Hi Divas

Welcome back to another Pamper Sunday edition. This time, I am taking it all the way back to Korean Beauty. As you may know this is where sheet masks all began and they make the best masks on the market. Goodal is a fairly new Korean brand and they focus on skincare. Their brand name consisting of 'Good' and 'All', incorporates good and natural remedies for the skin. They say their products 'contain all that is good and be good for all'. They focus on harvesting natural ingredients in a safe way that benefits the environment and our skin. Their emphasis is to provide products which create clear and a bright skin tone using modern technology and infusing the skin with vitality and energy of nature. I have used quite a few products from the brand and am therefore very familiar with their style and ingredients. I enjoy almost all their products as they are effective, gentle and easy on the wallet. The only con is that they are not easily available outside Korea. You would have to use international Kbeauty websites, Amazon and Ebay to purchase them. The mask I am featuring comes from the Water Full line. There are 4 variants in the range and I have used the brightening one.


The Brightening mask consists of Vitamins B2, C and E which aids in hyper pigmentation and clears the skin from scars and blemishes. It contains orange water, kiwi extract and sea mineral water for optimum nourishment and moisture. Sea water is very beneficial to our bodies as it contains minerals which naturally heal and soothe irritated and dry skin. The term 'water full' suggest that this mask is filled with maximum hydration. The line is created to deeply moisturize the face while adding brightening benefits as well. I love the bright aqua packaging of the mask. It really highlights the ocean aesthetic and gives a calming effect to the mask visually. It comes in a pack of 5 which is excellent value for money. The actual packaging is very sturdy and is great for travel as the sheet won't get damaged.


The sheet mask has a soft cotton fibre which fits very snug on the face. It feels slightly smaller when compared to other masks. If you have a bigger circumference to work with, you may find the mask a little too small to manipulate on your facial features. The sheet is drenched in essence and feels so moisturizing on the face. This is honestly one of the most hydrating masks I have ever used. I love that the sheet adheres to the skin and does not slide down at all. I could easily go for 45 minutes wearing it without it drying out or slipping off.  The material is really good quality in holding moisture. It feels so comfortable and soft on the skin. The essence itself has a slight creamy texture but it is not milky. There is no stickiness either and the essence absorbs easily into the pores. It does not leave any unwanted residue and it mixes well with any cream you will apply on top. There is a lot of serum left over in the packet and can be used the next day if stored in the fridge.


I absolutely adore the results from this sheet mask. The essence feels so nourishing and hydrating. The next day my skin always looks well moisturized and plump after use. I can really see the benefits when I use the Goodal masks. I just came out of a cold and rainy Winter in Cape Town. We are currently in spring now, thank goodness. My combination skin went through some trials during the cold 3 months. This mask truly helped me to not have a parched and dull complexion. I highly recommend this line and the brand as a whole. They make excellent products for a fraction of the cost. I will keep repurchasing the Water Full line as well as other products. If you are looking for something deeply nourishing and effective give Goodal a try. You won't be disappointed.


Thank you so much for reading
Divalicious Kisses
Xxxx

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

My Night Time SkinCare Routine Summer 2017

Hello gorgeous Divas!

This will be my first beauty products post review for 2017. As you all know I am a serious makeup junkie. I adore cosmetics and the process of applying it every morning relaxes me. As I am getting older I have really been investing in my skincare routine. I find I am becoming a skin care addict too and the ritual of cleansing and moisturising my face everyday gives me the same euphoria that applying my makeup does. Korean Skin Care has been on my radar for a while now and I have truly been investing in their products. Compared to Western skincare, Korean products usually have the most natural and beneficial ingredients for the skin. Most brands are cruelty free, do not use parabens and have ingredients that target problems areas high on their manufacturing list. Korean skin care is also much cheaper than a lot of Western brands. Now don't get me wrong, there are a lot of high end Korean products that can really make your wallet cry. There are also great Western products that have amazing ingredients and are kind to your wallet. It all depends on the individual product and brand. By trial and error I feel I am leaning to Korean skin care more often now. I have seen amazing results on my skin. I have not given up Western products completely though. I love combining the two for optimal results. Below is my current Summer routine as I may change some products in Winter.

