Category: featured

Top 5 romantic couples’ spas

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a couple’s treatment at one of South Africa’s finest spas.

Set the tone for romance with a pampering couple’s treatment at one of these remarkable spas.

Mangwanani African Spa
(countrywide)

Mangwanani African Spa blends two types of ‘feel-good’ – the first, with the creation of spa packages where guests experience true head-to-toe indulgence and the second, which sees the upliftment of rural women through training to become therapists, creating jobs and helping rural families thrive.
Mangwanani African Spa is offering Edgars Club members a very special offer this Valentine’s Day – a 20% saving on two couples packages at select Mangwanani African Spas. Pay only R2 999 for a couples retreat full day spa including gift hamper or R1 999 for a moonlight night spa experience including a product gift hamper. Click here for more info. Ts & Cs apply.

de’Vara Day Spa
(Blouberg, Cape Town)

There are plenty of spas with great ambience, but few can boast this type of view. The vista that unfolds before you from the 11th floor of a Blouberg beachfront building during your pamper session can’t help but add to the feeling of tranquillity, with Table Mountain as the backdrop, across the bay.
Indulge in a couple’s treatment in one of their two double treatment rooms and then sip a glass of bubbles as you take in the views. There’s also a sea-facing manicure and pedicure room, a relaxation area with an infra-red sauna, a stylish dining area, and guests also have access to the roof-top pool and gym area.
Their two-hour Ocean Detox treatment includes detox tea, a full-body exfoliation, full-body drainage massage, detoxifying body wrap and infra-red sauna and costs R790 per person.

Life Day Spa
(Across Gauteng and at V&A Waterfront & Century City in Cape Town)

Life Day Spas are always on the cutting edge of spa wellness, often offering treatments as standard that are relatively bespoke on other spa menus. The breadth of their offering caters for just about every wellness need and the contemporary style of each of their properties sets the tone for indulgence.
Each Life Day Spa offers its own specials, like the Couples’ Getaway at the scenic Waterfront branch. For R3 700 per couple, you and your other half will be treated to a romantic mud ritual (including sparkling wine), full-body hot stone massage, 60-minute classic skincare treatment – all in a calming and private couple’s suite – and a healthy lunch, afterwards.

Shambala Wellness Spas
(Port Elizabeth)

In Tibetan Bhuddist Lore, Shambala is a mystical place of tranquillity, happiness and peace, shrouded in the snowy peaks of the Himalayas. There, people labour constantly, exclusively and selflessly for the good of humanity.
Translating that ethos to a peaceful property in Port Elizabeth, the team at Shambala Wellness Spas have a focus on holistic wellness and employ top-quality products and techniques to restore body, soul and mind.
They offer a number of couples’ packages on their Spa Menu, with the 105-minute Couple’s Bespoke treatment offering great value at R1 490 per couple. It includes a starlight Rasul Steam Chamber treatment with body mask, followed by a side-by-side full-body massage in one of their couple’s suites.

The Spa at Brahman Hills
(KZN Midlands)

The otherworldly KZN Midlands seems like the perfect setting for a spa, with its slow pace, rolling hills and moody vistas – which is probably why a number of treatment facilities have made the area their home.
Certainly one of the most stylish is The Spa at Brahman Hills, in the heart of the Meander. The property itself offers hotel or self-catering accommodation with a restaurant, coffee bar, eventing venues, a cellar and underground bar – but the spa, with its quirky porthole windows, is a destination all on its own.
For a properly romantic getaway, the Couples’ Spa Pamper Stay Over Package, includes two nights’ accommodation in the slick hotel with breakfast, detox snack on arrival at the spa and a choice of four treatments, for R4 996 per couple sharing.
By Trevor Crighton

The Essential Valentine’s Day Grooming Guide

Look hot this Valentine’s Day with men’s grooming tips that show you pay attention to detail.

If there’s ever a time to rise to the occasion and look sharp, Valentine’s Day is surely it. Follow our grooming guidelines to look on point for your date and boost the romance quotient.

Don’t neglect your personal grooming in the midst of all your romantic V-Day planning, because no matter how well dressed you might be on the day, puffy eyes or tired-looking skin won’t go unnoticed. Here’s how to look your handsome best on the big day.

KEEP IT CLEAN

Kick off the process by cleansing your face with a product that removes dirt and sebum from the skin’s surface without stripping it of essential oils. Next, exfoliate with a gentle scrub to remove dead skin cells and other debris. Exfoliating is also a vital pre-shave step as it opens your pores and lifts facial hairs away from your skin, preparing the way for a comfortable and smooth shave.

