Clinique 3 Step System

Hi guys. I hope you are enjoyed the Long weekend. Amidst all the eating & joyous celebrations and travels, remember to take care of your skin. This month on my beauty section I bring you the Clinique 3 Step System. I have been using Clinique for the past 4 weeks to sass it out. Their 3 step system comes in 4 varieties for different skin types.

Type 1 is for people with very dry to dry skin. Type 2 for dry to combination skin. Type 3 (my skin type) is for combination to Oily skin. Type 4 is for Oily skin.

I have been trying type 3 because most times my skin is oily but at certain times it becomes dry and oily all at once. The 3 step system works with 3 products.

First the liquid facial soap or gel. They are both the same just in different forms if you prefer bar soap or liquid soap. This is used to clean and remove dirt on the skin.  I tried both but I prefer the liquid form because of convenience more than anything. It cleanses really well & also gentle on my skin. From a cost point the bar soap lasts way longer than the liquid soap.

Secondly is the clarifying lotion (what is commonly referred to as toner). The clarifying lotion is used to remove any excess dirt & impurities left after cleansing. I am not the biggest fan on the clarifying lotion. The opening of the bottle is too big which spills easily and I always end up drenching my facial pads with it. I also felt it was very harsh on my skin.

Lastly is the moisturizing lotion. OMG I love it. Once I apply it, my skin feels silky smooth. Plus it doesn’t cause a shine. It gives my skin this silky matte finish. The extra benefit is that it doesn’t hurt the eyes when applying over the face. 

If you are going to try it, it also comes in trail packs. For the exact reason to try them out. If you like it then you can move on to the bigger things. 

Mwaaaa

Merry Berry Xmas/ Essence Merry Berry Range

Hi guys. This month I think I am doing the most fitting beauty review. The Essence beauty range has become somewhat of a resident at my beauty desk. The beauty label then further swept me off my feet when they launched the Merry Berry Collection at the End of November. The range consists of lipsticks, nail polish and a gold dust powder.

The berry inspired range of lipsticks is my favourite. The deep dark purple is my number one. I love their lipsticks because they also moisturize. Not very long wearing but definitely worth the Mandela’s. When it comes to a quality affordable product they are at the top of my Christmas list.

I am learning slowly but surely to have pretty nails. Essence is the best range for this because they are so affordable. Be merry and try them.

The golden dust I will adorn on new-year’s eve. Nothing like a gold shimmer to take you to the New Year. It also smells so divine and the packaging OMG, too cute. 

Dineo's Beauty Desk/ October Issue

Hi guys. There is just something with beauty products that make a girl so fulfilled. I am not talking expensive crazy stuff. You know that shiny roll-on lip gloss that cost R5 you had as a little girl or how much you treasured your first body spray. I feel that way at times when I purchase products for my body. This month I want to share some of my current favourites. These are the products I will be using for the next three month hopefully. They need to last. The budget is locked for the year.

First up is the body shop body butter in mango flavour. I swear by this in the summer. I smell great & my skin feels silky. I normally buy the big jar which lasts for months. 

Then there is the Neutrogena deep cleanse face wash. I hadn’t used it before but I was looking for something to use for my mornings after gym which was gentle enough after all the sweating.. I follow Mathahle Stofile on IG & she recommended it. I love it. It’s simple to use and really cleanse away without any harshness. 

L’Oreal lipstick. This is my first lipstick buy from the beauty house. This is from one of their ranges designed by the faces of L’Oreal. I chose this one from Laetitia Casta. The texture of the matte does not feel dry & too matte. The colour suits my skin tone so well. 

The distraction perfume from Woolworths was a gift from my friend Unathi. She is too sweet. I love the rosy scent. It’s flowery but not too sweet. It will go so well this summer. 

Then save the best for last. I have never owned anything from Clarins before. I was the beauty department at a store when I decided to try this Clarins Lip Perfector. Yep it’s a perfector. The name is so well suited because of the effect it gives. The best thing about it is the applicator bush. It makes applying so easy & luxurious. The texture gives me that “kiss me” feel. Honestly I want to kiss some-one when I wear this. I have found the lip stuff I have been looking for. HONESTLY, it’s a perfect.

Dineo's Beauty Desk/ August Issue

Hi guys. I am glad I am bringing you this post over the weekend. I have wanted to share this for a while but always wondered if it was worth the words on the paper. But then over conversations with friends I've shared my use of baby products which amazed them. I then thought I'd share some ideas with you .Here are some of my favourite uses for baby products. I believe beauty is all round, not just your face and legs. I think women should be honest and share honest ways to improve their lives or just add a lil bit of quality in their day to day.

