Womanity Archives - Page 7 of 16 - Living Our Sunshine with Susann Deysel

December 4, 2019 2 Mins Read

My Matsimela hand home spa – new product alert!

You know that very end of the year feeling where you have to drag your tired body from bed to everywhere else? I got it. The tank is just so empty and I’m still working (very hard). I’m dreaming of relaxing, days at the spa and sleep – and until the 26^th of December all of that will be just a dream.

Did you know that Matsimela launched a range of new “at home” spa products a couple of weeks ago? Well, I’m here to tell you about my experience using the Hand & Décolletage Night Serum as well as the Hand & Décolletage Cream – I’ve been using it for about 3 weeks now and…

Hand & Décolletage Night Serum + Cream

Give me more, give me more! I have seen a difference in the texture of my décolletage area as well as my hands over the period. However, my hands seem to really get a lift from the cream after a few hours.

I have what I think is the world’s driest hands and feet so I’m constantly creaming up but never actually seeing any results. This is the first treatment that I can apply twice a day and see a change.

The hand cream offers 48 hours of moisture and has a SPF 30 – it is definitely going in my handbag!

All you need to know is that the new range will rejuvenate and protect your skin – and is for hands, décolletage and feet.

Matsimela

These products have been developed so you can have that spa day without going to the spa. They are available from Matsimela as well as Placecol spas. They constantly work on improving their product lines and have retail and spa ranges that are drool worthy.

What I wish…

Make the bottles bigger – and can I have it on tap? I definitely want to get my hands on the foot treatment as it was amamazing when I tried it on launch day… and I could do with a little of that.

5 fragrance secrets from the Fragrance Queen

Did you know that you can wear more than 1 perfume at a time? Liz wears 3 perfumes at a time – sometimes, not always. It is a matter of trial and error to choose the right combination. Spray it on different sides of your body.

Are you in the habit of spraying perfume on your wrist and then rubbing your wrists together? STOP! You are crushing your fragrance and not giving it enough time to develop its fragrance on your skin.

What time of day should you be shopping for fragrances? From 12 in the afternoon, because then your sense of smell is at its peak. Spray on your hand/wrist, go for a coffee and wait at least 30 minutes before making a decision. Coffee acts as a “smell cleanser”.

Where should you spray your perfume? Your arms, body, behind your knees and even on your clothes but definitely not on your hair or décolletage!

Man/woman… or unisex? Men can wear women’s perfumes and vice versa. There is also now a move away from the unisex label to gender-free…

You can also read my article on the Fragrance Queen here.

A Fragrance Workshop to remember

I attended an Edgars Beauty x Fragrance Queen fragrance workshop recently.

Did you know that Edgars is the exclusive resellers for Viktor & Rolf (and a few other brands)?

Liz took the audience on a journey on time of fragrances that stood the test of time – and I’m looking at Chanel No 5, Angel from Thierry Mugler, Van Cleeff & Arpels First… We also experienced a range of new fragrances and learnt more about classifications from fruity, spicy, flowery and gourmand.

The Fragrance Workshop is truly an interactive experience for groups and is suitable for men and women to attend. So next time you see one advertised, book your spot!

October 28, 2019 1 Min Read

Het jy dit gesien?

Ek kan my soms doodlag vir party van my taalgenote. Dan, as ek klaar gelag het besef ek dat ek so Afrikaans is as wat kan kom juis omdat ek sulke goed nog kan geniet.

Kyk, die laaste tyd het ek baie snaakse Afrikaanse musiek-videos gesien… Die Jan Jan Jan video is dalk een van die beste in ‘n baie lang tyd. Daardie kort, kort, kortbroekies is ‘n ding wat net ‘n boer mee kan wegkom – en dis die waarheid!

Die twee tannies maak hierdie video selfs beter. Kyk en geniet!

Nog ‘n musiek-video wat rerig op my skerm beland het vir al die verkeerde redes is Biggy se Dames. Ek kan nie. Ek kan net nie – miskien is hy koeler as ek of miskien weet ek nie meer wat koel is nie. Dit grens amper aan “common” soos Die Antwoord, maar beter.

October 25, 2019 3 Mins Read

Find out which Optiphi product beat the sun and sightseeing test

Trying out a product is always a bit scary – you never know…

I packed a brand new tube of Optiphi Classic Hydration Tint Broad Spectrum SPF 20 that would be my sunscreen for my days out exploring Cape Town – and of course a whole bag of make-up.