Clinique For Men Face Wash 385
ClarinsMen Exfoliating Cleanser 360
Tom Ford For Men Exfoliating Energizing Scrub 925

BE A SMOOTH OPERATOR

Keeping your facial fuzz in check is an important step in the grooming process. First, apply a thick, lotion-like shave cream to your skin to hydrate and protect it while you shave. Post shave, use a natural aftershave to calm and soothe sensitive areas. If you have a moustache or beard, treat it with a beard oil or balm to keep it soft and styled.

Kiehl’s Grooming Solutions Nourishing Beard Grooming Oil 480 
ClarinsMen Smooth Shave Foaming Gel 305
Nuxe Men Gentle Toning Lotion 245

HYDRATE AND REFRESH

Keep your face soft and supple with a nourishing moisturiser. Products enriched with hydration-boosting ingredients and antioxidants will brighten a lacklustre complexion, for a fresh, youthful face.

Clinique For Men Maximum Hydrator 610
Elemis For Men S.O.S Survival Cream 1110
Sisley Sisleÿum For Men Anti-Age Global Revitalizer 3135

TACKLE DARK CIRCLES

Use a hard-working eye cream to diminish dark circles and smooth fine lines. Look out for a product containing power ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which plumps and firms dehydrated skin, and caffeine, a natural antioxidant with a knack for minimising puffy bags and energising tired-looking complexions.

Filorga Optim-Eyes Eye Contour 885
Kiehl’s Eye Alert 270
La Mer The Lifting Eye Serum 3660

SERVICE YOUR LIPS

Dry, cracked and chapped lips are not going to encourage any romantic displays of affection. Make sure your lips are smooth and healthy by applying a lip balm regularly leading up to your date. If you’re put off by notions of glossy, fruit-scented sticks, think again – there are plenty of no-shine formulas geared towards men whose lips need a moisture boost.

Kiehl’s Facial Fuel No-Shine Moisturizing Lip Balm 220
Lab Series Pro LS Lip Tech Lip Balm 205
Tom Ford For Men Hydrating Lip Balm 550

BE HANDS ON

Rough, dry hands are an instant turn-off. You may think your body lotion is good enough for your hands, but this is not necessarily the case. Hand creams are formulated with a thicker consistency than body creams, and contain nourishing ingredients such as nut butters and vitamins A and E, for soft, smooth hands that invite intimacy.

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Intensive Moisturizing Hand Treatment 270
Nivea NourishingCare Hand Cream 34.99
Clarins Super Restorative Hand Cream 705

WEAR A SENSUAL SCENT

Your date won’t be able to resist an incredible scent, so put some thought into your V-Day fragrance choice. You could play it safe with your signature scent, but for those wanting to make more of an impact we recommend a deeper, richer fragrance with notes of cedar, patchouli, oud and even rose. These fragrances are stronger, with more projection, than your day-to-day choice, so simply spray a little on each wrist, followed by a dab on the neck, to prevent fragrance overload.

Bvlgari Man Wood Essence 100ml EDP 1640
Giorgio Armani Code 125ml EDT 1727
YSL M7 Oud Absolu 80ml EDT 1550

Photography: Getty Images
All items subject to availability. Prices may change.

Beauty Masterclass: How to Get the Perfect Smoky Cat Eye

Ace our beauty masterclass and learn the tricks of the trade from beauty editor Leila.

When you combine two classic make-up techniques: the cat eye and the smoky eye, you will achieve a sultry, powerful look. Read on and watch as we show you how.

OUTLINE YOUR WING

Using the length of a thin make-up brush as a kind of ruler, outline the shape of your wing with a light eye shadow using another brush.

FILL & BLEND OUT THE SHAPE

Apply a cream shadow along the upper lash line connecting it to the flick of the wing and then, using a fluffy blending brush, pat and diffuse the shadow to create the smoky effect you desire.

DEFINE THE LINE

Next, you need to focus on the prominent line that defines the cat eye, which is close to the lash line and should be drawn with a liquid, gel or felt-tip liner.

APPLY MASCARA

Add a coat or two to the bottom and top eyelashes to make the eyes pop.

CLEAN UP WITH CONCEALER

The final step to your look is some concealer under the eyes. Simply outline the areas that need covering with your concealer and finish by tapping the product using your middle or ring finger, until blended.

Videographer: Roice Nel. Hair and make-up: Renee De Wit/Gloss. Model: Fernanda/D&A. Production: Leila Petersen

All items subject to availability. Prices may change.

Best Valentine’s Day dessert recipes

What better way to win someone’s heart than with food? Treat your sweetheart to delicious puddings by Mogau Seshoene this Valentine’s Day.