I am not sure about you but I “dance” with my boyfriend. I have sex and that’s a fact. You might think this is overshare, cool stop reading. Anyways if you do this and find the after situation clean up uncomfy with either towels or tissue, try baby wipes. They are moisturized and ready to be used. What I love about them is that they reduce the risk of infection as towels and tissues would. They are meant to clean and so they leave your vjj baby soft after the dance. It’s an easy, clean, fresh way to clean up after “dancing”.

Another amazing way to use wet wipes is to have the mini sized ones in my bag when I am on my periods. I always want to feel clean during this time. When I am at work or out and I have no time to change, I use baby wipes to clean before I change tampons. This way it feels like I just cleaned up. Good enough for a baby’s but, good enough for your vagina. 

Another amazing simple way to use baby wet wipes is to remove make-up. As opposed to buying facial cleansing wipes, I simply use baby wipes to remove make-up. They don’t over-dry as they were meant for a baby’s  bottom so why would they dry your face. I say if they are good enough for a baby’s soft bum, they are good for my face.

 Then there is the baby oil. Ohh baby oil my bestie of bests. I love this product. After I leave the shower in Summer or most nights, I apply baby oil on my skin while wet & slide into my pyjamas and get to work or be creative. If you use baby oil, apply it while the skin is wet to get the most moisture. I love to apply it mostly if I used soap to bath or I exfoliated my skin. I also use baby oil to nourish my hands after nail polish remover and before I apply nail polish. It removes the dryness from my nails

Last on my list is baby powder. I own the normal size baby powder and when I was in America I found they have a tiny tiny travel size so I got many of those because I love baby powder that much. You know those summer days when the heat is on. I am not sure about slender girls but thighs rub on each other when its hot out there. I apply some baby powder in the famous Beyoncé thigh gap so that when they rub each other they don’t hurt.

Lastly I also apply baby powder inside some of my sandals in summer as feet get wet and slide inside some shoes. Just a sprinkle of baby powder and you are set to go. Be careful not to apply it where it will show. You don’t want white pale feet in your shoes. 

Share with us how you use your baby products?????

Dineo's Beauty Desk / June Issue

Hi guys. Every month I will do a beauty feature on products that I love & use. I only want to focus on products that I actually do use in order to give a fair assessment & review.

This month I want to focus on skin grooming. Taking care of the main layer.

Thee most exciting skin care investment I am using is a facial cleansing brush. I really want to take better care of my skin & this is one of the best steps I have taken. From research that I did, facial cleansing brushes are more effective in that they rid of more dirt on the skin & they clean more efficiently. Their rotation & speed mean they clean more surface area than your hands would. There are many brushes on the market but I found the best deal on this Sorbet one. This one comes with three brushes. A daily cleansing brush, an exfoliating brush & a silicone brush.

It’s very important to keep the brushes clean. They clean you so you need to clean them too.

For body cleaning, I love the Nivea Powerful delight shower gels. They come in a variety of flavours but I love berries in any form. I know most people love fruity notes in summer, but I love a summer fruity reminder in winter. It gives a great in-shower smell & that sensation is also left on your skin so that’s a plus.

After the shower I use the Lipodol after shower oil. You might recall a while back when I posted about the Lipodol facial cleansing oil here. I mostly use it at night after showers. It absorbs really well and it doesn’t make my skin greasy. I love simplicity that gives results. That’s exactly what I get with Lipodol. I truly love their range of skin care oils.

Lip care as you might have noticed is my obsession. I love this Elizaberth Arden Chocolate matte lipstick. It blends well with my skin tone & it doesn’t have that cracking matte effect which is great for winter.

Finally a treasure found a while back are these ZARA mini perfumes. They are R59.99 (at the time I bought them). They fit perfectly into my  bags & they  give a powerful lasting scent.

Share some of your skin care products & routines that may help another sister or brother.

Winter Beauty Splurge/ Current Favourites

Hi guys. Today was an absolute nightmare. Living in Cape Town and commuting with public transport can be nightmarish. I got mugged and the guy took my phone. I survived the ordeal unharmed but I have no phone. I cried some & swore some & shopped even more & I am ohk. Life is short & I am still blessed to live mine.

Anyways I have become somewhat of a lip care and colour fanatic. I have become obsessed.

I grew up in a village and there was always this notion that said  “wild women” from the city are the lipstick wearing type or the ones that have dyed hair. I never got around to understanding what wildness these babes got up to. Anyways I never explored this part of beauty for a while. I think I went through all of varsity without ever purchasing lipstick. Yes I had lip glosses but never  fiery red or orange lips. “Turn down for whom” is my new motto when it comes to lip & hair colour. I haven’t spread my wings that far with hair; but lips oh yeah I’m in deep.

Mathahle Stofile who is my beauty crush motivated this in me to explore more beauty products. I currently love MAC ,Elizabeth Arden & Yardley lip products.

