Hair & Beauty - June Favourites

Hello Beautiful people,
I can't believe half the year is gone 😱 I still have so much to do before this year is out.
Here are my favourites for the month of June.

Some of my favourites from last month 💜

1. Juvia's  Place Nubian II palette
If you follow me on instagram, then you know how much I love my The Masquerade palette from Juvia's Place. I decided to purchase this Nubian II (pre-loved from Janet Pink) for everyday toned down neutral looks. I love this palette, because I can the dark shades for eye shadow and as blush/contour and the light shimmer shades as highlight. This makes it perfect for travelling, I only have to pack one palette.
Here are some of the looks achieved with this palette:

Price: R 650.00 from SAMIKA, R 950.00 from Pink Cosmetics
If you live in the US (they ship to some other countries as well), you can order directly from Juvia's Place for $ 19.99.

2. Essence Lights of the Orient Bronzer 02 Oriental Beauty
For those with deeper darker skin tones will understand my point of view: I've never been sure of how to use bronzers, since the shades are usually too light to have the same effect as intended for those with lighter skin tones. But I've figured it out; instead of using bronzer to warm up my face, I use it as an under eye and forehead highlight powder. I love the finished effect I get with this bronzer from Essence. 

Price: R 47.95 (it was a limited edition, but I've seen a few in stock at Clicks Tygervalley).

3. My Natural Hair Strengthening Oil 100ml
I've already waxed poetic about the My Natural Hair range here; but I have to highlight How much I enjoy using this oil. I use it to seal when I moisturise on wash day and then 2-3 times during the week. It's also superb for sealing when installing braid and twist extensions. I love it because I don't end up with a greasy mess. It works great as a scalp oil.
Price:  R 79.99 on My Natural online store, R 99.99 at selected Clicks stores

4. Native Child  - Shea butter cream 125ml
I was in Windhoek for a while and it is super dry, just harsh on the skin and the hair. So I decided to pack this shea butter cream from Native Child for my hair instead of oil. It's thick mainly consists of shea butter along with avocado oil and aloe vera gel. I really like this one, #nogrease and a little goes a long way. Also, it's locally made, #proudlysouthafrican.
Price: R 79.99 from Native Child online store

5. The Body Shop Matte Lip Liquid in Windsor Rose, Mauritius Dahlia and Sicily Iris
The Body Shop recently launched matte liquid lippies in South Africa and I am here for it.
I've got 3 of the shades; one nude and two dark shades. I love how these wear, they're very smooth and velvety when applied. they don't dry down like the Colourpop liquid lipsticks, so they do transfer and fade after eating. I however am not complaining because they're decently priced. I will definitely be adding at least two more to my collection.

Matte Liquid Lip in Windsor Rose

Price: R 85.00 (but I made use of the sales; 20% off or 3 for 2 specials)

6. The Body Shop Spa Of The World Hawaiian Kukui Cream 350ml
I'm a sucker for a good body cream; I've been eyeing the ones from the Spa of the World range for years but the price though...
Clicks had a 30% off in May, so I took that opportunity to purchase one of them. This cream has a velvet butter consistency with a faint floral scent. I love it! It's not heavy at all and it's easily absorbed into the skin and the moisturising effect is long lasting.
Price: R 380.00 ( I got it for R 266.00).

And those were my favourites for the month. What prodcuts did you enjoy using last month? Let me know in the comments section below.

See you in my next post, 

xoxo

N

Haircare Review: ApHogee Two-step Protein Treatment

Hi loves,
Today, I'm going to be reviewing a product that's very popular with curlies and coilys on social media; the Aphogee 2-step protein treatment. I've been using this product about 2 years and it's made a difference to the look and feel of my hair.
To start off, I colour my hair blue, green or purple which means I had to bleach my hair to lift my natural colour. I knew that by bleaching, I'd be weakening my hair, so  I decided to look for a protein treatment that I can use to strengthen my hair. So off I went to the nexus of knowledge known as YouTube, to listen to reviews and watch some demos. Needless to say, I was convinced by the evidence put forth, so I searched for a local seller and I managed to find one and it was decently priced.

