Diva Spring Favourites 2017

Hi Divas

Happy Spring to all my fellow South Africans and everyone living in the Southern Hemisphere. Even though Cape Town hasn't really been playing along with the Spring weather I am still excited and grateful for the season change. The Western Cape has been experiencing a serious drought this year so I shouldn't be frowning when Cape Town has more rain clouds than bright sunny days. I know that we are all praying for rain and stocked up on some water reserves. We already have 30 Litres of water reserved in my house hold and we are planning to purchase some more. Even with the terrible water crisis, it is so wonderful to see so many flowers that have naturally bloomed this year. God is so good! Spring is such a lovely season for me. It gives us new hope and a promise of growth and happiness. I have put together a few of my Spring favourites below. Hope you like them and let me know what your favourites are too.

1. Beautiful Flowers In Bloom: When I think of Spring, pretty flowers definitely comes to my mind. My late grandfather had magical green fingers. He would take any little space in the garden and turn it into an enchanting piece of art. He used to plant all types of seeds in the Winter months and come Spring they would bloom into the most exquisite colours. As children, my sister and I would enjoy playing in the wonderful garden that he created. 

2. Pastel Nail Colours: I know it's a cliche but pastels and Spring really do go well together. Nail polishes are especially flattering in peach and baby pink shades. After the cold months my hands are very dry and my nails are brittle. I like to use this time of the season to moisturise my hands and make my nails healthy again. Pastel shades look beautiful on short or long nails. They are great to wear in those in between lengths when your nails are trying to recover and grow. I love the South African brand Sorbet. They make the prettiest nail polishes with affordable prices.

3. New Adventures: During Winter I hardly want to leave the house. Laying on my bed with a cosy blanket and some hot coffee seems way more appealing than driving endlessly in the rain. Most outdoor activities and places are closed during this time, but come the start of Spring and everyone is open for business. It is such a great feeling. I love seeing how the environment changes just by a little bit of sun peeking through. It is subtle changes but it truly is remarkable.

4. Bright Pink Lipsticks: Big YES, for all things pink and girly. I love my pink lipsticks, rosy blushes and whimsical eye looks. Goodbye to dark eyeshadow and emo trends. Lipstick is a wonderful invention. It completely changes your whole appearance. It can create a specific mood and make you look put together without even trying. Etude House knows how to make a pretty lipstick. From the packaging to the shades, they all scream cute. I have mine in the limited Etoinette collection. You should check them out on Ebay.

5. Feeling The Sun On My Skin: I'm done being a vampire. Although, I would like to glisten like diamonds in the sun as Edward did in Twilight. Staying indoors a lot can really darken your soul and make you feel depressed. As I said above Spring brings a promise of hope and happiness. I find when I am out and about in the warm sun, my soul feels joyful and my mood becomes cheerful. Everyone always looks more radiant and happier in the Spring time. Have you noticed that?

6. Getting Rid Of Winter Fuzz: Honestly, I am tired of being a werewolf. Winter can turn any one into a beast, Hahaha. Come Spring the shedding of excess hair begins. It is a daunting task for any dark-haired girl, but every razor blade burn is worth it. I love using exfoliating scrubs to get rid of all my dull dry Winter skin cells. Have you tried the sugar body scrubs from Bath And Body Works? They are amazing. I have them in peach and guava. They both smell so fresh and fruity.

7. No More Frizzy Hair: Winter can be pretty harsh to us ladies. We spend two hours perfecting our sleek hair, only to be outside for 5 minutes and it's all ruined. The damp hair and gale force winds make our hair look like floor mops sometimes. Hence, we hide it all away under hoodies, beanies, buns, oversized hair bands and more. Thankfully Spring gives us a chance to give some extra love and care to our tresses. We can wear it out with pride while rocking a cute accessory too. We know it won't blow away or get tangled in a mess. Plus, a little ray of Vitamin D can do wonders for your hair growth and over all hair condition.

8. One Word, Food!: I love food through every season. I really don't need any excuse to eat a doughnut or gobble down an ice cream, LOL. I just love that my doughnuts have prettier decorations now and my ice cream has more flavour toppings. YOLO!

9. Wardrobe Change: Lastly, I can finally put all those heavy coats away and show off my newly ''defuzzed'' legs in a pretty bright dress. Even though I am sporting a few extra curves from all the Winter doughnuts I have been eating, I can still flaunt my floral tops and cute pastel shorts with confidence. I am happy remember. The sun is out and flowers are in bloom. I want to look the part too. *wink*

Thank you so much for reading.

