When an invitation to a free macaroon making workshop is extended your way and when said workshop is held at the (fancy) 15 on Orange hotel, you say “Yes, where do I sign?”

I’ve looked forward to this workshop since Heather sent us the invitation – so much so, that I had mixed up the dates and trotted off to a whole weekend earlier. I had just passed N1 City mall when I thought I’d better check my phone for more details and a reminder saying “Macaroon workshop next weekend” popped up. My pride then lead me to Canal Walk where some window shopping was done instead.

Prior to this workshop, I had never tasted a proper macaroon in my life but I knew what the whole concept behind it was – whipped egg whites and sugar… right? WRONG! But let me start at the beginning.

I felt like a real life Alice in Wonderland – all confused, flustered and wondering where the hell I am but when I finally stumbled into 15 On Orange, it was as if I entered a new dimension. THERE ARE COUCHES…. IN THE LIFTS!

I gaped at the majesty of the rich décor and the attention to detail and … THERE’S A SHOE SHOP!

But… just for a moment… lesbehonest…  

I don’t remember much of the details of the macaroon making process – I believe there was champagne and a guy called Katlego who knew his champagne pouring ish.

But Leana’s issues aside and why you should attend a macaroon workshop at 15 On Orange

The thought of making something as finicky as macaroons, terrifies me and I’m sure it terrifies dozens others too. But once you’ve seen it being made and once you’ve tried it under the supervision of the professionals, it somehow feels much less daunting.

This is also a great activity for the girls. Pop the champagne, snack on some goodies and laugh at your first macaroon attempts with your best friends. At R295 per person, this macaroon workshop is a giveaway and guarantees to be educational and fun.

Here are just a few pictures that I took on the day. Also make sure to check out Lauren’s post and Klets & Kook’s post. (These are the only ones I know of right now, but more will come).

x x Leana
Hipstyler, Pretty and Ginger

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If you know RAIN then you know all about their amazing range of products and how incredibly fresh and natural they smell. I particularly love the Biologie range, which comprises of a variety of different scrubs, soaps and lotions which not only leaves your body feeling cared for, but also leaves you uplifted.

I’ve been fortunate enough to try out the Imvumvu Tree mist – a new addition to the already amazing RAIN product range. Initially, I wasn’t too sure how to use it and thought I would carefully think about it before using it. I hunted for reviews on the internet, but there wasn’t much to go on (either that, or I haven’t looked hard enough).

Anyways, after visiting the RAIN website (duh!) I was finally educated on the matter. In short, these mists are made from essential oils that heal you. Aromatherapy has always been an interest of mine and I read up on the benefits of these oils before. So, when I realised what these mists are all about, I was completely ON BOARD with it.

Let me just say this one thing before I get technical – WHAT A LOVELY SMELL. I carry the Umvumvu mist with me all the time because it lifts my mood instantly. When I’m at the office, I ZEN it out with the mist and all I need now is a bonsai garden with a miniature waterfall behind me and I’m sorted.

The Umvumvu mist contains:

• Cypress Essential Oil to clear mental blocks and to release negative patterns
• Petigrain Essential Oil to Cleanse, energize – the sunlight for the soul
• Vetiver Essential Oil for grounding and strengthening

Whenever I feel tired or down, a quick spritz gets me going again – it WORKS. They retail for R125 – get them at your nearest RAIN store or online!

If you need a “lift-me-up” on the go, then this little Umvumvu is just what you need!

Click on the picture to go to buy your own!

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In my first BWB goodie bag, I was spoiled with 2 Crabtree & Evelyn hand creams. The only other C & E product I ever owned was a lavender perfume that I won… I gave it away. 

So it was Karmically fated and hella funny when Ginger plundered my stash and stole the Iris variant, leaving me with a Lavender scented C & E product once more.

When body and bath shopping pops onto my ” to do” list, Crabtree & Evelyn is not on my list of shops to visit. BUT… after awarding the hand cream a fair shot, I must admit that I’m not opposed to it.

