Afrobotanics Moisturising Leave-in Conditioner...

Hey everyone!

I did an Instagram post  today on the AfroBotanics leave-in conditioner. I thought that I should come on over here and give a review.
     

Leave-in conditioners are used after you shampoo and condition the hair.

The AfroBotanics leave-in conditioner is a moisturiser.
I've used this brand for quite a while now and I seriously love the kiddies range😆 too.
 Whenever I buy hair products -especially leave-in conditioners, I look for the ones that read "moisturising, hydrating, nourishing" These are formulated to meet the needs of my dry thirsty hair.
     

So the key players in this leave-in are Aloe vera, Coconut oil and Vitamin E which makes it great for hair growth and hydration. Aaand wait, because of these ingredients it protects against the sun and heat. 

             
My biggest struggle is dryness. I have  thick, thirsty low porosity hair and it needs alot of moisture to keep it manageable and healthy.

     

This leave-in is very thick, I sometimes  dilute it with water to use as a detangler or as a daily spritz. My hair is always left feeling soft and moisturised afterwards. It's perfect for everyday use and it's affordable. I get mine at Clicks stores. 

Have you tried out this leave-in conditioner?

Share this post if you found it helpful and follow me  to get more product reviews and tips...

Until next time Magicals!

My Instagram Flatlay Tips...

Hey there Magicals!

I've fallen in love with flatlay photography.
Here's a post on photo editing I did a while back that focuses on flatlay photography.



Flatlays are the trend of Instagram and it's a great way to showcase more than one item in a creative way.

A flatlay is  basically taking a picture from the top view. A flat surface is best.
I was drawn to the beautiful  curated photos that I saw on Instagram  and I knew I needed to learn that "art"

Here's the two ways I like to capture flatlays:

One is to tell a story or create a mood. The  picture below I created a mood of self care and  pampering. You'll probably picture yourself in a bubble bath  with scented candles...

       
The next one is centred around an object. In the picture below I made the hair product the main subject or focus.
     

Trying to get the perfect flatlay is not difficult but it can be a bit tricky.
I've learnt a few things I picked up  along the way.

Firstly before you throw random items together for your flatlay, you need to know what is it you  trying to convey. Every flatlay image is a story or a mood. Here's a flatlay I created showing my mood for that particular day.
     

Pay attention to the background of your photos. Keep it simple and clean. In other words less is more. No one likes a noisy flatlay. I use white because it brings out the contrast of the objects.
You can use colour background but make sure it's not distracting. You don't want to end up with an unflattering flatlay that's not clear.
     

Lighting is important to capture a bright picture. If the weather is not good I wait it out. Natural light is always  best that's why I shoot close to a window. Seriously, the best filter won't be able to make up for a dim grainy photo.

Try adding some colour or create a colour pallete. Most instagrammers are doing this.

Hopefully you got inspired to start creating some gorgeous flatlays. Also make sure to follow me on Instagram @Magicalmessyme
where I blog more on tips for blogging and photo editing Aaand hair product reviews😁

     


What are your tips for creating beautiful flatlays?

My recent haul...

Hieey there Magicals!

       

I must  admit that I'm quite proud of myself for cutting back on my spending😄 I wrote a post a while back on my goals, and this was one of them.

So here's what I recently bought, and if you follow me on the gram - then you already have an idea of what they are. Aaand if you don't follow me then you certainly  can  right here.

First up is my African black soap. Now, if you natural then you should already be familiar with this soap.
It's packed with all sorts of goodies for the hair and skin. Shea butter, lime juice, aloe vera and honey to name a few.

It lathers  well and clarifies good, but what I like about this soap, is that my hair feels soft and manageable afterwards,  without applying conditioner.
 Can you get why this soap is a staple in my regimen? Affordable, multi - purpose and does the job- BOOM!
       

Next up is the Garnier Miscellar water. I've read good things on this make up remover. I purchased it out of curiosity- (I mean most beauty bloggers are  raving about this baby) Sooo I got the  travel size.
It's a soothing water that lifts dirt from the skin without rubbing harshly. It doesn't need to be rinsed off.
I can't say much for now because I like to use a product for a while,  to give a full review of it. But so far I do like that it doesn't sting my  skin.

       

How gorgeous is this gel nail polish from Essence? I don't do nail polish often because of  peeling by the second day.  It's nice and thick so you don't have to  layer it  a thousand times.
I chose gel because it lasts a bit longer. I've got a few comments over at the gram that a clear top coat will make it stay on much longer.

     

I got this at Dischem for R29.99 - Clicks stores also stocks this brand😗

Lastly is the Essence translucent powder. I don't usually use powders often because I  have dry areas on my face. The few times I've used it, I noticed I had to double up on moisturiser.

  

Well that's all for now, let me know if you've tried these products out in the comments section. See more of the products that I use and review over at Instagram-

Until next time Magicals!