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Favourite Face Masks And Scrubs

Beauty
Skin

Loren

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31/05/2016

As beauty junkies, we find ourselves collecting and stashing away products, thinking we never have enough. This applies to skin care and face products too. When you have put many to the test and you keep reaching for the same ones, you realise which are your favourites.

Here are a few of my favourite face masks, scrubs and a very special facial oil …

Lush Ultrabland Facial Cleanser

This is a rich, soft oil based cleansing cream that, while it is very gentle on the skin, it does an amazing job of removing all makeup and your skin is left feeling clean and moisturised. This cleanser contains only the most gentle ingredients, like almond oil, rose water, beeswax and honey, so it is perfect for sensitive skin. How it works is you smooth a small amount all over your face in circular motions and after leaving it to sit for a couple of seconds, you take a damp cloth and wipe it off. It is literally a miracle cleanser!

♥ I use this product almost nearly every day when I feel like my skin needs a thorough cleanse. Because my skin is sensitive, I have to be careful with what products I use, and this cleanser is so gentle. I also love the smell – it reminds me of a rose garden (its the rose water – duh!).

R155 for 45g from Lush.

This product has also been mentioned in this post: Little Black Pots of Lush.

The Body Shop Warming Mineral Mask

This warming mineral mask is a cleansing mask that warms on contact with wet skin and leaves your skin feeling clean and revitalised. How it works, is after cleansing and your skin is still wet, you apply a generous layer to your face leaving it on for five minutes or so, and then rinse off with warm water.

♥ I love this face mask so much. Not only does it not feel harsh or aggravating on my skin, but it smells and feels like I am at an actual spa having a proper facial. The scent is natural, earthy, gingery and very clay like. After using it my skin feels clean, refreshed and I instantly feel more relaxed and pampered. Seriously!

R170 for 100ml from The Body Shop.

This product has also been mentioned in this post: Current Beauty Favourites.

Freeman – Dead Sea Minerals Foaming Facial Cleanser

This foaming cleanser is a creamy consistency and whips up into a mousse-like cloud of airy foam, which cleans out pores, clears away oil and washes away any stubborn make up. The two main ingredients are Dead Sea Minerals and Seaweed Extract, which together help replenish the skin keeping it balanced and hydrate and smooth delicate skin.

♥ I use this as a double cleanser, after having used a real thorough cleanser before. I find if I just use this only, not everything is cleansed off my face. Afterwards my skin does feel super slippery, like it is really clean. I love how it foams up and whips up into a mousse. Oh and as for the scent. It’s like you’re lying in the middle of the Dead Sea, it is powerful!

R60 from Dischem.

The Body Shop Honey & Oat 3 in 1 Scrub

This 3-in-1 face mask cleanses, polishes and moisturises. It contains honey and oats, and together these two ingredients are amazing for moisturising, cleansing, exfoliating and lastly, acne and scar treatment. Honey and oats are packed with antioxidants, enzymes, and other nutrients that nourish, cleanse, and hydrate skin.

♥ I use this as an exfoliator and gently scrub my face with it. I like that its gentle enough to use as a scrub and if you leave it on for a bit too long it will also act as a mask. I love products that are multifunctional, like this.

R170 for 100ml from The Body Shop.

Freeman Facial Exfoliating Scrub in Pink Grapefruit

This non-abrasive scrub with pink grapefruit and lemon extracts bursts onto skin, sloughing and scrubbing off dead skin cells that make skin look dull. After massaging over your face, you’re left with a revitalizing, deep-cleaning exfoliation that promotes healthy cell renewal.

♥ This exfoliating scrub works as a wonderful pick-me-up for tired skin. I like to use this at night or in the afternoon when my skin needs a little boost and I need to freshen up. The scent is uplifting and the scrub is super gentle too.

R60 from Dischem.

The best for last …

Palmers Coco Butter Skin Therapy Oil

This face oil contains 10 pure oils that help moisturise, smooth fine lines and wrinkles, as well as retinol and vitamin c to brighten, tone and texture the skin and lastly, coco butter. After washing, exfoliating and applying your mask, you put a few drop of this onto your skin and it gets soaked in in minutes, without leaving your skin oily.

♥ This skin therapy oil is like miracle stuff, I tell you! I have slight psoriasis and this oil helps keep the red flakiness away. I put a few drops into my moisturiser as well. If you have uneven skin tone, eczema or any funny skin problem, this works wonders!

