Jan 1, 2021
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Cheap & Cheerful finale: SELF TAN
In school, my nickname was Snow White. No joke.
I remember in Std 5 when Tropitone’s self tanner came out, it felt like a revelation: bronzed skin overnight. I even loved the distinctive smell I have later learned to call ‘hamster cage’.
I have grown to love my pale skin, luckily, as I really don’t enjoy basking in the sun. Born and bred Eastern Cape, I have always somehow managed to live in cities all over the world whose temperatures reach over 30deg in summer, next to the ocean- don’t ask me how I managed to get that right! I love the sea, and unfortunately waltzing into the waves looking like Morticia Adams isn’t quite a look.
Cue the search for amazing sunless tanning for Snow White.
I have tried everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, from standing naked in a strange ladies grotty shower getting sprayed in places no-one except God should ever see, to sunbeds, to taking self tan tablets, to asking my boyfriend to spray me in our shower, and staining everything in our bathroom (and bedding) for months. Grr.
Firstly, because as much as I love beauty and skincare stuff, I honestly don’t have hours every day to spend primping- give me self tan that’s not CLEAR please. I want to see where I’m putting it- have I missed that irritating spot behind my knees? Do my elbows look like used teabags?
Secondly, please let it have sunscreen!
Thirdly, if it doesn’t smell like a guinea pig covered in sawdust that’d be FAB.
Enter: Palmer’s Sunless Tanner. I have about 20 of these scattered between every travel bag I own.
This product delivers the most natural, totally-not-orange colour to even paleys like me. It’s an instant bronzer too YAYYYYYY so immediately I know where I’ve applied it and immediately I look like someone who doesn’t sit behind a computer all day. It smells delicious (like everything in their cocoa butter range) AND! it has an SPF of 15.
This product is sadly very hard to find- I’m not sure why as there honestly isn’t anything like it out there, and when I do see it at Clicks or Dis-Chem, I buy en masse.
I couldn’t even find it on their local and global sites :/
Heck, I couldn’t even find a decent quality picture!
No matter, here’s my amazing leg-fie....
This is my last instalment of the ‘cheap & cheerful’ as I’m planning my first ‘Bathroom Apothecary’ event in the Eastern Cape- if you can make it, I promise a great workshop where you’ll be one step closer to being a beauty chef. (Find on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1981080281940975/)
Love,
Candy xo
Tootsie Rolls
So it’s my favourite time of year. No- not Halloween, but Winter.
Delicious facial masks, rich body oils, massages, oh, and lizard feet.
When all you want to do is snuggle up with bae, Netflix and chill but you kinda can’t because your feet feel like 3 day old ciabatta and if you rub up against anyone they’ll hot foot outta there in 2 seconds flat.
Ladies. There is no excuse for bushwalking feet unless you are an actual bushwalker.
Treatments at home that I swear by include:
1) Scholl’s Velvet Smooth battery operated filer. The lazy persons foot file. Perfect for after shower/bath.
2) Eulactol foot balm. It’s been around since Grandma’s grandma for good reason- a fatty, lanolin rich salve with a key ingredient: urea. This basically dissolves yucky dead skin over a few days.
3) Booties. If you’re like me, I hope to sleep the night with socks on until morning but they always end up on the floor. Clicks do an amazing infused toe-less sock that you can trot around the house in very unattractively.
4) Liquid talc. When I first discovered this in Europe, I was sold. Walking all over in sneakers, moisturising with a cooling silky balm full of minty oils that turned to a barrier talc saved me from so much pain. McLeod & Savage has been working on our own formula and I've been testing it on myself, family and friends with fab results. Watch this space!
For expert help, call in Sorbet and their “Medi Pedi”: an acid peel for your feet. Absolutely pain and tingle free, this chemical concoction fizzes away your dead skin, followed by an in-salon exfoliation. Baby soft in a half an hour!
While you’re there, have a Gelish treatment pedicure. Guaranteed not to peel or chip, this long wear polish just finishes off the protection of your tootsies and the array of colours to choose from for this season is divine.
There you go- all ready for dormancy in those fluffy slippers we’ve all been dying to bring out.
Love,
C xo
It’s been longer than a minute....