Food made with love is arguably the best gift of all, something author, chef and businesswoman Mogau Seshoene knows too well. Her love for South African cuisine and heritage combined with her fear of being dubbed a lazy daughter-in-law who doesn’t know how to cook turned into a successful business – The Lazy Makoti (the lazy daughter-in-law). She shares with us her recipes from her new book The Lazy Makoti’s Guide To The Kitchen – our Valentine’s Day gift to you. 

THE SALTED CARAMEL AND APPLE UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

Serves 8 – 10 | Preparation time: 20 minutes  | Baking time: 1 hour

6 – 8 apples, cored and quartered

Caramel sauce
⅓ cup butter
½ cup brown sugar
¼ cup cream
½ tsp salt

Cake
⅘ cup butter
¾ cup sugar
3 eggs
2 tsp vanilla essence
1½ cups self-raising flour

Preheat oven to 180°. Grease a cake tin and place the apple pieces side by side to cover the base, creating a circular or spiral pattern. In a saucepan, heat butter and add sugar, cream and salt. Stir to dissolve the sugar, bring to a simmer and cook until sauce turns a brownish caramel colour. Pour the caramel over the apples and set aside. To make the cake, place the butter and sugar in a large bowl and beat until fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, and combine well. Stir in the vanilla essence and fold in the flour. Spoon the batter over the caramel apples. Bake for one hour until a skewer inserted in the centre of the cake comes out clean. Cool and turn upside down onto a plate.

SUMMER BERRY TARTS

Serves 4 | Preparation time: 30 minutes | Baking time: 10 minutes

Pastry
1 cup flour
1 Tbsp castor sugar
½ cup butter, cold
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 Tbsp cold water

Filling
2 tubs cream cheese
¼ cup honey
3 cups fresh berries (variety of your choice)

Preheat oven to 180°. Grease and prepare a tart dish. To make the pastry: sift flour and castor sugar and, using your fingers, rub in butter until crumbly. Add egg and mix together. Blend in cold water and chill in fridge for 30 minutes. Roll out pastry and cut into squares to cover 4 x 10cm tartlet tins. Line tins, trimming pastry if necessary. Prick pastry with a fork and bake for 10 minutes until golden brown. Remove from oven and set aside to cool completely. To make the filling: combine cream cheese and honey in a large mixing bowl and mix well. Pour into prepared pastry cases and top with berries. Tip: if fresh berries are not available, try frozen berries. Defrost before adding to tarts.

PEPPERMINT CRISP CAKE

Preparation time: 20 minutes | Baking time: 30 minutes

Cake
1 cup cake flour
3 heaped Tbsp cocoa powder
1 Tbsp baking powder
¾ cup butter
½ cup castor sugar
3 eggs, beaten
1 tsp vanilla essence
2 Tbsp milk

Topping
360g tin of caramel
1 cup cottage cheese
1½ slabs Peppermint Crisp chocolate
Fresh mint leaves to garnish

Preheat oven to 180° and grease a 20cm cake tin. Sift flour, cocoa and baking powder together in a bowl. In a separate bowl, cream the butter and castor sugar, and then add the eggs, vanilla essence and milk. Make a well in the flour mixture and mix in the wet ingredients. Spoon batter into cake tin and bake for 30 minutes until risen and cooked. Allow to cool. For the topping: mix caramel and cottage cheese in a bowl. Grate one bar of chocolate and fold into the caramel mixture. Generously spread caramel topping onto the cake. Decorate with more grated chocolate and mint leaves.

These recipes were extracted from The Lazy Makoti’s Guide To The Kitchen by Mogau Seshoene (Quivertree Publications, R340)
Click here to buy.

Valentine’s Day lingerie to get your hands on

The month of love is upon us, and what better way to spoil yourself than with beautiful lingerie. After all, self-love is the most important kind of love.

Single or taken, you don’t need a reason to treat yourself to some special lingerie this Valentine’s Day. Whether you prefer sexy or comfortable, we have the picks for you.

Photography: Andre Wepener/Pixel Lounge. Styling: Rushana Burton

All items subject to availability. Prices may change.

Latest & Greatest: Feb Edition

Learn more about the latest releases in tech, literature, motoring and entertainment.

From brutally honest reads, new car launches and tech releases, to series and movie synopses, here’s what’s dropping this month.

Streaming series

Santa Clarita Diet 

(Netflix, first week of February)
Sheila (Drew Barrymore) and Joel (Timothy Olyphant) are husband and wife estate agents who lead an ordinary but dissatisfied life in the L.A. suburb of Santa Clarita with their teenage daughter Abby – until a dramatic change in Sheila’s life sends the family down a road of death and destruction. Expect blood, guts and loads of zippy one-liners! The first season comes to Netflix SA in the first week of the month, while season two has already been commissioned in the US.