Divalicious kisses!

Xxxx

Pamper Sunday:

Cettua Hydrating and Brightening

Facial Masks Review

Hi Divas

I recently came across these super cute sheet masks at my local Clicks store. I loved the packaging so much that I just had to purchase it. As most of you know, I am a sheet mask guru and use one every week. I absolutely adore sheet masks as they are like spa treatments without the heavy price tag. When selecting my sheet masks I usually gravitate towards the brightening and hydrating options. I do not have trouble skin so I rarely buy masks that are catered for blemishes or acne prone problems. Out of the Cettua range I chose two facial masks which promised moisture and radiance. While reading the ingredient list on the back of the packaging, I was very surprised to see that these masks are manufactured in Korea. I purchase and ship all my sheet masks from South Korea already and the fact that some are now available in my local store made me jump for joy. I prefer Korean sheet masks, as it originated there and they really know what they are doing. The ingredient lists are much better in Korean sheet masks too as they contain no parabens or artificial colours. They take their time selecting quality ingredients that really help the skin in the long run and not just for a gimmicky quick fix.

On to the review:

Cettua Hydrating Facial Mask:
The mask comes in very pretty baby blue packaging. The graphics of the woman and the dressing table are honestly the cutest things. This mask contains three mineral water complex components for optimal hydration. It helps boost moisture and repairs and rejuvenates tired and dull skin. So what are these three mineral water complexes? They consist of Glacier Water , Sea Water and Onsen- Sui. Glacier water contains minerals from natural rocks which balances out the skin's PH balance and calms inflammation in the skin. Sea water has a variety of  mineral properties that heal and restore sensitive and irritated skin. Onsen-Sui comes from a Japanese hot spring and is essentially purified water with mineral ions removed. I bet you you learned something new *wink* ;-)

With all these mineral water ingredients, this mask is excellent for dehydrated and irritated skin. The essence is soothing and gives intense moisture to the face. The serum is so moisturising and sinks into the skin. It has a gel like texture that clings to the skin and penetrates well. The actual sheet mask is white in colour and has a soft cotton material. It has a light floral scent which is pleasant and not overbearing at all. I left the face mask on for 30 minutes and I totally forgot it was there. It sits so comfortably and does not move around or slide off.  It does not leave an unwanted residue. I would apply my night time face cream and it would blend wonderfully without causing irritation or left over stickiness. This mask is definitely a great find in my books.

Cettua Brightening Facial Mask:
The essence contains five white flower complex components which help even skin tone and reduce dark spots. I had no idea what white flower complexes are, so I did a little research to find the benefits in skin care. The five flower extracts are Rose, Lilium Candidum, Lilium Tigrinum, Freesia and Jasmine. Rose contains Vitamin C and fights redness, Both Liliums are known to be herbal and treat damaged irritated skin, Freesia cleansers the skin from impurities and Jasmine clears congested skin and improves circulation. The biggest and greatest ingredient that prevents hyperpigmentation and causes optimal brightness is Niacinamide. I was very surprised to see this so high on the ingredient list. Most brightening products do not contain this vital component but have Vitamin C instead. I believe that Niacinamide is very effective in reducing dark marks more so than Vitamin C.

I find that most brightening face masks are packaged in either yellow or orange colours. It is the strangest thing. I don't know if any of you have ever noticed that. This one is no exception and comes in a bright orange wrapping.This mask is made out the exact same material as the hydration sheet mask, It has the same scent and serum texture. This one however feels very refreshing on the skin. It revitalises my face and my complexion looks radiant and energized after each use. It soaks well into my skin and blends with my moisturiser. It does not leave a sticky residue or greasy film as well. Thanks to the niacinamide, this mask will brighten your skin over time with continuous use. I love that this mask is not just a pick me up but has long time benefits too.

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Final Thoughts:

I know I went into great detail about what is actually in these sheet masks. Knowing what is in your products is very important for good skin care health and results. Many companies use fancy packaging and big words while slapping on a high price tag, only to find the ingredients are terrible for your skin. Or they don't give the best results as they claim. It's important to be knowledgeable and educate yourself on components that work well for your skin type. You will be getting your money's worth and reaping the benefits. I am pleasantly surprised at how wonderful these face masks are. They have great packaging, great ingredient list and are budget friendly too. I would definitely repurchase both of them.Have you tried these face masks. Let me know below!

Divalicious Kisses!
Xxxx