R100 from Dischem.

♥

10 Photos That Will Inspire You To Visit Plettenberg Bay

Loren

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28/05/2016

5

If somebody had to ask me where my favourite holiday destination in South Africa is, I would struggle to give them one simple answer because everywhere is a favourite of mine, all for different reasons. If they had to hold a gun to my head until I gave a final answer or rewarded me with a chocolate, I would have to say Plettenberg Bay.

Plettenberg Bay is known for its golden Blue Flag beaches, the majestic Robberg peninsula, beautiful lagoon views, a little shopping village in the Main Street, and whale and dolphin watching.

From the one end of Plettenberg Bay by Keurbooms, to the other by Robberg, your views are filled with blue sparkly ocean water and high top mountains, and along the way the Beacon Isle landmark will always make an appearance.

These words cannot begin to describe the beauty of Plettenberg Bay, but hopefully these photos will do it a little bit of justice:

Keurbooms Lagoon is a perfect canvas for any artist.

The Beacon Isand Resort makes an appearance from every angle in the Bay

Watching beautiful sunrises like this!

Having a swim with the Flamingos ♥

View from The Plettenberg.

Plettenberg Bay is one of the main little towns along the Garden Route, which is a popular and very scenic stretch on the south-eastern coast of South Africa. If you are yet to discover this part of the world, I suggest you put it at the top of your travel list.

♥

A Craving for Seafood: The Deckhouse Crab Shack & BBQ

Loren

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27/05/2016

1

When a new restaurant opens up, I get excited to try it. When a new restaurant opens up offering the best variety of seafood one can get, I jump for joy with excitement waiting to tuck into all of the seafood. And this is exactly what happened with The Deckhouse Crab Shack & BBQ on my recent visit to Cape Town.

The Deckhouse Crab Shack & BBQ is located in Kloof Street, Cape Town, and if your food cravings are adventurous ones, this is an exciting little spot. The theme of the menu is south coast style grub served the American way. As the name suggests, you will find a variety of different style crab dishes, other seafood options and traditional style BBQ style dishes.

Different style crab dishes offers you a choice of soft shell crabs, blue swimmer pepper crab, Alaskan snow crab and Alaskan red king crab. Other seafood options are fresh oysters, calamari, prawns and even crayfish. If you are more of a meat eater, you can choose between buffalo wings, dinosaur ribs or a burger.

Each dish is accompanied by a side and you can choose between creamed spinach, coleslaw, corn on the cob, steak house fries, sweet corn and grits, and sweet potato pie.

The best for last: dessert. Apple pie, mississipi mud pie and key lime pie.

Everything is truly American, right?

We had the Shrimp and Prawn Caeser salad, and the Cold Captain Crabby. Inside the Cold Captain Crabby is the following: 2 whole split crayfish, 450g king crab, 250g prawns, 4 oysters and 2 side dishes. We chose sweet corn and grits and steak house fries as our sides. The sweet corn and grits is like an American version of mielie meal and it is oh-so delicious! The seafood was so tasty that, honestly, it didn’t need any sauces to go with it, although it did come with two sauces; sriracho mayo and tartare sauce.

If I can use one word to describe the meal as a whole it will be: WOW!

Tucking into all of this deliciousness, with craft beers on tap and soaking up the views of Table Mountain sounds like the American Dream.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Deckhouse Crab Shack & BBQ has a 25% discount on food between 11am and 6pm, everyday. So there’s no excuse now to tuck into a crabs leg or two. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter to stay tuned to any more specials.

♥

Have you read this post:
10 Things To Do In Cape Town

Lessons We Can Learn From Gilmore Girls

Loren

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20/05/2016

4

I have said it before here and I will say it again: I love Gilmore Girls. From Lorelai and Rory’s fast paced babbling, to Richard and Emily, Luke’s Diner and the cozy little town of Stars Hollow, there is something about this show that just makes me so happy.

I have been re-watching the whole series and here a few things I have learnt from the show …

♥ THE ANSWER TO EVERYTHING IS COFFEE

Always keep an endless supply of coffee ready for when you need it. Coffee all day, everyday, is how Lorelai and Rory get through everything. If that doesn’t show you how coffee saves the day, everyday, then I don’t know what will.