To followers who are still here- thank you. To new followers- my warmest welcome. In a month, my life has completely changed. I’d like to believe that grief has made me a better person, but time will tell. As I type this, it has been a month since my fiancé killed himself. I am facing my first weekend alone. I am terrified. And that’s where you come in. I have grown to hate weekends. I have also grown to realise I need to share more of myself. My passions, my crafts, the things I am good at. Please join McLeod & Savage, one of my biggest loves, on a journey to a new and improved business model that is more inclusive and holistic. See you in 2023. Love, Candy xo
The Spin on Silk...
Actress Jane Birkin’s mother may have been onto something when she told her daughter, “When you’ve got nothing left, all you can do is get into silk underwear and start reading Proust.”
Silk popped up on my radar a few years ago when I was researching pajamas to wear in hospital. Within a few articles, I was sold.
Here’s the lowdown:
1.) Silk Slows Down Ageing
Silk has this natural, cloud-like quality that makes you feel fresh and clean. Silk amino acids, a natural nutrient found in the fabric, have been found to reduce specific signs of ageing, such as fine lines, wrinkles and dehydration.
Because silk is a natural material, it is easier for this fabric to produce and retain moisture on its own. It performs miracles on the skin when left in contact overnight. With this, silk is now recognized as a natural anti-ageing product in the form of towels, beddings, pillowcases, sleepwear and now face masks. Dermatologists attest to silk’s ability to slow down visible signs of ageing and revitalize the human skin even after a short night’s rest.
While cotton and polyester material withdraw moisture from the skin through a night’s sleep, silk can replenish and maintain this very moisture necessary for keeping a youthful, vibrant skin. Because it is a natural material packed with essential amino acids and natural protein, silk tricks the nervous system into relaxing; therefore smoothening out the wrinkles we develop through age.
With albumen, a naturally-occurring chemical in silk, the skin’s metabolism speeds up, allowing dead skin cells to develop and repair at a much faster rate. Over time, the long-term use of silk will drastically improve the skin’s appearance, significantly slowing down the effects of ageing. Think of it as an invisible night cream applied to your face every single night.
2) Silk Clothing Helps with Eczema and Asthma
In most cases of atopic dermatitis, lifestyle changes have needed to be implemented to accommodate the necessities of sensitive skin. While various creams and other topical treatments may be used to treat mild to severe cases of eczema, what eczema sufferers are exposed to day and at night can still affect the entire treatment process. Because of its natural protein structure, silk is known for its hypoallergenic properties, making it compatible with all skin types. Its dense fabric structure prevents dust and mites from accumulating, which in turn protects the wearer from day-to-day allergens. While some individuals might be allergic to other natural materials (like goose and duck feathers), silk has shown to be more compatible with even the worst cases of skin allergy because of its 100% organic origin. Another of its great feature: silk prevents the build-up of soil, dirt, and other microscopic foreign bodies that may trigger an allergy, especially in people with eczema. Thanks to these healing properties, silk is an excellent alternative to usual cotton active and nightwear. Aside from eczema, silk’s hypoallergenic quality can help treat people with asthma. Among the triggers of asthma are bed bugs and droppings that can affect your quality of sleep – but these microscopic items would not stand a chance against silk’s compact and densely woven structure.
3.) Natural Anti-Fungal Element
Silk is a popular choice for nightwear, and a recent study shows that there is more reason to opt for silk during downtime. Not only does it make you feel nice and smooth while you sleep, but it can also stave off recurring infections. In a study conducted by the University of Bologna, men and women who were experiencing recurrent thrush were asked to swap their usual cotton-made underwear for treated silk ones, while the other half of the group continued to wear cotton underwear. After six months, researchers found that the group that was wearing silk had been cured of the infection. The recurrence was halved and the symptoms were significantly reduced. Candida Albicans – the yeast causing the common fungal infection – thrives in warm and damp environments. While cotton does nothing to help this, the moisture-absorption capability of silk eliminates the environment for the yeast to thrive.
