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Robyn Simpson

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Mixing cologne, body spray, deodorant and aftershave can become a messy affair. Here is our gentlemen’s guide to understanding these different products and how to use them: 
 
Cologne is the strongest form of fragrance and generally lasts the longest. It’s ideal for nights out, a special date, or more formal functions. Dunhill Icon is an example of a cologne we love. This bold fragrance is perfect for a classy night out!
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Body sprays are the second strongest. These nifty, portable sprays are great for daytime or after gym wear. Sprays last a few hours and can be easily re-applied to keep you smelling fresh.
Aftershave and deodorant serve dual functions. These products don’t just smell good, they also serve a purpose. We suggest using neutral-smelling aftershaves and deodorants to avoid scents clashing and becoming muddied, while still benefitting from their practical usage. 
Aftershave contains soothing and anti-bacterial agents. It prevents irritations, itching, burning and rashes, all while hydrating your skin too. It usually contains a type of astringent, an ingredient that seals up pores to prevent bacteria infecting the skin after shaving.
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Deodorant, the most subdued of all scents, is mostly functional. It’s important to note that not all deodorants are antiperspirants. Antiperspirants close or block the pores under your pits, working against your natural odour, while a deodorant masks the smell of sweat while still allowing skin to breathe. Antiperspirants not only reduce sweating, but also regulate your skin’s pH level, preventing stinky pits.
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To strike a perfect balance, we suggest choosing one fragrance (cologne or body spray) according to the occasion and combining it with a neutral aftershave and deodorant.
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With life on lockdown, things can start feeling a bit grey and gloomy. Nothing beats a slump quite like some self-care. Feel lighter and brighter with these three tips on how to glow from home.

1.     Home-glow face: Amp up your natural beauty with a DIY face mask that will get your skin shimmering without synthetic products – it’s all you! Keep it simple with a coffee and turmeric mask. Caffeine reduces inflammation and puffy eyes, while antioxidant-rich turmeric takes care of the glow. The recipe requires 1 tablespoon of each of these ingredients mixed: ground coffee, powdered turmeric, and Greek yoghurt. Remove the mask after about 20 minutes and voila!

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2.     Home-glow hair: There’s no better time to give your hair a break and restore your natural oils. Use this time to let your hair breathe. Lay off the dye, ties and heat. Make a homemade mask or let your roots grow out a bit more than usual. Embrace your regrowth now and support a local salon later.

Wella professionals can’t wait to work with your rejuvenated locks. Don’t do damage out of desperation. Wait it out for Wella’s new Opal-Essence range from Illumina Colour. Soft, subtle, shimmering – it’s worth the wait! You’ll be your own ray of sunshine.

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3.     Home-glow body: A well-rested, well-nourished body manufactures its own natural radiance. Take time to prepare wholesome meals that get you beaming from the inside out. Smoothies are a great way to pack in nutrients. Try including glow-worthy ingredients like spinach, berries, avocado and mango.

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Perfume is expensive. How you smell is priceless. What most don’t know is that there is a right and wrong way of using a fragrance. You need to get your money’s worth out of each bottle and we are here to tell you how…

Apply to hotspots:

Don’t spray your neck. Let your body work its natural magic and apply perfume to certain heat points. Your belly-button, the small of your back, inside your elbows and the back of your knees and neck are places that work best. Heat points create a sillage that will develop your fragrance as you go about your day.

Oscar de la Renta’s Bella Blanca (exclusively available at Dis-Chem Pharmacies) is a scintillating floral fragrance with notes of fresh jasmine, tuberose and freesia – and further develops to grounding sandalwood and musk as it warms.

Spray, don’t rub:

Ever notice how your scent changes throughout the day? Don’t interrupt the natural process by rubbing your skin. Rather let it simmer to maximise results. Heat-activated enzymes from rubbing prevents your scent from developing properly within each note stage.

Keep it shady:

This is important. Don’t expose the bottle to heat. While your fragrance looks beautiful perched on your bathroom cabinet, it won’t last very long. Fragrance is sensitive to light and heat.

Spray wisely:

Concentrated fragrances, like Eau de Parfum are slightly more intense than lighter Eau de Cologne or Eau de Toilette solutions. Choose something a little more potent and save on the sprays. Less is more when your fragrance is beautiful and bold.

A good kind of clingy:

Spraying perfume onto dry skin or clothing is pointless. Fragrance needs moisture to hold onto, so apply your scent to clean, well-moisturised skin to give it maximum staying power.

