All about PlantCeuticals

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By Angeliz Venter

Doesn’t the name ‘PlantCeuticals’ just sound so refreshing and nourishing? That is what I thought when I first heard this brand name. It immediately registered its true intention with me… Switching back to plant-based and herbal remedies, for a natural treatment and prevention.

So, what exactly are herbal remedies and why should we rather opt for them instead of ‘traditional’ pharmaceutical medicines? Herbal medicine is categorized within the study of Pharmacopoeia and the use of medicinal plants. Plant based medicine has been used for thousands of years by different indigenous cultures and forms the basis of medical treatments across many cultures. Ayuvedic medicine for instance, are believed to have a history that goes back 3000 years and forms the basis of medical treatments across the Eastern world. In contrast, European ‘folk’ medicine forms the basis of many of today’s pharmaceutical medicines. A well-known plant extract is Aspirin which was originally derived of ‘willow bark’. As evidence arises of the negative side effects of 21st century medicine, it wouldn’t hurt to start switching back to using some natural remedies.

With Covid still around, I have been trying to boost my immune system in as many natural ways as possible and this is why I love the Immunity Defense Elixir from PlantCeuticals. It is recommended to be taken under the tongue, but it’s easier for me to dilute it with water. It is also recommended to be used at the first signs of infection, but I use it daily as a preventative measure. This elixir is made up of two of Africa’s most renowned and proven herbal ingredients, African wormwood and Sutherlandia. It also contains holy basil, which is a trusted adaptogen with microbial and immune boosting properties. These three herbs are blended with raw honey and fermented garlic. By fermenting these ingredients, the bioavailability and efficiency of their natural antibacterial and antiviral properties are enhanced. African wormwood is an aromatic bitter herb that has been used for millennia in traditional and folk medicine. Most famously, it has been used in the treatment and prevention of malaria, colds and influenza and it’s also been proven to assist your immune systems and boost your digestive function. Sutherlandia is an African immune booster and adaptogen, used to treat viral, fungal and bacterial infections. It has also been proven to assist in controlling type 2 diabetes and treating digestive disorders. In African traditional medicine it is used for the treatment of HIV and Aids.

The other product I love from PlantCeuticals is their Dewormer and Anti-parasitic elixir. We live on a small holding surrounded by animals and as we spend a lot of time interacting with our dogs, deworming has become essential for me. When using the traditional deworming tablets, I have always felt as if they were too chemically based and would kill even the healthy bacteria in my gut. This elixir changed the game for me as it targets the worms and parasites you want to get rid of without feeling like you just consumed too many harsh chemicals. This elixir consists of African wormwood, Mugwort and fermented garlic in raw honey. For optimal results use when it is full moon as the eggs of worms’ hatch on a full moon. Use the elixir from one full moon to the next completing one full cycle and by using it over two full moons you will ensure that all the unwanted eggs and worms are eliminated.

What I love about PlantCeuticals is that all their ingredients are grown chemical free on their farm in Van Reenen, South Africa and they regularly post about this on their social media platforms. Their transparency gives me a sense of surety and confidence, that I don’t often get with other herbal and natural brands. They also extract the ingredients without using chemicals. I also like the fact that the owners actually treat their own children with half doses of the elixirs, this makes me so much more comfortable using the products myself. Children as young as 18 months are able safely to use these Elixirs.

Although there are many ways to use herbal remedies and especially PlantCeutical products, the most efficient way for the remedy to work is to ingest it similarly as a ‘bitter’. This means dropping the herbal drops directly onto your tongue (or under your tongue) and not diluting it with another fluid. By ingesting it this way, your bitter receptors promote healthy digestion and increase your digestive secretions, which ultimately aids with the better absorption of nutrients, natural detoxification of the liver and can aid the receptor action between your brain and gut. Although it was a particular taste to get used to in the beginning, I soon made it part of my daily routine and got used to the taste.

It is also recommended to use the same method for children, but as we all know, some children are just very picky with what they eat and as an absolute last resort you can add it to their smoothies. With summer approaching and temperatures rising, this is the perfect opportunity to cool down and get your childrens’ recommended dose of PlantCeuticals in. (Diluting it with a smoothie will affect the effectiveness of the remedy, so still try to get your children to ingest it orally directly onto the tongue).

