense! I use my Real Techniques stippling brush and dab it lightly into the product. I then gently tap it on my cheeks. This technique gives a gorgeous flush of colour on the apples of my cheeks. My skin looks like I have a natural peachy glow. It is so feminine and pretty and I love it so much. The cream is definitely buildable and you can increase your blush intensity from a subtle glow to a ''Wam Bam, Hello Ma'am'' look! On my lips, it is a whole other story. This as lip colour does nothing flattering to my skin tone. It is too pastel and too peachy. I look like I stepped out of the 80's when I wear it on my lips as a full on colour. I think it is too cool toned for me. If I were to wear it on my lips, I would dab it on the centre and add a gloss over it. I think this would be my best option. If you are lighter in skin tone than me then I am sure you can rock the peachy lips. The best part about this product is that it does not rub or fade or feel sticky on the skin. It sits surprisingly well throughout the day and does not flake off. Yay!

Becca Ultimate Colour Gloss in Malibu Punch
This gloss is absolutely rightly named as it is packed with so much punch! This is a vibrant and juicy coral lip gloss. I love that it is so opaque and it smells good too. It has a viscous consistency which I prefer in a gloss. I do not like runny lip glosses that drip everywhere when you apply it. The formula of this one is pretty good. With one swipe of the doe foot applicator your lips is coated in juicy colour. This is quite a sticky lip gloss, so if that is not your thing then you probably won't like this one. I don't mind it though. I hardly wear gloss and when I do I make sure it is not on a windy day that my hair gets glued to my lips ;-) I think this is a good one to have in my collection, since I only own like three lip glosses, LOL.

Becca Makeup Look
I used all the products to help create my look below. I have the Jewel dust eyeshadow in Laila on my eyelids. For my cheeks I used the Lip and Cheek Creme in Petal applied with a makeup stippling brush. I tapped the same product on my lips and topped it off with the vibrant lip gloss in Malibu Punch. I also added the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector on the high points of my cheeks and the bridge of my nose. I finished off the look with a dramatic winged liner and lots of black mascara. I think the look came out beautifully. I would definitely wear it to a nighttime event.


Let me know what you think of the products and makeup look below. Have you tried any Becca products and what are your favourites? Visit Becca South Africa for more details on how to purchase the products;-)


Thank you so much for reading.
Lots of love
Xxxx

The Blush Addict Tag

 Hi Divas, welcome back to my blog!

This week I wanted to do something fun and take a break from all the reviews. I decided to do a blush tag as I haven't done anything in this line before. I do not own too many blushes as I am more of a lipstick and eyeshadow palette kind of girl. I would love to expand my blush collection in time. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this tag below and leave me recommendations of blushers I should put on my wish list ;-)

1. What colour blush suits you the most?

 I love wearing soft pink blushes on my cheeks. Almost baby pink in shade but a little brighter. I find that these shades suit me the most. They make me look pretty, young and feminine.


2. Pressed/cream/loose blush?

 I prefer a pressed blush as it is less messy and I find it easier to control how much I apply on my face. Plus most pressed blushes have really beautiful designs. I always look at the pretty packaging before I buy a blush or any makeup product for that matter.


3. Favourite shimmery blush?

 I love my Too Faced Sweethearts blush in Peach Beach. It has three tones of gold, pink and bronze. It gives a beautiful hint of shimmer on the cheeks that looks classy and pretty,


4. Favourite matte blush?

I have a deep red blush in Renesmee Red by the Essence Twilight Breaking Dawn collection. It is a lovely red blush that looks matte but not flat on the cheeks. I hardly wear it because it's a deep red shade and it is more suitable for vampy looks.


5. Favourite cream blush?

 I only own two cream blushes and I love them both. One is from Becca in Petal and the other one is by Sonia Kashuk in Petal as well. Both are easy to blend and give a natural look on the face. Maybe I should do a comparison review of them in another blog post.


