Gluki Organics Lip Balm

The Gluki Organics Lip Balm formed part of a set of items I was lucky enough to win with a Life Retreat online competition in  2016. The Gluki range of products are both Cruelty Free as well as organic certified! 

The Lip Balm consists of a small tube of lip balm, with a screw on lid. Mine came packaged in a small sleek box.

At first I was very reluctant to stick the little tube in my handbag. After all, my previous experience with these types of containers were that they would leak once it gets hot, leaving my entire handbag a sticky mess. I am impressed to say that this packaging is about as secure as a bomb shelter. I had this in my various handbags right through the hottest parts of summer. Lets face it, 2017 was a scorcher! If it survived through the multiple heatwaves you can be guaranteed that this tube is safe, secure and leak proof.

The actual products is a cream, unlike solid chap sticks. It is a creamy white in color, something I attribute to the Mafura Butter in the product. I quite like the natural color.

The balm itself includes Shea Butter, a fantastic ingredient for collagen regeneration and skin protection. The Mafura Butter is amazing as it moisturizes without clogging pores. It also has wonderful Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Bacterial properties. 

From my experience, the balm goes on smooth, to form a protective, moisturizing layer. Due to the inclusion of Stevia it does have a sweet taste. Some individuals claim that it has a bitter aftertaste, but I have not had that experience. Personally I find it quite lovely. 

During the insane summer heat the ingredients do tend to separate to form an oily layer on top. In the colder parts of winter the balm is a bit hard, which makes it difficult to apply. However, both of these problems can be resolved by massaging the tube a bit so that the ingredients mix. 

All in all I absolutely love this product. Its gentle on my sensitive skin, moisturizing and smells absolutely delicious. 

You can buy the Lip Balm directly from the Faithful to Nature or Life Retreat for approximately R65.00. 

https://www.faithful-to-nature.co.za/gluki-mom-s-lip-balm

https://www.liferetreat.co.za/

Photo by Gluki Organics. 

Hask Argan Oil Repairing Shampoo

When it comes to hair I seriously got a bad deal. Not only is my natural color most accurately described as Cow Turd Brown, but it is overly frizzy. On a good day I look as if I have broken ends and damaged hair. Which leads to daily comments on how I should take better care of my hair. (I kid you not, strangers have stopped me to give advice!)

Traditional hair care products lead to one of two options. Overly greasy, dirty looking hair or dry, even frizzier hair.

After hearing that the solution is hidden in Argan Oil, I decided to brave the shops. I was expecting overly expensive bottles that would make me feel like a neanderthal. Great was my surprise to stumble across the Hask range of products. 

The range is affordable and beautifully packaged. Not only does this product contain Argan Oil, it is also free of Sulfates, Parabens, Phthalates, drying alcohol and artificial colors. Added the bonus that the Hask range is not tested on animals I was pretty darned impressed! 

From using this product I can definitely see an improvement in my hair. It is soft and easier to manage. (However, still frizzy...I don't think I will ever really be able to tame the curse of Medusa's locks.) The shampoo lathers up well and a little really does go a long way. My hair doesn't end up greasy and neither does it end up overly dry. However, I only wash my hair once a week. I can foresee this product causing very fine hair to become greasy rather fast. The scent is divine. I adore citrus scents. It is long lasting, fresh and not overly sweet. 

The only negative thing is the fact that my blue hair faded to purple quite fast while I was using this shampoo. Their website states that their range is safe for all hair colors, be it brown, blonde or purple. However, I have to disagree. When you have alternative hair colors, rather don't take the chance. For a while I kept thinking that I must be imagining the fading. However, upon using the shampoo on my currently sea-green and pink hair the lather again ended up with a large amount of pink in it, even though my current pink color isn't even the result of pink hair color!The plus side is that a bottle lasts me more than 6 months. Take into consideration that I have really thick hair I find this really impressive. 

At R129.95 for a 355ml bottle of Shampoo I feel that the Hask Argan Oil Repairing Shampoo is truly worth every cent. Partner this shampoo with one of their other hair care products for a winning formula and healthy hair. 

https://clicks.co.za/hask_argan-oil-from-morocco-repairing-shampoo-355ml/p/228425

Manic Panic Classic Hair Creme

Manic Panic in my opinion, is not just the leader in its field but also the brand every other alternative hair care brand strives to live up to. Sitting on its Rock n Roll throne, donning Dr Martens and vibrant locks. 

I have to admit, I tried their products out of sheer desperation. After a year of fading hair, purple color coming out turquoise and a lot of money spent I bit the bullet. I have not looked back for one second. 

