Every now and then I get the chance to leave town for a bit and attend pretty cool events. I don’t always write about these events, one because I leave it for too long and by the time I want to write something, there’s already one or more events that I have been to. Anywhoo… Last week I flew down to flew Cape Town to attend the launch of the new Michael Kors fragrance called Wonderlust.
The setting was fit for queens at the beautiful Steenberg Wine Estate. In the center of the room – a gorgeously set table overlooking the mountains and vineyards. Bubbly was flowing and delicious food made for great conversation amongst the 10-15 ladies that were present. The chef presented a delicious food pairing menu that had everybody asking for more.
Wonderlust is said to “evoke a life where beauty, impulse and sensuality set the tone. Deeply romantic, it is a fragrance inspired by the unexpected, the unknown and the exotic.” It is also said to be “a blend of luxurious blossoms mingle with delectable spiced notes in this Oriental Foral Gourmand. The fragrance begins with freshness of Italian Bergamot and tantalizing pop Pink Pepper, soothed by the refined gourmand of Almond Milk.”
Michael Kors describes Wonderlust as an infinite desire for adventure, romance and discovery. He continued to say “It’s for the woman with the curiosity and passion to trust in herself and follow her heart”
What do I think of the perfume? I think it smells like a beautiful dream. If dreams had a scent, this would be it. Very dreamy and attractive, the kind of scent you want to have when your feeling your very best. Love it!!!
Outfit details: Top – Topshop, Pants – Forever New, Shoes – YSL, Shades – Sunglass Hut, Jewellery – Mimco
A week ago, I got the chance to indulge in a sensory journey with Dove’s beautifully scented Purely Pampering range in Sandton City. Dove took over one of the mall’s elevators and turned it into what at first looked like a normal shower you could find in someone’s home. But when you entered the ‘shower’ you were able to enjoy a sensory journey that transported you to magical tropical garden, filled with different serene sounds, imagery and scents. Pretty cool stuff!! More than anything, I picked up the beautiful fragrance in the lift. After asking one of the Dove ladies where the smell was coming from, she informed me that the scent is from the soap bars, I replied and said “say no more, I’m sold” hahaha! If you have been following me for a while, you will know that I am obsessed with beautiful scents.This was the first time I was introduced to the Dove Purely Pampering range, which includes the Coconut Milk beauty cream bar and body wash, and also the Shea Butter beauty cream bar and body wash. The range promises an everyday pampering experience for your senses.
I have been using it for a week now and I am really enjoying how it feels on my skin. It gently cleanses while nourishing and moisturizing the skin. However, I must say the body washes are my favourite. They create a gentle creamy cloud of lather that leaves your skin feeling restored and most importantly; a little goes a long way. I apply just a bit on my washing scrub and I am able to cleanse my entire body with just one application.
In winter my skin gets really dry and I have to over moisturize almost, this is one of the reasons why it’s my least fav season. However, the opposite happens in spring and summer. My skin gets quite oily which is why I tend to lean towards cleansing products that wash and moisturise the skin at the same time. The Dove Purely Pampering body wash and beauty bar does exactly that; I do not use any lotion or cream on my body after showering. I simply air dry and my skin feels and looks great.
I often prefer creamy soaps; I find that ordinary soaps can sometimes be very harsh to my skin, stripping away natural moisture and just leaving my skin looking dull and unhealthy. Therefore I seek for cleansers with ingredients that promote and assist in acquiring healthy skin. Ingredients in the Purely Pampering range include; Dove ¼ moisturizing cream, coconut white kernel which is rich in vitamin A and C, calcium, iron and natural proteins which are known to contribute to smooth and radiant skin.
Nothing beats the feeling of being pampered every day, and this range gives your skin exactly that feeling. I would definitely encourage everyone to try it out; it is perfect for the current season and other seasons too. It is for all skin types, which is a plus! We are all in the request of silky smooth skin and this range takes us a step closer!
For those that are interested, I have included below what you might expect to pay should you wish to purchase some products from this range. They are quite affordable and like I mentioned before, the body wash really goes a long away.