The product...
Comes in two parts: a protein treatment  and a balancing moisturizer

ApHogee Two-Step Protein treatment 118ml and Balancing Moisturizer 237ml

The process...
It's messy..to say the least and it doesn't smell all that great (it's like egg and vinegar). Based on the advice of those who'd gone before me, I transferred the protein treatment to a nozzle applicator bottle, put on some vinyl gloves and covered my clothes with a towel.
I applied the product to freshly shampooed hair (divided into 6 sections) and twisted up each section. Once done with the application, I used my hair dryer on medium heat and slow speed for 15 minutes until the hair was dry.
This product dries hard and Aphogee advises that you not touch your hair, as you might break it. Before rinsing the protein treatment out, I sprayed my hair with warm water to soften it. After the first rinse, I applied the balancing moisturiser and worked it through my hair, I also finger detangled at this point and rinsed out the moisturiser.

Aftercare...
Protein treatments can harden hair, so that it feels dry and brittle; so after detangling I applied one of my moisturising protein-free deep conditioners; my favourite is the Rainforest Radiance Hair Butter from The Body Shop. I covered my hair with a plastic cap and waited for 30 minutes before rinsing out the deep conditioner. After rinsing, I proceeded to my regular L.O.C method and styling.

Moisturising Deep Conditioner: Rainforest Radiance Hair Butter

Final thoughts...
I love that this product is available for the public; I have trust issues with hairdressers because most do not know what to do with afro textured hair (don't come at me with a hair dryer and a fine-toothed comb), so I'm quite happy to do my own hair.
You're meant to repeat the protein treatments every 6 to 8 weeks; I don't always stick to this (I do every ~4 months), but I do have protein deep conditioners and light protein treatments for in-between treatments.

I got my original 2-pack from Obulunji for R 269.00; I recently ordered a 3 pack that includes: the Keratin & Green Tea Shampoo 355ml , the Two-Step Protein Treatment 473ml and the Balancing Moisturizer 237ml for R 498.00; it should last me at least a year. I also ordered the Keratin & Green Tea Restructurizer for weekly maintenance, cost R 169.00.
Kinky Moriri also stocks the 2-step protein treatment for R 529 (they don't specify as to whether it's a 2-pack or 3-pack kit). 

Pros

• High protein content (hydrolysed collagen is the first ingredient )
• Effective (this really does what it says)
• Affordable 

Cons

• Contains silicones  and mineral oil (I don't mind them; I haven't seen any negative effects on my hair)

• Recommended for professional use only (if you're not confident about doing it yourself, I would suggest going to a professional. I don't know of any salon that offers this service in Cape Town. If you're in Johannesburg, you can go to the Obulunji Hair Salon at 570 Honeydew Road West, 2169

There are plenty of articles on Naturallycurly.com; https://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/home/does-natural-hair-need-proteins/ debating the merits of protein treatments for natural hair; I think it depends on the state of your hair. If you colour your hair, you could benefit from doing protein treatments.

That's all folks,

See you in my next post,
xoxo

Hair & Beauty - May Favourites

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 Hello lovelies,
Can't believe another month has gone by, this year is flying past way too quickly.
Anyway, I thought I'd share some of the products I really enjoyed using in May.

1. Stila Liquid Lipstick in 09 Amore
You all know how hard it is to find a neutral or nude lippy when you have dark skin. This is my one..my go to lippy because no matter my eye makeup it always looks good and never out of place. It's described as a "deep plum sheen" but with my skin tone this looks like a mavey taupe. Stila liquid lipsticks are long wearing and they don't feather, which is awesome.
Price R 285 at Woolworths 

My everyday lippy - Stila liquid lipstick in the shade amore

2. King of Skin Body Butter 75g
My guilty pleasure... bath products from Lush! I need strength to resist the temptation everytime I walk into a Lush store. The last I was there I decided to treat myself and pick up the King of Skin, it has rave reviews on the internet and I felt like trying something new. It's a solid bar (with banana and avo and cocoa butter) that works in the same way as the body Ro's Argan Body Conditioner (my favourite lush prodcut of all time); you rub it into your skin after your shower to wet skin, rinse off the excess and pat yourself dry.
Price R 110 at Lush 

