The Little Guru

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Beauty Review | Down To Earth

Beauty Review | Down to earth

Another beauty review is here! Beauty Review | Down to Earth and we are particularly excited about this one.

Down To Earth is a smart, simple skincare and wellness solution that harnesses the healing goodness of plant extracts. The Down To Earth range of products is designed to enhance skin health, and physical well-being, and alleviate the symptoms of a range of common ailments. When you look great, you feel great – and Down To Earth’s goal is to help you and your family experience both, enhancing the quality of your life.

Down To Earth started out in 1997, originally founded by Anthony Rees (of The Traditional and Natural Health Alliance), a trained herbalist and environmental activist, who wanted the company to reflect environmentally conscious ingredients and choices.

The company’s flagship product featured African potato extract – a powerful plant extract rich in phytosterols, with potent anti-inflammatory properties and packed with antimicrobial and antioxidant-rich compounds. We can vouch for this. The product it pretty amazing!

Practical and user friendly beauty

PRACTICAL AND USER-FRIENDLY – Down To Earth specialises in natural daily skincare and skin ailment solutions that harness the healing goodness of plant extracts. Fuss-free, and multi-purpose products to help simplify your daily life and to give you peace of mind.

If you’re seeking relief from pain, inflammation, skin conditions, or abrasions – or simply want a healthy, natural skincare range to maintain the health of your skin as part of your daily routine – then this range is for you.

The naturally active plant-based skincare range, inspired and assisted by nature, is designed to provide you with a planet-friendly choice that is healthy, safe, and incredibly effective.

The Good Stuff

Bodycare

Incorporating the Down to Earth products into my daily routine has been a breeze! Like the All Over Wash and Body Lotion has completely replaced my night time moisturisers for my body and body wash.

Formulated to nurture while it cleans with the help of aloe ferox, honeybush, grape seed and palmarosa oils, it works to prevent moisture-loss, and protects sensitive skin and scalp. If there is one thing that this body lotion does, is that it leaves skin soft and plump, nurturing those with sensitive skin.

Keeping it Down to Earth

Okay, I’m going to keep it real with you guys. A lot of beauty products have come my way and I would like to think I have a decent amount of knowledge when it comes to skincare. So when Down to Earth landed on my beauty desk, I was sceptical.

I thought here is another brand that is all organic and natural and will never show results. They proved me wrong. This brand has by far surpassed my wildest expectations because I am actually seeing POSITIVE results! The Lotions and Body wash have been extremely gentle on my skin and actually repairing it the more I use it! It really is such an amazing product and they even have an award to show for it! Woman and Home Bodycare Winner for 2022!

The dynamic team have gone above and beyond to offer us what we need for keeping our skin, simply healthy. Giving us peace of mind in choosing products that are all-natural, safe to use, and free from any harmful additives or chemicals.

Bundle for the Whole Family

I have truly loved everything single product in the pack. The Down to Earth Team has set up Bundles that will make your life a little easier when deciding on what you need, which is something I find so helpful when starting out with a new skincare brand. You can check out the bundles here. I wont doubt you will find one that’s perfect for your family.

If you are looking for simple, no fuss, natural body care products that will offer your skin visible results, then I urge you to give Down To Earth a try. A brand that will be taking residence in my beauty cabinet for the years to come.

September 30, 2022
How Environ & Beauty Bulletin got me to #FocusOnFlawless Skin!
As you already know, I have been really giving my skin undivided attention this year and stepping up on my beauty regime to keep my skin looking younger and more vibrant and wrinkle free. So, you can imagine my delight when the Beauty Bulletin Team slid into my DM’s asking me to take part in the Environ campaign!

My first job aged 16, I worked in a beauty salon as a receptionsit. This is where I was introduced to the beauty world and to the product that we spolighting on today- Environ. It was my first ever really grown-up skincare product that I had ever purchased. To be honest, skincare was never a ‘thing’ for me back then, but now this ‘thing’ that was in the past is becoming an obsession for my ‘future’ skin, and I’m pretty thankful that I stepped foot through that beauty salon.

Founded in 1990, Dr Des Fernandes discovered the essential role that Vitamin A plays in skin health and how it visably improves skin. The man is a genius to say the least because the new FocusCare Youth+ Range is everything you need to younger, more radiant looking skin!