The first morning while getting ready for my trip up Table Mountain and first day out in the Cape sun, I was contemplating if I should wear an untested product that could make my photos look bad. Fortunately for you, I thought I could trust Optiphi enough with providing a tinted sunscreen for my face…

The product had to pass 3 tests

Prevent my face from burning. This would be easy to measure as I am very fair and the sun and I, we just don’t get along that well.
Not be oily and be able to be used as a base for a full face of make-up.
Don’t crack or melt during a full day of sightseeing as I don’t carry make-up to do touch-ups.

Day 1 – 4 I went light on makeup but used the Optiphi Classic Hydration Tint Broad Spectrum SPF 20 as my liquid base – with only a light powder to set it (as if it is a normal liquid base. I used mascara and a little bit of eye shadow and some days I even wore blush and highlighter.

I am very happy to report back and say that the Optiphi Classic Hydration Tint Broad Spectrum SPF 20 passed all 3 tests.

I did not burn. There was no ink or red tinge on my face at the end of my days in Cape Town – and I only wore a cap.
I applied the Optiphi Classic Hydration Tint Broad Spectrum SPF 20 over my normal moisturisers and it took a minute to just settle on my skin, but after applying my normal makeup (and even using it to cover up a zit) you would not be able to tell that I wasn’t wearing a “real” liquid foundation.
As good as my face looked in the morning, that good it looked by 8pm after a full day out.

The Optiphi Classic Hydration Tint Broad Spectrum SPF 20 truly is an amazing little tube of magic. I am simply blown away that a sunscreen product could last the whole day and be used as a liquid foundation base without melting or becoming oily and gross.

October 3, 2019 3 Mins Read

Pandora Me, meet the face behind the collection

There is something about owning a piece of Pandora jewellery and being able to make it your own. I wear my travel bracelet almost every day and if I pass a Pandora shop or seller I always pop in to take a look and maybe add another charm to my or the kids’ bracelets. The Rebelle in Wonderland Collection is currently speaking to me and the new Pandora Me Collection is truly a cute collection for Gen Z.

What makes you, you? Reinventing symbols in an entirely new way, Pandora Me explores self-identity through a brand-new collection of sterling silver micro dangle charms and single stud earrings, bracelets and a safety pin brooch that enables a new generation to create empowering jewellery looks based on the stories that make them who they are.

Reimagining the notion of miniature inkings through jewellery, looking at the way we use symbols and messages to express who we are as individuals, the small, hand-finished sterling silver symbols are powerful markers of personality and open to interpretation. From blue moons to bumble bees and music notes to magical unicorns, every piece has a meaning; it’s up to the wearer to define it.

The beauty of Pandora Me is that one person sees a symbol one way, and someone else sees it another way. It’s a more playful way to express yourself and your story — jewellery doesn’t have to be serious.
Pandora’s creative directors, Francesco Terzo and A. Filippo Ficarelli

The new collection is faced by the actor and activist, Millie Bobby Brown, who has signed a two-year contract to represent Pandora Me. The casual and cool campaign images, shot by noted photographer Cass Bird, feature Brown wearing her favourite symbols and sharing the personal stories behind each piece.

Meet Millie Bobby Brown — The Face of Pandora Me

The 15-year-old actress is a multifaceted talent on and off the screen and her professional accolades are well-known. She captured the hearts of millions in major television roles and is set to make her silver screen debut in summer 2019.

Beyond her professional talents, Millie’s passions for important social causes elevated her to become the youngest person ever to be included on TIME Magazine’s annual “100 Most Influential People” list, and UNICEF appointed her the youngest Goodwill Ambassador in the program’s history.

In addition to her tell it like it is attitude, Millie’s 18 million Instagram fans follow her page for fashion moments, her impressive rap skills and behind the scenes look at her life.

When she’s not using her profile to celebrate personal stories with her fans, Millie uses her stardom to advocate against bullying and the negativity on social media.

Millie Bobby Brown was born on February 19, 2004 in Spain to British parents, and moved to Orlando, Florida in 2011 where talent scouts discovered Millie. She has three siblings, and today she resides in London and Atlanta, Georgia.

5 safety tips for Facebook and Instagram that all parents with teens should read

Facebook brought us closer, but having an online profile exposes you (and your kids) to the world in ways that you cannot even begin to imagine.

