Life By Asha Singh

Steenberg is synonymous with Sauvignon Blanc, the refreshing summer wine crafted from idyllic cool climate vineyards in the Constantia Wine Valley .  

The notion of clean beauty has been around for some time, but it has undoubtedly now become somewhat of a revolution, thanks to the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow and Goop et al. But what exactly is clean beauty ? And is it the same as green beauty ? And where does it fit in with the likes of natural, all-natural, plant-based, vegan and organic skincare and cosmetics ? It’s not surprising that even the conscious beauty consumer may find the choices a little confusing.  

In the South of France over 20 years ago, Panier des Sens, a brand of natural  resources was born. Under the shade of cypress trees and mimosas, the founder Jerome Lambruschini, combined his love for the region and typical south of France  lifestyle to create a committed brand of natural cosmetics. Inspired by the natural resources of France and old Mediterranean know-how,  the company creates perfumes, soaps, luxurious creams and oils as well as  candles and home fragrances – all of which magnify the beauty of Provence. Over the years Panier des Sens has developed its product with master soap  makers from Marseille and master parfumers from Grasse utilising their  artisanal skills and unique know-how. The natural and vegan formulas are designed and conceived in Provence,  always encouraging short circuits and local partnerships. These natural and  organic products have rich textures and delicate fragrances all carefully  formulated and const...

The scenery in the Cape Province is drenched in natural beauty. As a result, rather than being a means to an end, our roads have become destinations in their own right.  These are the top five places that should be on your road trip bucket list   to visit on your next road trip to the Cape Province , according to  motus.cars .

MSC Cruises recently opened sales for its 2023-24 sailing  season featuring its most modern ship to serve South Africa, MSC Splendida. The 14-deck passenger vessel can accommodate up to 4,363 passengers and features for the first time in  South Africa, the MSC Yacht Club – a premium ‘ship within a ship’ concept with 71 spacious suites, a  dedicated concierge desk, 24-hour butler service, private restaurant, swimming pool and sunbathing area. MSC Splendida will be based from November 2023 in the port of Durban and offer a range of voyages that  last between 3 and 14 nights to Namibia, Mozambique and other Indian Ocean destinations . MSC Cruises  will in total operate 35 sailings of MSC Splendida from both Durban and Cape Town during 2023-24. Ross Volk, Managing Director, MSC Cruises South Africa said, “MSC Splendida will take cruising in South  Africa to the next level and redefine holidays at sea. It will give our guests of all ages an incredible  o...

  The magic continues in one of the best known and retold fairy tales of all time   “Aladdin is so much more than a ‘boy meets girl’ story with bad guys and magic,” says Director Glenn Hayden of the current production of Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp running at the Theatre of Marcellus at Emperors Palace until the 4 th  of December.     With a spectacular 21 st  Century take on the old-time classic fairy tale, Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp is filled with dreams mixed with incredible artistry and a thrilling and colourful production which continues to remind us that the magic is in all of us…and we could all do with a little hope and love at this time of the year.   When we think of magic, Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp is one of the first stories that comes to mind.  Aladdin is a classic ‘rags to riches’ tale with a young hero, a beautiful princess, and an evil villain, and is made complete with genies, wishes and magic. The story is one of...

November 2022 is a month to celebrate… because it is   Col'Cacchio Pizzeria's 30th anniversary ! It’s with great pride and joy that restaurateur-and-entrepreneur- duo, Kinga Baranowska and Michael Terespolsky have reached this milestone.

Loxtonia , the range of 100% pure apple ciders from the Ceres Valley, have launched two  LITE versions of their most popular ciders – Crispy Apple and Blush – in pace with the ever-growing trend towards no and low alcohol lifestyle alternatives.

Earlier this year I was luckily enough to visit the iconic The Capital Zimbali in Durban . Truly a world-class coastal getaway, The Capital Zimbali is located in Ballito, around 20 minutes north of King Shaka Airport in Durban . The weekend of my stay happened to be a very stormy and rainy weekend in the East Coast but nevertheless The Capital Zimbali had loads to do to keep me busy and it still proved to be an incredible getaway.

If you haven't read my full review of Four Seasons The Westcliff , what are you waiting for? During my stay I also visited the acclaimed Flames restaurant at the hotel . Here's my experience of the dinner and breakfast at Flames.  

In August 2022 I got to experience world-class, 5-star luxury right here in Johannesburg , at Four Seasons The Westcliff . This hillside gem overlooks the  Rosebank and Johannesburg CBD skylines .