4.) Silk Can Improve Sleep
If you have ever experienced the luxury of sleeping in silk, you would be familiar with how quickly you can fall asleep while being enveloped in this material. There’s a reason why this fabric is becoming increasingly popular with bedding manufacturers; this has something to do with sleeping. The reason is simple: it makes you comfortable. Silk, a natural material blessed with sheen and softness, can also regulate body temperature and control moisture even in vast, changing climates. This makes silk an excellent sleep companion that will surely enhance the quality of your night-time slumbers. The softness of the material coaxes your nervous system into relaxing, allowing you to achieve the full cycle of sleep necessary. In ancient China, silk has been the go-to material for curing chronic pains. In fact, silk is still the standard fabric used for elderly homes and physical development centers. Silk's comfortability can easily remedy anything from muscle aches to joint pains. It imposes negligible pressure on the human body and follows the natural contours and movement of its user, giving anyone who uses it a guaranteed full night’s sleep.
5.) It Helps Avoid Allergies
Some people suffer from multiple allergies or sensitive skin, making it difficult to find clothing or sheets that work for them. A night in a bed dressed with polyester or other synthetic fabrics and worse still, full of harsh detergent residue, can leave rashes all over the body with no end in sight. Commonly mass manufactured materials not only evoke allergy symptoms but they exacerbate them, turning what should be a relaxing sleep into one filled with itches and scratches – a real nightmare.
However, silk can be your best hypoallergenic solution to skin sensitivity and allergies. Its natural properties benefit all; even its makers – the silkworms – weave their cocoons into safety shields against the dust mites. The proteins in silk repel these microscopic critters, which, coincidentally, are among the leading causes of human allergies. Alongside this, silk’s long and smooth fibers do not irritate the skin, preventing allergic reactions while letting you sleep peacefully, just as you deserve.
6.) It pretty much guarantees a Good Hair Day
As it does not conduct static electricity, sleeping on silk helps reduce hair breakage as there’s little no no friction placed on the hair follicle.
7.) It helps reduce acne and inflammation
These pillowcases can be a beneficial addition to other acne treatments,” says Yoram Harth, a board-certified dermatologist, and the medical director of MDacne.
Why? Silk may present a kinder and cleaner surface for cradling your cheek. “Silk pillowcases are gentler on the skin of people with acne or sensitive skin than rough cotton pillowcases,” Harth explains. The friction from cotton on pimple-prone skin can create more inflammation, making acne worse.
Cotton also sops up the natural oil and bacteria from your face and hair, and that grime accumulates on your case night after night, creating a petri dish out of your pillow. (Eeeeeeuuuew)
“Silk pillowcases absorb less of the moisture and dirt and thus may be a better choice for people with acne,” Harth says. “This is especially true for people who sleep on their sides or stomach.”
8.) It offers a Cool Haven from the Hell called Menopause
Hot flashes, that sudden warmth in the face, neck, and chest, are among the most common — and uncomfortable — symptoms of menopause. They’re caused by fluctuating hormones and by a lower threshold for heat that occurs as women age, says Charla Blacker, MD, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. For the 75 to 85 percent of women who suffer from this women’s health issue, she suggests sleeping in light, breathable silk pajamas or on cool silk sheets to help turn down the heat.
Whew. After all that, it seems the only thing my silk pillowcases and pajamas can’t do is my tax return.
@mcleodandsavage sells silk turbans, pillowcases and face masks on their online store: https://www.facebook.com/McLeodandSavage/shop
Love,
Candy xo
Lights Out
In a recent bid to quell my sporadic anxiety, I decided to do a little audit of my sleeping environment.
I luckily don’t suffer from insomnia, but since I’ve started meditating more seriously (30mins per day) I have noticed the quality of my sleep and dreams being sooooo much better.
Also- this loadshedding isn’t helping- sudden beeps from all over the house mid-sleep letting you know everything’s come back to life. Thanks, Eskom.
Firstly, everyone and their pet llama recommends not using your phone/iPad/laptop before bed. But I’ll be honest- that’s never going to happen. I do my best thinking at night, mid-movie binge, with my sketchbooks and notepads and pens all over my bed. So let’s politely forget about that one thanks, Arianna Huffington.
(If, like me, you can’t part with your electronics, www.healthline.com recommends downloading an app called ‘f.lux’ that alters the blue lights that cause computer screens to trick your body into staying awake.I have, and so far I’m loving it.)
https://justgetflux.com/
I read recently on Goop that you should never have anything smaller than a cantaloupe next to your bed. (Um, okay). I have about 70 million supplements, body products, essential oils and books next to my bed. So I tidied that all up. And made sure the bunch of fresh flowers I always have next to my bed was bigger than a melon.
