Hi Divas!

Welcome back to another skincare review. This week I am placing a spotlight on a lovely foam cleanser by The Body Shop. I have not used much of The Body Shop's facial product ranges. I usually go crazy for their bath and body products. On my birthday I decided to take a chance on this face cleanser as it was on special and I had a birthday voucher to blow! I am nearly done using it so I feel I can give a honest review. The cleanser is marketed towards sensitive skin and claims to be delicate enough to use on trouble areas. It says on the bottle that it will cleanse the face from makeup, impurities and grime while comforting the skin. It also says that it won't leave your face feeling dry and tight. I know that most people who suffer from acne prone or dry sensitive skin struggle to use foam cleansers as they strip the skin and cause a dry tight feeling. This cleansing foam contains aloe which is known to treat acne and problem areas by healing and soothing it. Aloe contains anti inflammatory properties which reduces skin inflammation.

The cleanser comes in a 150 ml plastic bottle. It contains quite a big pump which turns the green liquid into a frothy white foam. All you need is two to three pumps to cleanse your entire face. If you are wearing heavy makeup, I suggest washing your face twice to remove all dirt. The foam is bubbly at the start but diminishes as you wash your face. It is light in texture and feels gentle on the skin. At first it feels like the foam is not doing anything significant in cleansing, but once I rinsed it off with water I was super surprised at the results. I was not expecting my face to be so clean and fresh. It literally looked like I was not wearing any makeup at all a few minutes ago. I have used other foam cleansers in the past and it took a lot of effort to remove grime. This one did it effortlessly but my face still felt and looked good. It did not irritate or burn my eyes. Neither does it leave a tight feeling on the face.

The only con I have with this foam wash is that it does not remove waterproof mascara. You will have to do a double cleanse of eye makeup remover before or after to remove waterproof makeup. If you are sensitive to smells, this product has a slight aloe and clinical sent. It does not bother me at all but if you are someone who gets irritated by fragrance you might not like it. This is a good everyday facial cleanser. It does not do anything spectacular except clean your face without being harsh on the skin. If you are looking for a normal everyday face wash then do consider giving this one a try. If you want something way more fancy and with more benefits to your face then give this one a skip. Have you tried this cleansing foam? Let me know below.


Thank you so much for reading.
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

The Body Shop Reed Diffuser:

 Vanilla & Tonka Bean

And

Jasmine & White Frangipani

Review

Hi Divas!

This is possibly the longest blog post name I have ever had in all my life, Lol! I never blog about decor or items for the home except on the odd candle review. This week I have something very different and out of my comfort zone. I will be attempting to review some lovely decor and fragrance products for the home. I received two lovely reed diffusers by The Body Shop quite a long time ago. I personally love home fragrance diffusers as they keep your rooms smelling fresh and beautiful throughout the day. I love a good smelling home, so I always have scented candles and room sprays on hand to keep the house fragrant. The great thing about reed diffusers are that they give a subtle scent that lingers throughout the house. They last a really long time and you don't have to worry about sprays that may possibly damage fabrics. Reed Diffusers are a great way to set a gorgeous ambiance in your home depending on the fragrance you choose. The Body Shop offers up to 7 different fragrances in their reed diffuser range. I shall be reviewing two of them on the blog today. 

Each diffuser is packaged in a tall rectangular box with a pretty water painting representing the scent it holds. There are 10 reed sticks in each pack along with a vase filled with the fragrance which is held tightly closed by a rubber top. The fragrances are filled with essential oils and Community Fair Trade organically grown soya oil. This is a low maintenance diffuser that is meant to give off an ultra fine fragrance in the room. For best results, remove the rubber stopper from the vase, place all 10 reeds in the essential oils and let it soak. I like to turn the reeds around and place the dry side into the oils, so that the wet side of the reeds can work its magic in the air. The reeds then disperse a soft and beautiful scent. What I like most about The Body Shop diffusers are that the fragrances are not overpowering at all. Some household scents are too strong and can cause headaches or nausea while eating. This one is so light it's comforting and alluring at the same time.