Book

The Killer Collective by Barry Eisler 

(1 February)
When a joint FBI and police investigation into an international child pornography ring gets too close to a group of powerful people, sex-crimes detective Livia Lone narrowly survives a hit. Suspecting the FBI itself was behind the attack, Livia reaches out to former marine sniper Dox, and together they assemble a team to tackle the threat. Hopping between Japan, America and France, the group uncovers a series of interconnected conspiracies which seemingly lead straight to the doors of senior US government officials. This fast-paced page-turner is from the pen of New York Times bestselling author Barry Eisler.

Gadget

Gillette Heated Razor

The Heated Razor by Gillette aims to deliver the comfort of a ‘hot-towel’ shave in the traditional personal razor format. A warming bar heats up the shaver head to your preferred temperature in under a second, which the designers say helps contour the face throughout your shave for a more comfortable experience. The waterproof razor also boasts wireless magnetic charging and an ‘Intelligent Heat Safety Control System’. Currently only in the prototype phase, having been launched via Indiegogo at $150 (about R2 100) as a test product, it’ll be interesting to see if it lives up to the hype and the price tag, and whether it ever makes it into mass production.

Motoring

Super Supra

The fifth-generation Toyota Supra – and the first to be produced by Toyota GAZOO Racing – is here! Drawing inspiration from heritage models and the 2000GT sports car, the front-engined, rear-wheel drive racer offers enthusiasts the perfect blend of power, agility and precision handling, thanks to a short wheelbase, wide track and low centre of gravity. The 3.0-litre engine is boosted by a twin-scroll turbocharger, producing 250kW and 500Nm of torque and driving the wheels through an eight-speed automatic gearbox. ‘Launch control’ mode helps the car move from rest to 100km/h in just 4.3 seconds, and an active differential makes the drive more responsive during both acceleration and deceleration. The obligatory Nürburgring Nordschleife testing honed the handling – but it was also tested in the ‘real world’ on roads around the globe. The first GR Supras should arrive in South Africa by mid-April 2019, with pricing still to be confirmed.

Film

Holmes & Watson 

(8 February)
The cast of Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly and Ralph Fiennes lead a brand-new Sherlock Holmes caper, this month. Detective Sherlock Holmes (Ferrell) and Dr. John Watson (Reilly) join forces to investigate a mysterious murder at Buckingham Palace. All signs seem to point to Professor James Moriarty (Fiennes), the duo’s longtime nemesis. When new twists and clues begin to emerge, the world’s greatest sleuth and his trusted assistant must try to catch the killer before the Queen becomes the next victim.

Film

What Men Want 

(22 February)
Passed up for a well-deserved promotion, sports agent Ali Davis (Taraji P. Henson) wonders what more she could possibly do to succeed in a male-dominated industry. Seeking help from a psychic, Ali finds herself with the sudden ability to hear what men are thinking after drinking a strange concoction – and uses her newfound powers to beat her obnoxious male colleagues in the race for basketball’s next superstar. Sound familiar? It’s a modern retelling of the 2000 film What Women Want, starring Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt.

Catch all the latest movies!

If you’re an Edgars Club VIP or Club Life member you save on two movie tickets every day at Ster-Kinekor – get 2D movie tickets from R27 – R48* each, 3D movie tickets from R30 – R60* each, IMAX for R93* per ticket and Cine Prestige for R96*! You bring a friend, we bring the entertainment. See the latest movies and prices at edgarsclub.co.za. Ts and Cs apply.
*Prices & dates were correct at the time of publication.

Game

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown 

(1 February)
Bandai Namco’s cult favourite flight simulator returns with its seventh version, set in the alternate universe of Strangereal. Take your aerial duels to the next level with first-person cockpit or third-person views – with specially-created missions for Playstation VR owners. Expect the trademark political intrigue and glorious Top Gun-level cheese as you pilot some of the world’s most advanced warplanes through photorealistic visuals which deliver intense dog-fighting action, a multitude of authentic and futuristic aircraft to fly, an immersive storyline and even virtual reality!
+- R830 for PS4, Xbox One, PC via www.bandainamcoent.com

By Trevor Crighton

VALENTINE’S OUTFITS FOR BOYS

Valentine’s Day clothes for boys from pre-school age to teens that will make them stand out from the crowd and revel in the day of love. 

Let your favourite guy participate in the playful romance of Valentine’s Day with clothes that fit the theme. These slogan T-shirts, red accents and denims will ensure he’s suitably attired for the year’s biggest day of love. 