♥ PIZZA, CHINESE TAKEOUT & CHEESE BURGERS

You can live on pizza, Chinese takeout, cheese burgers and not get fat. I mean look how skinny both Lorelai and Rory are and they live on all of these things.

♥ YOU CANNOT CHOOSE YOUR FAMILY

Family is everything and if yours isn’t perfect, accept them for how they are, just like Lorelai does.

Although Lorelai’s relationship with her parents is troubled because of her past, she learns to accept them, both for the sake of Rory’s relationship with her grandparents as well as consciously moving on from the past.

♥ READING MAKES YOU MORE LITERATE

You don’t have to be a nerd to be a bookworm. Rory always has her nose inside a book and look where it got her; Yale University.

♥ POP-TARTS

Always keep a box of pop-tarts in the pantry cupboard when there is nothing else to eat at home. Pop-tarts is a staple in Lorelai and Rory’s home.

♥ FRIENDSHIPS

We all need a best friend in our lives, like Lorelai and Sookie, Rory and Lane.

♥ A RIVAL CAN ALSO BE YOUR BEST FRIEND

They say keep your friends close but your enemies closer. In the beginning Rory and Paris just don’t see eye-to-eye. After quite some drama throughout the show, they end up being the best of friends. So just remember, never burn bridges.

♥ MOM IS YOUR BEST FRIEND

Moms always know best and always have your best interests at heart.

♥ A CLUTTERED HOME IS A COZY HOME

Even if you can’t find what you looking for under all of the heaps of stuff, a cluttered home is always a cozy well-lived home.

Have you watched the Gilmore Girls?

♥

Bramon Wine Estate

Loren

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18/05/2016

0

When you think of the wine route in South Africa, you picture all the beautiful wine estates in and around Cape Town, from Franschhoek to Darling and Robertson to Constantia. The Garden Route is also home to a wine estate and Bramon Wine Estate is the first of its kind so far east from Cape Town.

Bramon is a boutique wine estate about 20km’s from Plettenberg Bay in an area called the Crags, which overlooks the Tsitsikamma Mountains. If you lucky you may also see an elephant in the very distance.

Bramon Wine Estate is famous for their flagship Sauvignon Blanc wine (which is called the Crags), wine tasting and their picnic style lunches amongst the vineyards. You tick off from a selection of salads, dips and pates, meats, fish, cheeses and preserves. What ever you choose is accompanied by the most delicious loaf of homemade rosemary plaited bread.

On my recent visit to Bramon, we opted for the avo and roasted parmesan salad, spinach and feta cigars, camembert and prawn cigars. The camembert comes oozing with creaminess, richness and crunch. Picture dipping the fresh bread into this goodness, and you have a winner! It is the most delicious dish. If there was something I could live on for the rest of my life, it would be the camembert dish with the bread … Delish! 🙂

THE ONE REASON TO VISIT BRAMON WINE ESTATE:

The setting is among the vineyards with the mountains in the background and it is beyond beautiful.

Oh yes, and the camembert cheese. So that makes it two reasons!

♥

The Ultimate Travel Guide to The Seychelles

Loren

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11/05/2016

7

What better place for a tropical island getaway that is just a mere 5 hour flight away from South Africa than the beautiful islands of the Seychelles.

The Seychelles is an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean just off east Africa. The granitic islands cluster around the main island of Mahé and its neighbouring islands of Praslin and La Digue, while the rest of the islands are tiny coral outcrops poking out of the sea. These islands are famous for their white sand beaches, turquoise blue waters with a rich underwater life, green jungles and fiery sunsets.

In January this year, I was lucky enough to pay the beautiful islands of the Seychelles a visit. I have been to the Seychelles before when I was younger but I couldn’t remember much. Now, with a passion to travel and explore, here is more about the Seychelles …

WHERE TO STAY ON MAHÉ?

Beau Vallon Beach is Mahé’s most popular beach with 2 km’s of white sand beaches and sparkling turquoise blue waters. Beau Vallon is also home to plenty of hotels, restaurants and bars and water sport activities on the beach. With Beau Vallon being the hub and vibe of Mahé, there are other parts of the island that are more quiet, but still offer unspoilt beaches, such as Anse Soleil, Takamaka, Anse Forbans and Anse Royal.