Vanilla & Tonka Bean Reed Diffuser

 The star note in this diffuser is of cause the exotic tonka bean. Tonka Bean is well known for its aromatic fragrances. It smells similar to vanilla but with a hint of spice. This scent is very oriental and leans towards a cinnamon and amber scent with sweet vanilla. In this particular diffuser the mixing of vanilla with the spicy tonka bean gives a gorgeous sweet vanilla with a hint of spice fragrance. It's very unique and so inviting. It is a warm and welcoming scent. This would work great for a living room and bedroom. If you love vanilla scents like I do, then you will definitely love this one. I love it so much that I sometimes pick up the diffuser just to get a good whiff of the reeds. I swear it puts me in a trance. ;-)

Jasmine & White Frangipani Reed Diffuser

Jasmine is one of the most well known scents in aromatherapy and perfumery. It comes all the way from Asia and is a bright and happy fragrance. White Frangipani is a sweet and fruity scent almost tropical like. Mixing these two notes together you get a sweet, fun and feminine fragrance. To me the diffuser smells like an island and reminds me of summer. It is very lady like and might not work for a guy's bachelor flat. It would be perfect in your room or living room during hot summer days. It's stronger than the vanilla and tonka bean diffuser. It definitely gives a lot more punch. 

*****

In conclusion...

The Body Shop Reed Diffusers are a great investment for your home. They are sold at a great price and last for almost half a year. One the box it says that the fragrance lasts only for 8 weeks but my diffusers definitely lasted up to 6 months. They are a great way to keep the home smelling good and they have a classic stylish look that would look good in any decorated room. The best thing about these diffusers are that they are totally recyclable. You could fill your vase up with a new essential oil fragrance or use the vase to display flowers or anything you like. I recommend these to anyone who is looking for a budget friendly diffuser. Have you tried any of these? Let me know below!

Hope you found this review helpful.

Divalicious kisses.

Xxxx

Hi Divas!

This week I am reviewing something quite different on the blog. I am a huge fan of foam cleansers, as I feel they cleanse my face thoroughly. I have my holy grail foam cleansers that I use daily as they remove all my makeup and dirt without stripping my face from oils or making it dry. I therefore never gravitate to cleansing oils and butters as I feel that these are not necessary for my skincare routine. I also do not like the feeling of heavy oils on my face so I prefer foam cleansers that can be easily washed away with water. If you have sensitive and dry skin, you might love oil and buttery cleansers because you may feel that it is less harsh than a foam cleanser and it leaves your skin feeling soft and smooth. I received a box filled with The Body Shop goodies in the mail and one of the products was the Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter. I had no idea how to use it so I set off and did some research. I then tested it out on my face and here is my review.

The cleansing butter is packaged in a silver tin and holds 90 ml of product. I am not really impressed with this type of packaging, because you have to use your finger to scoop out the product which is not very hygienic. If you suffer from acne it would be best to use a spatula to scoop out the product as not to contaminate the tin with bacteria. Nevertheless the tin is not heavy at all and quite flat so it can be easily packed in your travel bag. This cleanser contains chamomile extracts, along with Shea butter and sunflower oil. Chamomile is widely known for its anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antibacterial properties. By the way do you remember your mom dabbing chamomile lotion on your chicken pox and skin irritations when you were small? I certainly do! ;-) Shea butter of cause is famous for adding intense moisture and containing vitamins and fatty acids just like sunflower oil to nourish your skin. The butter contains fragrances too which are actually really lovely. It has a clean floral smell that is not overpowering but very gentle on the senses.

 The product has a smooth wax type of texture. It is very soft and you can pick up the product easily with your fingers. The cleansing butter melts fairly quickly on skin contact and turns into a oil once rubbed in the warmth of your hands. As I mentioned above I am not a fan of oil cleansers, so I was super sceptical about this product. The one thing that bugs me most about oil cleansers is the fact that I prefer to wash my face with water. I hardly use cleaning wipes and muslin cloths as I feel it is a waste to the environment. As you know, water and oil is not a good combination. So before using this product I was worried that the product would not rinse off well with water and I may need a cleansing wipe to remove the product off my face.

