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 26th 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.
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.
Sug, dit voel asof ek jare laas geslaap het en
asof my jare nou my begin inhaal. Ek weet dis nie veraltyd nie, net tot baba
deurslaap, maar ek is moeg tot in my tone.
Die laaste paar weke was ‘n tuimeltrein/mallemeule. Lexa, ons kleuter, is terug skooltoe. Beide van ons het ook ons eie besighede so dis ‘n stryd om wakker te bly of selfs net die moed bymekaar te skraap om na ‘n vergadering te gaan en “aangeskakel” te lyk. Dis nie maklik nie, maar ons doen dit want dis waarvoor ons vir 6 jaar gewerk het.
Ek is ‘n dromer omdat ek ‘n realis is.
Onbekend
Ek grap graag dat ek “Wonder Woman” is, maar ek doen net wat gedoen moet word – soos enige ander persoon wat in my skoene is. Die prys van om alles te doen wys ongelukkig vining op een plek, my gesig. Ek het darem die voordeel van nuwe produkte wat ek kan toets en party beland op my tafel en ander koop ek.
Die beste produkte van 2018 is definitief Optiphi,
African Extracts Rooibos en BaoCare wat aan verskillende spektrums staan maar
wat beide baie goeie resultate gelewer het.
2019, wel, ek is terug by dowwe gelaatskleur,
plooie en zits… Als omdat ek nie die produkte gebruik het wat ek geweet het werk
en myself afgeskeep het. Ek is regtig kwaad vir myself.
Watter velsorgprodukte toets ek nou?
Optiphi – ek het ‘n heerlike serum van hulle ontvang om te probeer. Ek kan amper dit beskryf as ‘n baie ryk room wat in jou vel intrek en wat dan verder werk. Ek het dit nou al tweekeer gebruik. Oor ‘n week of so sal ek deel wat dit gedoen het vir my vel.
Optiphi Intense Retinol Serum
Ek het ook Matsimela se aalwyn-reeks gekoop wat ook ‘n steenkoolseep insluit. Dit is die volgende reeks op my lys om te toets. Dit is ‘n uiters bekostigbare reeks en wel, ek hoop dit werk.
Splinternuwe blog in Afrikaans – is dit nodig?
Ek het lank gewik en weeg of ek nog iets wil aanpak, maar die grootste rede vir die blog is dat dit vir my is. Ek wil meer in my eie taal skryf en met mense in my taal praat. Soms sal die artikels ‘n vertaling van my Goddess Blog artikels wees en soms gaan dit oorspronklik en net vir die blog wees.
Asseblief, deel my blog met jou vriendinne. Lag saam my, huil saam my en miskien leer jy iets nuuts!
This year is so close to the end I can almost smell Christmas cake!
It was a BIG year for us. First learning that our surrogate is expecting our baby and then finally holding the little ting-ting. Lexa became a big sister! We also found Sandton at the SPCA last year December and he finally moved in all the way from Polokwane mid-January. I got to go to Reunion Island with Lexa, my hubby, my mom (who got her first off-Africa passport stamp) and dad – and had a blast. It wasn’t all good news unfortunately… My mom got diagnosed with blood cancer a month or 2 after our big island adventure – but she is still undergoing treatment and doing OK with my dad right by her side as always.
“At Christmas, all roads lead home.” – Marjorie Holmes
My gift guide picks for women bosses/boss babes
This year I’m making a simple picking of some of my favourite things that range from affordable to scandalous. I’m a Boss and I know what I’d want 🙂
“Smile and Slay.
You have to slay it in life or life will slay you.”
― Janna Cachola
Help her take care of herself
Not all gifts have to be expensive, but sometimes the more affordable gifts will become favourites. It’s not a secret that I love Matsimela products and that my house is stocked to the rafters with everything from fizz balls to hand creams from them.
Get the boss babe in your life this hand & nail repair cream because it fits right into one of her car’s cup holders – always ready for her to take care of her hands.