What I like about it

You can look at any one of their products and know that it’s a quality product. The quaint packaging sparks a sense of nostalgia and wholesomeness. Though I’m not overly fond of the processed smell of lavender, this hand cream hit a happy medium for me. BUT, the Iris is the nicer smelling one of the two. It’s not greasy at all and it really makes your hands feel baby soft.

What I don’t like about it

The price. 100g goes for a whopping R330, which is the main reason for my lack of C & E products. They do, however, state that the hand cream is award winning .. so, I suppose R330 for your share of an award winning product might not be THAT bad.

You can check out their online store here to check out more products. They have a free shipping promotion currently running for orders over R1000.

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First off… I am officially the mastermind behind this …

My smugness would be unflawed had this picture not been such an affirmation of my dorkiness. That being said, “Live long and prosper“.

I’ve had the pleasure of trying some uh-mazing Dermalogica sponsored products. I’ve never tried them before and I probably wouldn’t have made an effort to buy my own either, but now that I have, I’m rocking back and forth like a tik-koppie thinking about my next fix.

The brand low down:

Dermalogica sprouted from Jane Wurwand’s desire to see a product line that embraced her belief that skin care is a health issue as opposed to a “beauty” issue, and in 1986, it all began.

Jane wanted products that were free of irritants and ingredients that usually causes breakouts that would improve the health of the skin, and now, over 20 years later, Dermalogica is the number one choice of skin care professionals worldwide.

All the products are manufactured in the US and what’s most impressive is that they’re probably one of the first brands to never have tested their products on animals!

The products

I’ve been blessed with the following Dermalogica products:

• 50ml Multi-active toner – 250ml retails for R520
• 3ml Ultrasmoothing eye serum – 15m retails for R760
• 22ml Skin Hydrating Masque – 75ml retails for R590
• Sample sized Pre-cleanser – 150ml retails for R520

 

 

Multi-active Toner

This spray on toner helps to condition the skin and prepare it for proper moisture absorption. I used the toner after I cleaned my face with a facial sponge and hot water. I absolutely adore spray on facial products as they’re super quick and easy to use. I felt a little tingle on my skin thanks to the Balm Mint and Arnica. It also contains soothing Lavender, so you can imagine how amazing it smells.

UltraSmoothing Eye Serum

This little dynamite encourages collagen-producing activities to help smooth fine lines and targets the signs of ageing around the delicate eye area. Not knowing what consistency to expect, I squeezed the tiny tube and almost spilled all the liquid because of my over eager pinch. If I only get one Dermalogica product, it will be this one.

Precleanse

Once again, my heavy hand left me with too much product on my face and with Dermalogica, a little goes a very long way. The precleanse is a lovely oily cleanser that smells amazing – almost citrusy. “Thoroughly melt away layers of excess sebum (oil), sunscreen, waterproof make-up, environmental pollutants and residual products that build-up on skin throughout the day with skin fortifying Olive, Kukui and Apricot oils.” Leave it on for a little longer to double up as a face mask. Also… try not to get it in your eyes (based on a true story).

Skin hydrating masque

Got dry skin? Well, you’re in luck, because this hydrating masque will annihilate scaly, dry skin. Again, a little goes a very long way. All you need is a 20c sized dollop to do the trick. Spread it evenly over the face, leave it on for 15 minutes and rinse thoroughly. It left my skin feeling crazy soft and hydrated too. It was such a treat to use.

Conclusion: These products fall way out of most people’s budgets and, sadly, not too many people are able to truly understand how amazing they are. That being said, should you dive in the Dermalogica pool, your initial spend will be about R2000 to R3000 which will hold you for a couple of months because you’ll only use a tiny amount at a time. From there, you’ll just replace your products as you need them. Because the products are free from harmful chemicals and because they really work, you should, in truth, consider it an investment in your skin’s health as opposed to a beauty treat.

Details

You can keep up to date with their latest products and news in the field on Facebook and Twitter – @dermalogicasa and make sure to visit their site for more information.

