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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

    If there’s any time at which you need the ease and conveniences of the internet the most, it’s during your engagement. Planning the big day is stressful enough so it only makes sense that when putting together your gift registry, you’d want to get the job done in the least laborious and time-consuming manner possible. These nine sites offer you the convenience of picking out wedding gifts without having to leave home.

    1 Bespoke Wedding Registry

    Registry Websites

    Launched by a Londoner, Bespoke Wedding Registry aims to fill the gap in the South African market for customised gifting. With a selection of homeware and kitchenware sourced from prestigious brands, including the namesake collection of world-renowned chef Jamie Oliver and local ranges Ardmore and Kikoi, you’re bound to find unique pieces that speak to your style. Plus, they offer a service where a group of guests can club together to purchase larger items such as furniture. You also score two free deliveries if you live in Johannesburg, Cape Town or Durban.

    Contact +27 21 448 7155, [email protected]bespokeregistry.co.za

    2 Wrapistry

    Registry Websites

    Featuring products from a whopping 90 brands, Wrapistry’s offering include items to stock in your home as well as experiences. A variety of memory-making activities from a couple’s cooking class to wine tasting tours is available to add to your wishlist. If you ever feel like changing your mind, that’s no problem – you can do so as often as you like. To save you from the task of guessing who gave you a gift (and which one!), Wrapistry also mails you a list of guests and their purchases. Now, all you need to do is grab that mouse and start picking your favourites.

    Contact +27 10 500 7503, [email protected]wrapistry.co.za

    3 Banks Kitchen Boutique

    Registry Websites

    What began as a lively shop in a close-knit community has now expanded to two boutiques and an online store. Apart from displaying their cutting-edge goods, the online store allows you to access their blog where you can discover recipes and browse product reviews. Once your guests have bought your presents, Banks Kitchen Boutique will happily wrap the goods, add a note from the gift-giver and deliver it to your door – all on the house. Customers have raved about this convenient outlet and we’re sure you’ll love it too.

    Contact +27 21 461 3190, bankskitchenboutique.co.za

    4 Yuppiechef

    Registry Websites

    Voted South Africa’s best online store, you can rest assured their registry service is effortless. Not sure where to start? Navigate to the ‘Starter Collection’ tab to get an idea of what you’ll need to fill your first nest. Given our demanding, modern lifestyles, we could all spare a few bucks here and there, and Yuppiechef gives you the option of sending discount vouchers to three loved ones. However, if you do spot a pricey item you love, you can make it yours by swapping a few less expensive pieces for it.

    Contact +27 861 702 4969, [email protected], yuppiechef.com

    5 Carrol Boyes 

    Registry Websites

    Named after its internationally esteemed owner, this lifestyle brand specialises in premium homeware products. When creating your registry with Carrol Boyes, you have the option of selecting your goods online or enjoying a personal consultation with an assistant in a brick-and-mortar store. Once you’ve done so, your choices will be listed and placed online for your guests to seamlessly purchase what they please. If you want to return any duplicates, be sure to check that they are in the original packaging and in tip-top condition.

    Contact +27 21 424 8263, carrolboyes.com

    6 Granny Goose

    Registry Websites

    With your mattress covered in fluffy pillows and duvets from Granny Goose, a producer of top-quality bed linen, you can luxuriate in deep, peaceful slumbers night after night. Apart from their bedding products, you can find Le Creuset cookware and Riedel Glassware items at their stores. To easily inform your guests about your registry, Granny Goose will provide you with little cards to insert into your wedding invitations. If anything wasn’t bought, you can get it at 10% off. What’s more, they’ll hand you a special thank-you gift for choosing them as your vendor.

    Contact +27 860 388387, [email protected]grannygoose.com

    7 @home

    Registry Websites

    As South Africa’s prime shopping location for sophisticated homeware, you simply can’t afford not to enlist the registry service of @home. Head to the ‘Customer Favourites’ page to make sure you don’t forget to add any must-buys. In addition to a selection of top-notch products, you’ll receive a gift card worth 10% of the value of all your guests’ purchases. To keep this value updated and to record the buyer of each present in-store, remind your guests to notify the @home sales assistant that they are purchasing an item for your registry.

    Contact +27 860 576 576, [email protected]home.co.za

    8 Boardmans

    Registry Websites

    Couple’s who have an Edcon Group Thank U loyalty card will enjoy all the benefits of the programme when they create a registry at Boardmans as you’ll gain 10 times the amount of Thank U points for all the gifts bought at the store. Given that there;s no limit on how many items are added, you could gain an enormous amount of points! These points can then be used to buy anything from Boardmans, or to shop at Edgars, Red Square, Jet, Legit and CNA. Talk about a shopping spree!

