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How to pick your honeymoon destination

January 9, 2022 No Comments

The first step towards planning your dream honeymoon is selecting the perfect location. The place you choose will determine the best time to go, activities you enjoy, and the general vibe of your honeymoon.

Deciding on a honeymoon destination can be a little overwhelming. If you’re having trouble narrowing your options down, keep these tips in mind.

Select a general vibe

Before you settle on a location, it may be easier to know what kind of honeymoon you want. If you’re the adventurous/outdoorsy type, a tropical location like Bali may be best for you. On the other hand, art-lovers will enjoy more cultural locations like Rome. City slickers will thrive in metropolitan areas like New York and those just wanting a relaxing break should opt for a beach getaway like the Seychelles.

Make a list and check it twice

Now that you know the type of honeymoon you want, you can begin researching locations that offer what you want. Write a list of dream places you and your fiancé would like to travel to, and see if/which places are on both your lists.

Set a budget

It’s important to stay within budget when honeymooning. Remember, you just blew quite a bit on your big day so you don’t want to start your married life in even deeper debt. Now that you’ve got your list of destinations, evaluate which one best fits with your budget. For example, if you want a cultural experience abroad, it may be better to opt for smaller locations in Eastern Europe rather than Western Europe, as they’re often way more affordable.

Factor in out-of-pocket costs

Travelling can easily become expensive if you forget to sweat the small stuff. Things like Visa applications, the exchange rate, transportation, surge pricing for in-season activities and restaurants can all add up quickly.

Consider the time of year and weather

If you plan on soaking up the sun all day, it would be best to check ahead of time to make sure the weather will be on your side. Travelling in-season is often more expensive but it ensures you’ll be able to enjoy the activities you want, whereas off-season travelling may save some coin but run the risk of some things being closed.

Stay abreast of current events

Make sure to do your research beforehand to make sure you are aware of all the health risks and requirements of every individual destination. This is especially important if you plan to travel amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Some countries require certain vaccines and paperwork before entry. It is also important for many to consider whether your destination of choice is LGBQTI+ friendly.

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5 Things you need in your honeymoon beauty survival kit

November 20, 2020 No Comments

Your honeymoon is supposed to be stress-free, glowing and romantic. Make sure you’re prepped and ready for anything with these 5 beauty essentials.

1. Sunscreen

Rain or shine, sun or snow, sunscreen is one thing you cannot leave at home. From the very beginning of your getaway, from being in a car or on an airplane, you have to make sure your skin is properly protected, especially because the environment might be different to what you know.

A broad spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF, pollution filters and blue light filters will ensure you’re well protected in any season and in any environment. If you’re worried about the coral reefs, reach for a mineral sunscreen (containing zinc oxide instead of oxybenzone), but if you’re heading to the slopes, a chemical one will last longer and won’t make you look chalky.

2. Fragrance

Take something with you other than your wedding day fragrance, as this will ensure you capture a honeymoon scent memory as well. Sometimes it’s nice to try something different, but pick something that still falls within the fragrance family you know and love to avoid disappointment. Even better, pick something that you and your partner can both use, so that a whiff of it years later will instantly transport you back.

3. Hair care

Honeymoon hair means it needs as much of a break, and down time, as you’ll be having. After the stress of wedding planning and the damage your hair might have undergone on the day itself, you’ll want to make sure you’re giving your hair an extra bit of love. Try to make use of as little as possible heat to dry and style your hair, and rather focus on repairing damage and allowing it to have a bit of a breather.

Maybe you need some help to instantly repair your hair and bring it back to its renewed, elastic shape – then the Wella Fusion range is for you! Packed with reparative ingredients to help strengthen hair and prevent further breakage, it works great on all hair types, but especially colour treated and heat damaged hair.

On the other hand, a more natural approach would include the Elements range, which is free of sulphates, parabens and artificial colourants. It’s ideal for those looking for something a little lighter, while still packing a punch when it comes to regenerative and moisturising power.

Get your hands on an Elements or Fusion Festive Pack HERE or visit your nearest Wella Professionals salon.

4. Multi-purpose make-up

When space is sparse you need to only pack what you absolutely need. Go for creamy lipsticks that you can use on your lips and your cheeks, bronzing palettes that can easily translate as eyeshadow, stick foundations than can either be used as concealer or built up to achieve more coverage, and of course, a waterproof mascara to perk up your peepers that’s happy tears, rain and swim safe.