We stayed at the DoubleTree Resort Allamanda, located in Anse Forbans. The reason we chose this hotel is because it has its own coral reef right in front of the hotel and not many hotels have this. As you walk out your room, onto the beach, you slip on your snorkelling gear, walk backwards (*note to self: don’t walk forwards again with flippers!) into the water, and you’re in a world of bright coloured tropical fish and earthy corals. A world we forget exists.

WHAT TO DO ON MAHÉ?

Because the Seychelles is a tropical island, you go there to enjoy the beaches and do very little. You relax, swim, tan and snorkel. There are also beautiful waterfalls inland and a market to go shopping in the capital of Victoria.

We made the most of our trip by exploring as many different beaches as we could. Our daily routine was this: wake up, have breakfast, snorkel in front of the hotel, have a dip in the pool, pack all our snorkelling gear in our backpacks, walk to the bus stop just outside our hotel, hop onto the bus, get off the bus at any beach, swim at the beach, lap up the beauty of said beach, walk back to the bus stop, hop onto the bus again, and get off at yet another beach, etc etc.

The Seychelles is known for their world famous beaches, and we certainly saw why.

HOW TO GET AROUND?

Hiring a car and driving around the island yourself is very easy. There is also taxi services and buses.

We found hiring a car or using a taxi was way too expensive, and getting from A to B on a small island would have cost about R1 000 a person. So the way in which we got around was on the local buses 🙂 And wow, what a fun experience it was. In comparison to the price of hiring a car or using a taxi, the buses were super cheap. It cost 5 Seychellois Rupee (about R5) to get onto the bus and get off the bus wherever you want to, even if you want to go around and around and around the island. So with the local buses and walking a lot, we saw and explored the very best the island has to offer.

WHAT TO EAT?

The cuisine that is unique to the Seychelles is a fusion of African, French, Chinese, Indian and English cooking. You can feast on fish curries, fresh seafood and shredded green papaya salad, to name a few Seychellois dishes. Or if you’re not the adventurous type, you can take advantage of all the delicious fresh tropical fruit.

If fresh fruit isn’t your thing, you can find Ben and Jerry’s at a supermarket for about R500 a tub. Nothing like Phish Food 🙂

♥

More on the Seychelles – what to pack and have a look at the beautiful sunrises we saw from the hotel.

Five Favourite Things

Five Things

Loren

-

09/05/2016

12

Life lately has involved a lot of late nights planning, working and putting things into action. Through the midst of all this here are five things I have been loving lately:

1. Starbucks opened up its doors not so long ago and a coffee addict like me just had to stand in the queue to try their famous caramel macchiato on South African soil. Let me tell you, it was worth the 45 minute queue.

2. I cannot get enough Gilmore Girls in my life. I have started watching again from Season 1, Episode 1 and I’m already halfway through Season 2. It’s honestly the best show ever! 🙂

3. Thanks to the Gilmore Girls I now have to make sure I have a box of pop tarts in my kitchen at all time incase I have nothing else to eat. This flavour is frosted strawberry.

4. The Nomu Hot Chocolate sachets have also found a permanent spot in my kitchen. After having it for the first time when I stayed at The Franschhoek Boutique Hotel I stocked up immediately. Think: “a delicious mug of chocolate indulgence” 😉

5. My collection of pretty socks is far greater than my stamp collection (no, I don’t collect stamps, ha!). This pair is from H&M and they are just too cute.

♥

The Franschhoek Boutique Hotel: Why You Must Stay Here

Loren

-

06/05/2016

3

Franschhoek is the food and wine capital of South Africa and is home to award winning restaurants and wine farms. With picturesque views of vineyards, mountains and Cape Dutch architecture, it is no wonder that Franschhoek is said to be the most beautiful wine valley in the world.

Nestled in the heart of Franschhoek is The Franschhoek Boutique Hotel. Here are 8 reasons why you must stay at the Franschhoek Boutique Hotel on your next visit to the wine lands:

1. Welcome …

A friendly reception area with most beautiful finishing touches welcomes you. From a cozy fire place and couch, to an assortment of plants and orchards, and friendly staff, it feels like you’ve walked into a home-away-from-home.

2. Location

Located on the main road of Franschhoek and with just a short walk you will find yourself surrounded by boutique stores, fine dining restaurants, art galleries and my favourite chocolate shop Huguenoot Fine Chocolates (their praline filled chocolate is the best!). The Hotel is so central and you’re practically forced to walk the streets and soak in the very best this small quaint town has to offer.

