From home workouts and natural nails to regular exercise and drinking enough water, Mrs Universe South Africa 2020 semi-finalist Sibongile Ndawo Engel shares her tips on how to look naturally beautiful not just for Spring … but all year round.
Sarnia’s Sibongile is one of the 16 semi-finalists and the only KZN representative in the Mrs Universe SA pageant. A wife and mother of four, Sibongile’s modelling career began when she was at school and she has always wanted to participate in a national pageant. She is ecstatic, at the age of 39, to have made it to the ‘top 16’ stage of the pageant.
Speaking about her personal beauty regime Sibongile says, “I believe in fresh skin and natural nails and lashes. If you treat your skin well you don’t have to cover it up with loads of heavy foundation. I always opt for natural products on my skin and use homemade remedies for different skin issues. I am a huge fan of Vitamin C because it improves hydration levels, which is even more important as we head into the warmer months.”
Beauty starts from within…Meeting my daily vitamin and mineral recommendations is essential for me. Reaching those goals can be hard though (needles freak me out!), so I use iSkin Super Collagen, which contains has multiple health benefits to support overall mobility, has Vitamin C and offers the same benefits as an IV Drip.
Morning skin care…
It’s all about protection from the sun, pollution and other dangerous elements. I start by splashing my face with warm water, then wash with Avon Anew Rejuvenate Revitalizing 2 in 1 Gel Cleanser. It improves skin texture and makes pores look tighter. I don’t really use a toner because my cleanser can serve multiple purposes. I moisturise with Umndeni Skin Care Petroleum Jelly. I don’t shy away from affordable products. Just because a product is cheap doesn’t mean it is inferior in quality.
Hit the gym…
Spring is the perfect time to start getting back into shape. Whether you prefer the gym, yoga or going for a run, regular exercise and keeping fit is so important.
Hydrate…
I drink plenty of water. Drinking water helps the body transport the necessary nutrients it needs to keep you healthy and energised and make your skin look great! I love my spring DIY ‘spa water combo’, which has cucumber, lemon and mint.
Cutting back on pedis…
Lockdown has taught me a lot about saving. I save money on my beauty routine more than ever before by taking care of my feet on a daily basis. I scrub with a pumice stone each morning and use Maz Herbal Aqueous Cream instead of soap. Afterwards I apply Argan Green Foot Cream to my feet. This increases the amount of time I can go without a pedicure, and it keeps my toes healthy and fungus-free.
All in the brows…
Eyebrows help to frame your face and now with wearing a face mask, they are definitely going to draw more attention! Invest in a pair of tweezers and an eyebrow pencil, as both will allow you to shape and fill in your brows. I have a pair of tweezers from Revlon that I’ve been using for over a decade. It’s always good to invest in good quality products.
Treat your lips…
While many may up the lip care in winter, we should really be giving our lips extra TLC all year round! As a mom, I spend more time outdoors in spring entertaining my kids, so I use Revlon Kiss Balm SPF20 to keep my lips hydrated and healthy.
Spring into your eye care…
There is loads of pollen in the air at this time of the year and, if your eyes are becoming itchy, red and watery, you may want to curb the amount of time spent outside. You could also seek the care of an eye doctor to see what sort of over-the-counter eye drops will help relieve your allergy symptoms. If they persist, you may need to consider decongestants, antihistamines, or corticosteroids for symptom relief. I use Eye Gene Eye Drops and Argan Green Intensive Hydrating Eye Cream to care for my eyes. Sunglasses are not just for the fashion, so invest in high quality sunglasses that provide protection from UVA and UVB rays. I got mine from Specsavers.
Up your SPF game…
Along with warmer weather comes longer days with more intense sunshine. While every dermatologist will tell you the importance of always wearing sunscreen, they all agree it’s even more important during the warmer months. I apply a sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher to prevent sun damage. I make sure I re-apply throughout the day. My personal favourite is Nivea Sun SPF50 Protect & Sensitive Spray as it is unscented, high in UVA sun protection and ideal for the whole family.
Eat light…
Eat fresh fruits, greens, sufficient protein and vitamins. A diet rich in vitamin C and good fats and sugar promotes radiant skin. Consider a low sugar diet and don’t eat spicy foods. Lighten up on the types of foods you consume and drink plenty of water to maintain both your digestive and circulatory system.
Glam up…
Avoid wearing too much make-up and try keep it simple using the basics. I add spring flair to my look by wearing colourful three-ply washable face masks from Keira Ann Jewellery – YDE.
Golden rule…
Make sure you always remove makeup before hitting the sheets.
Inspect cleaning chemical labels…
Go natural where you can! The cleaning products you use around your home become airborne parts of your environment and are absorbed into your skin.
Hands on the frontline…
The skin on our hands is particularly thin, and with the excessive use of hand washes and hand sanitizers, problems such as dryness, irritation, peeling and cracking easily arise. You should never miss the chance to treat your hands to some much- needed TLC, but now it’s more important than never. I personally use Avon Care Argan Oil Hand Cream.
Happy spring!