On a recent trip to Durban I spent a night at Sibaya Lodge located just next to Sibaya Casino and Entertainment Kingdom , north of Durban. With a touch of Zulu elements in the decor and style, Sibaya Lodge is a fantastic North Coast getaway that offers great value for money . It's designed to reflect the royal heritage of KwaZulu-Natal . As a KZN born and bred, I can confirm that it in fact does reflect the Natal vibe. Overlooking the Indian Ocean, I can't think of a better way to enjoy the warm KZN weather. I couldn't believe my stay was in the middle of winter! MY VERDICT: Family-friendly bed and breakfast accommodation that reflects the feel of KZN with Sibaya Casino easily accessible   Set on one of KwaZulu-Natal’s rolling green hills, Sun International’s  Sibaya  Casino and Entertainment Kingdom commands a magnificent 360 degree view of the Indian Ocean and the lush subtropical vegetation surrounding the 48 hectare North Coast property. The architecture o...

This weekend I had the pleasure of staying at the Fairway Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort at the Randpark Golf Course in Johannesburg . This hidden gem comes as a complete surprise as it's tucked away in the residential suburb of Randpark Ridge . It's a piece of luxury and escape in a peaceful area.

Mother's Day, on 8th May 2022,  is a great time to show Mom how much you appreciate her. Get more from your Mom’s Day treat with this delicious recipe.

A pet is more than a loyal companion; they’re an important part of the family and truly make a house feel like a home.  To ensure your pet’s health and happiness, here are some tips on how to take care of your pet . 

Easter is around the corner and that means plenty of South Africans are eagerly awaiting some much-needed time off and a delicious Easter lunch . With time off and food being a winning combination, there is one key ingredient missing – a stunning location . Of course, your dining room table may be a fine piece of wood, it’s got nothing on the setting that Mzansi can provide when creating your seat at the table .   In Mzansi, we have the world in one country so there are always plenty of options to recreate your seat at the table. 

Life can get quite hectic. If we’re not trying to meet work deadlines, helping the kids with homework we know absolutely nothing about, we’re keeping abreast of popular series so we don’t read or hear any spoilers! Don’t you fret. Throughout the hustle and bustle of everyday life, there’s always a sweet, soft spot in every special moment. Do you want to know how you can find the sweet spot amidst the chaos? ‘Nougat’ it!  

Unilever has recently launched the redesigned look and formulation of the much loved Handy Andy creams. The renovation of the Handy Andy cream features a new modern look, improved product formulation and an innovative packaging solution in keeping with Unilever’s Clean Future strategy. The Clean Future strategy details how Unilever intends to incorporate sustainability-oriented ideas into its product formulations and packaging to decrease its carbon footprint.

Handy Andy’s innovative at-home refill will reduce consumer plastic waste  Unilever announces the launch of Handy Andy Floor and All-Purpose concentrated refill . The new 200ml refill allows consumers to refill and reuse their Handy Andy 750ml Floor and All-purpose bottles for life.  The 200ml and 750ml bottles are 100% recyclable once the plastic cap and labels are removed and are made from recycled materials which reflects Unilever's commitment to decreasing the use of virgin plastic and single-use plastic as part of their Clean Future Strategy . The Clean Future Strategy is unique in its intent to embed the circular economy principles into both packaging and product formulations at the scale of global brands to reduce their carbon footprint.  Unilever has committed that by 2025 it will halve its use of virgin plastic, by reducing its absolute use of plastic packaging by more than 100,000 tonnes and accelerating its use of recycled plastic. Made with 60% less plastic...

It’s been 5 years of Uber Eats in South Africa ! I don’t know about you but I can’t imagine life before Uber Eats . It’s been such a game-changer for me especially since starting a new job and not having time to make dinner most nights. Let’s not forget how it’s gotten me through the pandemic as it helped me support all my favourite restaurants without having to leave the house. And with all the awesome 2 for 1 deals , it’s also been a great way to order out without breaking the bank. I can’t imagine what 2020 and 2021 would have been like without the app.

We all have that one family member or friend who just knows how to keep a clean house. It never really matters what time of day you visit them; their home always looks the same, spotless! There are no dishes in the sink, kids toys or clothes randomly popping up or even dust and grime on their surfaces. It almost seems too good to be true considering just how much of a drag cleaning can be, but the truth is it doesn't always have to be this way. Keeping a tidy home does not always mean having to spend long hours cleaning from top to bottom. In reality, all it takes is simply adopting some good housekeeping habits to help you keep your home in good shape effortlessly. Over time, I realised that keeping my home clean doesn't have to take up a lot of time and effort but simply working smarter to keep the mess at bay. I have put together five of my best daily cleaning habits that have helped me keep my house looking fresh and clean with minimal effort, of course!  Freshen up your be...

This past week, South Africa's favourite health and wellness brand,  Faithful To Nature took us through a beauty journey for their Clean Beauty Week . Built around the celebration of ethical, sustainable and clean beauty products, Faithful To Nature presented a curated collection of products as well as tips and insights on how to enhance your skincare regime. One of the highlights of the week, was an awesome live featuring Sibongile Mafu, Robyn Smithand Atlantic Dermatology as they explored the ingredients that make up the perfect morning, evening and weekly skincare routines.