nature’s source.

“My name is Nthabi Sekhokoane and I'm 22 years old. I’ve studied journalism and I love fashion, beauty and writing. I’m a shoe, ice cream and wine gums addict! I’ll be blogging about everything fashion and beauty, plus the cool places I’ve been.”

Hi Fabs!

I’m so excited to be CLEO’s latest guest blogger! *does happy dance*


I hope winter has been good to you, because this season is quite dreadful. Especially since we tend to let ourselves go in the beauty-regime department. A big no-no Fabs! If there’s ever a time to step it up a notch, it’s now.

Like most girls, my skin goes on a temporary hiatus in winter, despite investing in expensive skin-care ranges. But why? Maybe it’s because we’re too lazy to do the three-step skin routine at night, because all we want is to snuggle in front of the heater? Guilty! *raises hand*

A friend suggested I try going the all-natural skin-care route, and use new, less expensive products. I thought about the potential saving I’d make – no more paying R550 for one product! Try R19 a pop. And, the benefits are countless. Using natural products is eco-friendly and they contain hypo-allergenic properties, meaning they suit all skin types. No additives and preservatives, how cool.

My plan started on 1 May, and it has been working really well. I chose the Rooibos range that’s sold exclusively at Clicks. You can also get Tea Tree and Aloe Vera in the range. My skin has never felt so smooth and clean, with such minimal effort. I exfoliate twice a week and use the face wash twice a day, for a glowing complexion. 

And for the eager-beaver Fab out there who wants to go all the way, try using Rooibos teabags as exfoliators. Dab a teabag in warm water and wipe your face with it for about five minutes, once a week. Alternatively, use raw oats and honey (simply mix them together to make a paste) then gently rub onto your skin.

’Til next time, stay fabulous!

Nthabi. 

There’s more to fashion than looking good

I love it when a creative process comes together. That’s why I’m always glued to the latest Project Runway series. The designers on the show say things like: “For my collection, I was really focused on the idea of shadows. You know, like black and white, and rigid lines, and like, soft edges”. Their commitment to their vision is downright militant.

I paid my first visit to The Sartorialist (Thesatorialist.blogspot.com) blog this week – I know, I’m a late blog bloomer – and I was struck by something he said in his bio about how designers find inspiration in everyday ensembles:

“My only strategy when I began The Sartorialist was to try and shoot style in a way that I knew most designers hunted for inspiration. Rarely do they look at the whole outfit as a yes or no, but they try and look for the abstract concepts of colour, proportion, pattern mixing or mixed genres.”

The fashion world often seems to lean towards the superficial, because the quest for beauty is a bit shallow. But if you go back to the source and take a look at how designers work, most of them are artists at heart.  

So the next time you’re cooing over the latest trends in your CLEO magazine and someone snarls at you about the shallow pursuit of fashion, feel free to regurgitate some of the things I’ve said in this post. It certainly helps me when I’m whipping out my credit card to buy a beautiful pair of shoes that I don’t need, but which complete my collection of foot-hugging artworks.

This one goes out to you

I’d like to dedicate The Lazy Song by Bruno Mars to everyone who’s battling to get out of bed on these cold winter mornings. I wasn’t completely sold on his bubblegum pop-rock music, until I saw the music video for this song. And now I find myself watching it, just to crack my winter glaze.

To check out the video, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLexgOxsZu0 
And for fun, I’ve put together a Lazy Song Essentials Kit for all of the Bruno Mars fans out there:

Number one on the list is this poster for your wall.

You’ll also want to have something plaid for obvious reasons.

Then there’s the pin-up shoes.

Ray bans are a serious must and you can give a nod to the bow tie fad if it’s your vibe.

And of course, what would a Lazy Song Essentials Kit be without a monkey mask?

And if you’re not about to go out and buy a mask, here’s how you can make your own