Temperature is a huge deal for me when I sleep- I need open windows with block-out curtains, cotton bedding, feather duvet and pillows, and I always always have a silent fan on. Dyson’s bladeless variety are honestly the best.
Another thing all the experts recommend that I ignore is sleeping with pets. I am allergic to cats, and have 2. They are my kids, and them snuggling next to me on their teddy bears is one of my life’s greatest pleasures/vices. So I’ll just take antihistamines for the rest of my life and deal with it.
When it comes to bedding, obviously cotton is best. It breathes and is good for your skin- Mr Price Home and @home do aloe vera infused bedding and I have been using it forever. I use silk pillowcases for their skin and hair benefits- these are plentiful. McLeod & Savage already sells silk turbans and will be expanding the range to bedding in April.
In terms of supplementation, I have never needed to use melatonin but I know that this is an unbeatable sleep aid. I take magnesium every night for its incredible effect on stress and sore muscles, and I believe it helps the quality of sleep. I also use magnesium oil topically (you can find it here: https://www.facebook.com/commerce/products/1929069857142607/) and swear by ‘Sleepy’ body lotion by LUSH. Before bed, a bath loaded with essential oils is also a sure-fire way to aid a deep sleep. If you don’t enjoy bathing, you can always burn your oils in your bedroom. (The combination of lavender, clary sage and camomile is always sublime).
The meditation app I swear by is Headspace- there’s just nothing else like it- and I have grown to associate Andy’s voice with rest and deeeeeep breathing.
Lastly, I use the ‘Relax Meditation’ app on my iPad (it works in Airplane Mode) because they use binaural sounds (barely audible) and I add the sound of rain to this. This app alone has completely changed the quality of my sleep. It also has a fade out function and alarm function. A must-have!
I hope these tips help anyone else who might have needed a sleep audit :)
If you have any tips, please comment! Sweet dreams!
Love,
Candy xo
Cheap & Cheerful 3: CLICKS
Like Dischem, I also manage to spend wayyyyyy too much time and money at Clicks.
Recently in a magazine I received a NIVEA sample- their new Q10 Energy Sleep Cream. I usually give them away or keep them in the car but for some reason I gave this sample a try.
WOW! When I worked for a huge skincare company overseas I used to use a verrrrrrry expensive Vit C night treatment once a week (it was about AU$250 10 years ago). It was super potent and even made my white silk pillowcases a little orange. It had a very distinctive smell- anyone who has used a high potency Vit C treatment will attest to this- and this NIVEA sample smelled exactly the same on my skin.
I hardly ever run out and buy something I received in a sample but I totally did with this.
I have dull skin at times and uneven skintone is a huge concern for me- Q10 and this level of Vit C are a huge win. I have quite a religious skincare routine but I will be using this every few nights during the week. Yay!
This is what their website says:
https://www.nivea.co.za/products/nivea-q10-power-anti-wrinkle-plus-energy-skin-sleep-cream-40059004149460147.html
It retails at about R180. Add one to your routine (and don’t forget to use sunscreen the next day after moisturising)
More ‘cheap and cheerful’ next week. Until then,
Love,
Candy xo
Cheap & Cheerful 2: DIS-CHEM
AKA ‘My Achilles Heel’.... I spend so much time and money in this store its shameful!
Every new branch I go into all over South Africa surprises me with something new that grabs my eye (and wallet). I have a few fave branches (Canal Walk CT, Cavendish CT and Baywest, PE) and every time I walk in I find something new- probably just the store layout and feel. This month was no different- in Walmer Park at the cash registers I found something I just HAD TO try and I’m super glad I did- Revlon’s new ‘Kiss Exfoliating Balm’. Its a minty, zingy balm packed with exfoliating beads (I presume sugar) and sooooooo easy to use. A lot of exfoliating lip balms are in a tiny pot and the goo gets stuck under your nail and heaps goes to waste.
I love this product so much, it twists up and down like a lipstick and is around R60. I really really hope they never discontinue it!!!
Sadly the Revlon SA website doesn’t feature it, but here’s a pic:
More ‘cheap and cheerful’ tomorrow. Until then,
Love,
Candy xo