My original choice was a mix of Shocking Blue and After Midnight. The cream was vibrant and conditioning. Before application my hair was dry and damaged. Lets face it, to get it from dark brown to a light enough shade to get color on I really had to mangle it. Thanks to my previous negative experiences I was quite nervous about trying something new. 

 

Much to my relief the end result was exquisite. My hair was soft and conditioned. In the best state it has been in for years. The color! Oh my gosh, the color! It stopped traffic, (I'm not joking!) it leads to strangers staring in awe. To geeks choking (Okay so he was staring at my boobs at that moment...but I am pretty sure my hair outshone my cleavage.) There is no way to describe the color, other than phenomenal. If you want to feel like a Goddess, use Manic Panic Classic Hair Creme! 

I do have some advice though. Don't expect the color on the bottle to be the exact shade that your hair will turn out. So many things play a role in defining the end result. I have seen other individuals rocking the same Hair Creme shade as myself, only to have it look very different. 

Don't listen to the instructions on the container. Or your hairdresser. Or your bossy friend. I know it says leave on for an hour, but trust me, leave it on for at least 2 hours. My best results are from leaving the creme on for between 3 to 5 hours. The longer you leave the creme in, the longer the color will last. It isn't traditional hair color. It won't damage or burn your hair. Don't wash your hair with hot water (This is pretty entertaining in winter...) and don't use traditional shampoos. 

If you don't like bright hands, use gloves. Even though the container leaves enough space to get the creme out of every corner, its super messy. Ask my poor hairdresser. We have had moments where we had to scrub blue hair creme off his floor and walls. If you drip it on your bath or sink by accident, wipe it up! Don't leave it for later, your bath will end up looking like a piece by Jackson Pollock. 

If you need to stretch your hair creme, you can mix in some conditioner. I have done this many times while I was broke and in desperate need of a root touch up. It won't last exactly as long as the concentrated hair creme, but it will get the job done. 

Love your bedding, linen, curtains...erm...cat? Cover them up. The first couple of times you use the hair creme it is very likely to run. For the first year of using Classic Hair Creme I would wake up to blue and purple walls, blue pillows. Don't like your towels? Sleep with your wet hair wrapped in it. Don't worry, most of the time it washes out. 

If you want to touch up your roots, leave the color in for longer. On some occasions my roots were still a bit lighter than the rest of my hair. Don't be dissuaded if it doesn't come out perfect the first time. Its an adventure. 

If you want a temporary funky look, please don't use the Hair Creme. Yes, as with all semi permanent hair cremes it fades after a couple of washes. However, this stuff has some serious lasting power. For example. Two years ago I decided to go back to black hair for a bit. After 6 months I decided to switch back to blue. Thus I needed to strip my hair of color. All the black came out...but the ends of my hair were light pink. Six months ago I wanted to change my color again. My hair is now an ombre of blue and pink...because the color in the ends would not budge! 

Manic Panic Classic Hair Creme is the stuff adventures are made of! At R209.00 for a 118ml tub it is a bit on the pricey side, but that won't change my opinion on it. If you can afford it and want to change to bright hair, this is the product for you.

In South Africa, you can buy it directly from AnonaMiss Beauty Emporium, or from selected stockists. 

http://www.anonamiss.co.za/

For a reliable hairdresser with experience in using Manic Panic Classic Hair Creme, use the directory on their website. If you need an amazing hairdresser in Pretoria, I can recommend Colbyn Hair Salon. 

https://www.facebook.com/colbynhairstyling

African Extracts Nourishing Night Cream

Night cream. That overly expensive beauty product that most of us can't afford. Usually greasy with the fun end result of waking up with a pillow plastered to your face. 

Well think again! As with the majority of African Extracts products this beauty cream is absolutely divine. With Rooibos and Chamomile it is gentle on even the most sensitive skin and absolutely non-greasy. Enriched with Jojoba Seed Oil, Vitamin A, B and E5 this night cream is nourishing and repairing with a lovely moisturizing effect.

The cream has a very soft Chamomile scent which I absolutely love. For such a small tube it lasts quite long. My pillow does not stick to my face and it doesn't aggravate the evil face demons that come with sensitive skin. 

My only down side on this product is that it still left some areas of my skin dry and patchy. As my problem areas contain skin that is damaged due to a chronic skin condition that just won't bugger off I can't really blame the cream for the persistence of the flaky bits. Not even the prescribed medical products I have used in the past will clear it up! 

I would definitely recommend it as a gentle night cream for teenagers or individuals with sensitive skin.

