Creating a beauty routine that works for you doesn’t necessarily come easy. Time, energy and patience all play a role. Someone who knows this all too well is Glenwood’s 32-year-old Mrs South Africa Semi-Finalist 2023 Bianca Candido.
A wife and full-time working mum, Bianca Candido shares her beauty secrets that keep her feeling and looking beautiful.
“I love my tots to bits – they have far too much energy for me to handle most days – they are the two bundles of joy that drive me the hardest to be the best I can be. As a Portfolio Manager for one of the leading property management companies in South Africa, I love my job but it does entail long hours most days with meetings that extend past regular working hours … another energy monster that can drain the life out of your skin if you allow it.
Ultimately, Bianca says, loving and appreciating yourself leads to a happier you.
“I can see the difference in my family when I am happy and positive. They pick up on my emotions, and it sets the tone for our home atmosphere and dynamic. The best thing you can do for your family is to prioritize your own wellbeing. This then overflows into your work and other environments in which you may be functioning. It even shows in your skin. If you, like me, lead a hectic lifestyle, it’s so important to take a few extra measures to ensure the stresses of everyday life do not affect your external self. Here are a few simple tips and tricks I cannot go without to look and feel healthy and to keep feeling and looking beautiful darling!”
Never go to sleep with make up on You don’t need an expensive face wash to remove your daily make up, and I don’t recommend using make up wipes. Personally, I use a daily gentle facial scrub like the Himalaya Apricot Daily Face Scrub which you can easily buy for around R75 from Clicks. Rinse off with lukewarm water, followed by a final cold rinse that helps with tightening the skin.
Tissue oil Once your face is clean, massage a few drops (don’t overdo it) of tissue oil containing Vitamin E in circular motions around the areas of your face that are more prone to wrinkles – eyes, forehead, smile lines. I recommend Bramley Vitamin Tissue Oil which is about R32. Originally sold exclusively at PEP, Bramley Tissue Oils are now also available at Clicks online https://clicks.co.za/searchProducts?query=bramley and select Clicks stores, Pick n Pay stores and Spars, as well as PEP stores nationwide.
Olive Oil is just as lovely to use if you run out of your preferred tissue oil.
Try your best to get 8 hours of sleep I know it’s hard, and sometimes we end up scrolling through our phones or going over our to-do lists instead but, set an alarm for 8pm, as a reminder to put your phone down at least one hour before bedtime.
Practice mindful meditation Meditation can help with anxiety and depression among other things, so before you go to sleep, lie in bed and breathe. Repeat a mantra that applies to you and your life – a quote or phrase from a song even. Repeat and focus on the words; try to leave other thoughts and stresses out of your mind. Sounds cliché, but I promise you it works!
Wash without soap In the mornings, I only use clean cold water to wash my face, as using a cleanser morning and night can lead to dry skin. I use a moisturizing primer – I quite fancy Smudge Illuminating Primer for R69.99 – followed by the Smudge Long Wearing Foundation for R89.99 (both are available at Clicks) as the base for my make-up routine.
DIY it I love making my own face mask. Store bought masks have far too many products in them, keep it simple. If you want a store-bought mask, look for those with the least amount of ingredients. Also note the first ingredient listed, is generally the ingredient used in the largest quantity so, if you’re looking for an avo face mask, don’t buy one that has avo listed as the very last ingredient. I make a skin-indulgence face mask using half a ripe avo, a tablespoon of pure honey and a tablespoon of water blended together and then applied to the skin for 20 minutes. You can even use any leftovers in your hair!
Your hair is your crowning glory, take care of it! Never over wash your hair, especially if you have naturally curly hair. Use shampoos and conditioners that are sulphate-free. I enjoy using Palmers Coconut Oil Shampoo, Conditioner and Mask, all available at Clicks or Takealot for around R84. I like to apply the hair mask overnight, the night before I wash my hair. To help my hair absorb all that coconutty goodness, I cover my hair with a silk bonnet. Don’t tie your hair up constantly. A sleek bun or ponytail looks beautiful, but your hair should be allowed to rest and hang free. Keep it natural as far as possible and try to avoid heat styling. To maximise and tame my natural curls, I use Aunt Jackie’s Grapeseed Style & Shine Curls Glossy Curling Jelly which you can find for around R135 for a large tub at Dischem or Clicks.
Believe it! The last and most important tip to feeling and looking beautiful is believing it! Believe you are beautiful as you are. Wake up in the morning, look at yourself and tell yourself “I am strong, I am beautiful, I am enough.”
Details: You can follow Bianca on FB: Bianca Candido – Mrs SA Semi-Finalist 2023 and IG: bianca_candido_mrs