    Contact +27 860 236 289, [email protected], boardmans.co.za

    MRP Home

    Registry Websites

    For home decor that’s uber stylish and pocket-friendly, there couldn’t be a better place to shop than MRP Home.Scroll through their ‘Inspiration’ section to view a variety of themes for your home along with a list of products to fit each theme. Although MRP Home offers online and in-store registries, they aren’t interchangeable so let your guest know which kind it is as guests wanting to purchase online for an in-store registry will not be able to do so and vice versa.

    Contact +27 800 212 535, mrphome.com

    affordable website design packages | netsist digital marketing agency | netsist.co.za

    Photography Crew/Unsplash

    It’s your big day, and you’ll want to be the star of the show. Obviously. We show you how to achieve a flawless face, whatever your style, with the newest from red dot cosmetics.

    FIRST OFF, YOUR FOUNDATION

    RED DOT introduces the Mix & Fix Colour Drops which you can use in a variety of fun ways. Use the ‘Green’ option to reduce and hide any redness, and the ‘Dark’ option if your spray-tan is golden, but your face is still pale. Simply add a drop to your liquid foundation or creamy concealer and mix until the desired shade is reached. Add more if necessary.

    NEXT UP, WINDOWS TO THE SOUL

    Make sure your lashes get maximum volume without looking clumpy. Start off with a base coat of Fake It! Lash Primer in Grey which will fill, lift and help separate the lashes, while nourishing and protecting each one. Finish up with a few swipes of Catchy Eyes Waterproof Mascara to add gorgeous curves and a cat-eye definition that won’t smudge or weigh lashes down.

    ARE YOU A RED LIP KINDA LADY?

    You’ll no doubt want to take that along with you on the day. Rock a red that won’t budge, slip or fade. The Ultimate Lipliner – With A Twist in The Red will get you started with a perfectly primed, matte surface and rich colour payoff, lasting for up to 6 hours come rain or Champagne. Finish the lip off with a layer of Velvet Touch Lipstick – Matt in the same shade (The Red) for a creamy and flawless finish, ensuring your lippie lasts the entire night.

    SHOPPING

    Mix & Fix Colour Drops in Green

    Mix & Fix Colour Drops in Dark

    Fake It! Lash Primer in Grey

    Catchy Eyes Waterproof Mascara

    The Ultimate Lipliner – With A Twist in The Red

    Velvet Touch Lipstick – Matt in The Red

     

    Many brides go for a neutral nail look on their wedding day. We’ve had the French manicure, then we had the plain white or cream. Some even went as far as subtle pinks. Other brides who were not sold on the idea of subtle went for over-the-top glitzy nail art or bright colours. But what about the in-between? Fret not! There are loads of other options that are truly gorgeous, not too extra and far away from boring.

    Two-toned matt

    Pearl colours

    Metallic flecks

    Galactic splendour

    Dark (k)night

    Boho chic

    Glossy shine

    Textured finish

    Picture: Instagram/Lolaliner

     

     

    So many body shapes, so many dress designs. What works for one might not work for all. One dress shape we do love, is the mermaid design. You might think you need to be tall and slender to pull it off, but you don’t. If you love the style, find one that you fall in love with and go for it. Remember, a pair of heels never hurts and will complement this shape especially well.

    You can glam it up or play it down, any way you like. Cream and champagne colours are very hot right now, as well as sequins and gems.

     

     

    Picture: Pexels

    There’s nothing more frustrating than getting a new perfume, only to find the scent will last a whole of five seconds before it fades into the wind. We give you a few simple ways to help make your fragrance last longer and stronger, especially for your big day.

    A clean slate

    Timing is everything, so spraying on your perfume after a hot shower and a layer of moisturiser is the best way to lock in that scent. After a shower, your pores are clean and skin is moist, making it more susceptible to hold onto the fragrance.

    Layered levels

    To achieve the maximum scent profile of your favourite perfume, try layering the same scent with its matching body wash and body cream. The products work in harmony to last as long as possible and also reach areas you wouldn’t normally spray your perfume on. For that added punch, lightly mist your hair at the nape of your neck with the scent as well.

    Pulse points

    These points on our bodies are where blood flows closest to the surface, i.e. behind the ears, along your neck, your inner wrists and behind the elbows and knees. It is always preferred to target these areas with the scent as the skin is thinnest here and they emit natural heat from your body. This heat helps the perfume scent to evolve as the day progresses and works with your natural body scent.

    Dab, don’t rub

    When spraying perfume onto your skin, always dab instead of rubbing it into your skin, or better yet, just leave it. While the pulse points release heat, rubbing those points together (like your wrists) has the potential to break the perfume’s molecular structure.