I decided to test this with a full face of makeup. I scooped out a bit of product onto my hands and rubbed it all over my face in circular motions. To my surprise the butter broke down my heavy makeup, from my foundation to my stubborn eyeliner around my eyes. The oil felt very smooth and gentle on my face. It did not irritate my eye area or clog up my pores. Now came the real test, which was using water. After I felt I broke down most of my makeup I then rinsed my face. The water actually removed the cleanser easily. There was no unwanted residue on my skin. I then used my face cloth to dry my face and wipe off any excess eyeliner around my eyes. I was quite impressed with the job the cleanser did. My face looked and felt clean. There was no layer of excess oil on my face.

Since I am not a fan of oil cleansers, I decided to test this out on my makeup brushes. I added some product to my brushes to see if it will break down the makeup and give it a deep cleanse. Unfortunately this did not work well in cleansing my brushes. It left a oil type of residue on them, which is weird because it does not leave a oil residue on my face. I think the oils just clung to the brush fibres with more vigor. So I had to go in a second time and clean the brushes again to get rid of the oil. To conclude this blog post I recommend this product if you are a huge fan of oil cleanses as this one did a great job in melting off makeup and cleansing my face. If you do not have access to water for whatever reason this too is a great product to use with a muslin cloth or cleansing wipes. I personally would not buy this as I am set in my foam cleanser ways but if you adore these types of products definitely check it out.


Hope you found my review helpful.
Divalicious kisses!
Xxxx

Range Review


Hello Divas!

The Body Shop is one of my favourite body products stores around. Their shower gels and body butters always feel very luxurious and are great value for money. They have an array of different scents to choose from, which I love. You can seriously never get bored in testing and trying out new flavours in the shop. Some smell good enough to eat! I recently came across the Wild Argan Oil range that was relatively new to me. What intrigued me most about the range is the emphasis on argan oil. Argan oil is known for being a liquid gold for hair. I have used many hair care products containing argan oil and it always made my hair feel soft and look shiny and healthy. I had no idea about the benefits it has on the skin, so I was interested to find out.


Argan oil is made from the kernels of an argan oil tree which grows naturally in Morocco. It contains high levels of Vitamin E, antioxidants and fatty acids. These are essential in preventing premature ageing, fading stretch marks, scars and warts and healing all sorts of difficult skin problems. It also prevents split ends in hair, nourishes nails and acts as a natural UV protection on your body. Moroccans have been using this miracle oil for centuries in healing all kinds of different body ailments. I was therefore very excited to find a range from The Body Shop that contains a high concentration of this amazing oil. We are currently deep in the heart of Winter in South Africa and my body and hair definitely needs some extra love and care for these cold months. Below are my reviews on some of the products in the range.


The Body Shop Wild Argan Oil Shower Gel
This shower gel comes in the standard 250ml bottle. It looks very similar to the honey range so do check the label before purchasing it. I personally prefer this scent to the honey shower gel. Argan oil has a difficult scent to describe. It is almost like a warm nutty smell with a hint of sweetness to it. The body wash has a warm and inviting smell. It calms and rejuvenates the senses. This shower gel lathers well and cleanses my skin while leaving it feeling moisturised. I would definitely purchase this over and over again.

The Body Shop Wild Argan Oil Rough Scrub

The scrub is packaged in a 200ml tub. It contains walnut shell powder and argania spinosa shell powder as the exfoliant. The scrub is not sticky or foamy in texture. It dissolves easily on the skin. It is best applied to the body with your hands. Scoop out half a handful on your fingers and rub it on your skin in circular motions. You will feel the exfoliants are rough in texture and remove dead skin cells easily. Once washed off with water your skin is left with an argan oil shine and feeling to it. This scrub is only meant for exfoliating. It does not lather up at all. You will need to use a shower gel to wash your body properly. This is a great product for a quick exfoliating session. I love that it leaves the skin feeling silky smooth. It has a stronger scent than the body wash too. Beware that the packaging can get a little messy as it is not in a tube. So be careful when applying it.