3. Urban Decay Naked Smoky Palette
The love affair with UD is rekindled! It's winter again, I'm more inclined towards my more neutral palettes...sometimes. This is my only neutral palette left in my collection after cleaning out earlier this month. I love this palette because of the steel greys and golds; its perfect for a neutral smoky eye, from understated to drama!!!
Price R 850 at Foschini Beauty, Urban Decay Stores (only in Gauteng) and  Urban Decay online store

4. L.A. Girl Strobe Lite Powder in 110 Watt
I'm a sucker for a good highlighter, and even more when the price is right. These powders launched in Dischem two months ago, I swatched all of them; some I didn't like all of them, but this one is awesome. It's an ice white powder that isn't as finely milled as my Gosh cosmetics Giant Sun Powder but it looks really good on me and it lasts all day.
Price R 149.95 at Dischem

5. Eco Essentials Cleansing & Nourishing Shampoo 500ml
I've been using this shampoo for a couple months. It's a low-sud, gentle cleansing shampoo; sulphate-free and silicone-free. It leaves my hair feeling moisturised and soft (#nostripping). My full review of some of the products from this locally made range can be found here.
Price R 99.95 from the Eco Essentials website

7. Caivil Fusion Oil Hair Root Nourisher 125ml
I've mentioned this product before in my post on building a natural haircare regimen. It's a pomade, kind of like a hair food sans mineral oil. I fee like it's underrated because this contains castor oil, shea butter and essential oils to stimulate growth. I use it to seal moisture into my hair when install braids and locs. It also gives mad definition for twistouts and its not greasy.
Price R 29.95 at Clicks and Dischem 
 
6. SVR Sebiaclear Sebum Regulating Anti-Enlarged Pore Mattifying Care 40ml
I've been using this mattifying cream in my morning routine for the last two and half months. it's from a French skincare brand SVR Laboratoire Dermatologique that launched in South Africa earlier this year. I apply this onto my face after my serum, after which I apply my sunscreen and makeup. It's really helped to minimise the amount of blackheads especially along the my hairline and ears. I'm also not as shiny when I hit the midday mark. I'm still deciding which other products from this range I would like to try.
Price R 185 at Clicks, but it's currently on sale for R 148

7. Skin Defence Multi-Protection Essence SPF 50 PA++++ 40ml
So when you're as dark as I am, there's always an issue with finding an spf cream that doesn't leave you ashy with a blue-grey tinge. Here's a link to a video by Evelyn from the Internets and Nikki that illustrates this point hilariously #thestruggleisreal.  This sunscreen is designed to give you sun protection..obviously and also protect you against environmental pollution because it has anti-oxidants...at least that's what The Body Shop claims. I use this as a day cream, the last step in my morning routine. You can wear it under your make up...it's that good. And good news melanin-rich sisters ....no ashy blue-grey tinge YAY!!!
Price R 220 for 40 ml and R 285 for 60ml, available at The Body Shop and Clicks  

8. My Natural Hair Moisturizing Butter 125ml 
I'm not going to wax poetic about how much I love this product again, you can read my full review of the entire range here. I've been using for my twistouts and more often as a moisturizer when installing my braids and locs. 
Price R 79.99 on My Natural Hair online store and R 99.95 at Clicks 


I have to the end of my post.
Have you tried any of these? Which did you like best? Let me know

See you in my next post, xoxo

Hair & Beauty Empties (March & April)

Hi loves,
Welcome to my first empties post. let me tell you about how I found the products and whether or not I would repurchase.

1. Sunny Isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil 236ml
I've been using JBCO for over two years now; I use it for my hair in a number of ways:
* with a cheapy conditioner (Tresemme Naturals) as a pre-shampoo/detangling treatment.
* with a hair masque/deep conditioner after shampooing.
* mix it with grapeseed oil (herbal infusion) and essential oils for my hair and scalp oil
I started using this oil during my transition period and it made the whole process so much easier; my hair is definitely stronger and thicker. JBCO is the one staple in my hair regimen since I'm a bit of a product junkie so I'm always trying out new shampoos and conditioners.