Environ Focus Care™ Youth+ Revival Masque

Retails for R1020 per 50ml

The Environ Focus Care™ Youth+ Revival Masque has been formulated with three powerful ingredients to improve the skin’s overall look and increase future resilience.
- Lactic Acid,
- Asiatic Acid and
- Mandelic Acid
Lactic Acid increases the look of hydration in the skin and it is known to lighten the appearance of pigmented marks.
Research has shown that Asiatic Acid helps to increase the look of regenerated skin. Mandelic Acid is useful in rejuvenating the appearance of pigmented areas. These 3 ingredients work together to refine the skin’s texture and tone, leaving it looking healthier and more youthful.

Environ Focus Care Moisture+ Vita-Antioxidant Hydrating Oil Capsules

Vita-Antioxidant Hydrating Oil Capsules deliver a concentrated burst of vitamin enriched hydration for the skin. Containing a blend of Retinol and Antioxidants, these capsules may help to protect the skin against the damaging effects of free radicals. By enriching your skin with natural surface oils, it is left looking visibly refreshed and energised. Hydrating Oil Capsules may be added to your daily routine when the skin requires a hydrating boost.

The Review

The masque comes in an airless pump dispenser which is fantastic because it allows you to use the correct amount of product which means no wastage! Along with the masque comes a small synthetic brush for a neat application. The masque product has a very light milky colour to it but when applied it dry’s clear and very quickly! It is super gentle on your skin and doesn’t leave that tight feeling when applied to the face and neck. I used two pumps on my face and neck each time I used the masque, once a week at first then twice a week to get my skin used to it as I have very sensitive skin. On first application there was the slightest tingle but it disappeared quite quickly once the masque dried. I made sure that I noted all the fine lines on the corner of my eyes and around my mouth to see if I would see a difference in the weeks to follow.

Well ladies and gents, I’m delighted to say that my fines lines have visibly reduced too almost nothing! My skin feels healthy for the first time in a long time and I’m amazed that I can keep using the masque without fear that my skin will become overly sensitive to the product!

Along with the masque, I received a small tub of Oil Capsules, 10 to be exact. I was quit nervous about using Oil and applying to my face as other face oils that I have used in the past had my skin break out into the tinest little pimple that took FOREVER to go away! But none-the-less, I put a brave face on and smoothed that oli all over my face.

There we 2 things that took me by suprise:

1.How does a tiny capsule of oil cover my entire face AND neck
2.For a silicone-like textured oil, how quickly it absorbed into the skin and DIDN’T make it oily!

I was shocked at how beautifully the oil absorbed into the skin and left my skin feeling light and moisturised. It has completely changed my feeling towards oil based skincare formulas! The Hydrating Oil works beautifully with the masque. It truly left my skin feeling moisturised, hydrated and vibrant.

It is unheard of to use a product and see results so quickly but with the Environ Focus Care Youth + Range, I truly did. I am so happy I got to participate in the Environ trial with Beauty Bulletin. Environ has been around for years and with products like this, it gives you peace of mind to know that it’s a high quality brand that is worth every penny!

Have you tried any Environ products and are you keen to try the Focus Care Youth+ Range?

You won’t regret it!
November 20, 2018
All Aboard: 10 Photos to Inspire you to Visit Venice!

Venice has been known as the “La Dominante,” “Serenissima,” “Queen of the Adriatic,” “City of Water,” “City of Masks,” “City of Bridges,” “The Floating City,” and “City of Canals.” It’s one of my favourite places that I have been blessed to have seen and hope to go back one day!