The Body Shop Wild Argan Oil Miracle Solid Oil For Body and Hair

Spoiler alert: This is my absolute favourite product from the whole range! This is a solid oil packaged in a 50g metal tin which is perfect for travel. It is described as an oil to nourish dry skin and hair. To be totally honest, I had no idea how to use this product or what it was for so I just kind of tossed it in my cupboard and forgot about it. Until one day, my hands became so unbearably dry and cracked, I was willing to try anything to relieve it. My hands were so dry and cracked from the Winter cold that it would burn and itch when I applied normal hand cream to it. I remembered the solid oil tucked away in my room and I found it hidden deep in my cosmetic case. I had no idea if it would work but I thought I have got nothing to lose, so I gave it a try. 

My goodness! This product worked 10 times better than I ever expected. The product has a margarine like texture. Once applied, your body heat melts it and it soaks into the skin. It turned my crusty hands into a soft baby's bottom overnight! I gave some to my mom to try as she was suffering from the same problem and it healed her very dry hands too. This is seriously a miracle oil! I like to apply it at night before I go sleep and I wake up to gorgeous soft hands in the morning. I am really not exaggerating. This product is amazing on very dry and cracked or inflamed skin. If you are suffering from the same problem do give this product a try. I used a small amount on my hair and I did not like the result. I think it was a little bit too sticky and heavy for my hair type. If you have a thicker and coarser hair type than mine you might like this product on your hair. I give this full marks on my skin though.

The Body Shop Wild Argan Oil Body Butter
This body butter was a bit lack lustre for me. Don't get me wrong. The body butter ticks all the boxes in the nourishing and moisturising department but the product didn't 'wow' me at all. I love The Body Shop's body butters. They always smell amazing and leave my skin feeling so good. This one however does not smell like anything at all. While I was applying it I was excited for that Argan scent but to my disappointment it was so subtle and completely 'meh'. The body butter moisturised my skin but I didn't get any amazing results. It's an average body butter. You will find much better ones in the other ranges at the store.

*****

My favourite product out of the range is definitely the Miracle Solid Oil. I urge you to give this product a try. It really saved me from embarrassing Winter wrinkled hands;-) Have you seen or tried any of this range? Let me know below.

Thank you so much for reading beauties. 
Hope you found my reviews helpful.
Lots of love. Xxxx

Hi gorgeous Divas!

I am super excited for this week's post. As you can see by the title, my little blog is celebrating it's 4th birthday. Whoop!!! I started blogging in April 2012.  I have really been enjoying this hobby of mine in the past four years and have learned so much. Blogging gives me so much happiness. It is a place of self expression, being crazy, sharing experiences and appreciating the beautiful things in life. Thank you to everyone who has stuck around with me and to the new divas I have met, thank you so much too. To celebrate I am doing a little giveaway. 

The Prize:

Prizes Include:
-The Body Shop Fuji Green Tea Body Butter
-Oh So Heavenly Age Defence Perfect Picture Miracle Blur Primer
-NYX Matte Bronzer in Dark Tan
-NYX Baked Blush in Statement Red
-NYX A Push Up Bra For Your Eyebrow Pencil
-NYX Single Eyeshadows in Epic and Startruck
-NYX Matte Lipstick in Sable
-NYX Intense Butter Gloss in Apple Crisp
-L'occitane travel size body lotions
-Clarins Travel size Instant Light Lip Perfector
-Clarins Makeup Bag

Two Rules:

1) Follow Diva Desle on Twitter and Retweet the giveaway tweet

And/Or

Like the Diva Desle Facebook page and share the giveaway post

And/Or

Follow Diva Desle on Instagram and share the post on your Instagram profile

2) Comment below anything you like with your email address or Twitter/ Instagram handle so that I can contact you if you win.

*Giveaway will run from the 4th April 2016 to the 11th April 2016. Only South African residents are allowed to enter. All giveaway accounts will be disqualified from winning. *

All the best and lots of love. 