100g Dove Purely Pampering Beauty Bar – R10.99
100g Dove Purely Pampering Beauty Bar 4 pack – R37.99
250ml Dove Purely Pampering Nourishing Body Wash – R37.99
I’m quite interesting in hearing your reviews. If you have used these products before, share your experience with me via twitter, instagram or facebook using #PurelyPampering. It is always good to hear your thoughts. You can also visit Dove’s website and their twitter page @Dove_za to learn more about range and other products.
Ta ta for now..
MelMo
The SA Festival Of Motoring took place last week at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in Midrand; it opened on the 31st August up until the 4th of September. I decided to attend for mainly two reasons, one – because I am in the market to purchase a new car so I thought this would be a good opportunity to check out what’s out there and two – I really wanted to do the AMG Performance Tour at the SA Festival of Motoring.
So, I thought I’d share a bit about my experience for those that are interested in knowing and understanding what the event is about. I went there Friday, 02 September early afternoon and to my surprise, the place was already buzzing with car enthusiasts and just folks out to have a fun day under the bright sun. The festival is quite entertaining; when I arrived there was band on stage entertaining the crowds right by the food court. The smell of rubber and braai in the air was a delight, believe it or not. I sat down for short while to some good music and delicious food before heading out to the car shows. The food court has a good mix of foods; burgers, pizzas, shawarmas, chips, hotdogs, ice cream etc. All the typical, good festival foods that we all like to indulge in at such events. My favourite though was the slush puppy stand, as it was a very hot spring day. After all the walking in the end, starting with a bit of food was a good move.
The layout of the festival is such that every car manufacturer has their own stand/area where they showcase their latest cars. One may go in and touch, and kick tyres of the various car manufacturers. These are manned by helpful sales teams that will answer all your questions about the various cars from the specifications, options, pricing and ordering etc. If you are really keen you could order your brand new wheels right there!! These stands are spread over the vast Kyalami Race Track. I also spotted various stands for car accessories such as car care products, bicycle carriers, tyres etc. One may also purchase car toys for the kids such as scaled car models. Then there is the racetrack section where car manufacturers offered free quick laps around the track. 
First stop after my lunch was at the Mercedes Benz marquee, as I mentioned they were my main draw card. There were a couple of machines that captured my attention in a major way. There’s nothing more fabulous than a beautiful car that functions and looks like a dream. I took a particular interest in the AMG A45. It’s sporty, very powerful and quite hip – suits my personally perfectly.
Needless to say that when it was time for AMG Performance Tour at the SA Festival of Motoring, I opted for the A45 and I must say it was quite a thrilling experience. A natural place for Mercedes given their F1 domination for the last two seasons. My adrenalin was pumping as we sped off but the car was quite stable, which I did not expect because it is not a big vehicle. The sound is the best part about this car, almost sounds like the C63 hahaha.
Hopely this will be an annual event because it is quite enjoyable and informative. In the event that it does come back next, I have put together some useful tips for those that may wish to attend:
- If you’re mindful of what you eat or you prefer healthier more organic foods – perhaps bring yourself some food from home.
- Sun protection, very important. Sunscreen/umbrella/hat, the sun was a little harsh in the afternoon and you when move from one place to the next you’re in direct contact with the sun.
- Wear comfortable clothes and shoes – quite a bit of walking involved.
- Go early if you can, the queues in the evening get a bit longer, especially for the free track laps.
- It’s a family friendly environment, fit for the whole family, couples, car enthusiasts or just a fun day out….so do bring everyone along.
See you there next year…
Follow @mblife_sa on Twitter and Instagram for more information about any of their current events. www.mblife.co.za
Follow @mblife_sa on Twitter and Instagram for more information about any of their current events. www.mblife.co.za
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What a better time to do a giveaway than right now, during the month where we celebrate women?! Right?! YIP!!! Since I had the opportunity to use the POND’S Flawless Radiance range (which I absolutely love by the way) I think it’s only fair that I give you guys, my awesome reader the chance to also experience these amazing products. So, I’m doing this awesome giveaway – YAY!!!!
