Just some “funny cartoons” to get you thinking! Do your bit for the planet! :)
Month: July 2012
Winter Dry Skin Buster!
It is no secret that I LOVE the Victorian Garden Skincare products. I have been using their products for almost two years now, and I am still delighted by it! As winter is a time when many of us struggle with dry skin, I thought it best to give you my “dry skin buster combo” for winter. The Mango & Vanilla Scrub and Body Butter smells incredible, and is so effective, it is no wonder that these two products are a popular choice for Spas. The prestigious Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town, is one of the many spas who have been using the Victorian Garden products for years. So, do feel like a Spa Treatment? Here’s where to start!
The Victorian Garden – African Indigenous Mango & Vanilla Salt Body Scrub
A rich cream body scrub formulated especially to remove dead skin cells and improve skin texture. Natural salt, sugar and crushed rosehips provide an excellent exfoliation medium, stimulating the lymphatic system and helping to detoxify the tissues and regenerate the skin. Fragranced with gorgeous Madagascan Vanilla and enriched with African Mango extract, this scrub can be used daily and leaves the skin feeling and looking silky and polished. This is one of their most popular Spa and beauty salon products, used also by therapists for manicure and pedicure treatments. It is suitable for all skin types. Suitable for All Skin Types
Retails for about R110
This is my ultimate favourite body scrub! It is so gentle, but very effective. When I started using it, I could see the results almost immediately. Afterwards, I debated whether I should apply lotion/body butter or not, as my skin was so soft and nourished from using the scrub. I try to use it at least once a week, but it is gentle enough to use every day! (It comes with a warning, you might get addicted to the amazing feeling afterwards!)
The Victorian Garden – African Indigenous Range: Mango & Vanilla Hydrating Body Butter
As a top seller, this very rich Body Butter is an excellent choice to nourish and nurture dry skin. Shea Butter is blended with active botanical extracts of Wheat germ, Jojoba and Geranium. The exquisite scent of Madagascan Vanilla makes this butter a must for those suffering with dry, scaly and itchy skin. This body butter is also popular with beauty therapists and for use on dry cracked feet and nails. Suitable for All Skin Types, especially Dry Skin.
Retails for about R120
This Body Butter is the ultimate indulgence! The butter and scrub smells exactly the same, so to me it feels like I am layering myself in this gorgeous fragrance. It says on the packaging that it takes 20 minutes to absorb properly, but in my case, my skin just soaked it up and there was no need to wait. The smell lasted a long time, and in the morning I could still smell it! (In fact, it made my pajamas smell like yummy, fruity cupcakes!)
If you are looking for a treat this winter, try these two body products. Your skin will love you for it!
Available from various online shops:
Are you a crazy cat-lover?
You know you are a crazy cat lover if:
- You smile while watching your cat sleep.
- You treat your cat like it’s your own child.
- You say “bless you” when your cat sneezes.
- You feel bad when you have to move and your cat’s asleep on top of you.
- When your cat makes noises when they sleep, and you wake them up because they could be having a nightmare.
These are just a few of the ‘quirks’ I am guilty of! :)
If you are a cat lover and have a confession to make, you could earn a month’s free food for your kitty! Simply go to www.confessionsofacatlover.co.za and confess why you are a cat lover, and if you’re a first time Hill’s user, they will send you a month’s supply of cat food FREE OF CHARGE!
So what are you waiting for? Go, go, go!
And if you were wondering who is the precious little feline in our home:
Bananas – the new SUPER fruit!
Bananas are one of my favourite fruits, and here’s why:
- They’re less messy to eat (have you tried eating oranges or litchis in public before?)
- They are perfect for an on-the-go fruit
- If you forgot about them and they turn black, you can make banana bread out of them!
- The peels are a great garden fertilizer
- They have a wealth of health benefits:
They are a great source of energy
Bananas have lots of vitamins and minerals, and eating only two bananas will supply you with enough energy to exercise for almost two hours! This also makes them the perfect ‘pick-me-up’ for that sluggish feeling you get in the afternoon. I would say that they are better than drinking a cup of coffee, but being the coffee-love that I am, I won’t go there! (We will keep that fact hush-hush)
They are a source of potassium
Potassium is good for a lot of things. It helps with your body’s circulatory system, and maintains regular heartbeat and blood pressure.It also ensures proper growth of muscle tissues and proper utilization of energy released during metabolism to add significant worth to muscular strength. The muscles, together with cardiac muscle, are prone to paralysis due to deficiency of potassium in diet.
Bone Health
Along with lowering blood pressure, potassium prevents the weakening of the body’s bones. A high sodium intake, which is typical of our current diet, can cause excessive amount of calcium to be lost through the urine, which threatens not only the strength and general health of the bones, but also negatively affects blood clotting, proper muscle contraction, and normal nervous system function. The potassium found in bananas neutralizes the high amounts of sodium in one’s diet, thus allowing for healthy amounts of calcium to remain within the body.
Good for bowel health
Bananas can help stop constipation. Apparently they have a certain type of fibre which helps maintain bowel functions. The good thing is, it won’t cause diarrhoea if you eat too much!
They are useful during “that time”
Try eating bananas to reduce pain. They also have high levels of vitamin B6 to help regulate blood glucose levels. (It might be good to add, that bananas have a certain chemical that makes you feel happy, so it will be useful during this time!)
Bananas are one of the fruits that do not absorb chemicals easily (unlike apples), so if you can’t afford to buy organic, you can have peace at mind with a banana from your local supermarket!
Sources: www.naturalnews.com ; www.lifescript.com; www.organicfacts.com;
Here is my own recipe from a great energizing snack!
Mix together: one mashed banana, ¾ cup plain (or Greek) yoghurt, a pinch of cinnamon, and a teaspoon of honey.
It is absolutely delicious! And it’s sweet enough, so you won’t feel like you’re depriving yourself!
What are your favourite fruits and why?
Baobab Oil is AMAZING!
Baobab (Adansonia Digitata)
Derived from the seeds of the Baobab tree, which is native to eastern and southern Africa, Baobab oil has been used for centuries and is often called one of Africas best kept secrets. A rich, golden oil with a nutty scent, Baobab Oil has high concentrations of essential fatty acids. It absorbs quickly without leaving an oily residue and can help to restore the skin’s elasticity and radiance on the face and body; it can also alleviate chronic skin conditions such as psoriasis.
As if the tree is not beautiful enough, it gives us delicious fruit AND an oil with wonderful properties!
Use it for:
Hair – Baobab oil can be a soothing solution to dry, brittle hair as well as for dandruff or itchy scalp. It’s inherent moisturizing qualities, plus vitamins A, E and F help to regenerate and heal broken hair, while soothing and healing itchy, irritated scalp.
You can apply it alone after shampooing your hair as a conditioner and then rinse it out after a few minutes. You can also just add a drop or two of baobab oil to your regular hair conditioner. It can also be used as a leave-in conditioner. Just rub a few drops in your palms and then apply throughout your hair for gloss and conditioning. Works with my hair! It does not make it greasy.
Nails – Baobab oil strengthens the nails, giving them additional shine.
Body – This oil is a natural moisturiser that improves skin elasticity and prevents wrinkles stimulating cells regeneration. I found it so useful to combine it with my normal day moisturiser. For a luxurious bath, add a few drops to running water. My skin feels so silky afterwards!
You can purchase it on www.soil.co.za, it costs R160 for 100ml, but will last a looooong time!
Taste.Explore.Live 