It is winter in South Africa which is hardly ever good news for my skin. I suffer from dry skin and winter is the season when I need to adjust my skincare routine because ashiness is never cute.

So, I was delighted when Ruby Box approached me about reviewing the Aveeno Active Naturals Daily Moisturising Lotion. I was hoping that the lotion would reduce the number of products I use in winter to keep my skin moisturized and would keep my skin moisturized for longer than my then products. Aveeno is known for delivering superior benefits by harnessing the power of natural ingredients. This lotion contains no parabens and no colourants making the product suitable for Hyperallergic and sensitive skin.

I was really impressed with how well my skin retained the moisture. My legs, the driest part of my body, was still moisturized in the evening. My skin felt hydrated and smooth throughout the entire day. I’m impressed with the with how skin he felt over the past 2 weeks, I’m definitely adding Aveeno products to my skin regimen.

Aveeno products can be purchased at leading pharmacies, Dischem, and Clicks stores nationwide. The 200ml daily moisturising lotion retails for R 79.99.

Winter has arrived, I know it may seem a bit absurd since its technically still a month away. However, Cape Town only has two seasons all year round, Winter and Summer.

 I created this winter look around a trending hat, the beret. The beret was re-introduced in Autumn/Winter 2017 by Dior with the help of Rihanna (of course). I also happen to think that it is also the perfect winter accessory, it's diverse, it can be dressed up or down. However, I did shy away from it for the longest time and not because it had become such a trend. I just never felt comfortable wearing one, I always felt like I was wearing it incorrectly, or it looked misplaced. Nevertheless, I think the hat becoming a trend wasn’t so bad after all, different designs of it began to emerge, you can now find berets that are studded/ beaded (as seen in the pictures). Also don't get me wrong decorative “busy” berets are cute but I do think they can be a little restrictive when it’s time to pair them with an outfit. Hence, I chose one with subtle details. I enjoyed the beading on the beret because of the soft, feminine feel it gave the hat and the outfit.

 I started this year knowing that I wanted to find and try out new skincare and hair care products because I believe that when it comes to my skin and hair there is always room for improvement. Most of you know that I really do enjoy using natural products for my skin, however, last year natural products were only used to make my masks which were not the vast majority of my skincare. So, when Suki Suki Naturals approached me about doing a partnership with them, I was excited, to say the least. The company is also a black female owned company by, the founder,  Linda Gieskes which made the partnership evening more worthwhile. What is amazing about Suki Suki Naturals is every product is handmade and 100% natural.

So, for the past month, I replaced my skincare products with Suki Suki Naturals products and the results have been so amazing. I’m not going to lie I did have my reservations about their facial oils because my skin type is: combination (my T-zone is normal to slightly oil, then the rest of face is normal). I was worried that putting an oil on my face daily would cause a breakout. However, it was the complete opposite, the facial oil was quickly absorbed by my skin, to my surprise, which made my skin feel soft and supple. A big bonus for me was my skin didn’t shine, remember there’s a fine line between glow and shine and I wasn’t trying to switch sides. I made use of the Rosehip Brightening Facial Oil.

Talking about glowing, their Acai Gentle Exfoliating Mask is honestly such a miracle worker. The results were instant, after using it for the very first time my skin did not only have a better glow to it, it also improved the texture of my skin. I used the mask as recommended, twice a week. However, there was a time where I did not use as a mask instead, I would mix the exfoliating powder with foaming face wash and wash my face with the mixture. So, I have already spoken about the cleansing and moisturising stage but the stage that I consider most important is the toning stage because this is when you get the most hydration into your skin and balance your pH levels. Suki-Suki Naturals' Hydrating Facial Mist is exactly that, hydrating. Their facial mist is the perfect toner, made of rose water and infused with papaya extract and many more natural amazing ingredients. A few spritzes do honestly go a long way, but the mist smells so delicious that you will without a doubt use more than just a few spritzes.

I will continue to use the products because the results so far have been great. I also love that skin care routine is predominantly made up of natural products.  I would also recommend them if you have sensitive skin since the products are 100% natural there aren’t any chemicals that would irritate your skin. Lastly, you can purchase the products from Suki Suki Naturals website and I have linked the products below. They also offer free door-to-door delivery countrywide for orders over R350.

 At the beginning of the year, I made the decision to be more aware of what would I put into my body so that it could function as it should or at its optimal level. I also know that it has been a while since I last posted and I’m sorry about that. However, I do think that you will find this post helpful if you trying to achieve certain health or body goals. Over the last few months, I tried out 3 hot beverages to that cleanse your system while assisting your digestive system in its performance. I usually drank one of these first things in the morning as it was recommended that they are consumed on an empty stomach.


The first beverage was Green Tea, but this was no new beverage to me as I drank it for most of 2017 because of its abilities to boost my metabolism. Green tea is a tea made from Camellia sinensis leaves which undergo a process of withering and oxidation, from this process the most potent compound produced is Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG). This compound is what makes green tea such a miraculous beverage. The compound has a number of benefits some of which are to increase your metabolic rate and to help with weight loss.