Did you know that Facebook invests in research to understand the impact its platform has and offers training within local communities to teach people to be safer online? I got to hear a bit more of their efforts last night…

5 safety tips for parents with teens on Facebook and Instagram

Facebook wants you, your children, family and friends to feel safe from bullying, harassment, scams, inappropriate content and other cyber dangers when using Facebook and its family of apps (Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger). They work with external experts, including a safety advisory board, to gather feedback from their community to develop policies, tools and resources to keep you safe.

In South Africa Facebook works with partners like Digify Africa who launched Ilizwe Lam with in 2018. This programme is aimed at training teens on the importance of Internet safety. Parents also have a critical role to play in educating teenagers about online safety. Here are a few tips on engaging with kids and discussions you could have about their online safety.

Under 13? You shouldn’t be on Facebook or Instagram yet! Facebook and Instagram require everyone to be 13 years old before they can create an account (in some countries, this age limit may be higher dependent on local laws), and we encourage parents to have these conversations with their teens
The same rules apply online and offline! Your teenager can avoid most potential dangers and concerns online by simply stopping to think before they submit a post or accepting a friend request. Teach them to think before they engage with strangers online.
Engage early. Research shows that many children as young as six have access to smartphones or tablets. Talk to them about technology, before they are on social media.
Help them to check and manage their privacy settings. Once your teen has set up a social media account, they can use Facebook privacy settings to control who can friend them, who can see their posts, and if they share details such as their location by default. This can help them to control their exposure to bullying, harassment and other potential concerns.
Show them the tools they can use to filter content and people from their feeds. Instagram offers many flexible tools to keep teens safe online – keep them informed about the options. We’ve rolled out keyword filtering, bullying filtering and sensitivity screens, for example. People can also restrict unwanted interactions on their profiles and easily report accounts, comments and posts for bullying.

For more information, you can visit the Facebook Safety Centre, Facebook Parents Portal, Instagram Together and Parent’s Guide to Instagram.

Here are some more helpful links to protect your Facebook account and reporting of inappropriate content (and profiles)

Learn how to protect your account with two-factor authentication: www.fb.me/2fa
Reporting impersonation: www.facebook.com/help/167722253287296
Dealing with hacked accounts: https://www.facebook.com/help/131719720300233/ or https://www.facebook.com/hacked

· Infringing on your intellectual property, you can report it here: https://www.facebook.com/help/intellectual_property/?ref=CR

· Facebook Safety Centre: https://www.facebook.com/safety

· Facebook Security Tips: https://www.facebook.com/about/security

· Tips to Spot False News: https://www.facebook.com/help/188118808357379

Please follow the Facebook Africa page : https://www.facebook.com/FacebookAfrica/ where you’ll find some tips and latest updates from the Facebook Africa team.

I have a few rules I follow online with my kids too – and they might just surprise you!

My kids are very far from being teenagers, but keeping them safe is my top priority.

I never LIVE tag our location
I will never check in at their school, at someone else’s or our own house
You don’t have to use their real names on “open platforms” where it is more than friends and family
They always have to wear clothes and not be in a pose that may be misconstrued by twisted individuals

For parents with kids slightly older I would highly recommend teaching your kids not to post photos of them in their school and sports uniforms. It is so easy to find school emblems, then Google the school for its address. Not to scare you, but by the time a criminal knows your kid’s name, where they’ll be, who their friends are and likes and dislikes from what they post online… your kid could be a walking target. I have personally seen how easy it is to gather all this information – and it scares me.

September 15, 2019 1 Min Read

Netflix: It’s UNBELIEVABLE to watch

An 8 episode series was the best think I did this weekend – and I’m not even sorry I watched it in 1 marathon session!

UNBELIEVABLE is a miniseries based on true events with Toni Collette, Merrit Wever (Denise from The Walking Dead) and Kaitlyn Dever as the 3 main characters. It is a sit on the edge of your seat, will they/won’t they solve it type of story.

One of the victims even gets charge for “falsely” reporting her rape – all because she was battered by the police during the investigation.

It such a topical series with the #AMINEXT movement in South Africa. It is a must-watch.

September 12, 2019 3 Mins Read

Tossing and turning? You need to know about the Comfort Solutions Lab at Bed King

Who has a partner that absolutely drives them up the wall about the bed or pillow they are sleeping on? I’m jumping up and down because my husband more than just drives me up the wall. He has bought several pillows because the pillow is too hard, too fluffy, too something else – plus now apparently the bed we bought not so long ago is just not comfortable enough anymore.

