Beauty Archives - Playground of Randomness

Category: Beauty

14
Feb
2025

My Top 4 South African Beauty Brands

categories: Beauty

I am OBSESSED with good skin. I had horrible skin as a teen and in my mid-twenties developed horrible under eye lines (I worked Customer Care and it took it’s toll on my skin). Shortly after moving to Marketing, I discovered some AMAZING local beauty brands and lemme tell you they are doing all the things. Here are 4 South African beauty brands I’m obsessed with. If you love supporting local and are looking to take care of your skin, definitely try this brands out.

Switch Beauty

Switch Beauty offers a variety of make-up and skincare items as well as really cute merch. I love their quick delivery and how they made sunscreen effortless by creating a roll-on sunscreen!

Must-Try Items:

#MonoTint – universal lip, eye and cheek tint (This tint adds a subtle but gorgeous hint of colour)

#AirBalm – dewy lip tint (available in a variety of colours, this lip tint allows you to build the colour YOU want with each application)

Standard Beauty

Standard Beauty- available online and in some Clicks stores- offers products for your skin and your hair.

I credit Standard Beauty with my skin. Which is a weird statement to make but it’s true. After I overdid it with actives in my skincare and then had Oratane damage my skin even more, the Standard Beauty Customer Care team helpfully recommended a few products to help me heal my skin barrier. I’ve since pledged my undying loyalty to them.

Must-Try Items:

The mini range (a great way to learn which products work with your skin)

The green range (this range fixes your skin barrier and leaves you with super soft skin)

Silki

Silki offers products for your hair and your skin. What I really love about them is the super colourful packaging. IDK. It makes me happy. My favourite silki products are the serums and the sunscreen. Silki sunscreen was the first sunscreen that I used that didn’t leave me with a white cast and it feels super lightweight which I loved.

Must-Try Items:

SPF30+ Daily Defence Sunscreen (See above)

1% Bakuchiol serum (A plant-based retinol that reduces fine lines and improves skin tone)

Beauty on Tapp

My happy place! Beauty on Tapp offers tons of different skincare brands all under one roof (or website, if you don’t have a store near you). I visited their store recently and it was such an amazing experience I can’t wait to go back.

Must-Try Items:

Anything. Everything. (Might be a good idea to go with a brand you’re familiar with though).

09
Feb
2025

Review: Beauty on TApp

categories: Beauty, Reviews

I’ve known about the Beauty on TApp website for a while but never bought from them. I have my tried-and-tested skincare brands, and I never quite had enough in my cart to qualify for free shipping. So, when I heard they were opening a store in Durban, I was thrilled.

But then life happened, and I only just got around to visiting.

Walking in felt like stepping into skincare heaven—all my favorite brands and products in ONE place! The best part? They had testers, which meant I could try products before committing. Since I usually judge skincare based on how it feels on my skin, this was the perfect opportunity to explore new brands I’d been considering.

The Gateway store also offers skin consultations for R400, where you get a full skin assessment and product recommendations tailored to your needs.

But what I really want to talk about is the store itself- I was in LOVE! I tried on tons of things before finally settling on the product I came in for (Pastry body wash). I was ready to pay… only to get distracted by an assortment of face masks at the cashier—and then again at the door.

My only regret? I wish I needed more stuff! I overdid it during Black Friday and now have enough skincare to last me the whole year.

If you haven’t checked it out yet, now is the perfect time. Whether you’re looking to restock your staples or explore new finds, Beauty on TApp makes the experience feel like a dream!

18
Apr
2021

6 Ideas for Selfcare Sunday

categories: Beauty, Welcome to The Real World

So Selfcare Sunday is by no means a new idea however it is something new for me.

I usually wait until I am close to tears before I decide “That’s it. I need a break.”

By picking a specific day, I know I am going to actually make time for me and I swear it makes the work week easier. Here are 6 ideas on what you can do to carve out some time for yourself. Also side note- it might say Sunday but you can (and should) always make time for YOU!

Enjoy a warm beverage- For me this is either hot chocolate or a second cup of tea/coffee. Nothing brings me more comfort than the feel of a warm mug in my hands. (Often I end up drinking lukewarm tea because I was too busy using the mug to warm my hands).
Journalling- Get out all your thoughts before the week begins so you can start the new week clearheaded and free. Bonus points for writing out your to-do list for the week so when the morning rolls around, you know exactly what it is that you need to do.
Coloring- Coloring is an excellent destresser and a great way to calm your mind.
Have a spa day- Whether it’s just a face mask and moisturizer or a full-on facial, take the time to treat your skin. It’ll feel amazing AND your face will be glowing by the end.
Go all out for breakfast- Treat Yo self. And your tummy. You deserve to be spoiled and what better way that to start your day and your week with a breakfast that you’ll love.
Escape into a book or TV show- Now this is something you all know I love. Watch some Netflix or catch up on your reading. You can escape reality without even leaving your couch.

Do you participate in Selfcare Sundays? What are your Sunday selfcare tips? I’d love to know below.

28
Jan
2020

The Importance of Self Care and How to Make Time for It

categories: Beauty

A little while back, I read a life-changing book on skincare called The Little Book of Skincare by Charlotte Cho. The book emphasized how important it was to make time for yourself and your skin. I followed the book religiously and it wasn’t long before I realized how much better I felt when I made time to take care of myself. Fast forward a few months and self-care is mentioned more and more often.

It goes beyond just the physical though. Whether it’s spending time with family and friends or just having a lazy day, self-care is what you make of it. It is taking time out to put your needs first.

What do we need self-care?

In today’s busy world, we put everyone and everything before ourselves which usually leads to burnout. By taking the time out for self-care, you put effort into making sure you’re running at perk performance. You cannot help others if you cannot help yourself first.

How to Make Time for Self-Care

Plan it in advance- Like I said before, self-care is important so if you need to actually schedule it in, do so. I have certain times and dates reserved for family or friends, Netflix and Chill or Korean sheet masks. Say it with me, “I deserve a break.”
Make it part of a routine- Maybe do your routine at a specific time or a specific day so that it lines up with your plans
Make it a priority- Life happens. If you miss out on your self-care once in a while it is no big deal but make sure you DO make sure you eventually get some down time.

What is your self-care routine? Do you make time to do it every week? I’d love to know below.