Everyone needs a little something-something to help them relax – especially if you are out there making business happen. This Stoneglow candle from The Whimsical Whippet is one of my absolute favourite things with its delicate notes of oolong tea, infused with bergamot and mandarin, are lightly combined with bamboo, lemongrass and bittersweet neroli.
Bling her up with something personal, but not too girly!
I love wearing letter jewellery, it makes a statement “It says I am who I am and I love it!”. I wear an S on my right ring finger that I bought from Lovisa a couple of years ago but I won’t mind adding an S to my neck 🙂 Hallo Jane has a nice little disk with cut-out letter and its not too expensive.
A pen to get contracts signed
I believe in rocking up to meetings with a good pen, scrap that, a great pen. There is something about holding a pen that won’t let you down and looks like it cost more than R20… (It is true what they say about spending money to make money.) Best pens in the world since I got my first one in primary school is PARKER. There is nothing wrong with choosing a Parker Jotter or Parker IM, but… once you’ve held an uber premium Parker you will want one for your business meetings too.
Parker – Urban Premium Silver Powdered Chrome Trim Fountain Pen
A sweet for my sweet 🙂
Get her a new bottle of her favourite fragrance or the one she’s been lusting after. I would highly recommend Olympea, it is feminine, but still strong. This is actually what hubby got for me for Xmas…
As charming as a modern goddess and just as disarming. Salty-vanilla, watery jasmine and ginger flower wrapped in cashmere. A divine potion of addictive sensuality. As soft and enveloping as skin.
A great business bag!
As a business woman I like to have impressive bags and shoes that attract attention – telling people that this woman has it made and they should be doing business with her. The bags that I would like to add to my arsenal are all made in South Africa and they are gorgeous!
This black and tan business bag from Wild Leather Co is amazing! They do have it in a selection of other colours, but… I love this 2 tone.
I can see clearly now…
The essential gift for every working woman that spends hours and hours on her laptop… My eyesight is perfect but next year I am going to get blue-blocker lenses and I will need frames that look amazing. This is what I’m looking at in terms of colour and style – this pair is from SNOB Milano. The best part is, it is also available with blue lenses if you don’t want reading glasses!
MILF SNV09-C05Z Cyclamen pink frame
By the way the SNOB Milano Optical Collection has a magnetic flatlens clip-on feature! Reading to sunnies with 1 frame and an extra set of dark lenses is all you/she’ll need.
Matsimela inspires me to want to be better person. They don’t make a big fuss about all the good they are doing – but they should!
I got home the other day and there was a delivery from Matsimela. Usually I would take my deliveries upstairs, do some work, wash my face and then maybe by 4 open the box, but when it’s Matsimela… rules don’t apply. I grabbed my box, ran up the stairs and unpacked!
Matsimela is a kind, compassionate local brand that empowers local women.
This season you can own a beautiful crochet bag handmade by a local woman when you spend R600 or more. This applies to all purchases made on www.matsimela.co.za, Matsimela stores and selected spas.
Plus a home in Johannesburg who takes care of people with disabilities will be packaging their festive season gifts!
I am spoiling my mom this year with even more Matsimela goodies.
The beach bags are available in 4 colours – and they are super nice. Check out mine!
Since it is time that you get your Christmas gifts sorted, let me show you what was in the box…
MatsiMela Vanilla Sandalwood Lip Butterto condition and soften my lips. The butter is enhanced with Shea Butter and blended with Beeswax and rich jojoba oil.
Matsimela Baobab Seed Liquid Hand Soap – As you can see, I’m already using it in my ensuite.
Matsimela Baobab Seed Intensive Hand and Nail Repair – This is a gorgeous cream! It smells a bit like sweets and while I’m typing I’m catching it in the air. Really lovely.
If you want to know what home spa dreams are made of… this is it!