Young Romantic

Dress to impress in an adorable slogan top teamed with denims and sneakers. Young kids love dressing to look the part, so he’ll get a kick out of the attention to detail on the day. Valentine’s Day is for boys too after all!

KDS denims 269.95; KDS colour-block top with slogan strap detail 89.95; KDS skinny jeans 70; KDS lace-up sneakers 150

Teen Scene

Valentine’s Day can be a little daunting during the awkward teen years, but the right look can go a long way towards boosting confidence levels and swagger on the day. Keep it chill with a layered golfer with pops of red and side-striped trousers. Don’t forget the shades!

New Wave shoulder tape T-shirt 139.95; New Wave denims 329.95; New Wave lace-up sneakers 180; New Wave golfers 99.95 each; New Wave fashion chinos 199.95


 Photography: André Wepener/Pixel Lounge. Styling: Rushana Burton

All items subject to availability. Prices may change.

THE TREND: THE NEW ANIMAL PRINT

Who doesn’t love a bit of animal print? This season welcomes back the notorious trend, but this time in bold colours, new silhouettes and more versatility.
Animal print is back with a vengeance. Bolder colours, unexpected silhouettes and diverse patterns put a fresh twist on the trend this season.

A staple in most autumn/winter fashion week collections, animal print has migrated to summer in colours, patterns and styles we previously only dreamed of (thank you fashion gods). Just look at Off-White’s snakeskin in battery-acid green, Burberry’s brown cow-print skirts and Roberto Cavalli’s abstract tiger/zebra hybrids – all of which made the classic leopard print look (dare we say it) rather basic on the SS19 runways.

Burberry SS19
Roberto Cavalli SS19
Off-White SS19
Rochas SS19
If extra oomph is something you appreciate, mixing animal prints in unexpected ways will do just that – it’s a surefire way to add quirk to any outfit. More is more is more, so be daring and stand out with the must-have pieces you can shop below.

Photography: Paulo Toureiro/Hero. Styling: Rushana Burton, Getty Images

All items subject to availability. Prices may change.

The Drop: February’s new beauty products

We’re here to let you know about the best beauty launches this month including Elizabeth Arden, Clinique and Chanel!

The start of the new year is the perfect time to refresh your beauty arsenal. These new lust-worthy beauty drops are topping our list.

CLINIQUE
Even Better Refresh  
470
With its winning formula combining advanced skincare with full coverage, Clinique’s Even Better foundation has been a phenomenal success. Then came Clinique Even Better Glow, an oil-free formula containing luminising pigments for maximum radiance-boosting coverage. Now the beauty house is at it again, with the launch of Clinique Even Better Refresh. This long-wearing, full-coverage foundation diminishes fine lines and wrinkles for a silky-smooth, moisture-rich glow. Yes, please!

CHANEL

Chance Eau Tendre 50ml EDP  
1615 
A more floral and feminine take on Chanel’s original Chance fragrance, Chance Eau Tendre opens with fresh and fruity grapefruit-quince accords, followed by heady jasmine and romantic rose notes, with an irresistible blend of white musk rounding off the scent. This truly nostalgic fragrance will delight your senses and leave you dreaming of love.

EXCLUSIVE TO EDGARS

BENEFIT
Roller Liner Liquid Eyeliner  
375  
Benefit’s new matte liquid liner is just what you need to create the latest hot eye make-up looks. It comes with a precision felt tip for sharp lines and super-smooth application, and the long-lasting formula promises to stay put for up to 24 hours. 
ELIZABETH ARDEN
 Love Heals Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant 299 & Love Heals Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant Stick Sunscreen SPF 15 235
This year Elizabeth Arden’s iconic multitasking beauty balm celebrates its 88th anniversary. To help mark this milestone the brand has partnered with internationally acclaimed muralist James Goldcrown, best known for his Insta-famous #lovewall, to create a unified message of love and healing through the new Limited Edition Love Heals x Eight Hour® Collection.
REVLON
Kiss Plumping Lip Crème  
99.95  
Get the perfect pout with Revlon’s latest lip innovation. Formulated with Volulip, a special patented ingredient that visibly enhances the size of your lips, this creamy balm provides a smooth, plumped-up finish that’s lightweight and long lasting. 
EXCLUSIVE TO EDGARS
SISLEY
Sisleÿa L’Intégral Anti-Age Firming Concentrated Serum 
6360  
Luxury French beauty brand Sisley has added a new product to their L’Intégral Anti-Age range. The Firming Concentrated Serum doesn’t come cheap, but it does promise to boost skin’s elastin production for a firmer, younger-looking complexion – an investment worth making for sure!

All items subject to availability. Prices may change.