Final word: I will be scraping my pennies together for my first full sized Dermalogica skin care routine very soon. :D

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My previous BWB goodie bag contained a 50ml milk cleanser from Naturals beauty. After working through the packed goodie bag, I must admit, my poor cleanser took the backseat. I am, however, very happy to report that I’ve been able to try out the milk over the last couple of days and it has now become a “Leana needs to get her next fix” cleanser.

 

The brand low-down

Tanya became passionate about natural products after the birth of her child. She noticed that, at the time, there was a need in the South African market for natural beauty products and so, Naturals Beauty was born. Now, with the aid of Louise Botes, Naturals Beauty is perfecting their formulas, branding and the day-to-day to make sure that we get the best products they have to offer.

Creammmmmyyyyy

The Milk Cleanser is a creamy lotion that gently cleanses the skin and removes impurities and make-up. It even contains apple extract which has anti-aging properties (hells yeah) and avocado oil that moisturises the skin. I usually find that cleansers leave my skin feeling tight and dry, but the milk cleanser is absolute bliss on my skin. With other ingredients like Sutherlandia and Cucumber, it will keep the skin healthy and radiant.

It’s also VERY reasonably priced at only R80 for 150ml of awesomeness. You can order yours here and while you’re at it, make sure to check out all their other amazing products.

Naturals Beauty is also taking part in “Planting season”. You can also sign up here and get awesome organic planting tips and a banner on your website with a live count down. It’s pretty cool! Ginger and I have both signed up!!

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In my most recent Bloggers who Bless goodie bag, I received a Nimue Vitamin C moisture mist. This little gem is the sole inspiration for my “Use the fancies, dammit” challenge. 

I took one look at it and knew that I’d enjoy using it – I wasn’t wrong. The bottle is as classy and fabulous as the 15 on Orange hotel:

 

The brand low down:

Nimue was initially aimed at the medical market for application before and after surgeries. Since then, it has become a globally recognized brand and today we can find their innovative products in leading salons.

Nimue knows their stuff as far as skin care is concerned and is renowned for their skin classification concept whereby skin is categorised as follows:

1. Environmentally Damaged Skin
2. Hyperpigmented Skin
3. Problematic Skin
4. Interactive Skin

Their methods of treating skin are simply based on Rejuvenation, Restoration, Antioxidation and Sun Protection.

This makes more sense than chucking skin into “age groups”. I’m sure you can agree that nobody “ages” the same and that skin damage can result from a magnitude of factors ranging from diet to exposure to the sun.

This is why you want to use the Vitamin C moisture mist:

Besides the obvious hydration factor, this mist freshens the skin as well as act as a natural UVA protector. Vitamin C is a key ingredient in many “anti-aging” products as it acts as a stimulator for the production of collagen, which means better skin elasticity and a radiant and hydrated skin.

The short term benefit: it immediately makes you look refreshed.

The best part of it all: all 4 of the skin categories can use it and you can use it over your makeup without worrying about it messing up all your hard work.

On a personal note: Don’t be a blondie like me and spray your face while breathing in. Also, (and I’m sure I don’t really need to say this, but if I did it, others might do it too) close your mouth and eyes when you use the mist on your face. That being said, it doesn’t taste too bad and it doesn’t burn your eyes so much… so…

*scuse me while I gather myself … I LOVE YOU TOM*

Cost and contact: At first, I was afraid, I was petrified, but very happy to see that it will be raining Nimue products from here on forward because they are very affordable. This bottle retails for R150 but check your local stockist, because I’ve seen them going for an impressive R139.00 each.

You can find your nearest stockist here.

You can like their Facebook Page here

Follow them on Twitter – @NimueSkinSA

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Oh so Heavenly is definitely one of my favourite South African brands and here’s why:

They are always evolving and while you want a “predictable and dependable” brand in your home, you also want them to change with the times. The other day when I was shopping for a baby shower (I can spend 100s of Rands on baby stuffs) I saw the OsH Mum & Cherub range for the first time. Nope, having kids is hardly a new thing, but up until a short while ago, OsH only focused on bath and beauty products. 

