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Tag: Beauty

A TIME OF CHANGE

Posted on by fiftyfourmag

Nature’s patterns have always been our greatest campus. When leaves begin to change colour and the fields are no longer dotted in colourful blooms, we know that Winter is coming. When daylight seems longer and the evenings feel warmer, we know to start looking forward to Summer. Currently, this is the situation no matter where you are in the world.

Consider your skin’s needs during this time. A good facial to buff off any dead skin cells is a good idea because whether you’re going into Autumn or Spring, healthy glowing skin is always the goal. Getting rid of dead skin also means you get the best performance from your products as they will penetrate better. If a facial is a little far fetched for you, get your hands on a good exfoliant and the results will be similar.

May we also suggest that you invest in a treatment product to address a specific issue (e.g. pigmentation/acne/wrinkles/dehydration, etc). The trick here is to know your skin’s language and get familiar with the ingredients’ deliveries so that you are picking the correct serum for the correct ailment.

An all-rounder that will serve your skin well no matter the type is one packed with Hyaluronic Acid, which is a great aid for your skin’s hydration and collagen production. When skin is hydrated, it is more resilient.

Tip: Add a good face oil into your routine to lock in hydration. The oil goes over the moisturiser (always apply your skin products starting with the thinnest texture to the thickest.)


Here are 3 products we love for all skins at all seasons:


  1. LeLive Save our Skin (SOS) Exfoliate + Control Serum

              

leliveafrica.com


  • African Botanics Pure Marula Oil

africanbotanics.com

                                          

  • Skoon Wow-Wow-Wonder 3 Hyaluron and Vitamin C Face Serum 

skoonskin.com

Profile: Nothando Moleketi-Williams

Posted on by fiftyfourmag

I’m Thando Moleketi-Williams – a mom, wife, daughter, sister, aunty, friend and community builder. I’m also a serial entrepreneur, an investor and a natural problem solver.


I’m calling this chapter of my life Sowing Seeds for the Rich Harvest. Currently my primary work is nurturing my family. I’m a mother to a four- and six-year-old so I spend a lot of time focused on their wellbeing. I’m also the soundboard for my husband who’s an investor in the creative industries. So maybe this chapter could also be called Support.



On Wellbeing

Things I do regularly are movement and hydration. I drink at least two litres of water daily. On most days I get in close to 10000 steps daily, mostly by walking outdoors, which means a good dose of Joburg air and sunshine. I’ve started reformer pilates again and it’s been amazing being able to find a woman of colour with a relatable body shape to lead the practice. 

I’m exploring the idea of mindfulness as a regular wellbeing practice. I’m trying to commit to positive self talk and staying in the present. I struggle with a negative internal narrative that includes a dose of self berating and replaying cringey scenarios from a decade ago.

Food as Medicine

I make chicken soup with a good dose of garlic and ginger whenever someone gets sick so I’m a believer of food as medicine! My daughter has a dairy and peanut allergy. We are a label reading household that’s very conscious of what we eat. We’ve felt the effects of reducing dairy in our diets; less nasal congestion and bloating. I appreciate the fact that not all foods are for all people based on where we come from and what our forefathers ate.

My practical interpretation of this (food as medicine) is that, I make sure that our family is mostly eating whole foods and a variety of foods. I’m not dogmatic about anything so we still eat meat, but are heavy on plants on the plate. I am extremely conscious of where I source our meat and eggs from.

On Beauty and Life’s Indulgences

I believe sleep can cure most things. I also realise that this is rich coming from someone who’s had almost six years of interrupted sleep. My greatest indulgences are travel and food. I now also deeply appreciate being in adult company, spending time with family and friends.



Here are 5 beauty products I refuse to part with: 

Eucerin dermato clean face wash 

      Eucerin Q10 Active day cream 

      Eucerin Sun Gel-Cream

      Charlotte Tilbury lipstick & lip liner combo in Pillow Talk

      Inoar afro Vegan multipurpose hair mask for it’s versatility.

      Shea Butter

      Posted on by fiftyfourmag

      Karite, nkuto, galam or shea butter is a fat that comes from the seed of the shea nut, whose trees grow wildly along West and Central Africa. The trees only start bearing fruit after 15-20 years and reach maturity at 45 years. They keep bearing fruit for up to 200 years so it’s no wonder you won’t find many shea tree plantations. The patience it would take for a farmer to cultivate these plus nature’s abundance of them has ensured that the supply still outweighs the demand. Still, picking and processing shea nuts is big business in Africa.

      Globally, the demand for shea butter is growing. The global shea butter market is valued at US$2.75 billion and expected to reach US$5.58 billion by 2033. Ghana is the main commercial supplier of both shea butter and shea nuts.

      Uses for shea butter

      For centuries, West Africans have used shea butter for cooking and grooming purposes.

      Today, it’s a global commodity that is widely used across the cosmetic industry, but also in confectionery (as an alternative to cocoa butter) and pharmaceutical industries (as an excipient for

      ointment).

      (read the full story in issue 07)

      Photo credits: Alamy

      Sources: Future Markets Insights, Shea butter market.
      Stellenbosch University, Investigating the sustainability of the shea industry among rural women in Northern Ghana.