Hi Divas

This past Winter has wreaked absolute havoc on my combination skin. The cold air has caused significant dryness along my forehead and mouth area causing my face to feel tight and look dull. I too am prone to flaking around my nose when my skin is particularly quenched. This is a pure sign of skin dehydration. Dehydrated skin can occur in all skin types as the epidermis lacks significant moisture. The golden element H20 is needed to replenish skin and restore it to its healthy state. Therefore I was so grateful when Clarins South Africa sent me their Hydra Essentiel range to review. I am no stranger to Clarins products as I was addicted to their Daily Energizer range along with their Bright Plus Line in the past. Clarins has always been a prestigious brand that not only offers luxury skincare but effective products with high quality ingredients. What sets the new Clarins Hydra Essential products apart is their significant attention to increasing and locking in moisture. Our faces are constantly exposed to outside elements daily causing dehydration, therefore these products can be used on all skin types to replenish our skin.

This powerful serum is a super hydrating formula consisting of Acetylated Hyaluronic Acid for intense hydration. It is a low molecular weight hyaluronic acid which provides a longer hydration life span. The serum contains Organic Leaf of Life extract, Organic Strawberry Tree extract and Crocus (Saffron Polyphenols). These all aid in balancing the skin's sebum production, tightening pores and radiating skin. The watery formula has a duo aspect and must be shaken to combine and activate ingredients. One and a half pumps are enough to quench my face for ultimate moisture. My skin loves this serum and soaks it up immediately after each use. It has a silky texture that absorbs wonderfully onto my face. The serum can be applied day and night to increase effectiveness. I highly recommend it, to add to your daily routine. Serums are truly miracle concoctions in a bottle.

 

Clarins Hydra-Essentiel Cream Mask 75ml

The overnight cream mask contains Hyaluronic Acid, Organic Leaf of Life extract and Ceramides to plump and nourish skin. The concentrated ingredients strengthen the skin's barrier by providing long-lasting hydration. The mask goes a long way as it has a thick velvety texture. I apply a small coin-sized amount specifically concentrating on my problem areas such as my forehead, around my nose and mouth. This mask has a creamy formula and any white excess left on the surface will be absorbed into the skin after some time. I love to use it as a sleeping mask before bed twice a week. I wake up in the morning with beautiful plump and moisturized skin. This mask is an absolute treat on super chilly days! It is a great investment as it will last a really long time with a whopping 75ml of product.

The new hydrating mist added to the range is my favourite product. It is extremely versatile and can be used in many different ways. The mist gives an instant boost of hydration. This is a lightweight and refreshing formula to use on the go when your face is feeling particularly parched. Not only does it add intense moisture but, a burst of radiance too. I love to use this throughout the day when my skin feels tight. It is a great addition to spritz over makeup application to keep the complexion from cracking due to dry weather. My foundation looks so much smoother and well-blended after a quick spray of the mist. The ingredients contain White Hound extract, Organic Leaf of Life, Nipplewort and Furcellaria to protect the skin against outside pollution and provide a fresh dewy face.

Usually, skincare brands provide all the necessary steps for glowing skin but forget one of the most important elements on our face, the lips! Thankfully Clarins did not neglect to spare us the embarrassment of a dry and cracked pout. This nifty little balm is perfect to throw in your handbag and use on the go. The tube packaging makes for a quick and mess-free application too. The Hyaluronic Lip Technology not only moisturizes the lips but significantly plumps and adds a natural shine as well. This non-sticky formula instantly hydrates and protects lips all day. I prefer to use the lip balm at night as an overnight lip mask. I have seen a significant improvement in the softness of my lips.

Did you know Clarins is committed to responsible sourcing and eco-designs to protect our environment? Yet another reason to purchase this incredible range and support a brand that is conscious about sustainability and making a positive impact on communities around them. Their motto is to reduce, reuse and recycle. They have therefore implemented actions to purchase their raw materials in sustainable ways, along with sourcing plant ingredients while preserving biodiversity. Their eco-friendly packaging encourages recycling to reduce overconsumption and limit waste. It is great knowing that you are purchasing and using products responsibly. What a wonderful initiative Clarins has taken.

These products are an absolute delight and I fully recommend them. Follow me on Instagram and TikTok @divadesle to see me use the range in action. Have you tried any of the Clarins line? Let me know in the comments below.

 

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

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

 7 Deadly Sins of Beauty

Hi Gorgeous Divas!