My go-to summer smoothie:
• 3 slices of pineapple
• 200ml of almond milk
• 1 cup of sliced papaya
• 1 table spoon of Berry Beetroot superfood mix
• 1 cup of ice (optional)
• Your recommended dosage of the Immunity Defense Elixir

My green full moon smoothie:
• 3 slices of pineapple
• 5 mint leaves
• ½ of an avocado
• 4 slices of cucumber
• 1 cup of spinach
• 1 tea spoon of Just Matcha
• 200ml almond milk
• Your recommended dosage of the Dewormer & Anti-parasitic Elixir

I love the fact that I found a natural alternative to deworming tablets and immune boosting supplements. Although these two products are my favorite of the PlantCeuticals range, they have many more herbal remedies available on their online store. You can order on www.plantceuticals.co.za and these two products are also on sale at the time of publication of this blog.

*IMPORTANT! I am not a medical doctor or expert in the field, this is merely my personal opinion and you should consult your doctor or a professional first before switching over to any natural remedy.

*Please tag @angeliz_venter and @plantceuticals on Instagram when you use the products and let us know what you think!

This summers’ necessity

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By Angeliz Venter

I recently wrote a blog about Apicares’ skincare range, especially their products containing Manuka honey. (Read more here). But for this blog post I want to focus on their Manuka Sun Protect, which is essentially their ‘sunscreen’, but more pure and environmentally friendly.

Since I was a little girl, I hated applying sunscreen and never particularly liked the smell of it, except when I am on a December holiday in Durban, because there are very few things in life that reminds you of the beach like the smell of sunscreen. But fast forward a few years and I still don’t like to apply sunscreen for many reasons including, I don’t like it when my face and skin turns white from the sunscreen and I don’t like the strong smell, as it reminds me a bit of unnatural ingredients, which I am trying to stay clear of. At the same time, I have also heard and read multiple times that a woman needs to apply sunscreen more regularly when exposed to the sun and some experts even claim that you need to wear it everyday to protect you against UV rays and aging. Therefore, I have started looking into finding more natural and light sunscreens for my face specifically and that is when my path crossed Apicares’ path and I mentioned to them that I would love to try their Manuka Sun Protect. I have been using Apicare products for a few months now and I would never buy anything else.

Here’s my honest review of Apicares’ Manuka Sun Protect. At first, I thought there is no way that this will actually protect your skin, because it doesn’t have a strong smell and feels so light on my skin, where I usually feel like my skin can’t breathe and I have breakouts from ‘normal’ sunscreen. BUT I was wrong. I have tried it now multiple times in South Africa, France and in all seasons of the year and it definitely works! I just apply it a little bit more regularly than other traditional sunscreens, seeing that it is so light, due to the fact that it is a natural zinc-based moisturizer with a 100% natural SPF15.

So, what makes this specific product so much better than other sunscreens? The Manuka Sun Protect obviously contains Manuka honey which is produced from the nectar collected by bees from the indigenous Manuka tree in New Zealand. Manuka honey has been tested to have a higher content of anti-bacterial activity, compared to other honey. Manuka interacts with your skin cells, differently and more intensely than normal honey. It speeds up your skins healing process, diminishes the appearance of blemishes and scarring from acne and stretch marks. It also helps with moisture retention in your skin and hair, while it encompasses antibacterial properties which protects your skin from developing fungus, infections and inflammation. On all Apicare products containing Manuka, you will see a UMF (unique Manuka factor) rating and stamp, this refers to whether it has been tested for higher anti-bacterial activity and the rating it received in terms of strength. One of the most important factors to look at when buying a product containing Manuka is the content of honey, the higher it is the better.

