All4Women HQ!
...an informal blog by All4Women staffers
04 May 2012
13:30:00
Product of the week: Ruby Kisses Eyeshadow Magic
Always find your eyeshadow creasing by lunchtime? Then this week's product of the week is for you!
This may sound like yet another gimmicky product that you don't need, but an eyeshadow primer could be one of the best cosmetics for you to invest in if you're sick of having to touch up your eye makeup throughout the day.
Ruby Kisses' eyeshadow primer comes in a tube with a doe-foot sponge applicator, and I find that just a tiny swipe across my eyelids spreads quite far. This provides a great base for eyeshadow, which seems to have a better colour as well when applied to a primed eyelid.
The result is a perfectly shaded eyelid that can go for hours without creasing. Well worth the R79,95 you'll pay for the product!
You'll find Ruby Kisses at Foschini stores - the whole range is very reasonably priced and worth checking out.
The next item on my agenda is to find a product that will keep my eyeliner from ending up underneath my eyes - if anyone has any suggestions please point me in the right direction!
01 May 2012
10:01:00
Would you share your toothbrush?
Rebecca Dodd ponders, how close is too close in a relationship?
I was fortunate to get to spend part of my long weekend this past weekend away with friends. When we had all arrived and were settled in, one of the girls complained that her boyfriend had not come properly prepared and so she was having to share her towel and toothbrush with him.
Say what now?
My face must have been a picture because one of the other women laughed and said, "Oh Rebecca, you've clearly been single for a while."
This is true - I have spent more of my adult life single than in relationships, so I accept that I'm no authority on what's normal in long-term relationships. I will also concede that I am not fantastic at sharing, but I'm working on that.
I am also fiercely protective of my personal space - I don't even like it when someone talks to me from the other side of the door while I'm on the toilet (hello, invasion of privacy).
But sharing your toothbrush? I can't even... I have no words.
Seriously, if you find yourself at your significant other's abode with no toothbrush, gargle with saltwater, hunt down some mouthwash or even resort to putting toothpaste on your finger and using that - but borrowing their toothbrush? No. Just no.
I get that if you're going to be in an adult, sexual relationship, you face a lot of stuff that at first seems a bit icky. Bodily fluids and funny noises and smells are just things we have to get used to and learn to appreciate in their own right. I'm comfortable with that.
But this - this is not about closeness or being comfortable with your partner, it is about basic hygiene. Some people might be happy to chat to their partner while on the loo, or even (avert your eyes, Jina) poop in the same bathroom while they're taking a shower - that's personal preference. I am horrified by the idea, but it's not like it's unsanitary.
I suppose one could argue that French kissing involves a whole lot of transferring of mouth bacteria anyway, so there's no huge leap between that and sharing a toothbrush. But I would like to think I have fellow toothbrush-sharing phobic company out there - remember that episode of How I Met Your Mother when Marshall and Lily scared off potential couple friends by uttering the fateful words "our toothbrush"?
What do you think? Am I being overly attached to my hygiene standards or do you also find the idea of your partner borrowing your toothbrush horrendous?
25 Apr 2012
10:00:00
Product of the week: Jo Malone Diffuser
My choice for product of the week this week is something for the home - a high quality, deliciously scented diffuser to keep your home smelling welcoming...
My last two choices for product of the week have both been beauty buys (Clinique's award-winning Chubby Stick and Physicians Formula Happy Booster powder), so this week is on a different theme: products for the home.
I recently gave my sister as a housewarming gift the new Jo Malone Scent Surround Diffuser in the brand's bestselling Lime, Basil & Mandarin scent, and whenever I visit I am struck by how effectively the scent permeates the house, without being overpowering. The packaging is also beautiful - just a simple glass bottle with black sticks and a very unobtrusive label.
If you're not a fan of citrus scents, the diffuser also comes in popular Pomegranate Noir and luxurious Red Roses fragrances. The diffuser will set you back R595 for 165ml - quite steep, but it will last 4-5 months. I love the idea of enjoying some of my favourite Jo Malone fragrances in my home all day long.
