School out. Office’s closed. It’s holiday time. Woo hoo. Time to stock up on essentials to pack up and take with you.
First up … always … is the sanitizer. You can turn off your laptop, but you can’t go without all the safety precautions we’ve come to accept as the norm. We’re massive fans of this Inoar Hand Sanitizer Gel. It’s a first of its kind with Argan Oil, is 70 per cent alcohol, and eliminates 99,9 per cent bacteria. The bonus is it’s got a lovely scent, moisturise while you protect, is completely vegan and cruelty free, is non-sticky and is kind to hands. Plus the packaging is attractive – so you can pop onto the counter in the bathroom, kitchen and on the table next to the front door, and it’s in a whopping 500ml bottle so you’re not going to run out. R150 from inoar.co.za (where, by the way, you’ll find a selection of excellent Inoar hair products, so shop for those at the same time!).
What’s one of the first things we pack? Sunscreen. For the whole family, yes, but we’re particularly fussy about suncare for our littlies. We use the Heliocare 360° Pediatrics range, which meets the highest photoprotection standards. It protects against the four types of radiation (UVB, UVA, Visible and Infrared), helps neutralise and repairs sun damage. The range has products, which were tested under paediatric, dermatological and ophthalmological control, including a Pediatrics Mineral SPF 50+ specifically designed for babies and children with sensitive and/ or atopic skin (R340), an Atopic Lotion Spray SPF 50 – a hypoallergenic formula de-signed to protect babies and children even with intolerant, atopic-prone skin. Perfectly suited for application on the body and can be used by all skin types (R770), and a Pediatrics Lotion SPF 50 – a lightweight face and body sunscreen specifically developed for the delicate and sensitive skin needs of babies and children (R600). All available fromheliocaresa.co.za (where you’ll find exceptional suncare products for adults, too).
Let’s chat mistletoe. Love it. Hanging from the door frame, and trying to time it so you walk underneath at the same time as the chap you fancy. So … fresh breath. And big white smile for the self-satisfied selfie afterwards. Pack up your White Glo toothpaste. And this isn’t just any toothpaste. Nope. Not if it’s the advanced Activated Charcoal and Baking Soda toothpaste. Through regular, daily brushing, this toothpaste will whiten yellow discolouration on your tooth enamel, and will protect against cavities and decay, as well as keeping your mouth healthy and your breath fresh. So mistletoe ready, then! Around R79.99 from Clicks, Dis-Chem Pharmacies, Checkers, Pick ‘n Pay and online at www.yooper.co.za
Let’s be real. There are going to be mishaps. A bee sting. A splinter. A small burn from taking the turkey out of the hot oven. So be sure to add a tube of Melcura to your holiday kit. It’s been used for burns in hospitals for years, so you know it’s good and it really is a crucial component in one’s arsenal for fast, complete wound healing when an accident arises or a wound flares up (and doesn’t that always happen after doctor hours on Christmas eve!).
Melcura HoneyGel – the flagship product – has medical-grade Fynbos honey and vitamins C and E, helps stop bacteria growth, and can be used on cuts, abrasions, first and second degree burns, bites, and post-surgery wounds. You can use on the wound, or on a dressing, and you’ll find it for R99 and R125 from pharmacies.