The other ingredients that stood out for me in this Sun Protect is Zinc Oxide and Jojoba oil. The Zinc Oxide is responsible for the sun protect not feeling thick on your skin and clogging your pores, which evidently causes breakouts. It helps create a barrier without irritating your skin and is also non-allergenic. The Jojoba oil is used for its moisturizing, anti-inflammatory qualities and contains natural collagen. This helps to make this Sun Protect an excellent moisturizer under your make-up or just for everyday wear, without drying out your skin.

Although I still don’t use this moisturizer every day, I use it every time I am exposed to the sun for long periods of time and it is always in my handbag for incase! I definitely would recommend the Manuka Sun Protect if you are looking for a light weight protector that moisturizes at the same time. I also believe that it is best to use it in conjunction with their other products for optimal effect and minimal breakouts.

Visit Apicare South Africa’s website to shop or view their list of stockists.

All men love Leah

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When I first started reading “All men love Leah”, I was a bit confused as to why the emphasis was placed on certain ordinary activities (from the viewpoint of someone who doesn’t understand mental disorders). Later on in the book, I realized that there is significance behind each of these ‘ordinary’ or ‘everyday’ activities and as a reader you have to look deeper into what it symbolizes and place yourself into the shoes of someone with a mental disorder.

“All men love Leah” showcases Enzo who is struggling to adapt to society or to integrate with his peers. Until he meets Leah who pushes him to climb out of his shell and explore beyond what he thought would be possible.

The writer, Ksenija Nikolova gives the reader insight into the mind of someone who struggles to cope with everyday tasks and struggles to comprehend social behavior. At the end of the book a lot of the storylines and emphasis points makes a lot more sense, but it is a very turbulent book and definitely not a relaxing read.

I would recommend this book to someone who wants to learn more about a person’s mind with a mental disorder or someone who has a friend or family member struggling with mental illness.

Your new make-up essential

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By Angeliz Venter

For someone who doesn’t wear foundation or make-up very often, because it feels ‘fake’, I was a bit hesitant to try out this new product, because I couldn’t imagine why this mystery product will make my foundation smooth and natural if no other beauty blender or brush could do it. BUT it surprised me beyond what I could’ve imagined, and therefore I introduce to you the newest make-up invention… THE MARSHMALLOW SPONGE!

When I first received my box of four Marshmallow sponges, I immediately wanted to eat it, as it just looked so yummy and even smelled nice! It is round, soft and silky with the trusted brand name ‘MARBLE SKIN CO’ engraved on the side. As someone who is definitely not an expert on make-up and beauty related products, I decided to let Elaine, a trusted make-up artist and Kryolan branch owner test the sponge on me and give her expert opinion as well. Her first words were “Oh my word it is so soft, I love it” and this was before we even started applying my foundation. As soon as she started applying my foundation with the sponge, I loved it! The sponge is so soft on your skin, you barely feel it and it blends the foundation almost immediately leaving no streaks or big lumps of foundation in one place. I will be honest and admit that I did not read the care guide and instructions before I used it and it still came out amazing, but here is the correct instructions and care guidelines.

How to use your Marshmallow sponge:
• Run your sponge under water for a few seconds to dampen it and watch it grow in size. (This is normal and will help you apply your foundation and blend your make-up optimally)
• Squeeze out all excess water and let it dry for a minute.
• Before applying your make-up, the sponge should feel extremely soft and airy, even softer than an actual marshmallow.
• Apply a little bit of foundation on your blender or face and blend it softly. Don’t press too hard and let the sponge do its magic.
• Apply your contouring as needed and blend lightly with the sponge.

Care instructions:
• After using the sponge, rinse it with water and clean it using a mild soap or gentle baby soap. (Little secret, Marble Skin Co will soon be launching a Marshmallow scented cleaner)
• VERY IMPORTANT, do not close it in a container or store it in a place where it cannot dry properly as it will develop mold. (As any damp or wet product does)
• After it is completely dry store it in a safe place or container until your next use.

Ultimately, I love this new marshmallow sponge and will never go back to a traditional method of applying foundation, as I’ve been using brushes up until now. If you are craving for a natural look, like me, this is definitely the way to go and much better than any other beauty blender or brush I’ve come in contact with.

To order visit www.marbleskinco.za or email info@marbleskinco.co.za for wholesale options.