You can find Jo Malone concept stores at Sandton City and the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, as well as concession counters in selected Stuttafords. If you're not close to a store you can order online at JoMalone.co.za.
If you are lucky enough to be nearby a store, it's definitely worth paying a visit!
Not many people know this, but in stores you can actually enjoy a lovely, free hand and arm massage using the bath oils, lotions and colognes. I had one with the Jasmine & Mint bath oil and lotion, followed by a layer of the Limited Edition London Blooms Peony & Moss cologne, and was left feeling like a woodlands creature that escaped from A Midsummer Night's Dream. Lovely!
They also host pamper parties (including bubbly!) in store - a great idea for a bridal shower.
24 Apr 2012
08:21:00
Twitter Blanket Drive South Africa
Join South Africans from across the country for the annual Twitter Blanket Drive meetup...
Last year I participated minimally in the Twitter Blanket Drive (#TBDZA) managing to collect a total of 16 blankets (in three days) from family, friends and colleagues to donate to this worthy cause. This year in the midst of writing my final exams I will be aiming to round up at least double this number and maximize my efforts.
The initiative began with Twitter enthusiast @melanieminnaar posting a tweet suggesting that it would be great if the South African Twitter community could donate blankets to those in need. In 2010 #TBDZA raised 700 blankets and 2011 saw a massive growth in generosity with 2 700 blankets. These blankets were distributed to several deserving organizations in the respective provinces and highlighted the power of social networking.
How YOU can get involved
The official #TBDZA “Tweetup” (this is where the people of twitter arrange a meet and greet) will be held in several venues around the country on the 26 May 2012. Dedicated volunteers are currently sourcing venue options allowing for widespread participation. Details will be posted on www.twitterblanketdrive.co.za once venues are finalized (applications to host an event close on 4 May 2012). Should you not be able to attend one of the National Tweetups on the 26 May 2012 you are welcome to drop off blankets at any Williams Hunt Dealerships across the country on or before the day. Click here to view one located near you.
Why I do it?
Being an avid twitter user I found this the perfect (and safest way) to meet the people I tweet all day. In 2011 I met many “Tweeps” and have remained friends with them since. In addition to the social benefits I was proud to be part of a social networking community that committed itself to doing good unto others. There are many blanket and food drives out there run and backed by large corporate companies but here is where I felt most at home.
If you would like to know more about the #TBDZA please feel free to visit
Or follow the Hash Tag #TBDZA on twitter
23 Apr 2012
09:08:00
Nostalgia, vintage fashion: Second Time Around
My trips to Cape Town are usually rushed but this time I made sure I made time to visit my favourite vintage store, Second Time Around.
A trip down memory lane
It was a really nostalgic visit for me as this was where I bought many of my work clothes when I got my first 'real' job in the city back in the 1990s.
In those days I was into the 'Chanel look' - lots of structured jackets, pencil skirts and big brass buttons - and in colours like red and navy and black and white (how my life has changed since then) and Second Time Around gave me the opportunity to wear labels from designers in other countries on my (very) limited budget.
The shop still looks exactly the same...
... as gorgeous as ever - all pink walls, chandeliers and black and white framed prints. Even the men's section in the back room is still in exactly the same place as I remembered it.
The only (welcome) difference is that they now accept credit cards
Probably a good thing that they didn't, back in 1995, when I was young and foolish and addicted to clothes. Now the addiction is to homeware and furniture shops and food stores but I still love the thrill of a bargain - like the beautiful jacket I found for R98, that nobody else will be wearing because it was made in Switzerland before I was born.
This time was extra special because I was shopping with my almost 10-year-old daughter who already has her own fabulous individual style and loves a great fashion find as much as her mom (she discovered an adorable pink and black mini skirt for R25).
That trip to Second Time Around made me feel 25 again - those heady days when I had no idea where my first foray into the magazine world would take me, who would be asking me out on Friday night (and what I would wear), a time when a full wardrobe was far more important than a full fridge.
Hope I'll be back soon...
Second Time Around is at 196 Long Street, Cape Town. Tel. 021 423 1674
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Thursday
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