Three beauty treatments to get you ready for spring

DON’T FORGET TO PAMPER yourself 3 beauty treatments to get you ready for spring

After battling months of brutal winter in Joburg, we’re beyond ready to throw on some strappy sandals and a flippy skirt and put our best face – and body – forward. To prep for spring from head to toe, we put three beauty treatments to the test, including a safe tanning treatment and a facial that promises full restoration. The sunny season has never looked – or felt – so good.

BABOR CLASSIC FACIAL

A day in Sandton might be brilliant for shopping, but it’s hardly good for the soul. Luckily, tucked away in a quiet apartment building in Sandhurst is the calming haven of Life Lux Spa – a luxurious subterranean spa perfectly positioned as an alternative to the mayhem on the surrounding streets. A cosy haven of remedies and relaxation, the space is full-on interiors inspo, with a new level of gorgeousness at every turn. Whether you’re tired or rundown or merely in need of a skin treat, the Babor Classic Facial (R730) is the perfect way to make yourself look and feel much better. Using top-quality Babor professional skincare products made in Germany, this facial is utterly pampering – you’ll fall asleep in the first few minutes! We found it to be a really good all-rounder, with deep cleansing, toning, stimulating and extractions where needed. It’s also results-driven, so our skin looked lifted, clearer and smooth and wasn’t drenched in heavy product. You won’t leave feeling greasy – just glowing with fresh-looking skin with no irritation.

Embassy Towers, 175 Empire Place, Sandhurst 010 594 5393 www.lifelux.co.za

THE TAN LAB SPRAY TAN

Nude Skin & Nails is a classy yet discrete place to go for a quick spritz that’s personally applied by a lovely, skilled airbrush artist. The process of getting a spray tan using The Tan Lab (R350) couldn’t be easier: The treatment room is like being in your bathroom at home and you simply stand in the shower to be sprayed. Using The Tan Lab’s vegan, eco-friendly and cruelty-free solution in either light, medium or dark, the team aim to work with your skin tone to give a natural look. We love this product because first off, it’s minimally scented with no headache-inducing odour – really, it’s next level. Plus, it dries almost instantly and doesn’t leave you feeling like a sticky mess. Even the pickiest spray-tan customers will be impressed by their comfortable, professional and efficient experience at this upscale salon. From arrival to fully clothed again, the treatment takes 15 minutes at most. Although the process is incredibly quick, our spray tan faded pretty evenly during the following five days. In addition, the pricing is phenomenal.

Summerfields Shopping Centre, 678 Kelly Avenue, Boskruin 011 792 6833 www.nude-sa.com

CND SHELLAC ENGLISH GARDEN MANI-PEDI

A go-to pamper spot for beauty editors, YouBar always delivers long-lasting manis and pedis. The intimate space is cool yet inviting and has the feeling of sitting in a friend’s stylish living room. The salon has an impressive range of brands and shades, including CND Shellac’s new English Garden collection consisting of petal-soft colours Flowerbed Folly, Soft Peony, Lady Lily, Kiss from a Rose, Carnation Bliss and Magical Topiary. Book the Shellac mani-pedi combo (R750) for a magnificent manicure and a pretty pedicure that transforms rough heels and callused toes into smooth, presentable feet. Care and condition take priority over gels and nail-art here, with hydrating treatments on the menu. However, they also offer chic, minimal nail art, which you can view on nail tech Winnie’s Instagram account. Once your nails have been spruced up, there’s plenty more to explore – continue the beautification with waxing and tinting or a QMS facial. Or, venture to the hair salon downstairs and have a hair repair treatment and blow wave.

Thrupps Illovo Centre, 204 Oxford Road, Illovo 011 880 3056 www.youbar.co.za

GLAMOUR NEVER TAKES A DAY OFF

16 questions with fashion designer GEORGE STANDER

Proudly South African fashion label GEO by George is the very essence of ultra-luxe glamour, impeccable elegance and modernity. Designer George Stander, who launched the label in 2017, innately taps into what a style-setting woman wants and when she wants it, whether prêtà-porter or bridal. Here, he sheds some light on his career, what’s new in bridal trends and everything in-between. 01. When did you first realise you wanted to pursue a career as a fashion designer? I’ve always been very interested in fashion – from upcoming trends to colours and textures. I guess I’ve always known that I will end up in the fashion industry. When I worked with some people in fashion back in 2016, I immediately knew that I wanted to start my own fashion label. I worked on the business plan for about a year and launched my first collection in July 2017. 02. Describe the essence of the GEO by George fashion label. GEO is a very classic, elegant and timeless brand. The silks we use are luxurious and soft to the touch. We try to use 100% natural fabrics in all our ready-to-wear garments.

