Hi Divas

 I am so excited to do a blog post today. I have been wanting to blog for a while but I was having Internet problems with my service provider. Thank goodness things are up and running again and I can finally connect to the world wide web. This week I want to share two nail polishes that my mom and I picked up on one of our Sunday shopping trips. We always stop at the Essence stand when we go shopping to see what is new and popping in the cosmetics department. Essence always has great quality and affordable products. I decided to buy a white nail polish as I have ran out of my old one. My mom bought a beautiful pink nail varnish and I of cause had to borrow it for ''research'' purposes, LOL. These polishes are all part of the Essence Gel nail polish family. They have an extensive range of shades and the price is under R50. On to the reviews...




Essence Gel Nail Polish in 08 Whatever!
This is a pearlescent baby pink nail varnish with a slight duochrome finish. It has a purple sheen to it when displayed in the sunlight. The consistency is a lovely balance in that it has a medium thickness. On the first application the colour covers the nail really well and you can see the slight purple duochrome shade shining through as it reflects the light. If you want a sheer application then one coat would be enough for you. I proceeded to apply the second coat but with a much thicker stroke. At this point the polish leaned more to the baby pink spectrum and the duochrome sheen faded slightly. On the third coat the duochrome was hardly visible at all as you can see in the photo above. My manicure looks like a solid baby pink. I love that you can build up the shade to the intensity that you want. You could play around with the polish to create your desired affect. I think this polish is really beautiful on its own. I definitely recommend it if you are looking for a pretty pink girly shade.


Essence Gel Nail Polish in 03 Give Me Nude, Baby!
This is a white nail varnish with tiny gold specks of glitter in it. The specks are so tiny that it gives off a shimmery finish without looking like a chunky glitter mess. The glittery specks can only be seen up close but is not visible on the nail from a far. In the sunlight the nail shines like an iridescent white polish. It looks beautiful and very ethereal. Upon first application the polish is thick in texture, yet it applies really sheer. This nail polish is not opaque at all but leans more to being a nail topper than an actual white base. Since the polish is thick but applies sheer you need quite a few coats to get the desired white effect you see above in the photo. The polish also takes a while to dry since it is gooey in texture. I recommend applying a solid white base first and applying a top coat of this on top. You cannot use this polish to stamp or draw nail designs as it is way too sheer. This is a lovely polish but it is not a necessity to have in your collection. I think it makes a great nail topper though.

*****

Have you tried any of these polishes? What do you think of my manicures and which is your favourite one? Let me know below. Thank you so much for reading!


Divalicious Kisses
Xxxx

Pamper Sunday:

What is a HydroGel Mask?

Koelf Gold Royal Jelly Review

Hi Divas!

I am aware that you guys are just getting over the sheet mask craze but have you heard of Hydrogel masks? I know, I can't keep up either! Well hydrogel masks are the new skin care craze to hit the cosmetic industry by storm. It all started in Korea (because that is where great skin care exist) and is at this very moment slowly seeping into a store near you. For those of you who know me, I am a sheet mask diva! I use one every Sunday and I got my mom hooked too. I swear I can never go back to a two step skin care regime after trying Korean products. Those days are gone and moved on. You can read my sheet mask review here, where I explain what they are and their benefits if you are interested.

Koelf Gold Royal Jelly HydroGel Mask Review:
 My skincare stash consists mainly of cotton sheet masks. I was very excited to try this mask because it was my first experience with a hydrogel and I have never used the brand Koelf. Koelf falls under the Korean skincare brand Petitfee who are famous for their face masks and hydrating eye patches. I chose the Gold Royal Jelly mask because it claimed to provide moisture as well as improve elasticity to the skin, aka decrease wrinkles and prevent ageing. ;-)  Some ingredients consist of green tea and mugwort extract. All beneficial in hydrating and soothing the skin. The mask has beautiful gold packaging but unfortunately has no English instructions. Also the tagline, ''The mask of Elves'' is hilarious to me and I have no idea why that tag line is there. What do elves have to do with hydrogels? Do elves have beautiful skin? Hahaha, I have not got a clue. Any way all my information I got online and not on the packaging.

The mask comes with plastic covers on both sides to protect it. The texture is soft and jelly-like, so do be careful to not tear or break it when you apply it on your face. The hydrogel is gold in colour and is made up of two parts. One is for the top half of the face, the other for the bottom and there are extra pieces for your eyes and nose. I like to use these extra pieces on my neck. The actual mask fits very well on the face but it does feel kind of heavy. It does not stick as well as it claims. So I end up laying on the couch any way and not doing other activities. The mask can definitely be worn for 45 minutes or more. It is very moisturising and feels so soft on the skin. When you are done you can pull it off and pat the extra serum left in the gold packet onto your skin. The mask feels very luxurious and super hydrating. My face is left soft and looks radiant after use.  I cannot comment on the anti ageing claims as I have not used it long enough to see any visible effects. It will revive tired and dull skin, thus making you look more youthful and vibrant.


 Do I recommend HydroGel Masks?
Yes, I do recommend these masks. They feel very moisturising and rich on the skin. Do I think they are better than ordinary sheet masks? No I don't. While hydro gels feel super luxurious, I think that cotton sheet masks give me the same hydration and skin benefits. It would all depend on what mask you personally prefer. I enjoy using both but would probably stick to sheet masks because of the price difference. Hydrogel masks can cost twice as much as a regular sheet masks. If I see a hydro gel mask I really like I would definitely buy it but I don't think it is a necessity. Have you tried any hydro gel masks? Let me know below! Hope you found this review helpful.




Thank you so much for reading.
Divalicious Kisses!
Xxxx