The African Extracts products can be found at most standard grocery stores. At approximately R62.99 for a 75ml tube its affordable and easy to find. 

http://shop.pnp.co.za/b2c_pnp/b2c/display/(cpgnum=2&layout=5.1-6_2_4_86_92_8_3_3&cquery=african%20extracts&uiarea=3&carea=%24ROOT&cpgsize=12)/.do?rf=y

Fudge Paintbox

This product was my first experience with alternative hair color. Since I was still very inexperienced on the subject I left the type of product in my hairdressers hands. 

As with the majority of these hair colors the Paintbox range is a conditioning, cruelty free product.

The range contains approximately 9 semi permanent colors. As they are continuously changing  colors, they never seem to have all the shades listed on their website. (They have approximately 14 colors listed.)

The hair color comes in a fun little tube. I find this form of packaging the most practical by far when it comes to hair color products. You can easily squeeze the last bit out of the container without much of a hassle. 

The down side of the tube? Its only 75ml. Thus it took about 6 tubes to cover all my hair. For short hair this is very affordable. For long, thick hair, not so much. 

As with all these colors the best is to strip your hair of color. I prefer using bleach since my hair is tough as nails and very stubborn. If you apply the darker shades over dark hair you will end up with  hair with a slight ever so unconventional shine. The best for this option would be the reds, blues and purples. Don't expect to put something like Pink Moon or Blue Hawaii over your dark locks. It will not take. No, you won't miraculously end up with pastel or light, bright hair. Even when using the light colors on light hair you have to be very meticulous as they take far longer to set. 

I used Electric Blue and Blue Velvet. My hair dresser left it in my hair for approximately 2 hours. The result was vibrant blue hair. With my after care I would re-color and leave it in for 3 hours minimum. 

As vibrant as this brand is, and as much as I loved it, the Paintbox colors have one thing against them. They really are semi-permanent. After my first dreaded wash my bleached roots already showed. By my second wash my hair started to fade drastically. By my third wash I had to re-color my hair. It didn't fade to the underlying tones, it just washed out to reveal the bleached white hair underneath. 

Thus, if you want a fun splash of color over the holiday, with the added bonus that it will wash out fast, Paintbox is your best bet. Unless you have the budget to re-color your hair every 3 weeks, I would not recommend this product for use over long periods of time. 

At R105.00 a tube from selected stockists, Paintbox is definitely one of the more affordable options. However, it is incredibly difficult to find a supplier. Mix in the limited amount of colors, this is definitely not my preferred product. 

https://www.fudgehair.co.uk/paintbox/fudge-paintbox-extreme-colours 
http://www.shopbot.co.za/fudge-hair-products/price/south-africa/327222

Dragon's Egg Bath Ballistic - Lush

Because of its notoriety with Lush supporters I was looking forward to giving this Bath Ballistic a try.  It is said to be spectacular all round. Fragrant, colorful and glittery! Why would I not love it? I read reviews and watched videos where people were actually complaining about the overpowering fragrance or abundance of glitter so I was really looking forward to this Bath Ballistic. The Sakura Bath Ballistic was made to sound like the wall flower sister in comparison to the Dragon's Egg. 

This is quite a sizable bath ballistic compared to some others. It is a large white ball with chips of blue, pink and green. Really a thing of simplistic beauty.

Sadly, my experience was not the wonderful sweet smelling, glittery bonanza I was hoping for. The Ballistic started off with a lovely fizzy crackling, releasing a soft citrus fragrance. After about a minute it started releasing a golden spray of color. Unfortunately, as time went on, the golden water started to turn into a yellow shade reminiscent of urine. 

The fragrance started to fade away until it was barely noticeable. The pink and blue chips seem to contain the essential oils for the Bath Ballistic. The only problem being that they turn into something that can only be described as soggy fruit loops when they melt. After about 20 minutes in a rather hot bath they went from soggy fruit loops to snot. The little buggers absolutely refused to dissolve.  

As for the glitter, I fully understand that you don't want to exit your bath resembling a Drag Queen (Unless you happen to be one to begin with.) However, when all the reviews say glitter I want glitter! The sales lady promised glitter! The only way I could see the glitter in the water was to look at the tub after the water has run out. Yes, I am rather blind, but even I can spot glitter in water. 

Because of its size it took almost 20 minutes for the ballistic to fully dissolve. I kept hoping that it would give me a surprise of sorts, a burst of color, an explosion of glitter, anything to keep the sinking feeling of disappointment at bay. 

In essence I sat stewing, for 30 minutes, in what I can only describe as urine with bits of booger floating in it. This might be why I only have one child. 

At R49.50 for a 180g ball the price isn't too bad, however, I would honestly opt for one of the other bath ballistics next time. 

