African clean beauty brands have been stripping back cosmetic recipes to their natural roots. By following the practices of their ancestors, beauty brand entrepreneurs are harnessing nature’s...
Beauty
Easy ways to switch up your bath and beauty routine to lower your impact on nature
The bathroom is one of the main culprits of the endless demand for products contained within single-use plastics. I’m afraid a lot of the responsibility for this, as in many other cases, is down to...
5 Clean, local and sustainable lip balms for winter
With the pandemic, we have had to adapt to face masks which meant that we ditched wearing lipstick. But pandemic or not, beauty treatment shouldn't be ignored. You might not be wearing lipstick, but...
What science says about toothbrush and toothpaste alternatives
Most people use toothbrushes, toothpaste and dental floss to clean their teeth, but their use is by no means universal. Many indigenous groups, as well as people in developing countries, use...
9 Zero-waste beauty products to change up your routine
Product packaging is the number one contributor of plastic waste. The cosmetic industry is guilty of exacerbating this problem with its excessive packaging. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation advises...
Skin Minimalism: Using only 3 products will reduce waste and help save the planet
Simplifying your skincare is not just better for your skin, but better for the planet too. We should all be familiar with the three R’s of waste hierarchy – reduce, reuse, recycle. While there is a...
5 Earth-friendly sunscreens to get you summer-ready
5 Vegan, earth-friendly sunscreens that will help keep you safe from the sun damaging effects.
5 South African products for a sustainable skincare routine
Founder of Plaiin and graduate in organic skincare formulation, Megan Cozens sums up skincare well: “Ultimately, you want a product with as few ingredients as possible. Simple, yet effective.” She...
Beauty Spot: Ori Organics uses indigenous knowledge to promote slow living
Indigenous practices are being displaced by fast-paced, consumerist lifestyles according to Denisha Anand who intends to slow down this pace, and to reconnect people to these practices. Her...
Beauty Spot: How O’live grew from passion project to livelihood
Husband and wife team, Sipho and Zikhona Tefu started their organic, handmade and natural skincare brand O’live in their kitchen in 2011. Zikhona produced a batch of 10 soaps as a personal...
Earth-friendly period products made in South Africa
With a growing, global consciousness about the environment, the need for sustainable feminine products is obvious. Enter Juanita Kotze who, with partners Aldré Geldenhuys of V&G Personal...
How founder of a natural beauty brand, Mosa Skosana, treads on Earth
Just a few years ago, Mosa Skosana stepped out of the corporate world as a group marketing communications manager to learn about the history and science of soap ingredients. The thirty-three year...
Kafui Awoonor: 3 Tips for staying sane and serene during lockdown
Growing up, the Ghanain-born yoga instructor, and natural beauty and wellness expert Kafui Awoonor watched her grandmother mix shea butters and concoct natural oils to keep the family's skin healthy...
The eco-conscious salon that will change how you care for your hair
MOP Hair wasn’t an eco-conscious salon when Shanti O'Hagen first opened over eight years ago. “I used whatever brands I wanted to work with. At home I was conscious of waste and sustainability, but...
6 Safe Sunscreens For Your Handbag
We’re pretty sure that your tubes and tubs of summer sunscreen are empty-ing. With winter still a while away, we have recommendations for sustainable sunblocks to keep your skin and the planet safe....