3. Six Boudoir Boutique Rooms

The hotel, as the word boutique suggests, offers guests the chance to stay in one of six rooms. Every room has its own unique theme and is so impeccably designed that each room has its own distinct charm. We stayed in Hennessy which offers smooth leather, wooden finishes and contemporary lines, it felt like we were in ‘Merica. But the views from the room said otherwise.

4. Wine Cooler

I don’t know if its the norm to offer a wine cooler in hotel rooms in Franschhoek, but the Franschhoek Boutique Hotel does! After spending a whole day eating and wine tasting, you will return to your room and find a wine cooler to put all your freshly purchased bottles of wine into. Just this little extra addition to a normal mini bar fridge made me jump with excitement! In addition to this, each room has a fire place, heated flooring and towel rails, a ginormous bath to soak in, a work area and lastly, complimentary wifi.

5. The Franschhoek Wine Tram

The Franschhoek Wine Tram hop-on hop-off tour is one of the best ways to discover the vineyards, scenery and do wine tasting at some of South Africa’s most distinguished wine farms. The tour boards at the Franschhoek Wine Tram ticket office which is conveniently situated right outside the Franschhoek Boutique Hotel. Simply put, you have no excuse to hop-on and hop-off the Tram and enjoy world class wine, all on your doorstep.

6. Breakfast of Champions

Breakfast is my favourite meal of the day, besides for tea time. And with a big selection of hot dishes to choose from, its hard not to choose just one. I opted for the Eggs Onassis as well as the Toasted Oats. Both were so delicious that I spoke highly of them to everyone for days after. Even now, I am craving the Toasted Oats. The fruit bowl which came with yoghurt was the perfect ending.

7. They Go The Extra Mile

The first thing we notice when we walk into a hotel room is if there are any extra special touches to make the guests feel extra special. The Franschhoek Boutique Hotel has exceeded this and definitely go the extra mile for their guests. You will receive four (FOUR!) complimentary bottles of wine, 2 red and 2 white, so everyones tastes are catered for. The selection of tea, coffee and hot chocolate is more than what your kitchen at home has. You will find a robe and slippers in your wardrobe. And the shampoo, body wash, hand soap and body lotion in the bathroom is so luxurious, you will be tempted to take some home. If there is anything else you need, just dial 9.

8. The Views

Franschhoek is surrounded by vineyards and mountains as its in a Valley, and the views from each room captures this and are nothing short of breathtakingly beautiful.

DID YOU KNOW? The Hotel is currently running a #SecretSeason Special of R995 pps/night – follow the Hotel on Facebook to see more about this special!

♥

Thank you to the wonderful team at The Franschhoek Boutique Hotel for allowing us to stay at your hotel. It was a wonderful experience and I cannot wait to return and stay in the Palm room! With a cozy fire place, heated flooring and towel racks, a warm puffy cloud-like bed, I will definitely be taking advantage of the #SecretSeason this winter!

Book Club: 5 Recent Reads

Loren

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04/05/2016

13

Call me a book nerd or a book worm and I will love you forever. Ever since I could start reading, I could’t stop. My bedroom at home has two bookshelves filled with all the books I read in my youth! Now I am slowly but surely filling up a bookshelf on the Kindle app on my iPad. With our phones/iPads permanently glued to our hands thanks to social media infiltrating our lives, making the effort to read more has now become a conscience one.

Having said the above, I have put myself up for a challenge. I have to read 20 books by the end of the year. And so far, so good! Here are my first 5 recent reads:

The Little Bookshop on the Seine – Rebecca Raisin

Bookshop owner Sarah Smith has been offered the opportunity to exchange bookshops with her new Parisian friend for 6 months! And saying yes is a no-brainer – after all, what kind of a romantic would turn down a trip to Paris? Even if it does mean leaving the irresistible Ridge Warner behind, Sarah’s sure she’s in for the holiday of a lifetime – complete with all the books she can read!

Picturing days wandering around Shakespeare & Co, munching on croissants, sipping café au laits and people-watching on the Champs-Elysees Sarah boards the plane. But will her dream of a Parisian Happily-Ever-After come true? Or will Sarah realise that the dream isn’t quite as rosy in reality…

♥ I was looking for an easy read while lying on the beaches of the Seychelles and this was just it. Rebecca Raisin has since become a favourite author of mine. I found this book to be so heart-warming and enchanting, and I just didn’t want it to end. I instantly fell in love with the characters, Paris and the cozyiness of second hand bookstores.