 

Would I repurchase? Hell yeah! I already have a second bottle. 

Price: ZAR 269.00 from www.african-flair.co.za 

2. Dark & Lovely Au Naturale Knot-out Conditioner 250ml
Dark & Lovely launched a hair care range for natural hair in South Africa late last year. I've already reviewed some of the products in this range (Click here for the link). I don't really use rinse-out conditioners after shampooing, I prefer to use deep conditioners and hair masques. I use rinse-outs for pre-poo and detangling (mixed with JBCO); this conditioner is perfect for this it's got tons of slip and it's super affordable. It will never replace Tresemme Naturals in my heart but it's an acceptable replacement. Also 250ml is only enough for 3 pre-poo sessions (I've got a lot of hair).

Would I repurchase? Yes. Until they launch the Tresemme Botanique range in South Africa.

Price: ZAR 39.95

3. The Body Shop Honeymania body Butter 250ml
I'm a sucker for a good body butter; I've got dry skin, so I can do with the extraness. This tub lasted a year, and I love how it made my skin feel. It locks in moisture without making things greasy which is awesome. It was a little difficult ot use in the winter beucase it gets a little hard and it feels cold in the winter (who else has this problem in the winter? My mission after a bath is to jump into PJs as quicky as possible and then bed. Butters and lotions feel really cold in the winter, so it becomes a chore). The scent was a bit too sweet for me at times, but other than that it's pretty good.

Repurchase? Probably not. I prefer the Brazil Nut and Atlas Mountain Rose Butters.
Price: ZAR 170.00


4. The Body Shop Seaweed Oil-Balancing Toner 250ml
This toner has been part of my skincare regimen for almost a year now. It's light and refreshing, and gives my face that one last clean before my serums and moisturisers. One bottle goes a long way; at least 3 months (even when using it twice a day), which is really good for the price.

Repurchase? Always
Price: ZAR 120.00


5. The Body Shop Seaweed Oil-Balancing Clay Mask 100ml
Another one from The Body Shop :-) I've only been using face masks dilligently for the last 6 months and I bought this mask, because I use the cleanser and toner from the Seaweed range. It's based on kaolin clay which is really good for purifying and detoxing the skin. It's got a slight cooling effect when applied, the tingling only comes afterwards, after rinsing. I found that if I used the toner straight after rinsing off the mask, then there's slight burning sensation, but nothing bad happens.

Would I repurchase? No, only because I've found something better. The masks from the Recipes of Nature range.
Price: ZAR 190.00


6. Fountain  - The Hair Molecule
I've talked about this beauty supplement in my favourites post (here); I've been using for more than a month. It's got a sour berry flavour that's a bit powdery but I don't find that off-putting. I'll do a review on it, after my 3 month trial period.

Would I repurchase? For now...Yes I'll talk about that in my full review soon. But I'm currently on my second bottle.
Price: ZAR 712 (Bay One for Africa) $39 (Deciem)

I can now throw these into the recycling waste bin. Done!

See you in my next post, 

xoxo, 

Build a Hair Regimen with locally available products

Hey loves,
I've asked my cutlfriends, the Llozanne (Rozanne and Lloyd) to help me compile a list of products available in South African beauty supply stores; Clicks and Dischem. Rozanne and I are certified product junkies; always looking for that perfect shampoo, conditioner etc. Between the two of us we've tried enought products over the years to come up with a list of local products that we liked enough to repurchase. Lloyd has been kind enough to let Rozanne try out stuff on his hair, since starting his hair growth journey over a year ago.
Here goes:

 

 

 

Most of these products are available at Clicks and Dischem stores. Most are suitable for relaxed, transitioning and natural hair.
Cold-pressed Castor oil is available at Durbell pharmacies or online at faithful to nature. 

I hope you find this list helpful my fellow hair health enthusiasts.

See you in my next post,

Love,