Mwha Xxxx

Hi Divas, Welcome back to my blog ;-)

I have no idea if the Fuji Green Tea range is a permanent line of the Body Shop or a limited edition range. I decided to do a review on it anyway because this was one of my top scents this Summer and I couldn't pass it up by not sharing it with you. The Fuji Green Tea range is inspired by the Green Tea Ceremony from Japan. This is the art and cultural performance of making green tea. The ceremony is very sophisticated, beautiful and peaceful. These qualities have all been incorporated into the Fuji Green Tea line. The light blue and mint green packaging of these products have a serene, tranquil and classic beauty as the green tea ceremony embraces. The Green Tea leaves are sourced and infused into these products from the Mount Fuji region in Japan. These leaves contain anti- oxidants to rejuvenate and create healthier and radiant skin. The whole range promises to revitalise body and mind with it's Green Tea detoxing leaves. There are about seven products in this line and I have two which are the body butter and eau de cologne.

Fuji Green Tea Eau De Cologne
This is my absolute favourite product from this range. It is a soft body spritzer described as a cologne. The notes include Green Tea, Bergamot, Lemon and Mandarin Orange with hints of Camellia, Jasmine and Violet. This is a gorgeous light citrus scent. It has a very clean and fresh smell which lasts quite a long time. It sprits on the skin pretty strong and the green tea and lemon notes initially hit your senses. After a while the fragrances calms down to a soft green tea and flowery scent. Whenever I wear this I imagine myself to be walking on the heavenly beaches of the Seychelles. I get a feeling of beauty, serenity and being transported to paradise. For me this scent is quite earthy and reminds me of being at the beach or walking in a peaceful nature reserve. I absolutely love this scent and if you are a fan of citrus and fruity fragrances this would be a perfect Summer day body cologne for you.



Fuji Green Tea Body Butter

The body butter comes in the usual 200 ml tub. It promises to give intense 24 hour dehydration and it is suitable for all skin types. The fragrance of this cream is much softer than the cologne. Upon opening the tub the scent is filled with Green Tea, Jasmine and Violet with a hint of citrus. This scent is a lot warmer and more flowery than the body spritzer. I too found that this body butter is a little lighter than the cranberry and apple body butters. It sinks quickly into the skin and it is not dense at all. This is a great summer cream that gives maximum moisture without feeling heavy on the body. Once applied and rubbed into the skin the Bergamot, Lemon and Orange Mandarin notes come through. I guess it depends on the chemistry of your skin to activate the citrus notes. This is a lovely body butter with hydration and a soft summer scent that will leave you feeling refreshed . I found that these body butters can expire or ''go off'' if exposed to excessive heat and air for too long. Be sure to store these products in a cool  place and seal the lid tightly so that the air does not contaminate the product. 

I really like this range. My favourite would definitely be the eau de cologne. I would love to try the body scrub and body sorbet if my local Body Shop store still has stock. Have you tried this range? Let me know below.

Lots of Divalicious kisses.

Xxxx

My Favourite Christmas 2015 Collections:

The Body Shop, Essence and Clarins

Hi Divas!

It is the most wonderful time of the year!!! The festive season is surely upon us and I am super excited. I just love the holidays and all the happiness and joy that it brings. I hope you have all completed your Santa shoe boxes or gifts for those less fortunate than yourself. You know it is more blessed to give than to receive. This year I teamed up with my local church and we made some Santa shoe boxes filled with goodies for an orphanage close by to our area. I cannot wait to see the surprise and happiness on the children's faces. Speaking of giving, are you done with you Christmas shopping yet? I sure am! I hate leaving Christmas shopping to the last minute. It really stresses me out. I thought I would do a post on my favourite beauty Christmas collections for those of you who are still struggling to find the perfect gift. Hope you enjoy!