Written by: Robyn Simpson

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Whether you’re a super low-maintenance gal or simply want to cut costs by doing your own bridal make-up on your wedding day, these three easy-to-create looks using RED DOT Cosmetics will ensure you don’t go barefaced.

Watch the full video below then scroll down for the full list of products we’ve used. Bonus: Enter our competition to win a RED DOT Cosmetics product hamper worth R675 here.

Makeup products used in the video above:

Look 1

Cosmetics Forever Eyeshadow in 11 Dark Brown
Cosmetics Forever Eyeshadow in 10 Twisted Brown
Cosmetics Forever Eyeshadow in 09 Nougat
Cosmetics Forever Eyeshadow in 02 Beige
Cosmetics Catchy Eyes Mascara
Cosmetics Velvet Touch Lipstick in 009 Matt Sweetness

Look 2

Cosmetics Forever Eyeshadow in 10 Twisted Brown
Cosmetics Forever Eyeshadow in 11 Dark Brown
Cosmetics Forever Eyeshadow in 12 Dark Grey
Cosmetics Forever Eyeshadow in 05 Grey
Cosmetics Forever Eyeshadow in 06 Plum
Cosmetics Catchy Eyes Mascara
Cosmetics Velvet Touch Lipstick in 159 Boheme

Look 3

Cosmetics Forever Eyeshadow in 02 Beige
Cosmetics Forever Eyeshadow in 11 Dark Brown
Cosmetics Giant Pro Liner
Cosmetics Catchy Eyes Mascara

Picture the moment your mom pulled out her wedding dress for the first time in years and your little-girl-heart fluttered with awe and excitement. That was your first chance to be a real princess. Could your mom’s dress transform to its former glamour-giving glory? Most certainly.

Repurposing your mom’s wedding gown has become a sentimental trend that we can’t get enough of. It’s an opportunity not only to breathe life into ”something old” but to carry a piece of your mom and your childhood with you down the aisle. Not everyone is on board the vintage train and your first play-dress might be a far cry from what you envision wearing on your Big Day. Fortunately there are a plethora of ways that your mom’s dress could make the cut.

 

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Thanks to the amazing @katierobertsphotos for capturing the journey of the dress ???? #momsweddingdress #beforeandafter

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Don’t make the mistake of assuming there to be only one way of reusing your mom’s gown (merely wearing it). The scope of alterations varies greatly: use the fabric to make your wedding shoes, cover your wedding album or wrap your bouquets. You can also incorporate your favorite parts of the original dress in more subtle ways such as adding snippets of lace onto your bodice, create delicate sleeves or adding trimmings to your veil.

 

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Other than altering the original dress and wearing it as is, something else to consider is combining old and new fabrics. Don’t be afraid to create layers – if the colour and style of your mom’s dress is too far of a stylistic stretch, disguise the gap under a layer or two (keeping mom even closer to your heart). If you are completely sold on your own design, making yourself a going away dress is also an idea to keep in mind.

Nostalgic and personal motivations aside remodeling a dress that’s been ready and waiting for you all your life is a budget-savvy move. Wedding dresses tend to come with hefty price tags, so getting creative with an old canvas is both a fun and touching way to ease pressure on the bank.

Whether you decide to embrace the retro trend wholeheartedly or transform the best parts of your moms dress into something entirely new, kicking off a possible family heirloom is an added bonus to what is already the most important dress you’ll ever wear.

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Families come in all shapes and sizes, colours, breeds, and species too. Furry companions have become integral parts of our closest circles. Considered to be children by many couples – pooches, ponies, and parrots, to name a few, not only make it onto the guest list but have become key players at many weddings.

 

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From ring bearers, to bridesmaids and best men, we’ve seen pets, particularly dogs, go out of their way for their humans. As adorable as this may seem, including them in your ceremony or reception can be risky. Hounds and other adored critters have minds of their own. When greeted by an aisle of potential playmates, it’s not impossible for your rings to go on a walkabout – “here comes the Bride” can quickly transition into “there goes the dog”.

When throwing paws and claws into the mix, the list of things to consider on your big day grows astronomically. For starters, you can’t include furry family members if your venue doesn’t allow pet’s on the premises – be sure to enquire about this before making a booking.