Here’s how it works: All you need to do is share YOUR beautiful habit for combating Delayed Sun Damage in today’s world. Instagram or Tweet me with the hashtag #BeautifulHabits. We all have our own ways of dealing with the delayed effects so I’d like to know your ways. Like I always, beauty secrets are meant to be shared!!!
You stand a chance to WIN a hamper filled with POND’S Flawless Radiance products. It’s that easy!!! I’m giving away 2 of these lovely hampers, so your chances are higher. I will be announcing the winners very soon so, do enter as soon as possible. Enter as many times as you like, you will not be disqualified.
I’m excited!!! All the best my gorgeous ladies!!!
TaTa
MelMO
For as long as I can remember, most of the women in my family have always used Pond’s. My mom, my aunts, some of my cousins and even I have dabbled in some Pond’s products myself. My mom has always had amazing skin, to this day she still does and she still uses Pond’s. After my experiment with the Pond’s UV bracelet I decided to try out some products from their Flawless Radiance range that promise delayed sun damage prevention and protection.
For almost a month now, I have been using the Pond’s Flawless Radiance Visible Even Tone – Day Cream in conjunction with the night cream and serum. 
Key info to know about POND’S flawless radiance Day Cream:
“POND’S flawless radiance Day Cream works with the technological power of its 7 Derma Actives in order to help you achieve flawless, radiant skin. These 7 ingredients are a combination of skin moisturisers, anti-oxidant agents, and skin vitamins that penetrate the different layers of your skin to even skin tone, fade dark marks and smooth skin texture from within.”
7 DERMA ACTIVES
1. VITAMIN B3 – crucial in its ability to preserve skin texture and block melanin transfer to the skin surface
2. GLYCEROL – a skin moisturiser that helps in smoothing and hydrating, thereby improving the texture of skin
3. ALLANTOIN – replenishes and helps soothe the skin
4. VITAMIN E – through its anti-oxidant properties, it restores skin cells to keep skin looking vibrant
5. VITAMIN C – an anti-oxidant that reduces free radicals
6. 12-HSA – an ingredient that inhibits the inflammation factor in skin that contributes to overall sunburn damage
7. SUPERIOR OPTICS – instantly improves skin tone to give a natural, radiant look
Flawless Radiane Visible Even Tone – Day Cream promises the following:
• Enhance skin clarity by fading dark marks and blemishes
• Smooth skin texture by diminishing pores
• Brighten skin tone by illuminating and evening skin
My skin concerns:
- Blemishes and dark spots
- Dry skin which tends to cause dullness
- Uneven skin tone
My results:
I started seeing a notable differences on my skin after about 2 weeks of use. My skin brightened quite and lost some of the dullness. I don’t know if drinking a lot of water had something to do with it or not but my skin did some much clearer after the two weeks of us. I have always had some stubborn dark marks that can be very frustrating, they have not fully disappeared but they have lightened slightly. My overall skin tone has also improved, which is great. I know most women and men suffer from unevenness of the skin, this is a great product to try and combat that. The older you get the tougher your skin becomes, its no longer that easy to remove simple problems that may come your way. That’s why always encourage my reader to try out different products and it you find the ones that work for you, stick with them. I will continue the use of these products coz they seem to be working fine for me so far. I will continue monitoring my skin and keep you posted.
What I have also learned from this process is that skin remedies do not need to cost an arm and a leg for the to work. High cost equal good result is a myth. If it is not damaging your health in any way and it works perfectly for your skin – stick with it!
Ta Ta For Now.
Mel-Mo
Visible Even Tone Day Cream 50ml – R119.99
Anti Spot Intensive Even Tone Serum 30ml – R129.99
Re-Brightening Night Treatment 50ml – R119.99
All these are Mac, they go for R220 per lipstick. My all time fav is Kinda Sexy but Taupe suits me the most. Leave me a comment below and let me know which is your favourite.
