South Africa has no shortage of world-class skincare brands. In fact, several of our local skincare brands rival even the very best international brands. Not only do we have some of the world’s best scientists and product formulators working in our midst, but we are also home to some of the world’s best natural ingredients.
This winter, we’ve been enjoying several proudly South African skincare products. These are the ones that stand out:
Lamelle
Lamelle is always at the forefront of innovation, offering home-grown skincare with world-class, cutting-edge technology. This winter we’ve been using Urban Defence 30, a facial SPF specially designed for city living, and a first of its kind.
Whether you live in the heart of the city or in the suburbs, your skin needs protection from particulate matter (PM), harmful contaminates suspended in the air and completely invisible to the human eye. Exposure to PM can accelerate the ageing process and increase hyperpigmentation. Urban Defence 30 (R550.00) was developed with potent antioxidants, offering powerful protection against PM cell injury as well as PM-driven ageing, inflammation and hyperpigmentation. It’s a must-have for anyone living in, or near, a city, plus it’s the only SPF on the market offering effective protection against particulate matter!
Shop online here.
Fundamentals skincare
We know that times are tough, and that consumers are always on the lookout for quality skincare products at an affordable price. Enter Fundamentals skincare, a brand that’s passionate about making consumers love their skin (and feel confident in it!), without having to break the bank. Focused on giving skin the essentials it needs for good health, Fundamentals, as their name suggests, is all about providing skin with the fundamental ingredients it needs to look and feel its best.
The winning product for us is the Fundamentals Clay Masque (R149.00). A leave-on rejuvenation masque, it offers antioxidant protection for smoother, rejuvenated and radiant skin. It’s safe to use on any skin type and is vegan, cruelty-free and fragrance-free.
Shop online here.
Litchi & Titch
Litchi & Titch is an all-natural brand focussing on plant, seed, fruit and flower oils to create potent skin-boosting formulations. Essential oils play a vital role in the beautiful fragrances found throughout their range. The Litchi & Titch range includes body and skincare products, home fragrances and essential oil blends. Pawpaw and baobab form the basis of several products – especially in the body and skincare ranges. The products are locally manufactured in Franschhoek in small batches, and the brand has a strict cruelty-free and harmful ingredient-free policy.
We’ve been enjoying Litchi & Titch Lime & Coconut Luxurious Lotion (R250.00), a beautifully-scented body lotion that locks in moisture and heals dry skin with the help of paw paw and baobab, and Litchi & Titch The Serum Botanical Infusion (R950.00), a complex blend of plant, seed and flower oils that hydrate, nourish, calm, soothe, balance and bring a natural glow to skin.
Shop online here.
Lelive
Lelive was created by Amanda du-Pont in 2020, but in a really short time it’s already grown to be a favourite among natural skincare enthusiasts. Utilising the very best natural African ingredients, Lelive makes skincare that is clean, simple, effective and affordable. All products in the range have been formulated to be kind to you and the environment, meaning the products are free from potentially harmful ingredients, they’re cruelty-free and their ingredients (which are 95% natural and up to 5% plant-identical) are sourced responsibly, locally.
We’re currently using Lelive’s Jelly Splash (R329.00) cleanser. Filled with the natural goodness of aloe, rooibos, green tea and rose water to soothe and purify, and salicylic acid, niacinamide and lactic acid to renew, this jelly cleanser is great for first thing in the morning, or as a second cleanse in the evening (especially if you wore makeup). It’s got a lovely jelly texture and fresh, natural scent.
Shop online here.
SKIN functional
We’re major SKIN functional fans – we love that their products contain active ingredients, but don’t cost an arm and a leg. This season we’ve been enjoying two of their newest launches: Hydrating Tonic (1% Centella Asiatica + 2% Hyaluronic Acid) and Regenerative Cream (5% Centella Asiatica + C.H.O. Complex). This duo is perfect for winter, as they help restore and protect the skin’s barrier function.
The Hydrating Tonic (R250.00) helps improve barrier function by inhibiting trans-epidermal water loss as well as replenishing ceramide reserves. It’s a powerhouse in boosting hydration through multiple skin layers and increasing collagen production. Regenerative Cream (R385.00) repairs the skin barrier for optimal functioning, suppresses inflammation, reduces redness, replaces depleted ceramides and hydrates the skin. It is suitable for all skin types and prevents tight, dry and crepey skin that often creeps in during the winter months.
Shop online here.
Optiphi
Another one of SA’s brilliant cosmeceutical skincare brands, Optiphi, tackles acne and breakouts with their newest launch, Clarity Mousse Mask. The most common culprits of acne and skin breakouts are a combination of an increase in hormones, specifically the Androgen hormone, which increases oil production, and a build-up of dead skin cells causing the skin follicles and pores to be obstructed. This in turn causes an imbalance of the skin’s microbiome and makes the skin vulnerable to bacterial disruption and inflammation.
We’ve been using Clarity Mousse Mask (R690.00) once or twice a week to curb breakouts. It contain several high-powered ingredients to help preserve the skin’s health and clarity: Lactococcus Ferment Lysate and Epilobium Fleisheri Extract deliver probiotic action to balance the skin’s microbiome, green clay refines the skin, Bakuchiol, a retinol alternative, offers a calming and soothing effect and vitamin B3 (Niacinamide) improves the barrier function.
Shop online here.
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