Think about this: the women/ladies that started using OsH when the range became available at Clicks, have since turned into mommies and if they’re anything like me, they would have shown tremendous brand loyalty over the years. To top it off, this aqueous cream smells DIVINE! And, it’s not just for babies either! Use it to remove makeup, moisturise your feet or even moisturise the tips of your hair. I got this one in my Bloggers Who Bless goodie bag.

For the mums, OsH has even thought of those pesky stretchmarks that haunt us during pregnancy. It’s worth a try!

They keep the good and don’t tease us with “limited edition” bollie! I like to know that the products I love will be there the following month when I want to buy a top up! I was introduced to the Beauty Sleep collection when I was 21 years old and I loved it so much! Till today, I can still get my favourite pillow mist (the Beauty Sleep mist) at my nearest clicks. It’s an aromatherapy blend which consists of Lavender, Orange and Patchouli which are famous for relaxation and uplifting your mood and it really makes you sleep so much better. The mist in the picture below was sponsored in my Bloggers who Bless goodie bag.

Their products are really gentle on the skin and also kind to sensitive lady parts too. Sorry, I had to say it. I remember the days of bland baths – sis! But then came OsH 2 phase bath silk and my world changed forever.

They offer GREAT quality for money, for example, their hand serums. Where can you find a serum for less than R30? But don’t be fooled by the price, because the serums are fantastic. A couple of squirts really soak into the skin to moisturise and rejuvenate your hands and it smells amazing!

They have the most amazing scents with the best names like “Everyday Detox” (amazing), “Girls’ best friend” and “Bye Bye Stress” and that’s not the end of it. They have something for everyone. My latest faves are the BB Beautiful moisturiser and the Radiance Boost Hand cream. If you need any motivation to venture into the OsH ranges, let it be the amazing scents. Also, try the Hoola Hands hand sanitizer! Oh my Heavenly!

They are against the testing of animals and only use 2 animal by-products called Kanolin and Hydrolysed keratin which, I suppose, aren’t that bad. You can check out the whole story about their policy here.

What’s new?

I’m looking forward to trying these awesome body washes for myself. Just look at the lovely pink packaging!

x x Leana

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A while ago I was asked for some blogging tips and I sent an email back to the inquirer – an aspiring blogger – bullet-pointing the do’s and don’ts of blogging. In the spirit of Bloggers Who Bless, I thought I’d start blessing my fellow bloggers with some tips that I’ve picked up on my 10 month journey called “bloggerhood”. 

The Do’s	The Don’ts
Join Twitter! It’s such a great marketing tool. It also helps you to connect with likeminded people.	Don’t blog for fame and fortune – many blogs start for this reason, but fail abysmally.
Support your fellow bloggers – comment on their posts. People love comments – knowing that other people read your blog is the best feeling.	Don’t blog to hurt. If you don’t like a product you’ve tried, don’t blast it with horrible criticism. Rather state the facts and your feelings (sensored of course) and let the reader decide for themselves.
Blog about things that you feel passionate about……. But…….                                               à	Don’t limit yourself to one subject. We’re not one dimensional beings so treat your blog the same.
Refer to other blog posts in your posts. Remember that what you sow, you shall reap. So always be kind.	Don’t ignore the importance of GRAMMAR!
Always re-read your posts and make sure that you’ve added your “and’s”, “but’s” and “if’s”.	Don’t forget to credit photos that you’re using from other blogs.
Give stuff for free. Are you a graphic designer? Design some cutesie gift tag templates and put it on your blog to be downloaded for free. Good at something? Do a tutorial on it.	Don’t forget to use those nifty widgets. They are almost like accessories and they tell a lot about the blogger.
Try to be as positive as possible when writing. My manager at work always smiles when she’s typing out emails. I asked her why, and she said, “If you smile, your words are soft”. She’s one of the best people I know and I always try to follow her advice. Trust me…. This works.	Don’t become one of those “what can I get out of this” bloggers. You’re blogging for the love of it, remember! If you MUST ask, “what can I get out of this”, know that if you’re an honest, helpful and friendly person, you’ll get loads of friends!

Most bloggers have niches. Some don’t like to be boxed. There is no right or wrong here. Your blog is your blog. The point is…. ALWAYS be true to yourself.

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