Stay tuned for more article on my “All Aboard” series!

xxx

June 6, 2018
Self Love: How to Dress for Success!
Everyone knows that when you look good you feel good too. Wearing the right clothes can really boost your confidence, which can lead to success in many different areas of your life. It’s worth to invest some time in making sure you look your best when it comes to clothes. Luckily, doing so needn’t be difficult. By sticking to some basic principles you’ll always be able to look sharp and ready to deal with whatever comes your way. Here are our three top ways to help you dress for success.
1. Keep your clothes spic and span
First things first, whatever it is you actually wear make sure it is clean and presentable. Avoiding stained, old, hole-ridden or otherwise not ship shape outer-wear is a good place to start if you want to feel good about your fashion choices. Go through your items regularly to check they are all in good condition. For anything that’s not, decide whether it’s possible to repair / clean and if not, recycle. Lots of things can be spruced up with a bit of work. Look online for helpful resources such as guides on how to clean suede shoes or what to do about stained leather. Once you know this sort of thing, it’s relatively easy to fix up old items to look as good as new.
1. Organise your wardrobe
While you are going through your clothes to check they are in good condition, why not take the opportunity to organise your wardrobe too? By having a clear and helpful system to storing your clothes you are much more likely to be able to find the thing you need quickly and so help you create your perfect look even on busy mornings. Everyone has a different approach to organising their wardrobe – some like to organise by garment type, others by colour or even fabric. Whatever system you use, make sure to maintain it so that you can quickly get to the top, shirt or pair of shoes you want.
1. Have a few go-to outfits that work
Finally, if you struggle to decide what to wear, it’s easy to deal with this by having a few go-to options that you know work. Take photos of yourself in around five outfits that you like and which work for various types of occasion. Stick the photos on the inside of your wardrobe door and whenever you don’t know what you want to put on in the morning, revert to one of these classics.

Those are our top tips for dressing for success. Remember to make sure all your garments are in good shape by knowing important things like how to clean suede shoes and keep them looking sharp! Keep your wardrobe well organised and have some go-to outfits ready just in case. By following these three simple rules you’ll always look good and enjoy the confidence boost that comes as a result! When you look good, you feel good and that’s where the love happens!

** Sponsered Article**
June 1, 2018
Longevity Event – All About Healthy Living with MNI

Last week I attend my first Longevity Event and it was so amazing! Here is the details of what went down!

The exclusive readers event was held at the gorgeous Munro Boutique Hotel in Houghton. Longevity and MNI (Medical Nutritional Institute) were the hosts for the day, sharing healthy lifestyle tips and prevention’s. The MNI Healthy Lifestyle Team of experts shared key information to preventing Metabolic Syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a combination of risk factors that together increase the risk of serious conditions such as diabetes, heart attacks and strokes, liver disease and even certain types of cancer. Our modern lifestyle puts the entire family at risk of MetS, which is becoming increasingly common in younger people.

The Munro Boutique Hotel

Arriving at the gorgeous Hotel, I couldn’t stop myself from taking pictures of this beautiful place! It was the perfect setting for the MNI workshop allowing guests to roam freely and chat to the medical experts that were coming around introducing themselves to their guests.

We were warmly welcomed to the beautiful outside area of the hotel to indulge in some healthy breakfast goodies before the start of the workshop!

Caught in the Act! Picture taken by the Lovely Joy Gracious

How gorgeous is this setting?!

Ultimate Freshness! Getting Healthy with MNI

Breakfast Served!

Enjoying the beauty of The Munro Boutique Hotel before the start of the Workshop

Healthy Living

Before the start of the workshop, we had the option of doing a free health screening which was discussed in the workshop to see our health status in real time!

What followed was an interactive discussion and information a a group of MNI’s finest medical experts in their field.The panel of experts included:

Valerie Thomas– a registered nurse with a special interest in preventative wellness. She is the manager of the MNI Academy. The focus of the Academy is to promote the value of primary healthcare that shifts the focus from reactive to proactive intervention. Valerie was very real in the sense of telling it like it is and no beating around the bush and because of it, she captivated us with her witty humor and impressive knowledge on MetS. She was just brilliant!

Engela Palmer is a biokineticist. The primary function of a biokineticist it to improve physical functioning and healthcare through exercise. After being the senior bio at DBC SA and Physical Fitness, Engela joined the Medical Nutritional Institute where she is the product specialist manager. Engela made sure we got our exercise in on that morning by making us do easy exercise in our very seat.

Nicola Grant is a registered dietician who incorporates the principles of food science with integrative medicine. In addition to her thriving practice. Nicola spoke about the importance of a healthy balanced diet and benefits thereof.