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before – Jenny Han

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister’s ex-boyfriend, Josh. As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all.

♥ After seeing this book all over my Instagram by fellow book worms, I had to see what the fuss is all about. Little Lara Jean is lucky with the outcome of her secret box of letters being mailed to all of her crushes. In todays times you would end up being bullied, ha! This is another easy read, which I thoroughly enjoyed, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if I read this when I was 16 😉

P.S. I Still Love You – Jenny Han

Lara Jean didn’t expect to really fall for Peter. She and Peter were just pretending. Except suddenly they weren’t. Now Lara Jean is more confused than ever. When another boy from her past returns to her life, Lara Jean’s feelings for him return too. Can a girl be in love with two boys at once?

In this charming and heartfelt sequel to the New York Times bestseller To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, we see first love through the eyes of the unforgettable Lara Jean. Love is never easy, but maybe that’s part of what makes it so amazing.

♥ Well I did have to read the sequel to the previous book, didn’t I? Lara Jean grows up a little bit more in this one and you end up loving her character more. But, you will LOVE her little sister Kitty even more. You will wish you had a Kitty in your life 🙂 That’s all I’m saying!

Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm – Rebecca Raisin

Clay’s inheritance of Maple Syrup Farm came at the perfect time. Leaving city life behind he headed for maple-tree surrounded Ashford, Connecticut. Getting the farm in working order again might be back breaking work – but it seems to be the only way for Clay to finally forget about the girl who once broke his heart…

Lucy’s had enough of rules and the stress of planning her life down to the very last detail. Looking for an adventure she stumbles upon Maple Syrup Farm and its gorgeously gruff owner. This could be the perfect place to hide out…!

But the tranquillity and warmth of Maple Tree Farm is enough to heal even the most battered of hearts. There are very few problems in life that can’t be cheered up by maple syrup!

♥ As I said before I fell in love with Rebecca Raisin, so I had to read another book of hers. This one is just as charming and heart-warming. It gets very exciting in the middle to watch how relationships build and friendships are made. One day I’ll run a little Gingerbread Cafe 🙂

What I was Doing While You Were Breeding – Kristin Newman

Kristin Newman spent much of her twenties and thirties buying dresses for friends’ weddings and baby showers. To escape her fast-paced job as a sitcom writer, Kristin traveled the world, often alone, several weeks yearly. She fell in love with the planet and attractive locals – connection without commitment. Israeli bartenders, Finnish poker players, sexy Bedouins, and Argentinean priests help transform her into “Kristin-Adjacent” on the road – a slower, softer, and, yes, sluttier version of herself at home.

♥ This was an interesting read, to put it lightly. Everything about this book got my attention, from the cover to the name (I love the name!). When I sit back and watch the whole of my Facebook are either getting married or celebrating the birth of a child, I’m just planning my next adventure, so this book hit the nail on the head for me! This book is written as memoir, with first hand accounts of all the fun Kristin has had, mixed in with plenty of giggle-worthy anecdotes.

Do you have any books you can recommend?

If you are on Goodreads, please let me know. You can follow me over here!

♥

At Home Manicure Must Haves

Beauty
Nails

Loren

-

02/05/2016

8

There is nothing more beautiful than seeing a lady with perfectly, well manicured hands. I try to spoil myself once or twice a month to a full-on manicure at my nearest Sorbet salon. However sometimes time is a rare commodity and I am not able to treat myself to such luxuries on such a regular basis. So, having said that, I’ve rounded up all my must-have items for when I treat myself to an at-home manicure and when I want to extend the life of a manicure …

♥ Cuticle Products – I tend to suffer badly from dry cuticles unless I use the right products. I swear by Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter which leaves them feeling nourished, moisturised and smelling yummy. I also love Essie’s Apricot Cuticle Oil which I rub onto my cuticles every morning and every night before bed. If I don’t use these two products religiously, my hands will look like the hands of a reptile … Umm, very dry? I did a full review on the Lemony Flutter over here if you’d like to read it. Lemony Flutter retails for R145,00 at Lush and Essie’s Apricot Oil retails for about R180 from Dischem and/or Clicks.