5. A good make-up remover

Nothing is more frustrating than being away from home and not being able to remove your make-up properly. Test and trial a make-up remover, preferably something like a micellar water which is more gentle on the eyes, to be sure all remnants can be removed. A brilliant way to test if a make-up remover is honeymoon-worthy is to try one on the night of your wedding when make-up has been applied heavier than usual.

Picture/s: Unsplash

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Stun in sustainable swimwear on your honeymoon this summer

November 10, 2020 No Comments

A summer honeymoon spent by the beach is the perfect way to unwind after a stressful few months of wedding planning. However, you don’t want to overpack or spend too much on multiple outfits that will break the bank.

We’ve got the perfect solution. Tegan Glen, a Cape Town-based photographer, created her brand Summer Glen after struggling for many years to find the perfect fitting swimsuit (like many) and took it on herself to design a swim piece that would both look sexy and support women.

After months of research and careful consideration to several women’s swimwear concerns, the “Infinite” range was born.

The design:

This inventive suit features multi-way straps allowing one to style their swimsuit for any occasion. Due to the adjustable straps, the swimsuit supports A-DD cup sizes, making it even more size-inclusive.

The high leg style avoids cutting over the hips and lengthens legs, providing a more flattering fit. Double lining in the black and triple lining in the coral creates a comfortable, supportive swimsuit and avoids any possibility of sheerness.

Sustainability:

A fashionable suit made with sustainability in mind, what more could you want? The swimsuit fabric is made from Repreve fabric, which is created from recycled plastic. All tags are made from recycled paper, and ribbon is used to attach tags rather than plastic.

The brand also offers scrunchies made from fabric offcuts to avoid unnecessary waste during production.

Online orders are couriered in mailer bags made from cornstarch. Customers can put the bags in their compost heap immediately.

Summer Glen can be purchased directly online at https://summerglen.co.za

Picture/s: supplied

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How to: 3 Easy bridal looks with RED DOT Cosmetics

January 30, 2020 No Comments

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

In Accessories

Honeymoon roadtripping

July 15, 2014 No Comments

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of freedom from the open road – and there’s no one better to do it with than your new spouse. Just married, bound to adventure with great tunes and blissful conversation, we can’t think of anything better. If you’re choosing to take a roadtrip for your honeymoon, keep these few things in mind.

Avoid break downs and break outs

Before you embark, make sure your car is serviced – especially filters, fluid levels, and belts, and of course the oil and water. Check your tire pressure and the condition of your wiper blades, turn signals, brake lights, and high and low beams. Examine your tire treads and make sure your car is prepared for any kind of weather. Importantly, recharge the air conditioner – you don’t want the African sun to get the better of your trip.

Clean up, stock up

There’s no better way to start the journey than in a fresh, newly cleaned car. Have a fun car wash together before you leave. Stock up on padkos and lots of water, bearing in mind that it’ll be cheaper to buy from a grocery store than at convenience stops. Pile in blankets and pillows in case one of you needs to get some shut eye. Finally, pack an emergency kit, including a battery-powered radio and extra batteries, flashlight, jumper cables, first aid kit, spare tire, tire repair kit and pump, and flares. TIA after all.

If you’re renting

If you are renting, agencies like Hertz, Avis, Budget and Thrifty have lots of locations. Look out for rental deals (often in conjunction with booking a hotel and flight).

If you need to rent a car abroad, you’ll need to get an international driving permit (IDP) at your local AA. Click here to apply for your IDP. If you’re renting a car overseas, keep in mind that most models come with a manual transmission. If you’re used to automatic, call and book an automatic well in advance and be prepared to pay more. If you book online, print out a copy of your confirmation number and all the particulars.

Are We There Yet?

Planning for the time spent in the car together can be just as important as packing your essentials. The last thing you want is to ruin your romantic adventure with road trip boredom, so prepare some on-road entertainment. Include games and music, or even a few audio books. If you find yourself in a lull during your journey, here are some highway hints to keep the long drive interesting.

Car games They’re not just for kids! No road trip is complete without a round of ‘I spy’ or ‘the license plate game.’
Story time Instead of curling up in a corner and reading to yourself, share the story and read aloud.
Create an on-the-road scrapbook Take pictures of the funny sites you see from the car window.
Tunes for the trail If you’re addicted to your iPod, buy an FM transmitter to play your collection through your car radio. The Griffins iTrip will ensure you won’t be without your favorite tunes.

Adapted from The Knot