Interview by: Jessica Solomons
When it comes to living the green lifestyle, Michelle Garforth-Venter has it down to an art. Her and hubby, Riaan, have not only built their dream, eco-friendly home, but Michelle also ensures that when it comes to pampering herself and her family, she makes environmentally friendly choices.
Liveeco: When did you give your beauty regime a green makeover?
Michelle: When I was pregnant I really did my research on what products were safest for me to use and I discovered that a lot of the stuff on the market is loaded with chemicals, the most harmful being parabens, sodium laurel sulphate (SLS) and phthalate. What these do is ensure a product has a long shelf life, that it smells fragrant and that it works up into a nice foam when you use it but, while we might be used to and like a shampoo that foams or a moisturizer with a strong scent, research shows that these chemicals are harmful to us.
Liveeco: So now what brands do you use?
Michelle: I love the Africology range and Victorian Garden. They really do have everything you need from day creams to anti-ageing products and they feel great.
Liveeco: Is it affordable for women to go green when it comes to their beauty regime?
Michelle: Absolutely! When it comes to skincare products for women, these ranges are in fact cheaper than many other brands and the perk is that you not only help the environment but you also take better care of your skin because you don’t expose it to those harsh chemicals.
Liveeco: Skincare aside, what will we find in your makeup bag?
Michelle: I am afraid I am a M.A.C girl but I do diligently recycle all my makeup containers which means I do my bit for the planet and earn a free lipstick with every six containers I bring into the store!
Liveeco: As a mother, do you buy only natural baby products?
Michelle: I do. I am blown away by the Enchantrix range for babies. They have a lovely body wash for little ones and a fantastic bottom cream! The only downside is that natural products for babies is more expensive but you have to make a decision as to what you want to do for yourself and your family and where you want to put your hard earned money.
Liveeco: Do you have any home-made products lining your bathroom cabinet?
Michelle:I do make my own bath oil by mixing a few drops of essential oil such as lavender or geranium with a tablespoon of milk. It’s really great and you can stock up on different essential oils and experiment a bit.
Liveeco: Do you ever think of going into the green beauty business and launching a range of products?
Michelle: I must admit if I were to go into the green business it would be with clothing. I love hemp and bamboo clothing and I would like to one day be able to help legalise hemp farming here in SA so we don’t need to keep importing from China and can begin to locally produce and manufacture hemp clothing ranges.
The liveeco team