It drives me up the walls that he can’t just get on with it and sleep wherever, because I can. If I can sit or lie down on it, I can sleep.

I don’t know where people hear about my husband’s complaints or my irritation about his sleeping troubles but I got invited to check out a new technology at The Bed King to help you choose a bed that offers the right support where you need it.

You lie down on a bed in the Comfort Solutions Lab – whichever position you sleep in most – then the sensors in the bed feeds information to a laptop. It maps out your pressure points and based on your sleeping position and pressure points the software recommends a type of mattress. The sales assistant then can take you to the right mattresses that will offer you the best sleep and support – narrowing down your choices.

Getting a demo on how pressure points are measured to find the right mattress

I really wish they had brought this in earlier!

If you are planning on buying a bed all you need to do is visit your nearest Bed King branch and have your unique posture and support reading done in the Comfort Solutions Lab.

By the way, if you buy any Comfort Solutions mattress Bed King will donate R500 to The Children’s Hospital Trust! This is the third year that Bed King is running this fundraising initiative. Last year over R250K was raised and we’re on target to do the same now. All money goes towards upgrading the emergency unit.

About the Lab

Each Comfort Solutions Lab® is a spacious booth that includes one mattress with a built-in pressure-mapping sensor. The Comfort Solutions Lab® uses your unique pressure points to recommend a Comfort Solutions® mattress that will effectively support your body while providing it with the comfort it needs. Customers lie on the test mattress in their usual sleep positions. Once their pressure map is recorded, a screen displays the data and shows the customer where their unique pressure points are. The Comfort Solutions Lab® identifies two primary factors – the comfort level of each individual and the customer’s required support.

The Children’s Hospital Trust

The Children’s Hospital Trust is an independent non- profit organisation established in 1994 to raise funds to support specific projects and programmes to help advance child healthcare through the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. It’s a topic close to Bed King’s heart as they strongly believe in children as the future of South Africa and the option of quality healthcare. Money raised will go directly towards upgrading of the emergency ward.

September 4, 2019 1 Min Read

The burning country

Africa is
the roar of a lion
the prance of a springbok
the sun in the sky
the beat of my heart
the air that I breathe

Africa is
where my heart gallops over mountains
where smiles walk dusty roads
where the sun sets in fire
where the world comes to meet
where my people are

Africa is
my love
my life
my dream
my family
my friends

Africa is
lost
burning
eating itself
shouting
with blood on its streets

Africa needs
to be saved
from the rot
eating at its soul
killing its people
while the rioters rule

Africa is
roaring in pain
running from the streets
hiding from the sun
losing its heartbeat
out of breath
crying

Will you lock arms with me
to stop the flames from swallowing the tip of Africa?

What can you do?

Click here to sign the petition and tell the President that he needs to do something about the crime in South Africa TODAY: https://chng.it/RNcVJzXc

Be a part of the solution.

September 2, 2019 2 Mins Read

5 truths about having a home office

I never thought I’d work from home with a couple of rugrats, needy cat and nanny whose phone drives me up the walls. I thought I’d share 5 hard truths of having a home office – because you know it is so much fun not having to drive out to an office.

The snacks you buy for your office is for sharing – by everyone. Just because you bought snacks to help you get through the irritations and times of working from home it doesn’t mean your husband won’t guilt-trip you into sharing your precious stash.

Being called one million times an hour is really fun when it comes from your toddler. To make it even more fun you may be asked multiple times a day where sissy is or being told that the cat is naughty.

That cat you adopted and love so damn much is a needy little bugger that will obstruct your view everything. He also bites when moved.

You automatically become the school runner. Your time is real flexible, so when you quickly (30 mins or more at a time) need to drop off and pick up kids at school it definitely will not impact your work. Who doesn’t want to get out of the house at exactly 11.45 right when you are in the middle of trying to save a client from the end of the world?

It’s not so OK for you to want to continue working after the nanny leaves. You’ve been sitting all day not being interrupted by a toddler testing boundaries or a nanny who doesn’t understand that her ringtone and conversations can travel from one story of the house to the next – since there are no walls or doors.

I mean really, how can you not finish your work between schoolruns, being asked where sissy is, the cat that blacks out your view, hearing all about your nanny’s life and phone calls from clients?

So, before you say that OH YOU ARE SO LUCKY, think twice because I might just be hiding a lit fuse.

Womanity