6. Favourite drugstore blush?

 I loved my Catrice blush in Tickled Pink. It was a perfect bright pink blush that gave a beautiful flush of romantic pink hues on my cheeks. My mom stole that blush from me that is why I am using the past tense words: 'was', 'gave' and 'loved'. Lol ;-)


7. Favourite high-end blush?

I adore my Clarins Blush Prodige blusher in Miami Pink. It comes encased in a beautiful gold case that has a mirror and brush. It looks very regal and sophisticated.


8. Favourite bright blush?

 This blush actually comes from my BH Cosmetics That's Heart palette so it is not a free standing product. The blush in that eye and face palette comes in a bright pink shade that is perfect to wear everyday. I am almost hitting pan on that blush as I love it and use it so much.


9. Biggest blush disappointment/regret?

 I don't think I was ever disappointed in the blushes I have purchased or have a regret buy. I honestly cannot answer this question right now because I don't have one yet.

10. Best blush packaging?

 The Too Faced Sweethearts blushes wins hands down!!!! The gorgeous heart shaped vintage boxes are just stunning.

11. What's on your blush wish list?

 Oh my gosh, for me a blush has to have beautiful packaging before I even look at it. I don't care about the fantastic product. If it does not come in a pretty pan or box it will get rejected, Lol. My blush wish list includes:


1) Too Faced Love Flush Blush in Justify My Love
2) Missha Signature Dramatic Rose Petal Blusher in Pink Rose (Korean brand available on Ebay)
3) Guerlain Rose Aux Blush duo in Smile


12. Number 1 holy grail blush?
My holy grail blush is definitely my Too Faced Sweethearts blush in Peach Beach. I would buy that blush a thousand times over again. Packaging is 10 out of 10. The product itself and the colour combos are 10 out of 10. You could use it has a bronzer, highlighter, blush or eyeshadow. It's just the best blush of life!!! 

ESSENCE

'Happy Girls Are Pretty'

Blush and Sheer Lip Balm Review

Hi Gorgeous Divas!

Hope you all had a beautiful Valentine's Day. Whether you were showering your significant other with love or spoiling your single self with something special, I hope it was all kinds of wonderful. As most of you may have seen Essence has come out with a beautiful Happy Girls Are Pretty collection that tied in perfectly with Valentine's Day. Most of the products involved cute heart motifs, pastel colours and an overall romantic and whimsical theme. Essence always comes out with the prettiest trend editions and this one is no exception. The products include a blush, two sheer lip balms, nail polishes, two eyeshadow palettes and a nail file. I have the blush and sheer lip balm in my makeup bag and wanted to share my thoughts on them with you.

Firstly, I give the packaging five stars! Look at how cute that heart blush is. I swear it has unicorn kisses all over it. The huge pink heart in the middle is absolutely adorable. It just screams 'Desle'! I love that the blush is multi coloured too. I have it in the shade 01 You Sweeten My Day! On the eye the heart has a dusty pink, almost mauve, shade. The outer blush area is lighter and softer in a baby pink shade. What I love most about this blush is that it is very visually appealing. It has different textures and pink tones that make this drugstore blush one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. It is very eye catching and someone who is a makeup junkie and pink freak like me won't be able to resist it. The sheer lip balm is equally cute and compact. It is thin as a chapstick but a little longer in length. This is perfect to pop in your handbag and it smells lovely too. I have it in the shade 01 Pretty You!, which is the darkest out of the two lip balms. It is described on the tube as being a lipstick that gives a hint of colour and a smooth feeling on the lips.

As you can see in the photo above I am wearing both the blush and lip balm. I was expecting the blush to be very pigmented therefore on my first use, I lightly dipped my brush onto the compact and swept it across my cheeks. To my surprise the blush was not showing up deep on my cheeks at all. It has a very sheer coverage that almost borders on a pink highlighter for medium to dark skin tones. For the second time, I applied the brush to the blush a little more vigorously and got a better flush of colour on my cheeks. This is a pastel light pink blush with slight shimmers in it. I think it would be perfect as a highlighter and blush top up for skin tones such as mine and darker. If you are fair in skin tone this would be a pretty light pink blush on your cheeks. It does come off a little powdery at times on the compact but stays in place on your cheeks for most of the day.