Like most people, I am always on the quest of finding the best beauty/skin regimen. So, I do a lot of research on what could help improve my skin’s appearance and of course what could potentially be harmful to my skin. I make sure to follow reputable beauty bloggers on social media to learn about the latest in beauty tips. However, more often than not, I like to conduct my own beauty/skin “experiments”. So when the opportunity to test and learn about the effects of what is called Delayed Sun Damage, I could not pass it up.
What is Delayed Sun Damage you ask?! Well, according to recent research “scientific studies have revealed that the sun’s ultraviolet rays are so harsh that they can damage the skin right down to its deepest layers, for up to 12 hours after sun exposure. This phenomenon is called ‘Delayed Sun Exposure’ and it is the new enemy of flawless skin, resulting in uneven skin tone, dark marks and enlarged pores.” Hectic, right!? I am very certain that I do not want those kind of problems.
POND’s introduced me to their UV bracelet/armband which helps measure the effects of Delayed Sun Damage (DSD) to the skin. The experiment is quite simple: I wore the UV bracelet for one full day and while completing my daily tasks, I monitored the colour changes of the bracelet as that reflected whether DSD has had any effects.
I had to follow a few guidelines to ensure full effectiveness of the bracelet:
- The bracelet should not be exposed to the sun/UV radiation when not wearing it.
- No liquids on the bracelet.
- No sharing of the bracelet from one person to the next during experiment.
- No covering of the bracelet with clothing or accessories as expose to the sun is necessary for it to work.
In the morning when I woke up I put on the bracelet it looked like so: A bright yellow colour, which is exactly how I received it.
Two hours later, I was still in the house – I noticed no change in colour.
I continued to stay indoors while wearing the UV bracelet for another hour, with absolutely no colour change taking place. Even though it was exposed to daylight inside the house, there was no sun rays coming in contact with it.
I went outside for a while and within 20-30 minutes of being exposed to the sun, I could already see slight changes in the colour. It was turning into a light peachy shade. I went back into the house where there was no UV rays, however the colour did not go back to it’s original shade. It remained slightly peach.
Later on in the day, I had to drive out to run some errands. The bracelet was totally exposed to UV rays and again in about 30 minutes, I noticed that the peachy colour begun to darken into a stronger shade.
As you can see, the bracelet changed into a light peachy colour. On the colour scale, this indicates that the sun damage is ‘moderate” in other words – mild.
Upon arrival, the colour had progressed even further. Peach colour was way more prominent.
I did however, notice that if I remained in an area with no sun expose, the colour did not progress to change. It remain the shade it was, which at this point was peach.
After some time having been contact with the sun, I observed the colour of the bracele learning towards a more pinkish shade. And when I checked the colour scale, I learned that the colour pink is concerned “high” delayed sun damaged. Which let me know it’s time to take cover and stay away from the sun. Enough experimenting for one. LOL!
It has now been 24 hours since my experiment begun and when I woke this morning, I was very interested in seeing whether the bracelet had gone back to its original bright yellow colour. The answer is no, it did not go back. Instead, it has remain the last colour it changed to. The very faint pinkish shade. Which tells us that sun damage, does not go away on it’s own. It needs to be treated with the right products. This proves that my skin and maybe your skin too, may later safer the consequences of Delayed Sun Damage. Uneven skin tone, dark marks and enlarged pores; however worry not. On my next blog post, I will be reviewing awesome products to help combact the effects of Delayed Sun Damage.
If you have any questions regarding my UV Bracelet Experiment, please feel free to leave me a comment below.
Ta!
MelMo
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Hello my fashion friends…
I am not much of a techno-freak but I am also on the lookout for devices that might make life easier. And as a blogger and fashion writer it is imperative to have a good reliable device that I can blog and do research with. So when the good people at Acer gifted me with the new Switch 10 E Continue Reading…
Hello my fashion-lovers…
It’s been a minute, I know… Fashion school and work have been keeping me slightly busy.
So, mark my first post of 2016… Sunglass Hut and myself have has teamed up to bring you a fab competition, here’s how it works : Continue Reading…