1. The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter: This product is amazing. I am not even joking. When I first used it I didn't expect to fall in love with it like I did. I have a full review on it here. This butter is super gentle on the skin and gets rid of all makeup including waterproof mascara. It cleanses the face well too. I double cleanse my face because I wear makeup everyday. I use this butter as the first step to removing all my makeup thoroughly. I rub a small amount all over my face and wash it off with water.

2. Clarins Daily Energizer Cleansing Gel: Once I removed all my makeup I like to double cleanse and use my favourite face wash of life which is this gorgeous gel cleanser. It contains Moringa extracts which is well known to rejuvenate skin and remove impurities. The cleanser smells amazing and is very gentle on the skin. It has a gel consistency at first and turns into a foam as you wash your face. I use it to thoroughly remove dirt and grime from my pores. It leaves my face squeaky clean but not dry or sensitive. Read my full review on it here.

3. Etude House Wonder Pore Freshner Toner: This is a kind of a cult beauty product in the Korean  market. Everyone including their grandma uses this toner. I too have written a review on it which you can read here. This is marketed as a 10 in 1 toner which cleanses pores, removes dead skin, refines skin tone and balances ph level of the skin while controlling sebum. I personally love this toner because it thoroughly removes makeup and dirt without making my skin dry. It is very gentle to use even though it does contain a small amount of alcohol. This 250ml bottle is a holy grail product for me. I have gone through more than four of these bottles in the past few years. I will definitely keep repurchasing it.

4. Goodal Moisture Barrier Fresh Liquid: This is a fairly new brand on the Korean skin care market. I discovered the brand while searching for affordable essences. Even though I have combination skin I felt like my skin was feeling a little dry lately. I decided to invest in a moisturising essence that would penetrate deep into my skin and provide extra hydration. Korean essences are different to western serums in that it is slightly lighter and applied after toner and before a serum. It has a viscous texture which is packed with nutrients that benefit the skin. I chose the Goodal Moisture Barrier Liquid not only for the price but for the awesome ingredient list. The 150ml bottle contains a good amount of Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) which is proven to prevent hyper pigmentation, brighten skin tone and prevent ageing. I splash a few drops on my hand and pat it into my face. It truly moisturises and brightens my skin. I use it twice a day before I apply my day or night cream. The scent is quite floral and strong. If that is not your thing then you may want to skip this one and find another essence.
 

5. Nature Republic Argan 20 Real Cream: Nature Republic is a very famous and well established cosmetic brand in Korea. They have an array of skin care products catered to different needs. My western creams were starting to become too expensive on my wallet. I decided to try a cheaper cream that is packed with the same wonderful ingredients of a high end brand. As you know, just because a product is expensive does not mean it has good ingredients that are beneficial to the skin. Sometimes you pay more for the brand name and packaging than the actual product itself. When buying skin care always look at your ingredient list and not just the packaging and brand name alone. The cream that I use is formulated with fermented argan oil. Argan oil is known as liquid gold for your hair and skin. It contains high amounts of Vitamin E which provides nutrition and moisture for the skin. Argan oil is known for it's anti ageing properties too. While this cream is not number one in the anti ageing department, I feel for my skin right now it provides enough nutrients and hydration. As I get older I will definitely buy another cream with more anti ageing punch. This cream comes in a 50ml tub and smells sweet and fresh. It's quite thick in consistency and a little goes a long way. I love to use this at night and wake up to plump skin in the morning.

*****

Thank you for coming on this skin care journey with me. I know this post was a tad long but I had so much vital information to share. I really hope you found it interesting and helpful. The cosmetic and skin care realm is a huge market. There are so many amazing products and brands from all around the world. I love expanding my horizons and trying new things. I would love to explore the Middle Eastern and some other European brands out there one day. All the products I reviewed are available on EBay and Amazon if you are interested in purchasing them and you do not find them in your local stores ;-)


Divalicious kisses!
Xxxx