For the sheer lip balm, I would describe it as being more of a lip tint. You get a moisturising balm with a flush of colour on your lips. This shade is deeper than my actual lip shade but it still looks natural and pretty on my lips. The colour is not overbearing at all and looks good even when it is slightly faded after eating and drinking. I definitely recommend this lip product for someone who wants a dab of colour on the lips but don't want to commit to a full on lipstick. I have actually been wearing this every day as a quick fix to slap on some colour when I'm in a rush and need to go to the mall or drive somewhere quickly. I think this product would be great on a flight as you want to look pretty but not too overdone.

I have enjoyed wearing these products and am happy with them. I decided to not buy the eyeshadow palettes even though they were so delightful as I have a 1000 other eyeshadow palettes in my collection to get through, Lol. The struggles of a makeup junkie are real. I am proud of myself for exercising self control. Anyway, hope you find these products soon as they are selling out like hot cakes. 

Thank you for reading.

Lots of love.

Xxxx

Hi Divas!

Hope you are all doing great this week. It has been really cold and wet in Cape Town. It seems that Winter is finally upon us in the Southern Hemisphere. Even though the sun is barely peaking through I am still managing to keep my summer glow with a beautiful blush by Too Faced called Sweethearts in Peach Beach. I have wanted this blush for a long time because of the very pretty heart shaped box it comes in. The packaging is absolutely adorable and so sweet. I love the pink box with a touch of gold print. These boxes are perfect to display on your vanity table. It gives your makeup space a vintage and romantic feel to it. Don't this blush look like something Maria Antoinette would have used?

The blush is divided into three shades as you can see in the photo above. The first shade is a shimmery light peachy gold. This is the lightest colour in the box and can be used as a pretty highlighter across the cheeks. The middle shade is a soft rosy pink colour with a hint of purple undertones and has a satin finish. The last shade is a deep gold almost bronze colour with slight shimmer. All three colours can be used separately or mixed together to create a beautiful flushed peachy glow. The colours add wonderful dimensions to your cheeks, so your face won't end up looking flat with just one shade but it will be contoured, blushed and highlighted all at the same time. The finish is very beautiful and depending on your mood, you can go for a light sweep across your cheeks for a slight glow, or you can layer the blusher for a heavier bronzed look.




Peach Beach is the lightest shade out of the Sweethearts range and will suit any skin tone. It too is very versatile in that you can use it as an everyday blush or for special occasions. I love the peachy glow it gives to your face and light bounces beautifully off the highlight shade giving you a glow from within look. I found that the other two blushes in the Sweethearts range were heavily pigmented with dark pinks and purples, so I think Peach Beach is definitely the middle ground between the other two. The only con I have to say about the blush is that the packaging is very bulky and not travel friendly. It won't fit easily into a small makeup bag. This is actually not a problem for me because I take a massive makeup bag with me when I travel long distances anyway, so I will surely squeeze this pretty blush in there too.  ;-)

Hope you found this review helpful. Thank you for reading.

Much love!
Xxxx

Hi Divas

I am a huge fan of Clarins Skin care products and am falling in love with their makeup line too. I have the Clarins Blush Prodige in 03 Miami Pink. I have had this blush for more than a year now and I haven't done a review on it yet. Silly me! The blush is packaged in a beautiful gold square case that is tucked away in the signature red Clarins pouch. The case comes with a mirror and mini blush brush too. I just love the packaging of these makeup products. It looks really beautiful and sophisticated. If you are a sucker for beautiful packaging like I am, you will love the look and feel of this blush. It looks absolutely stunning on a vanity table and makes you feel glamorous when you whip it out in public and apply a few sweeps of colour on your cheeks.