The workshop was so informative and really gave me some perspective in the matter of leading a healthier lifestyle. Dealing with an already existing heart/lung condition, I know that I have higher risk of getting MetS. The workshop gave me insightful knowledge on what to look out for and what to do to prevent it.

Leading a healthy lifestyle doesn’t happen overnight especially in this fast paced world we live in today. It does take time, but it’s do-able, with the help of MNI. Check out their website here and fill out the free evaluation forms to see if your health is in check!

For more info contact the MNI team here.

Want to join the next Longevity event? Buy your tickets here!

October 17, 2017
Liebster Award Nomination
The Liebster award is an award that is given from one blogger to another. I, like my dear friend Nikita from Hearts in her shoes, who by the way inspired me to start my own blog, too was unaware of the Liebster award and so excited that I was nominated for the award! Thank you Nikita! Check out her amazing blog here.

The Rules of the Liebster Award:
- Give a link back to the blogger that nominated you for a Liebster Awards
- Answer all the questions that the blogger that nominated you for the award
- Then choose 5-11 other bloggers that have under 1000 followers as your nominees
- Also create a new set of questions for your nominees to answer to keep the ball rolling.
- Don’t forget to notify the nominees via social media
Here is the questions Nikita asked:

1.What would be your dream job?
When I was growing up I wanted to be a Veterinarian, but then as the years went by I thought to myself thank goodness I didn’t! I would fail miserably at that job because I would get too attached to the animal and cry- alot. So, realistically now, I would be quite content living on a farm training dogs- Ideal!

2. What is a hidden talent of yours?
Hmm.. I can eat a whole pizza by myself- That’s a talent right?

3. What does writing/blogging mean to you?
I’m the quiet type, so for me blogging is a way for me to express myself in any and every way possible. Be it a product that Iv fallen in love with or sharing my travel adventures, its really a fun way to share your everyday happenings without any judgement.

4. Which blogs do you enjoy reading?
I love all of them- Wedding, photography, lifestyle, beauty and especially DIY Tips and Trick. I love all things creative and try to apply to my everyday life.

5. What is the scariest thing you have done?
Would have to be when I jumped off a high wall into a pool. For the life of me I cant remember where it was but I do know that I was a tiny tot jumping towards this enormous pool. It was probably like 2 meters high but I just remember it being super scary.

6. Have you ever done something that you thought you would never do?
Not yet.. but I think it will happen though.

7. What is one of your guilty pleasures that make you cringe when you think about it?
Oh man.. It has to be having Coca Cola in a mug and drinking it with a teaspoon. *facepalm*
I know! I know! Its weird…

8.Where in the world would you live and why?
At this point in my life I wish I had traveled to a lot more places, but I’ve been pretty lucky to have at least traveled to a few like Philadelphia, Washington, Madeira, Portugal, Seychelles and most recently Cape Town. Each place was so beautiful and so unique in its own way and I loved every minute of it but the thing is that at every country or place I would say this one sentence every time- “I can’t wait to go back home”. So to answer the question I would have to say that I would stay right where I am. In this beautiful place we call South Africa. Yes, no doubt we have our downfalls, but who’s to say all the other places are perfect..? SA is my home and deep down inside I think it always will be.

9. With almost half of 2016 over with, what has the year taught you so far?
I cant believe that we are already half way but I would have to say that we need make the most out of everything. Life nowadays is proving to be way too short. We need to learn to be a bit bolder, a bit more adventurous and just love fiercely.

10. What is the one piece of advice that you hold dear?
That things happen for a reason and that we should never take anything for granted.

Fellow Bloggers that I am nominating for the Liebster Award:

Anja from Glitz & Grammer
Meg from Meg Interrupted
Cara from Cara Fay
Irina from I’ll Take It All
Vanessa from Absolute Vanessa

My questions to you:
1. What inspired you to start a blog?
2. What is your main focus for your blog?
3. Who or Where did you get your inspiration from?
4. What makes you different form other bloggers?
5. Cat person or Dog person?
6. Favorite SA Celebrity?
7. Favorite travel destination? Why?
8. Travel solo or with someone?
9. How many places have you traveled to?
10. Favorite shade of lipstick?
Congrats new nominees and enjoy!

xoxo
May 26, 2016