The Body Shop Frosted Plum, Glazed Apple and Frosted Cranberry Collection:

Each Christmas season The Body Shop comes out with a limited edition scent filled with body washes, body butters, room sprays and candles. For the past two years I really enjoyed the Glazed Apple (fruity, sweet and fresh scent) and Frosted Cranberry (fruity and spicy scent) range. These two scents are my absolute favourite and I cannot resist buying a few items when the festive season comes along. This year I bought body washes, body butters and a delicious Glazed Apple candle that just delights all my senses. It seriously smells like heaven! The Body Shop added a new scent to their 2015 Christmas collection too called Frosted Plum. I am not a huge fan of this scent so I only bought the shower gel. If you love deep plum scents then you will surely love this range. These products would make excellent gifts for your best friend, sister, mom and granny. You can buy them individually or in a lovely gift set.

The Essence Merry Berry Collection:

I reviewed this collection last week. You can read it here. These products would make perfect stocking stuffers for the beauty and makeup lover in our life. Or you can be like me and just buy the collection as a Christmas present to yourself. After all you know you deserve it! Hahaha ;-) My favourite products from the Merry Berry collection are the lipsticks, nail polishes and the gorgeous starry highlighter powder. Don't you just love the packaging? It is so pretty and everything is under a R100 ($11). Score!!!

Clarins Christmas Collection: 

Clarins is my holy grail skincare brand. Every year they come out with various Christmas gifts packaged according to your skin care needs and age. Each gift comes with a free toiletry/ makeup bag along with two or more skincare samples. I bought the Clarins Multi-Active range as I am not getting any younger and need some anti wrinkle ingredients in my life. These gifts are on the higher end side of your beauty budget. They would make excellent gifts for the ladies in your life who appreciate skin care products and love to pamper themselves. You can visit the Clarins website here for more information of the gifts on offer.




Thank you so much for reading Beauties.
Happy Shopping!!!
Xxxx

Hi Divas!

Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? I certainly have and must admit that this time I bought more things for myself than anyone else. Oops! I always love this time of year as it is very festive in Cape Town. I love hearing the Christmas music, seeing the beautiful lights and looking at the pretty Christmas displays. I have a confession to make though. I think I am an addict and my addiction has been coming on for a long while now. I can't get enough of The Body Shop. I am seriously addicted. I would walk past the store and I have to go in and purchase something. Their pretty packaging and lovely scents keep calling my name. This past month I took advantage of their 3 for 2 special and went full force crazy in the store. I went about three times these past weeks purchasing goodies like there is no tomorrow. I love their shower gels and body butters the most. I can't use bubble bath so I use their soap free shower gels as a lovely pampering alternative. The body butters always smell heavenly and are rich and are very moisturising.


Below is a break down of my haul....

Glazed Apple Shower Gel
This is my absolute favourite shower gel right now. It smells divine and the scent lingers on your body long after you have used it. It is so pampering and gentle on the skin. I love to use it after a very long day. It definitely soothes tired skin. 

Glazed Apple Body and Room Spray

I prefer using this as a room spray. I spritz it all over my house and the rooms smell like Christmas! It has a sweet apple scent that is very refreshing and uplifting.

Glazed Apple Body Butter

I haven't used this body butter yet since I bought a travel size and am keeping it for when I go road tripping again. I really love the smell though. It is a warm apple fragrance which is very inviting and comforting.

Vanilla Bliss Shower Gel
I love all things vanilla scented. This is a creamy body wash that is great to use every day. It lathers well and a little goes a long way.

Vanilla Brulee Body Polish

My absolute favourite body exfoliant. It has a deep vanilla fragrance and it feels like I am washing myself in a vanilla smoothie. The extracts work well in exfoliating my skin. This is a limited edition product so get your hands on it as soon as possible.

Frosted Cranberry Shower Gel (not pictured above)

The shower gel has a fruity scent and is great to use after a long day at the beach. It smells like summer for sure!

Frosted Cranberry Body Butter

This is quite a heavy body butter. I prefer to use it in the colder months when my skin needs extra moisture. It has a warm cranberry smell. This is a limited addition that they usually only sell at Christmas time. I like to stock up and keep it for the rest of the year.

