Get The Glow!

With warmer weather comes the shedding of winter layers and showing more skin.

And with the added exposure, it is high time we start adjusting our beauty routines to put our best foot forward. spoke to a few beauty experts who share their professional advice to help us sparkle this spring.

The benefits of massage are plenty, and I got to experience some of them first-hand last week when Wellness Centre, located at the Gustav Voigts Centre in Windhoek, treated me to a complimentary 90-minute back and neck massage.

Experts mention how important massage therapy is for physical, mental and emotional health, especially taking our modern, sedentary lifestyles into consideration. Many of us sit at our desks for hours on end and daily activities such as typing and driving can cause stress and tension in the body.

Massage is the art of applying pressure to the soft tissues of the body, which helps combat and reduce muscular tension and ease day-to-day stress.

Ashleigh Venter from Eat Clean Namibia says detoxing involves clearing toxins from the body and can be done in various ways, such as fasting for certain periods of time, eating only fruits and vegetables or even going as far as drinking laxatives or liver detoxifiers.

“These types of detoxes are not backed up by scientific evidence. In fact, our bodies already have their own detoxing organs. Our bodies are able to get rid of all waste and toxins on their own, without the help of any of these fad detoxes. The skin, lungs, liver, kidneys and the gastro-intestinal tract aid in the excretion of all waste products produced,” says Venter.

Venter does not recommend fad detoxes but rather advocates for all-round clean eating as a healthy way to limit the intake of unnecessary waste and toxins, as well as help to stay healthy. Clean eating, says Venter, consists of choosing balanced meals that do not eliminate any major food groups.

“Plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables are also advised. Processed foods containing high levels of preservatives, colourants and flavourants should be avoided as well as refined foods such as pastries. Also avoid high sugar foods and beverages as well as foods that have high saturated and trans fat content such as animal products and fried foods.”

Venter further says other factors that will help you feel better in general are exercise and avoiding alcohol, nicotine and caffeine as far as possible, as well as drinking plenty of water and getting enough sleep.

Ilotu Cosmetics founder Mareka Masule advises the use of body lotions to get soft, glowing skin. Ilotu offers a wide range in variants such as tea tree, lavender, peppermint, green tea, sweet almond and rosemary.

She says it is important to use lotions that contain sun protection factors and emollient properties which are ideal for moisturising, lubricating and protecting Namibians from our arid weather conditions, especially those with sensitive skin prone to eczema, dermatitis, sunburn, psoriasis and acne.

Popyeni Irene Shiweda, a beauty therapist and skincare enthusiast at Healing Touch Wellness Centre in Windhoek, advises Namibians to switch up their skincare routine in spring, from a heavier, rich moisturiser to something lighter. “Hydrating products give you that glowing and dewy look.”

Masule also cautions against using soaps that contain unreacted caustic soda. “This is a common ingredient that many commercialised soaps contain. It strips one’s natural oils from the skin, which are essential now that we are moving into a much hotter season to retain moisture.”

Moisture is an equally important factor when it comes to our lips, which is why lip balms are key during spring to avoid a dry and chapped pout.

“The skin on your lips is very thin and the blood supply is very close to the surface. They don’t contain any oil glands, so they don’t produce any natural oils like the rest of your skin does, therefore your lips tend to become dehydrated and chapped more quickly than the rest of your skin would. We would advise you to make use of lip moisturisers that contain vitamins A and E, minerals and essential fatty acids that soothe, hydrate and keep the skin balanced,” Masule says.

Namibian model and beauty spa owner Angelica Shida of Shida’s Beauty Spa at Walvis Bay highlights the importance of facials. “Spring is a season to look fresh and facials are an amazing treat. I always advise clients to remove their make-up before they go to sleep at night. Sleeping with make-up on is a bad habit as your face will age faster and it might cause long-lasting damage to your skin. Your pores become clogged, which causes acne. A good face wash daily and face scrub twice a week as well as using a face cream with SPF is always a great choice,” Shida says.

She advises clients to book regular facials to help their skin adapt to the new season.

Shiweda adds that facials are beneficial for men too as many of them have oily, problem skin.

“During winter, the skin becomes dull and can develop a season-long build-up of dead skin cells and environmental toxins. Getting a facial peel helps get rid of that winter skin, unblock pores and helps your skincare products work much better. It also decreases the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, giving you a more youthful look.”

Robin Hanslo from Nomad African Spa in Windhoek says spring signifies new beginnings and is full of transformations.

“Aside from the weather transformations that occur, we must transform our lives as well. At this time of year, everything enters a state of renewal. This speaks directly to our mentality. Spring is a time for us to embark on new journeys and start new projects with fresh ideas.”

“Men also have skin, just like women do. The skin is the biggest organ on the body and needs taking care of. That’s the beauty of Nomad, we are not gender specific. We take care of the body, holistically, be it male or female. Men are just as welcome as women.”

“We are coming out of winter and being all covered up, our skin has not been breathing properly. Spring means we need to take off all the layers of dead skin and we can do this with certain treatments such as dry brushing body polishes and exfoliating treatments, so that we can bring out your new bright skin.”

Luise Nghiwete from Lui Heavenly Touch Spa at Ongwediva recommends waxing to remove unwanted body hair and get swimsuit ready. “For underarms and legs to be clean and free from any hair, I recommend waxing to avoid discolouration as well as ingrown hairs, which can occur on the bikini area. It takes about three months for hair to return after waxing,” she says.

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.