    The perfect distance

    As obvious as it sounds to spray more perfume if you want a stronger scent pay-off, try to not overspray your perfume in one particular area. However, in that same breath, don’t spray into the air and completely miss it landing where it should. The ideal should be the perfume bottle at an angle, half an arm’s length away from your body so that it can settle evenly onto your skin.

    Store away from light & heat

    Lastly, always keep your perfumes away from direct sunlight and intense heat or humidity. The light and heat break down the perfume itself which causes it to fade faster than usual. One would hate to spend thousands of rands on a beautiful perfume that won’t even last you the month if it’s already broken down.

    By Yashna Balwanth

    Feature image: Unsplash

    It might sound unnecessary, or even a little vain but we’re not here to judge. All we know is, touch-up stations are becoming a thing! A touch up beauty station is a great idea for a bridal party that wants to have all the fun but still be photo ready at a moment’s notice.

    Touch-up stations are literally just that: stations set up at your wedding venue for any necessary make-up touch-ups.

    Depending on the wedding venue, it can be set up in the bathrooms or a neutral space. There are a few options you can consider:

    You can easily (and cheaply) just create a private corner by a mirror for everyone who wants to bring their necessities and leave it there for the day.

    You can also dedicate a whole pop-up stand or mobile home and supply all the items yourself.

     

    There are even companies who rent out mobile beauty bars and can send you stylists who are ready for the quick touch-up or the emergency sewing kit.


     
    Here are some essentials your station should include:

    – Tissues
    – Cotton wool
    – Ear buds
    – Make-up remover
    – Lip balm (get one that uses finger application for hygiene reasons)
    – Mascara
    – Hair comb (add a cleaning product for guests to clean it after use)
    – Hairspray
    – Anti-perspirant
    – Tampons/sanitary pads
    – Needles and thread
    – Hand lotion

     

    Picture: Pexels

    Located on Cape Town’s bustling Foreshore lies the tranquil oasis that is the Mangwanani Boutique Spa. This world-class spa is found within The Cullinan hotel, and is the perfect place to unwind for a quick lunchtime massage or an entire day of pampered bliss.

    The Mangwanani Boutique Spa is located just by The Cullinan’s poolside (Source: Nidha Narrandes)

    Mangwanani Spas are famous across the country for their reliably good service and peaceful experience that leaves the client feeling like they’re floating on a cloud.

    Stepping into the spa’s reception area is already a pleasant experience in itself – the staff is friendly and the air smells of the unique oils Mangwanani masseuses use. The masseuse is ready for youe in no time, and you settle down into the soft white massage chair.

    I experienced the head and shoulder massage, and it’s one I am eager to have again.

    The welcoming area to the massage rooms of the beautiful spa (Source: Nidha Narrandes)

    The massage parlour itself is beautiful and dimly-lit – the decor is simple yet tasteful, and the masseuse’s hands transport you to another world as the experience begins. A form you fill out in reception will determine which pressure you prefer during the massage, and Mangwanani Spa’s masseuse applies it perfectly.

    The fragrant signature oils used will help you relax even more, and you’ll feel the tension begin to leave your body as the massage progresses.

    The music selection is soft and ambient, and only adds to the tranquility of the experience. While you’ve been treated to the most luxurious and relaxing massage of your life for half an hour, it seems all too soon when the masseuse gives you a final pat on your shoulders.

    The spa offers a variety of treatments, ranging from manicures and pedicures to full-body massages. Its convenient location makes it the perfect little day-cation spot as well, and the friendly staff will entice you to return again and again.

    Full package details can be found here.

    Location: Southern Sun The Cullinan, 1 Cullinan Street
    Cape Town, Western Cape, 8001
    South Africa
    GPS Coordinates: S33.915704, E18.424748
    Phone: 021 415 4075/6 (branch)
    Phone: 086 055 0055
    Oen: 08:00 am to 21:00 pm everyday.

    Picture: Pixabay

    With so many beauty trends out there, constantly being reinvented, it’s difficult to choose exactly what you want your make-up to look like on your wedding day. Take these 4 looks, straight from the runway, as inspiration for a look that will be striking and timeless to boot.

    Berta Bridal

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    The @berta Show ❤️ Pics @collinpierson

    A post shared by Berta (@bertabridal) on

    Clean, polished skin is enhanced with the slightest contour and the perfect feline flick. Round it off with a nude, matte lip.

    Ines Di Santo

    Skin is prepped to look fresh and dewy, only covering imperfections, and finished off with a smattering of glitter on the lids and a nude lipgloss.

    Jenny Yoo

    Softly smoked out lids and subtle bronzer make for a perfectly classic combo. A touch of peachy lipstick completes the look.

    Justin Alexander

    Don’t be afraid of a bold lip – just keep the rest simple. Bold brows make for the perfect addition to tangerine-stained lips, along with fresh rosy cheeks.

    Image: Unsplash