Indian Night Jasmine Fragrance Mist

I bought this bottle because of the 3 for 2 offer. I wanted to try a new scent. This one smells spicy and warm just like Jasmine.

Japanese Cherry Blossom Fragrance Mist

This is my favourite fragrance mist from the Body Shop. The 10ml is a perfect size to pop in your handbag, and use it to freshen up throughout the day. It is great for flights as well. I had it in my handbag on the plane and used it in Dubai airport after a long flight.

*Do you have any favourite scents or products from The Body Shop? Let me know below...*


Happy Shopping Divas!
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

Summer Favourites 2014

Hi divas!

Here in the Southern Hemisphere summer is almost going out the door. I have had a great summer in my home town, Cape Town. My favourite things to do is obviously going to the beach, shopping and enjoying festive season activities at the V&A Waterfront Mall and harbour and hot summer night parties in Long street. There are some beauty products that I have really enjoyed this summer and have been using them religiously. So I thought I would share my summer favourites for 2014 with you:

1. Clarins 50+ Sun Wrinkle Control Cream For Face: 

I did a review on this cream last week. You can read it here. The cream is a real miracle worker for me this season. It protected my skin from sun burn with its high 50+ SPF and it is the perfect moisturiser to use when applying makeup in smelting hot days.

2. The Body Shop Shower Gel in Vanilla Bliss: 

I adore all things vanilla. It is my favourite scent. This vanilla body wash is milky in texture and is perfect to use after a long hot day in the sun. The shower gel is very luxurious and soothes tired skin. I feel pampered and relaxed after I use it.

3. The Body Shop body butter in Mango: 

I am not a big fan of the actual Mango fruit but this body butter smells so amazing it actually makes me want to drink a mango smoothie. The scent reminds me of a tropical island; sweet, fruity and exotic. The body butter is light and moisturises my skin perfectly.

4. John Frieda Frizz-Ease Conditioner: 

I hate blow drying my hair in hot weather. I prefer to leave my hair naturally curly and rock some beach waves. I like to use the John Frieda Conditioner for curly hair as it moisturises my curls without weighing it down. My hair looks bouncy and curly without the horrible frizz.

5.  Stila Set Illuminate Baked Powder Trio: 

I love all things Stila and this is actually my favourite Stila product ever. The powder gives me a beautiful summer kissed glow. I love to add it on the apple of my cheeks to illuminate and accentuate my cheekbones... because I really don't have cheek bones. Lol

6. Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Sorbet: 

Ooh ladies, this lip butter rocks my socks! This colour just screams Desle. It is a bright hot pink which resembles a watermelon shade. I love wearing it on summer nights when I go out for drinks with friends. It is a shade for someone who loves to be noticed in a crowd.... Uhmm, that's me! :-)

7. Nails Inc in Marylebone Lane: 

The red glitter nail polish reminds me of Christmas and festive parties. If you want to add loads of glitter to your outfit in a classy way this nail polish would be perfect for you.

8. Rimmel Salon Pro in Brit Pop: 

I reviewed this awesome blue colour nail polish last week over here. I am absolutely in love with this fun colour. It definitely turns heads when I wear it. It is so bold and bright which is perfect for summer

9. Pretty Bows: 

Bows are the prettiest accessories to add a girly vintage charm to any outfit. Wear it in your hair, pin it to your clothes or your bag for a cute and whimsical look. My studded black bow is from Mr Price.

10. H&M Arm Candy: 

I bought these beautiful bracelets in Qatar and have been wearing them with all my watches. I love that it can be worn with any outfit. I like to mix and match accessories for different playful looks.

11. Burberry Summer Perfume: 
This scent is so beautiful it literally gives me a high when I spray it. I have received many compliments when I wear this gorgeous perfume. It has notes of lily of the valley, freesias and rose. It is a citrusy scent which has hints of pomegranates and mandarin orange. And it's Pink! Hello!

 Hope you enjoyed this post. Let me know what your favourite summer essentials are below.

Lots of Divalicious kisses.

Xxxx