Maybe I picked the dud in the batch? I would really like some feedback from the other Lush fans out there on this one. 

https://www.lush.co.za/shop/product/product/id/1073/keyword/dragon/dragons-egg

Chou Chou - I Love You Toothy Tabs - Lush

Toothpaste? In tablet form? Are you mad? No minty freshness? Not a gel? No toothpaste tube? Say what??

Okay, so maybe it was more curiosity that attracted me to this product than anything else. But it definitely surprised me. 

Together with deodorant, cruelty free toothpaste is something I struggle to wrap my head around. We get so conditioned to that tube of minty goo that its difficult to imagine any other route to demolish morning breath. 

What you receive when you purchase this product is a small cardboard box that reminds me of a mint container. Sliding it open you discover the tablets.(Yes, they do look like something that Grandpa would use to clean his dentures.) What intrigued me about this specific product in the Lush toothpaste range is the fact that it contains Rose Oil. The gentle scent of roses is very subtle but surprisingly appealing. 

When using the toothy tabs, the idea is to break up the tablet between your front teeth, then to wet your toothbrush with water and brush. The result is something that might cause a farmer to shoot you. It foams. A lot. I was between horror and insane amusement the first time I tried a tablet. The taste reminded me a bit of stale Turkish Delights. My brain was rather confused. However, I could not complain with the outcome. My teeth felt clean and my mouth strangely fresh. It didn't aggravate my sensitive gums as much as normal toothpaste. 

Because it is a pricey product compared to traditional toothpaste I don't use it every day, but rather for those special occasions. The rosy foam experience is something I got used to in  a short time. To be honest, if I could use Toothy Tabs every day I definitely would. 

I only have two problems with the product. Firstly, when it gets damp it loses some of its oomph. For obvious reasons this is a bit of a problem for a product that is kept in a bathroom. Second is the packaging. It is sometimes a bit difficult to get the tablets out of the container. Especially when you add the damp problem. Somehow I keep thinking that a refillable tin would possibly be more functional than the cardboard container. 

These deceptive little tablets definitely pack a punch when it comes to freshness. At R49.50 for a 20g box it is unfortunately a bit pricey, but totally worth it when you only use the Toothy Tabs every now and then. 

https://www.lush.co.za/shop/product/product/path/224_262/id/1298/FACE-Teeth-Chou-Chou---I-Love-You-Tabs

Sakura Bath Ballistic - Lush

The first of the products from my shopping spree at Lush. 

Now please note that I am not usually a bath kind of person. I find something rather strange about stewing in your own sweat and filth. I seriously think this little bath bomb has changed my mind. 

I chose it from the many available because of its distinctive scent and color. Sakura brings to mind a lush garden with Cherry trees, Brimming with blossoms and relaxation. My imagination got it spot on. 

The idea of a bath ballistic / bath bomb is to throw it in your bath while you have the water running, or just after. It turned my bath a soft pink, releasing light pink bursts of color as it twirled. The effect and scent is not as over the top as some of their other bath ballistics so is more suited to individuals who prefer subtle hues and fragrances when taking a bath. The scent was magical. A blend of  Mimosa, Jasmine and Citrus that lingered long after I finished my bath. 

I spent about 20 minutes just relaxing. (The exact opposite of my usual disgust with having to take a bath.) The idea of getting out and draining the soft pink water smelling of blossoms was rather depressing. 

Much was my surprise when I got out and the fragrance followed me. Relaxing, soothing and refreshing. Not only did I smell like spring blossoms, my skin was soft and moisturized. 

All in all the Sakura Bath Ballistic is an absolute win. A swirling twirling fragrant win. I can't see anything wrong with this product. 

At R59.90 for 220g it is the perfect addition to a gift basket for that workaholic that never takes a second to relax. You know what? Forget the workaholic, spoil yourself! You won't regret it. 

https://www.lush.co.za/shop/product/product/path/143_145/id/1747/BATH-Ballistics-Sakura

I Broke my Lush Virginity!

I have always wanted to try the Lush range of products but sadly it wasn't available in South Africa. I can not describe the joy when I learnt that the brand is being brought to us!

What is the big deal? Lush is the creme de la creme of Cruelty Free beauty products. Why? 

• Their range of products is 100% Vegetarian. Many of their products are Vegan, a very rare thing in the cosmetics and beauty industry. 
• Lush practices ethical buying. They strive to assist local communities when they source ingredients. (Not yet local as in South Africa local, but hopefully that will change as soon as the brand becomes more popular in South Africa.)
• All Lush products are cruelty free. All their bags are branded with their Fighting Animal Testing logo.
• Their products are fresh and hand made! 
• 70% of their products are sold naked. This means without packaging. You can sniff it, touch it, see it. 