♥ Hand Cream – Between Soap & Glory’s Hand Food and L’Occitane’s Shea Butter Hand Cream I don’t know which I love more. Every time after I have emerged my hands in water I apply one of the two. I also keep a travel size L’Occitane in every hand bag and in every corner of my home 😉 Hand Food retails for about R170 on Rubybox (but is sold out, unfortunately) and L’Occitane’s Shea Butter retails for R145 for 30ml’s at/on L’Occitane.

♥ Nail Polish Remover – If you use the wrong nail polish remover that is too strong you will often be left with dry brittle nails that end up just breaking and tearing! I unfortunately learnt this lesson when I used the wrong one :/ I now use Mavala’s Extra Mild Nail Polish Remover which is so gentle but at the same time does a great job! It retails for about R120 from Dischem and/or Clicks.

♥ Base Coat & Top Coat – The best base coat ever has to be Essie’s Fill The Gap. The reason why I love it is because it fills any ridges you may have in your nails and gives you a smooth surface for your nail painting. It retails for about R110 at Dischem and/or Clicks. After Mavala’s Mavadry I love Seche Vite too – to me, they’re both on par with their fast drying and extra shine finishes. You can get Seche Vite from South Africa’s best online manicure mall, Nail Candi for R99.

♥ Sparkles – My favourite way to extend a manicures life span is to paint glitter over the tips when I notice its starting to chip. This gives you a whole new look and you’ve just killed two birds with one stone 😉

♥ Nail Strengthener – OPI’s Nail Envy is the miracle product of all miracle products 🙂 When my nails were at their worst and were breaking, splitting, chipping and just not growing I swore by this stuff. I applied it regularly to my nails and after just a few weeks my nails were in tip top condition. Nowadays, I will use it as a base coat and a top when my nails need a bit of a health kick. It retails for about R200 from your nearest OPI outlet.

♥ Manicure Tools – A manicure ain’t a manicure without the correct tools … So you’ll need a nail file, a buffer, clippers, a cuticle stick and a nail polish correcting pen (or cotton buds). I got my selection of Sally Hansen and Tweezerman tools from Dischem – they’re great quality!

♥ Favourite Shades – My all-time favourite brand of nail polishes is Essie. Why? Because their quality is great, they’re easy to work with, they have a huge selection of shades and ever since I was small I started collecting them … So I have been a loyal fan ever since my dad used to take me shopping when I was young (thanks, dad).

♥

Saint and Summer AW 2016 + Giveaway

Loren

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26/04/2016

63

Saint and Summer have brought out their first ever autumn/winter range, and let me tell you, it is beautiful! The range is all about earthy tones and each item has been incorporated with gold glitter to add sparkle and a fun element.

The wonderful people at Saint and Summer have sent me a pair of Swagger boots. They are made from a rubber like material, which makes them lightweight and so comfortable. As soon as the temperature decides to get cold, they’re the first pair of shoes I’ll be wearing … Because these boots were made for walking! I live in Saints and Summer’s sandals during summer, so I can bet I will be rocking these boots all winter.

How beautiful are they?

Giveaway [CLOSED]

Saint and Summer is giving one lucky Minkys reader the chance to win a pair of pumps from the new autumn/winter range, which includes:

1. Black Sierra, 2. Gold Sierra and 3. Black Sterling

To enter this giveaway to win a pair of pumps all you have to do is the following:

♥ Facebook: like Saint&Summer and Minkys on Facebook, and share this giveaway will all of your friends.

♥ Twitter: Follow Saint&Summer and Minkys on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway mentioning Saint&Summer and Minkys

♥ Instagram: Follow Saint&Summer and MissLorenCohen on Instagram

♥ Leave a comment below telling me which of the three styles of pumps you would like, either the black sierra’s, gold sierra’s or the black sterlings.

This giveaway is only open to South Africa.

The giveaway will end on Thursday 5 May 2016 at midnight. A winner will be randomly selected the following day and I will announce them here.