03. How do you want women to feel when wearing your clothes? Every woman is beautiful in her own unique way. All we want to do is to add confidence and enable women to show off their radiance and beauty. When someone wears our garments, she needs to feel fierce and elegantly sexy. 04. What was your biggest fear when going out and starting your own line? Failing for not being an expert or educated in fashion. This was definitely one of the biggest obstacles my mind had to overcome. 05. What’s your favourite part about being a designer? I love the fact that the whole industry in ever-changing. No one ever knows everything about fashion – there’s always some new trend or a new way of doing something. 06. What was the biggest rookie mistake you made when just starting out? Allowing myself to listen to too many peoples’ opinions. Everyone will have an opinion; about the brand, the style, the industry or the price ranges. You will get people who will always criticise. I just had to find a way to take something from every bad comment or critic. I believe one needs criticism to learn and improve. 07. If you could go back and tell yourself one

thing before beginning your fashion design career,

what would it be? Give yourself time. Take a few breaths before rushing into something. This is a fastmoving industry, and although you need to move with it, it’s always important to make a decision when you’re calm and informed. 08. What role do you think social media plays in fashion today? I think that social media and the influence it has is definitely the way forward when it comes to the promotion and marketing of a brand. The influence of social media is extremely powerful and something that can be underestimated quite often. There are so many platforms that can all be linked to one another, which is an amazing way of letting people know about your brand.

09. What made you want to expand your business from just designing clothing to wedding dresses as well? From the beginning, the plan was and still is to introduce something new to the brand every year or two. A new department, a new product – whatever it may be, just something new to keep our clients interested. We’re currently working on something quite exciting for 2021. 10. What were the inspirations for the bespoke black wedding dress that you custom made? A black wedding dress was something that I’ve always wanted to do. I love black and the idea of a black wedding dress has always been quite intriguing. The dress was designed for a styled shoot I did with SA weddings. It was such a fun and creative project to work on. 11. What does the 2020/2021 bride look like to you? This is such a difficult one. I have brides with so many different styles and personalities. But something that I’ve noticed is that most brides seem to be loving all lace dresses. I’ve also seen some older trends making a comeback, such and ruffle skirts and beaded fabrics. 12. Do you have a favourite dress type? I’m a huge fan of the ever-classic A-line dress. It’s a style that can be worn by women of almost every shape and size. The wedding dress of Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, will always be an ultimate favourite.

13. There’s so much pressure for designers to come out with their greatest collection season after season. What advice would you give to young designers just starting out and hoping to make it in the industry? Although it’s important to research and know what the fashion and colour trends are, I’d definitely advise designers to be unique and to find their own niche in the market. Do what you feel passionate about. 14. Tell us about your day job and how you balance it with Geo by George. I’m a finance and human resource manager for a manufacturing company. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that you’re only as good as your team. Fortunately, I have amazing teams working with me in both industries. 15. Three words to describe your world… Crazy, exciting and blessed. 16. Where are we most likely to bump into you when you’re in Joburg? I love Parkhurst and Westcliff, so I always find a place to stay in either of those areas. My favourite restaurant has to be Flames at Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff, but I also like to wander down 4 th Avenue in Parkhurst.

“I love black and the idea of a black wedding dress has always been quite intriguing. The dress was designed for a styled shoot I did with SA weddings. It was such a fun and creative project to work on.”

FRESH-FACED FOR spring

Skincare essentials to kick off the new season

After months of layering serums, balms and oils, winter has left the building (well, almost), taking with it our dry, itchy skin and dreary moods. How, then, to update your skincare routine to get that glow back? From an uneven complexion to chapped lips, these products will nix pesk warm-weather beauty issues and prep your face for sunnier days ahead.

Start scrubbing 1

The first step in the glow game is Update your cleansing routine exfoliating to get rid of seasonYes, the Elemis Pro Collagen Rose long buildup on the skin. Balm (R1,050) is high maintenance,

The heavenly Burt’s Bees Peach but this luxurious balm takes you & Willow Bark Deep Pore Scrub straight to the spa. Warm a scoop 2 4 (R250) gently exfoliates pores to clear them of dirt, excess oil and dead skin, while finely ground peach stone polishes your complexion to a smooth, natural radiance. Best of all, it’s natural and free of parabens! Available from Dis-Chem and www.takealot.com Lighten your load Saying goodbye to winter means you can say goodbye to superheavy face creams too. A new breed of serum, the Gatineau Perfection Ultime Cream-Serum (R1,150) is a ‘pressed serum’ has the potency of a serum and the comfort of a featherlight cream to deliver a soft, smooth and dewy glow. It can be used alone, underneath a moisturiser or in a thicker layer as an overnight treatment mask. Available from select Woolworths, Truworths and Dis-Chem stores 3 44 | www.sceneinthecity.co.za | October/November 2020 between your palms, massage into your skin and gently wipe away with a damp cloth – it will remove makeup, sweat and dirt in a flash, but not moisture. It really softens the skin, and its delicate English rose scent is what makes it really stand out. Available from Edgars Apply (and reapply) sunscreen You’ve heard it before, but we’ll say it again: It’s essential to apply sunscreen year-round, but especially during the warmer months because you’ll likely be spending more time outdoors. The Dermalogica Prisma Protect SPF 30 (R1,100) is a multi-tasking moisturiser that shields your complexion from harmful UV rays as well as soothes and hydrates your skin. Available from Dermalogica concept stores and www.dermalogica.co.za