From shower gels to eyeliner, you can find almost anything in their shops. Can't get to a branch? Not to worry, they have an online store as well!

We visited their first Gauteng store, Dainfern Square. Now you see, usually this is a dreaded exercise for me. I have social anxiety and agoraphobia. I also have severe allergies. My entire year working at Truworths (Surprisingly, a really awesome company to work for!) was spent wheezing and sneezing as the main counter was too close to the perfume area.  I hate shopping, especially in cosmetics and beauty shops. I'm used to rude employees that don't even understand the different products they sell. 

I was blown away. We were met by a bright and open shop. The display window was filled with fresh products. Bath Ballistics, Soap, Shampoo bars, Bubble Bars, you name it! I walked in, expecting the usual puffy eyes and wheezing that usually accompanies any establishment selling fragrant products. My olfactory senses realized that they have died and gone to heaven. Not even a sneeze! Just a shop that smelled like a field of fresh spring flowers. If there is a heaven it had better smell like the Lush store! 

We were a bit overwhelmed with the amount of products. I had a set idea of what I wanted, but the amount of amazing products far surpassed what I imagined. The sales ladies were spectacular. I told them which products I was looking for, and that I wished to review them for the blog. They were honest, well educated regarding their products, and friendly. So incredibly friendly! This is South Africa, a shopping spree is usually ended by a grumpy cashier who would rather be sipping Martinis somewhere than looking in your direction. 

Upon hearing that I have a blog the young lady assisting suggested adding some samples to my purchase. 

With the naked products you are prompted to take a paper bag and put your products in the bags. Each product is rung up at the till, and paper bags are weighed. (Most of their naked products are sold per weight.) I was petrified that I would go over my R300.00 budget. I was so far below my budget I managed to add another product that I really wanted.

With my shopping spree I bought the following:

1 x bar Bohemian soap.

1 x Sakura Bath Ballistic

1 x Dragon's Egg Bath Ballistic

1 x Woosh Shower Jelly

1 x box Chou Chou - I love You Toothy Tabs

For samples I received the following:

1 x sample It's Raining Men Shower Gel

1 x sample Sympathy for the Skin Hand and Body Lotion

1 x sample Vanishing Cream

1 x sample Veganese Hair Conditioner. 

I will be reviewing each product separately in the future blogs. 

My opinion of the brand, store and products? Simply amazing. I was sceptical as some of the products tend to be pricey, but I was pleasantly surprised. 

The only cons I could find is that Lush still uses parabens,  sulphates and artificial colours in some of their products. Because of the sulphates I am unable to use their Shampoos on my hair. (Never ever use shampoos and conditioners containing sulphates on your hair if you have funky coloured hair. It will discolour and fade it.)

Overall one of the most pleasant shopping experiences I have ever had. A big thumbs up to the ladies at Dainfern Square. Keep up the good work!

Buy the products online, or go visit a store. You won't be disappointed. 

https://www.lush.co.za/

https://www.lush.co.za/shop/common/store_locations

African Extracts Exfoliating Facial Scrub

I am one of those wonderfully unfortunate people who can't call their skin sensitive. The best description for my skin is mildly possessed. Without a weekly ex foliating regime it turns to full blown demonic possession.

There was one serious problem with standard ex foliating scrubs...well other than the whole problem of testing on cute little bunny rabbits. Plastic. You see, the majority of standard cosmetic companies use tiny bits of plastic in their ex foliating products. These end up in our water supply. Which ends up in our rivers and oceans. There have been increasing cases of this plastic ending up in fish, molluscs, dolphins and whales. Serious pollution, almost invisible to the naked eye, and deadly to aquatic creatures. 

This is why African Extracts happen to be one of my absolute favourite cosmetic brands. The ingredients used for ex foliation is apricot seed kernels and rooibos leaves. No fish homicide, far less guilt. It is not a strong product, making it very well suited for sensitive skin, especially skin that tends to overreact over the tiniest things. Being lightly scented it is suitable to individuals who suffer from skin allergies. The face scrub also has anti-inflammatory properties, which means it not only lessens breakouts, but it soothes and calms angry skin.

The packaging is fresh and clean. Its easy to store, and take with during travels. In all the years of travelling, I have never had a exploded tube of facial scrub episode. 

All in all I think that this is a fantastic product and an amazing addition to any beauty routine. It is a must have for any young lady suffering those dreaded breakouts, or for the rest of us who still suffer with face demons as adults. 

The best part about this wonderful product? Availability! You can get it at most grocery chains. No treasure hunting. For an affordable R51.99 you can get it from Spar, Pick n Pay, Checkers or your local pharmacy.