First is the Lush Lip Scrub. I tend to have dry lips that chap throughout the year. In winter it’s a total new drama because they crack till they hurt with the Cape rains & winds. I love this scrub. I use it to exfoliate my lips when they get naughty and I swear I swallow it too. It tastes like sugar and smells so lovely. I also got a body scrub nje just for control, LOL

The Elizabeth Arden eight hour cream has saved my lips for winters. I have used the tube for about 2 years now and I love it. I recently bought the lipstick version of it because I use clutch bags many of the times and it’s just a better fit. Plus the lipstick version had added colour which is nice to give an update for winter. But having just the tube is the same & is friendlier on the pocket.

They also have a range of matte lipsticks and I have been trying it for a while and so far so good. It moisturises well without giving me the shine which is not my thing.

MAC lipsticks have become a daily part of my routine in many ways. My favourite is the Purple heroine colour and the Red Ruby Woo. I love matte lipsticks and they do the trick for me. I also tried blush for the 1st time because I thought why not have a bit of colour on my cheeks for dull winter days.

My latest discovery is the Yardley liquid matte range. Oh my am I excited to have met thee. I love how it’s easy to apply with its liquid feel and then a few minutes later its like I am wearing matte lipstick. The colours are very intense which is also a plus for me and the price is reasonable. It also lasts for hours & I don’t have to worry about updating it during a crazy work schedule.

What are some of your favourite products? Recommend winter savers that can save a girl.

How I Take Care of The Outside

Hi guys. So today I decided to do a post about caring for your body on the outside. I used to have major skincare problems in my late teens. Early teens in High school I was fine & then I had serious break outs in Varsity. The best advice I got then was to keep skin & body care simple. I have done this since then.

For my hair (natural), which is braided 80% of the year I use the motions hair spray. I love it because it’s not too oily & the fragrance is lovely. I have less itching & my scalp is seldom dry. When I am not braided I use the Avon Moroccan hair oil. I love love it. It makes my fro easy to comb & twist. I just love how it keeps my hair shiny.

Face I cleanse with the Lipodol facial cleansing oil. It’s a genius in a bottle, try it. I hardly wear foundation but when I want to I use this MAC one or the Garnier BB cream. My to go Mascara is the Avon Mega effects, another genius you need to have handy in your bag. MAC lipsticks are also my go-to secrets; they are long lasting & effective.

For body I used the Nivea in-shower gel because I love how it leaves me grease free. I don’t use it in winter as much but it’s a saver in summer. Justine tissue oil has saved my booty from many stretch marks. Although I don’t want to have none at all, I do like to keep them in check. Baby wipes are my thing. I use them from head to toe to cleanse. They are amazing. Lastly the one thing I always have with me is Elizabeth Arden’s eight hour cream; I use it for my lips & hands all year. It’s just an amazing skin care revelation in my life.

 What do you use? Let’s share advice on some good products that make your life easier?

Zara Perfume

Hi Guys. July for me was a bit of an out of self-restriction that I normally use to control my budget and save money to simply make sure I have food in my home and I don’t end up on the streets. But I was a bag girl and bought too much stuff. Mostly thrifted from second hand stores or flee markets and of course Mr Price. I bought this Zara perfume last week because it was R150. I truly love how inexpensive their perfumes are and how well packaged they are. This one smells a bit sweeter than what I would normally wear but I like it very much. It adds nicely to my collection. I would suggest for both girls and guys to try Zara and their perfumes for those of us who cannot afford the very high end designer brands. Here is another one that I got also from Zara a while back for R200. 

Thank you Elle & Eucerine

Hi guys. So like many others I have never won anything in my life, so I was ecstatic when a lady from Elle magazine called to tell me I had won their competition. It just happened that I was reading my favourite magazine and I thought I have a spot problem and in need of some good skin care range, why not enter this competition. I hope the Eucerine hamper will sort out the problem. I won night and day creams and the spot corrector. They all came in 2s. Thank you very much Eucerine and Elle Belles

Friday Feature: Courtin-Clarins Girls

This weeks Friday Feature Courtin- Clarins girls  (Claire, Virginie, Prisca & Jenna) are what would be called fashion royalty. They might not hail from a fashion house dynasty but they are the heiresses. They are the granddaughters of the founding father of the Clarins beauty range. When I look at them I cannot help but feel a pang of jealousy. They are wealthy, have fashion wardrobes that I could live in and they seem super nice. They have a French chic about them. The girls are sisters Claire & Virginie and their twin cousins Jenna and Prisca. Every time they step out they look fabulous and styled to perfection. There is an ease to their style and their skin and makeup is of course Clarins worthy. They each have individual styles and at some point I thought I like one more than the others, but as it turns out my crush on all of them is huge. The girls each play a role at Clarins and they have their own fashion and beauty projects on the side. I truly adore their style and I am inspired. If only they could donate their unwanted clothes to me. 

Images from Vanity Fair and Google