 

I want to take a break from beauty reviews and do a fun makeup tag. I found this one on Youtube and thought it would be perfect to do it on my blog. Beauty products are very subjective, as what might work for you might be and look terrible on me. I remember back in high school my friend and I were playing with her mom's makeup one day after school. We found this really bold blue mascara and decided to try it and see if it will match our blue school uniforms. I will never forget that day. I looked like an absolute clown with that blue mascara on my eyes topped with a bright red blush on my cheeks. We both laughed so much at how crazy we looked. From that day on I vowed to never touch another blue mascara ever again. Lol, I definitely stuck to my promise. Blue mascara is an all time deadly sin for me. Do you have certain products that make you cringe when you think about wearing it? Please let me know below! ;-)
I hope you enjoy my answers to the 7 Deadly Sins of Beauty Tag. Here we go...

1. GREED: What is your most inexpensive beauty item? What is your most expensive?
My most inexpensive beauty product is a yellow eyeshadow by Essence. I paid R22($2) for it as it was on sale. It has really great pigmentation, so it was quite a bargain. My most expensive beauty item is my eyeshadow palette by Guerlain called Ecrin 6 Couleurs Tailored Harmonies. You can read my review here. This palette retails for about R1100 ($100). Super duper crazy expensive!

2. WRATH: What beauty products do you have a love/hate relationship with? What product has been the hardest to get?
The product that I have a love hate relationship with and is the most hardest to get is my actual foundation shade. Foundations are usually too light or too dark for my complexion. I always have to mix foundations to get my perfect shade. That is why I have always used BB Creams as they oxidise to my skin tone throughout the day.

3. GLUTTONY: What are your most delicious beauty products?
What a strange question! I would have to say my EOS and macaron It's Skin lipbalms. They both smell good enough to eat. I adore my Too Faced Chocolate palette as well. Read my full review on it here. The palette smells exactly like chocolate and all the eyeshadows are named after decadent chocolate bars. Yum!!

4. SLOTH: What beauty product do you neglect, due to laziness?
In my skincare routine I used to always skip using toners. I would wash my face and apply cream afterwards. I could never find a toner that didn't burn my face or leave a residue. As I have gotten older, I realise how a good three step skin care routine is essential for healthy and glowing skin. I found a Korean toner that worked for my face and am using it religiously.I love using Clarins toners too, as they are very gentle on the skin.

5. PRIDE: What beauty product gives you the most self confidence?
This is a hard one to answer as I don't have one particular product. I have too many! Lol. I think mascara and lipstick gives me the most self confidence. I love accentuating my long lashes and full lips. If I have these two products on my face I feel that I am ready to take on the day.

6. LUST: What beauty product has the sexiest packaging?
It would definitely have to be The Balm Nude Dude palette. You can see my review here. It has six sexy naked men covered by eyeshadows in all the right places. Hell YES!!! ;-D

7. ENVY: What items would you most like to receive as a gift?
 I adore eyeshadow palettes and holiday makeup sets. Holiday gift sets always have the most fun and pretty packaging. I enjoy opening up pretty gifts and having fun goodies to play with.



Thank you for reading Beauties!
Much love.
Xxxx

I received this mini body butter and lip butter for Christmas last year. They were packaged in a cute Santa box. The products are from a range of Body Shop travel sizes in different scents. I am not a fan of the actual mango fruit so I was really surprised at how much I love this mango scent. It is a mixture of a mango and peaches fragrance. It smells really decadent, almost like a fruit smoothie. It is especially tempting to not lick the lip butter off my lips as the lip butter has a beautiful summer fruity scent that I just want to eat. Let's face it. Who does not love The Body Shop? Their products are always amazing when it comes to pampering the skin.

Mango Body Butter

The mango body butter has a creamy texture yet it is not heavy in consistency but melts wonderfully into the skin. If you are looking for a light body butter that deeply moisturises without leaving your skin greasy this one is the best. It has ingredients of cocoa butter and sweet almond oil which is renowned for softening and soothing very dry skin. I like to lather this on my body at night and wake up to beautifully moisturised skin in the morning. Since the Southern Hemisphere is moving towards winter this body butter is perfect for keeping the skin soft as the colder days approaches.

Mango Lip Butter

The mango lip butter comes in a really cute 10ml tub. The scent reminds me of those fruity chewy sweets that I used to eat when I was a child. I absolutely love the scent of this lip butter. It smells good enough to eat. It contains Shea butter and beeswax to deeply moisturise dry cracked lips. The texture of the lip butter is a soft, rich, creamy paste that glides effortlessly on the lips. Be careful to not apply too much as the butter is quite soft in consistency. I like to rub a little on my lips and let the butter warm up and melt into my lips. My lips are left feeling soft with a slight glossy shine.

These products are absolutely perfect for travel, as they are compact and can fit into any clutch or toiletry bag. I love moisturising my lips on the plane with the lip butter as my lips tend to get very dry on long haul flights, due to the aircon. The body butter is great to apply on at night after a long stressful or adventurous day.



Thank you reading!
Divalicious kisses
Xxxx