Matsimela Red Berry Kalahari Salt Scrub – If you have to leave me somewhere, please make sure you leave me with lots of this!
Matsimela Baobab Seed Kalahari Bath Soak – I can’t get enough of Baobab products… Plus did you know the salt is from a natural salt mine in the Kalahari?
When a product smells ‘pretty’ we sometimes forget to ask if there is more to a product. Well, I finally asked… if Matsimela with its range of relaxing products and heavenly scents is more.
You will be surprised to find out that each of the colours in the Matsimela Home Spa range actually has a purpose – and I’m spilling the beans big time! And btw, this is not sponsored – I’m telling you this for mahala.
Red – Matsimela Red Berry
Did you know that the Red Berry range is meant to help you detox and slim down? The ingredients, which include horse chestnut and natural oils, is absorbed into the skin and helps to break down fat cells!
Pink – Matsiela Litchi & Rose
This is the range you want if you want to look young (almost) forever. The ingredients in the Litchi and Rose Matsimela products stimulate the skin to produce collagen! Did I just surprise you with the best news ever?
Green – Matsimela Ginger & Lime
The Ginger and Lime range is the most popular range from Matsimela during the warmer summer months. Oh and it will help to tone and firm skin (just by the way) – and you can thank the 40 antioxidants in the ginger.
This range also boasts analgesic properties – pain relieve. So next time you have a bruise and have nothing else… try using your Matsimela Ginger and Lime.
Brown – Matsimela Vanilla Sandalwood
If you had a really bad day at work or feel so stressed out that you just can’t deal with it – try Vanilla Sandalwood. This range from Matsimela has soothing/calming chamomile in. If baby is colic… this might also be the answer – just saying.
White – Matsimela Baobab Seed
I have fallen in love with this African tree long before anyone started making beauty products from it… but now I know that it is the most amazing tree in the world.
The Matsimela Baobab Seed range helps with healing scars, rejuvenates skin and has a natural SPF of 4!
You have to be on the lookout for the Matsimela Baobab Seed cuticle oil and massage oil… magic!
More things you didn’t know about Matsimela Home Spa:
Their scrubs are made from pure salt harvested from an underground salt lake in the Kalahari. This salt is very heavy, dense and full of natural minerals.
They have a muscle gel (for all those lovely injuries) with mint, arnica and eucalyptus that can be used to heal bruises faster, alleviate gout pains (which reminds me, I should get some for my hubby) and lessens joint pains.
They also have an Aloe range that is suitable for kids from the age of 10+ with charcoal but free from parabens and petroleum based chemicals.
Matsimela sources ingredients ethically, supports upliftment projects and supports local communities.
Where possible they try to use organic or natural ingredients.
PS… you should also investigate their beauty products. Prices vs results = 2 thumbs up.
What I like about Matsimela Home Spa is that you can buy direct from the people that make it – which makes it good for your pockets.
I have to add a disclaimer, because you can’t just lather up on a bunch of products and expect results. You have to speak to a treatment consultant at one of the spas that use the products to learn what to apply when/where and how – ok?
I know there are some last minute gift shoppers out there, so I’m going to share some ideas that you can order today still and get in time for the weekend (hopefully). Mostly they won’t break the bank either 🙂
BaoCare Radiance
Help your mom (or yourself) to have a softer skin. I have used it for over 3 weeks and I can see the difference. My skin is literally glowing and less wrinkly. I still have a full post in my drafts about my experience with this Baobab, Jojoba & Pomegranate product all the way from Limpopo. (Retails at R182)
Don’t be shy to add a make-up bag or something else from the range to your shopping – when you support them, you support local people.
Matsimela Home Spa Products
It’s not just bath salts and bath bombs. When you look at their website you will discover their little secret – they actually have amazing products that are affordable.
Yes, this is some of my own personal stash – after it was raided multiple times by family. The big tubs in the back… that is my dirty little secret to being relaxed.