As you can see in the picture above, the blush is divided into four parts but has two shades of colour. The largest block of colour in the blush along with the upper left side panel of the blush is a soft baby pink with a hint of peach. It has slight specks of glittery shimmer in it, but the powder is so finally milled you really have to strain your eye to notice it. The upper darker panel and the lower left mini panel consist of a darker matte pink shade which leans to a almost dusty pink/ mauve undertone. Mix together with a large blush brush the results are amazing. You get a beautiful shade of rosy pink on your cheeks with an illuminating glow. I love that there are two shades in this blush which mixed together gives a dynamic look on the cheeks. The colour does not look flat or one dimensional but reflects in different shades of light beautifully.


On the box the blush is described as an illuminating cheek colour. This is the exact result I get when I wear the blush. The effect is natural and subtle but looks radiant and romantic.To tell you the honest truth, I only wear this blush when I want to feel extra special or I am going to an occasion or event. I really don't want this blush to hit pan because it is so beautiful and I love it so much. It is definitely one of my favourite products in my makeup collection. If you want to treat yourself to something special, this blush is definitely worth the splurge. You really won't be disappointed.



Thank your for reading ladies.
Have a fabulous week
Much love! Xxxx

Spring Fling Tag

Hi Divas!

I thought it would be very appropriate to do the Spring Fling tag on the blog as we are in the middle of September. I started packing away my winter clothes and my vampy winter makeup. Even my nail art colours have changed to pastels and some neon polishes. I am definitely looking forward to the weather heating up, all the pretty flowers blooming and bright displays in the shop windows. Spring always makes me feel hopeful and excited about life.

1. What eye palette do you/will you use most this spring?
My BH Cosmetics That's Heart Palette. The palette has pretty golds, pinks, and blue shades that are great for spring. The eyeshadow colours are soft and gives a beautiful romantic look. The palette comes with a candy floss coloured blush, a bronzer and a highlighter. It is very versatile for day and night makeup looks. 

2. What blush in your collection is a spring must-have?
My Clarins Blush Prodige in Miami Pink 03 consists of  soft pink shades.

What about lipstick?
 I have recently discovered the Etude House Dear My blooming Lips Talk lipsticks. My favourite for spring would be a soft pink in RD304. I love wearing all shades of pink in spring and this shade is perfect as it is not too bright or shocking. 

3. What nail polishes do you love to wear in the Spring?
I love pastel blues, peaches and baby pinks. I usually gravitate towards Tip Top Cha Cha Cha and Tip Top Get the Party Started.

4. What is your signature spring scent?
I like to wear light body fragrances this time of the year. When I want a fragrance that is not too strong I love to wear my Victoria Secret Angel Fragrance Mist. It is a body mist and not a perfume. It's light and whimsical.

5. What is on your spring break agenda?
Well, I don't have school holidays any more because I am a working girl. When I was at university, I used to go home for the September week holidays and enjoy picnics at Kirstenbosch gardens.


6. What trends are you looking forward to the most? Fashion, Makeup, Nail Polish, etc.
 I am a dress fanatic. I absolutely love dresses and my wardrobe is filled with them. I am looking forward to seeing pretty girly spring dresses in prints, lace and embellishments.

7. Do you have a spring skincare must-have?
 I like to get rid of dull winter skin with a highlighter/ illuminizer. I love the Clarins Instant Light Complexion Perfector in Rose Shimmer. You can dot it on your cheek bone area or mix it into your foundation to highlight your whole face. It gives a beautiful radiant glow without the tacky shimmer.

8. What is spring like where you live?
 I live in Cape Town. Spring is warm with a slight chilly wind. As the flowers start to bloom I get allergy attacks galore! So I always have to have antihistamine pills and tissues on hand.

9. Floral: gotta have em or make them stop?
Got to have them on my dresses, shorts and accessories ;-)

10. Favourite thing/activity to do in the spring?
 I have never really thought about this, but I think I like to do the annual house spring clean, pack all those winter clothes away and bring out bright accessories for your home. I like to have picnics and drive out to wine farms and enjoy a good lunch. It is not too hot so the drive is pleasant and all the pretty flowers are out in full bloom as you road trip across town.

Thanks  for reading ladies! Xxx