The winner is Kristi de F

♥

Battle of the Nail Strengtheners

Beauty
Nails

Loren

-

25/04/2016

1

Throughout all the years of being an avid beauty product junkie and, simply put, a beauty lover, a good manicure has always been a priority of mine, and still is. With a strong desire to ensure my manicures are always long lasting (hello gelish!), I also have to ensure they are well looked after by applying a good nail strengthener regularly. Having said that I have put quite a few nail strengtheners to the test. Here are a few of my favourites:

Morgan Taylor – Go Ahead and Grow is a nail treatment and base coat in one, which is perfect as a foundation to your manicure. It contains keratin and vitamin E, and together they promote harder, longer and stronger nails. I find that with regular use as a base coat when I have normal nail polish (and not gelish) my nails are not fragile and they do feel a lot stronger. I love that this can be used as both a base coat and as a nail treatment with no nail polish over and your nails still have a nice shine to it.

Sally Hansen Miracle Nail Thickener is an advanced nail thickening treatment targeting soft, thin and ridged nails. It contains calcium and ceramic gel to reinforce and smooth the nails by filling in the ridges and imperfections. This miracle nail thickener promises that your nails will be 70% thicker in 4 days. I sure put this to the test. I once had to have my gelish removed while on holiday and there was no Sorbet around, so I was forced to go to a local nail salon. The nail lady buffed my nails with an actual nail file and I left the salon with the thinnest, weakest and scariest nails ever! I went straight to Clicks and bought this miracle stuff. I must stay my nails did get thicker, but not in 4 days. But nevertheless, it did work! (Note to self: never go to homemade nail salons!)

Sally Hansen Complete Care Extra Moisturizing 4-in-1 Treatment is the creme de la creme of nail products. With all the right ingredients, this is a 1. base coat 2. strengthener 3. growth treatment and 4. top coat. I normally take this product with me on holiday as its a multipurpose nail treatment. I love that it does everything, so I don’t have to carry four different bottles, each for a different purpose. I love that it is super shiny so as a top coat, it is perfect!

OPI Nail Envy is amazing! It is for weak and damaged nails, and it contains wheat protein and calcium. All I can say is this product works, but it is quite pricey here in South Africa (R400 for a 15ml bottle).

To make sure your nails are strong and healthy, here are a few things I have learnt:

♥ Always, always, always use a base coat and a top coat. A base coat is the foundation for your manicure and helps the polish go on smoothly and prevents stained nails. A top coat adds extra shine to your manicure and adds a long lasting shine.

♥ Use hand cream as often as you can. Moisturised manicured hands look better than dry, scary looking talons.

♥ Try eat a lot of spinach! Ever since I started eating spinach nearly daily in my smoothies I have noticed my nails are a lot stronger and healthier looking.

♥ Lastly, when treating yourself to an at-home manicure make sure you have all of these essentials.

♥

MINKYS

Minkys

Minkys

Lush Ultrabland Facial Cleanser

The Body Shop Warming Mineral Mask

Freeman – Dead Sea Minerals Foaming Facial Cleanser

The Body Shop Honey & Oat 3 in 1 Scrub

Freeman Facial Exfoliating Scrub in Pink Grapefruit

Palmers Coco Butter Skin Therapy Oil

♥ THE ANSWER TO EVERYTHING IS COFFEE

♥ PIZZA, CHINESE TAKEOUT & CHEESE BURGERS

♥ YOU CANNOT CHOOSE YOUR FAMILY

♥ READING MAKES YOU MORE LITERATE

♥ POP-TARTS

♥ FRIENDSHIPS

♥ A RIVAL CAN ALSO BE YOUR BEST FRIEND

♥ MOM IS YOUR BEST FRIEND

♥ A CLUTTERED HOME IS A COZY HOME

THE ONE REASON TO VISIT BRAMON WINE ESTATE:

WHERE TO STAY ON MAHÉ?

WHAT TO DO ON MAHÉ?

HOW TO GET AROUND?

WHAT TO EAT?

1. Welcome …

2. Location

3. Six Boudoir Boutique Rooms

4. Wine Cooler

5. The Franschhoek Wine Tram

6. Breakfast of Champions

7. They Go The Extra Mile

8. The Views

The Little Bookshop on the Seine – Rebecca Raisin

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before – Jenny Han

P.S. I Still Love You – Jenny Han

Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm – Rebecca Raisin

What I was Doing While You Were Breeding – Kristin Newman

Giveaway [CLOSED]

To enter this giveaway to win a pair of pumps all you have to do is the following:

The winner is Kristi de F

To make sure your nails are strong and healthy, here are a few things I have learnt:

MINKYS