They also have a promo with a free rose gold bag if you buy any of the Mother’s Day gift sets. Prices on the website start at around R55 and gift sets from R250. This will inspire you a little:
Light a candle, make a room smell pretty
I posted a while ago about what is on my desk and you would’ve spotted a Shearer Candle (Tropical Watermelon, R340).
However, I picked up something from www.thewhimsicalwhippet.co.za that I fell in love with the first time I saw it, a diffuser from Stoneglow. It has the message “And so the Adventure Begins” on and smells very sweet (sweet rose and pink proscecco). This costs R460, but prices start from around R130 for something smaller but just as fragrant. For your own mom, or yourself, you will find something that is perfect.
I’m literally buggered. I was sick for just over 2 weeks in March with bronchitis but I worked right through it all, because that’s what you do. Then we went off to Salt Rock so hubby could go help his mom on the South Coast to sort out his dad’s belongings. I took my mom along, but with being weakened from being sick, the humidity and the kid it really took a toll on me.
When I got back to Joburg a package from Matsimela was waiting for me and I almost burst out crying from being thankful. I actually just thought that there must be someone out there that felt the vibes I was sending out.
So, what was in the box…
Bunny soaps that smell like delicious “tameletjie” or really nice toffee. I could barely believe that it was just a soap. When you lather it up in your hands it is just to die for.
An amazing palm soap in Vanilla and Sandalwood. Showering that first day with this bar of soap was like a mini relaxing spa. It’s like having a delicious luxury that I don’t have to share with anyone – and I love it!
I have written so many times about Matsimela’s bath soaks – and not just about the ones they’ve sent, but also the ones I buy. It’s a little tub of heaven that you can just drag out (of your secret hiding place) and pour into a nice bath for a bit of relaxation. I have given so many of these little tubs away as gifts as they are simply divine and won’t break the bank.
The new one is also Vanilla Sandalwood Kalahari Bath Soak and believe me when I say that you need to try it.
If by now you still haven’t gotten your hands on Matsimela products, visit www.matsimelaonline.com and spoil yourself – or drop a hint with hubby, family or friends that you need to be spoilt asap! What I like about Matsimela is that you have so much choice and every single product just smells soooooo good
Christmas isn’t a season. It’s a feeling. – Edna Ferber
Last week before Christmas… and I have more tips on gifts that are made locally. This time it is from Matsimela.
I discovered them quite a few years ago when they were still in Deco Park in Johannesburg. Now that they have moved to Kya Sands I don’t get to go that often… however they have expanded their footprint and you can find all the details here.
They try to source their ingredients through rural communities – and uplifting these communities in the process. The products contain natural ingredients.
So let’s get to their gifting range…
Christmas Crackers: R80
We all love Christmas crackers and usually it is quite a let-down… but these ones have 3 medium fizz balls that will have the recipient squeal in delight. Plus you don’t have to wrap it, the cracker packaging is really nice. (I actually have one in my secret stash I hide from hubby.)
Square Christmas Box: R50
This is what people would call a stocking filler. At R50 for a large fizz ball it is a really nice touch if you want to spoil someone rotten without breaking the bank. Personally I love adding more than one item into a gift but don’t always want to break the bank…
Gold Filigree Box: R120
This is a value for money gift, beautifully packaged, you just need to write a name on it. In the box is a 200g Red Berry hand cast soap and large fizz ball.
Loofah Gift Bag: R160
I was actually looking at this last time I was in their Kya Sand shop and I was thinking I would love to get my mom one, but I opted to buy her a big tub of bath salts. The Loofah Gift Bag come in 3 variations but you get a bath soak and glycerine soap. Choose between ginger and lime, red berry and baobab seed.
If like me you have a Christmas with mother-in-law, then one in KZN and then one with family in Limpopo it is always good to buy gifts that travel well. Plus I know that my mom and sister love their goodies already, because I have given them so much of it (so guess what they are getting again).