Worrying about pet-friendly properties and runaway’s aside, couples should also prepare for a messy affair. Keep an emergency stain kit at hand just incase any grimy paws come into contact with the dress of the day. You might also want to consider a designated poop-scooper who has a sharp eye for rogue poops. 

Weddings, despite being wondrous occasions, are often stressful especially with pet’s in the picture. On your special day, the last thing you should be doing is worrying about your Pooch of Honor. Rather than burdening a guest with the responsibility, one idea is to hire a pet-sitter. Only this means having a stranger attend your personal celebration. 

From poop to pet-sitters and choosing the paw-fect outfit, it’s clear that including pet’s at your wedding needs a lot of thought. For those not willing to risk it to get the biscuit, a great alternative is to include fur babies in your photos and send them home with a bone thereafter. This way, they will always be a part of your memories, with the threat of possible pet-related disasters eliminated. 

 

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Losing a family member is heartbreaking – and when it comes to getting married, their absence is often amplified. Acknowledging these special people can become overwhelming, especially when trying to maintain a celebratory atmosphere throughout your day.

Fortunately, weddings are sentimental occasions, leaving room for a myriad of ways to acknowledge those dearly departed. The trick is to strike a balance – honouring loved ones without turning your big day into a memorial service. Whether the gesture be small and personalised or open and public, there is always a tasteful way to do it.

Here are five simple and subtle ways to remember someone passed at your wedding:

Attach a small photo to your bouquet: This is particularly meaningful for a bride who has lost her father – a highly personal yet subtle gesture that is the perfect little reminder that your dad is walking you down the aisle in spirit.

 

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Incorporate old fabric into your suit or wedding gown: Keep the spirit of your lost loved ones close by – literally. Use mom’s wedding dress to create your own gown, or transform one of dad’s old ties into a trendy pocket square.

 

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Reserve a seat at the ceremony: Of course nothing compares to having your loved ones physically by your side but reserving them a seat while you say your “I dos” can be a special reminder of their irreplaceable presence. Mark their seat with a favorite flower or sentimental possession.

 

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Set up a photo display: This is a great option for couples who want to keep their tribute lighthearted. It avoids creating a heavy atmosphere for guests as family members can step aside to acknowledge deceased family members in private.

 

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Dedicate a song: Whether it is your first dance or just a casual slot on the playlist, dedicate a song to someone no longer around. Levels of discretion can be altered to your personal taste here; make a grand gesture with an announcement or toast or simply appreciate the special moment to yourself.

 

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In general, when wedding make-up is done right, it’s the perfect balance of soft and natural, and professionally flawless. It’s tricky to hit that sweet spot, as one product too many can tip you over the edge into evening-only, and too little can leave you looking bare-faced. Follow our four rules every bride should know to avoid any make-up mistakes on your big day.

1 Stick to what you know

The one day you shouldn’t step out of your comfort zone is your wedding day. If you usually wear a statement cat-eye or love a bit of pink lippy, don’t opt for the opposite just because your make-up artist suggests a look you aren’t familiar with. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable with your make-up, as this will affect how you’ll feel for the rest of the day.

 Clarins-lipstick

2 Liven up the lips

With that being said, today is not the day to shy away from lip colour just because you normally don’t wear it. When in doubt, go for a rose shade on the lips, as this gives the illusion of just-bitten colour and flatters all skin tones. We adore the long-lasting colour of Clarins Rouge Eclat Lipstick in Sweet Rose (R270)

 Yardley-Radiant-Glo-Illuminator-col

3 Get glowing

You should already look radiant considering you are marrying your soul mate, but a little extra glow never hurt. Avoid glittery, overly-shiny products as these tend to enhance any imperfections and will leave you looking like an oil slick.

Mix a few drops of a liquid illuminator such as Yardley Radiant Glo Illuminator (R109.95) with your foundation for a lit-from-within look.

Bourjois-Healthy-Balance-Unifying-Powder

4 Pack the essentials

Try find samples or miniature versions of your favourite products to keep in your clutch bag. A translucent powder like Bourjois Healthy Balance Unifying Powder (R154.95) will keep shine at bay without drying out the skin.

Stila-Convertible-Colour-Blush-in-Lilium-spludge

Stila Convertible Colour Blush in Lillium (R295) is a great choice for a pretty flush in a flash.

Don’t forget your lipstick as you’ll definitely need to reapply after all that smooching.

Photography Andreas Eiselen/HSMimages.co.za, Courtesy images