EGCG is an antioxidant that will boost your metabolism and affects certain fat burning hormones eventually aiding in weight loss. The tea can also lower your blood sugar levels by inhibiting the activity of amylase which is to reduce the amount of sugar absorbed into the bloodstream. Amylase is an enzyme that is created when breaking down starches into simple sugars. Green tea also assists the digestive system by slowing down the activity of the digestive enzymes meaning fewer calories are absorbed by the intestines.

Lastly, it is a great substitute if you are trying to cut down your caffeine intake since green tea also contains caffeine but not as much as coffee. The amount is sufficient enough to allow you to reap the benefits of caffeine without getting its jittery effects.


The 2nd beverage was Cayenne Pepper beverage. Don’t stress we won’t be starving ourselves for 10 days like Queen Bey once did back in the day. The drink is a mixture of hot water and a teaspoon of cayenne pepper that you can drink in the morning before having breakfast. Furthermore, please beware that this beverage can be really spicy so I recommend that you only start with a quarter to a half of a teaspoon and then build your way up to a teaspoon of cayenne pepper.

Apart from being very spicy, cayenne pepper has numerous nutrients benefits. For example, 1 teaspoon has about 44% of the daily value of Vitamin A which is great because this ensures that you will have a healthy immune system and great eye-sight. The spice also helps protect cells from free-radical damage. And I'm sure you're properly thinking, “Girl bye, there are other ways to reap these benefits without having to burn my mouth every morning.” However, studies have shown that drinking a cup first thing in the morning will also help you lose weight, regulate blood sugar and assist the digestive system.

The beverage helps you lose weight by decreasing your appetite, meaning you consume fewer calories during the day and it burns excess fat by increasing your body’s temperature and kick-starting your metabolism. The drink also helps the digestive by producing more saliva, which is excellent for digestion. Lol, I promise you won’t be showering people with saliva when you’re talking to them.


I have saved the best for last, the ACL drink (that’s what I call it). This is the Apple Cider Vinegar, Cinnamon and Lemon drink, you could basically just call it a concoction because it has a bit more going on than the other 2 beverages. It also does not taste as horrible as it sounds, the cinnamon clouds out most of the vinegary taste but if it’s still not bearable you can always add a teaspoon of honey to make it a little sweeter.

This drink is effective because of the power ingredient cinnamon, cinnamon is a powerful spice that possesses antimicrobial properties that prevent many health issues. The spice helps the digestive system by breaking down fats. It also promotes weight loss by reducing your insulin resistance and increasing insulin capacity to metabolise blood sugar. This means it increases your sensitivity to insulin, which is vital to keeping blood sugar levels balanced. The spice also plays a part in blocking enzymes called alanine, which allows glucose (sugar) to be absorbed into the bloodstream. Added benefits, cinnamon helps boost brain functionality by improving cognitive ability and memory. It can also help improve your skin tone because it is a good source of fibre. The spice helps with flushing out toxins preventing them from clogging the skin thus improving the skin tone. Furthermore, if you are trying to cut down your sugar intake you can use cinnamon as a substitute, for example instead of adding sugar to your breakfast meals use cinnamon.

For this drink, you must only use Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar that contains ‘mother’, which is strands of protein, enzymes and friendly bacteria. To make sure that you have purchased the correct vinegar check if the appearance of the vinegar is musky or cloudy; if it is clear then it is a filtered vinegar. The vinegar improves insulin sensitivity during high-carb meals and the insulin response which in turn prevents high blood sugar levels from such meals. It can also reduce your visceral fat, i.e. belly fat when it's consumed daily. The unfiltered vinegar can be bought from nationwide  Dischem stores orWellness Warehouse Store.

Lastly, lemon which is a vitamin C rich citrus fruit that supports the digestive system makes the process of eliminating waste products from the body easier and ensures smooth bowel functions. It can enhance your beauty by rejuvenating the skin from within, bringing a glow to your face. Also, always drink diluted lemon juice because the concentrated one can ruin the enamel on the teeth.

How To Make The ACL: 
1- 2 teaspoons of cinnamon
1 teaspoon of Unfiltered Vinegar
1 teaspoon of freshly squeezed lemon/lemon juice



Lastly, I know that these drinks do have a lot of benefits by none of them will perform any cleansing or weight-loss miracles, so please don't try to consume more than a cup of the ACL and Cayenne Pepper drink per day thinking it will speed up the process. It will happen gradually.

My Current Hair Products:

So this post is basically about me not wanting to let go of a summer trend, the off-the-shoulder. The trend was revamped last summer where people began to turn their basic shirts into an off-the-shoulder item, by unbuttoning a few more buttons and pulling the shirt a little lower. However bare shoulders in winter are a no-no for me, Cape Town’s winter winds can be brutal. So I decided to go with a winter favourite technique, Layering. I layered my shirt with a turtleneck. However, if you’re a person that gets cold easily or just prefers to keep warm at all times you can add a coat or jacket to the outfit