Written by: Jessica Solomons
When it comes to giving your life a green makeover, you don’t have to break the bank by spending on high tech solar panels or the latest green gadgets. Making small changes in your daily routine will help you become a more eco-conscious citizen, and what better place to start than with your beauty regime. Here in South Africa we are blessed with an abundance of natural beauty, which many of us take for granted. Not only are our local plants pleasing on the eye, but they can also do wonders for your skin. If you’re looking for quality products that won’t dent your budget, liveeco has discovered some deliciously indulgent brands infused with all the goodness of Africa.
AFRICOLOGY
Winter is not a woman’s best friend. Our body takes a beating during the cold season and most of us struggle with dry, dull skin. Africology has come to the rescue with an intensively moisturizing body butter that works on all skin types. Made with cocoa and shea butter these products are truly out of this world.
Magic Ingredient: Marula Oil
When it comes to preventing the signs of ageing, Marula oil is every woman’s dream. Thanks to its incredible healing properties and ability to keep skin looking and feeling healthy, hydrated and soft, Marula oil has become a popular ingredient in many aromatherapy oils and cosmetics products. The oil itself is sourced from inside the nut of the Marula fruit and Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Zambia are a few of the countries lucky enough to have Marula trees growing in abundance. Fortunately you don’t need to travel that far to enjoy the benefits of this miracle oil, as it has come to be known in beauty circles. Simply pick up a tub of Africology’s body butter (RRP R230)and let it work its magic.
SPA WISDOM
If you’re looking for moisturizing products that specifically target dry hands and feet, Spa Wisdom has developed the perfect product for you. Using community trade beeswax and honey to help condition and moisturize, the Spa Wisdom Honey & Beeswax Foot and Hand Butter is pure magic.
Magic Ingredient: Shea Butter
Ghana is the biggest exporter of shea butter in the world and most of the production of the product is still done by hand. The shea butter from Ghana, while not as fragrant as the shea from parts of East Africa, is rich in Vitamin A which helps prevent wrinkles and stretch marks. A pilot scheme has been setup in Northern Ghana to help promote the production of Shea Butter while also improving the lives of the local village women. The Sekaf Shea Butter Village provides work for 2000 women from five different villages, ensuring they have a steady income. The project also educates these women in quality control standards in an effort to help promote sustainable conservation methods and harvesting of Shea trees. So the Spa Wisdom Foot and Hand Butter enriched with Shea is really a gift from one woman to another.
AFRICAN ORGANICS
While keeping your skin looking healthy is important, we can’t neglect our beautiful locks. If you’re battling with dry or damaged hair try the African Organics shampoo. Enriched with rooibos from the Cederberg Mountains, this shampoo helps to improve the condition and richness of dry hair.
Magic Ingredient: Rooibos/Red Bush
While most of us enjoy rooibos as a refreshing tea, it can also be used as part of your beauty regime. Not only does it help condition your damaged hair, but when used in skin products, rooibos can soothe irritated skin, sunburn and eczema. So next time you pour yourself a cup of steaming hot rooibos, consider picking up some African Organics shampoo and treat your hair to the best the Cederberg has to offer.
MOYA
Once a product exclusively for spas, the Moya brand is now available on the retail market and is proving to be very popular. Moya blends the natural essential oils of fynbos into a unique formulation they call fynbos synergies. With a range of lotions, scrubs, creams and hair products, Moya is a brand finding its way into more and more South African homes.
Magic Ingredient: Fynbos
Fynbos is considered the most ecologically diverse plant kingdom in the world and is found predominantly in the Cape region. The essences of Buchu, Cape Chamomile, Cape Geranium and Cape Snowbush offer natural solutions to everything from PMS, fatigue, dry skin and even sinusitis. With the Moya range you can stock your entire beauty cabinet from face creams to bath oils and enjoy the healing properties and goodness of Africa.
NATURALS BEAUTY
This small family run business is a local gem when it comes to organic beauty products. Everything is handcrafted in small, fresh batches ensuring you get the highest quality. With a range of products from body lotions to scrubs to lip balms you really are spoilt for choice. While we recommend trying everything from the Naturals range, we’re really excited about their new addition, the Essentials Range. If you’re looking to change your skin care regime, Essentials has glorious face creams, cleansing milks and a fantastic hydrating masque. The range is perfect for all skin types and ideal for women between 25 and 40. With rooibos and chamomile extracts, your skin will feel like it’s had a day at the spa!
Magic ingredient: Cape Chamomile
While Cape Chamomile was originally used in traditional medicine as a means to ward off evil spirits and prevent bad dreams, it’s now used to help ward off acne and dry skin. With its moisturizing properties, chamomile helps treat problem skin and acts as a great anti-inflammatory. Its stunning light blue colour and sweet fragrance just make it that much more appealing so if you want to really treat yourself and your skin, give the Essentials range a try.
The liveeco team
