Essentials South Africa

Feature Martinique Stevens; Xolani Gumede; Stacey LovePhotography SuppliedPrices and products were checked at time of going to print ■

Yes, they add flavour in cooking, but humble herbs come with a host of other super health benefits, too. Read more on p46. Beauty ed Martinique has encouraged us all to tap into this soothing scent, with a range of buys from body oils to bath bombs

Actress Scarlett Johansson, 35, has had quite a year, being nominated for two Academy Awards for her roles in Marriage Story and Jojo Rabbit. Now she’s back on the big screen reprising her role as Marvel character Black Widow in the standalone film a

After Nicola Owst rescued a pup in need, she realised her new best friend had saved her, too From the moment that I met Buddy, there was no doubt in my mind I’d do everything I could for him. I gave him love and a safe home, and today I can’t imag

It’s happened to us all. One minute you’re doing a quick Facebook check, the next, three hours have passed and you’re deep in someone’s online photo album, with no idea where the time has gone. No wonder there aren’t enough hours in the day and we fe

These unprecedented times, caused by the COVID-19 crisis, have impacted practically every aspect of our lives. With the recent lockdown keeping families all under one roof, children being homeschooled and couples working from the kitchen table, life

An incredible 96% of women have revealed they find something to feel guilty about at least once a day. ‘Guilt is a symptom of living a complicated life, not a symptom of being a bad person,’ explains psychologist Professor Windy Dryden. ‘Guilt itself

1. EXFOLIATE As with most things in life, a little bit of prep work makes all the difference. So to get lips looking soft and smooth, remove flakiness with a lip exfoliator. Revlon Kiss Exfoliating Balm in Sugar Mint, R59,95, Dis-Chem, uses sugar cry

Know those mornings when you look in the mirror and your hair defies gravity? At times like that, you probably wonder why it’s even called beauty sleep. Let’s face it, our packed to do lists and our overwhelming urge to repeatedly press the snooze bu

1 Instead of a specialist cleanser, try using baby shampoo or a mild face wash to clean your make-up brushes. Aim to do this once a week to keep any bacteria at bay. 2 Use an old (and clean!) toothbrush with a little serum dabbed onto it to smooth f

With our day-to-day being lived at a faster pace, and brisk showers fitting in better to busy routines, baths have become less a functional time to cleanse, and more a luxury and much-needed dose of me time. We show you how to embrace the extravaganc

Trousers, coats, bags or shoes, checks will be making an appearance on them all. Taking over from houndstooth as the hottest print of the season, wear your checks big or small – anything goes! The perfect partner to the statement-making pattern? Laid

Surgeon Dr Robert Foster shares his advice on keeping your brain active and healthy. 1. WORK IT He says: ‘The old adage “use it or lose it” is true. Stay mentally active by learning a new language or by regularly dipping into a crossword puzzle. Ju

You’ve had a difficult day at the office. On the way home, all you can think about is the pizza that you’re going to polish off on the couch. Or maybe you’re not getting on well with your partner, and keep nibbling biscuits whenever you’ve had an ar

Do you ever consider the effects that a dash of coriander or a sprinkle of mint can have on your health? Sure, they taste good, but they also offer a range of amazing benefits for your body and mind. So whether you’re struck down with a virus, buried

As the current global events have sadly shown us, germs are the invisible enemy that have the potential to make us extremely ill. ‘Although we can’t see them, germs spread quickly and easily from person to person or by touching surfaces,’ says Dr Sar

Feature Xolani Gumede Photography SuppliedProducts and prices checked at time of going to print ■

Oh to be a cat. They’re independent, spend all day snoozing in the sun, and they’ve got the whole stretching thing down to a T. They do it to get their blood flowing and muscles moving after periods of inactivity, so they're ready to pounce on the ne

Not getting your essential shut-eye? Serve up some salmon. Like tuna, salmon is packed with vitamin B6, which is needed to make the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin. Sweet dreams. ALSO TRY: Kale, bananas, whole grains, peanuts, soya beans. If you

Hands up if you usually start the day with a healthy breakfast, followed by a slimming salad for lunch, only to find yourself diving into the snack stash by 4pm? It’s difficult to ignore a rumbling tummy so, when hunger strikes, it’s likely you’ll ab

SERVES 8 READY IN 3-6 HR 30 MIN, DEPENDING ON METHOD 1,2kg pork belly, cut into slices2 cinnamon sticks3 star anise1 tsp Chinese five spice6 plums, halved (when out of season, prunes are a good substitute)150ml red wineJuice of 2 oranges1 chicken s

1. Heat oven to 190°C. Grease and line a 20cm cake tin (not loose-based, as syrup will seep out!). Arrange 300g cubed mango over the tin base and drizzle on 4 tbsp golden syrup. 2. Combine 225g room-temp butter, 4 eggs, 175g self-raising flour, 225g

SERVES 4 READY IN 1 HR 35 MIN 4 thick slices pork belly 100ml Asian rice vinegar2 tsp castor sugar½ tsp salt2 tsp ginger, grated1 carrot, sliced thinly½ cucumber, peeled into ribbons 100ml soya sauce100ml sweet chilli sauce1 garlic clove, crush

SERVES 4 READY IN 1 HR + MARINATING 1,8kg chicken, cut into 8-10 pieces, and patted dry, skin on or off570ml buttermilk100g stale, dried breadcrumbs1 tsp smoked paprika½ tsp garlic salt½ tsp celery salt½ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)½ tsp dried thy

No one couch fits well in all homes, and needs change as a family grows. Consider, too, the idea of flexibility; being able to swap things around to keep your decor fresh. All of these factors are why we prefer modular furniture, where separate secti

Okay, so it’s not exactly cake, but it’s the next best thing. This carrot-cake oats pot is an irresistable breakfast treat. We've rounded up the very best pet-related gadgets that will make your life easier ’ and you can buy them all online! If you

Dusky purple with its brown undertone, used on the walls, is superb for giving large, light-filled spaces a more intimate, cosy feel. Paired with white woodwork and ceilings, this hue won’t overwhelm or feel claustrophobic, either. Just choose pure w

Ahead of starting a family, Chloe and Adam were keen to move up the housing ladder. ‘We wanted our next home to be one we'd stay in for at least five to 10 years, so it needed to suit our future plans,’ explains Chloe. The pair were never averse to

When Ffion and Ollie bought this house, it was clear that it needed to be renovated from top to bottom, and the dated living room was no exception. The previous owners hadn’t changed the decor in a long time ’ in fact, the room still featured 1970s-s

SERVES 8 READY IN 50 MIN 3 medium-sized apples, grated (we like Braeburn)Juice of 1 small lemon1 tsp cinnamon50g pecan nuts, toasted and chopped140g butter, melted, plus 50g extra220g self-raising flour1 tbsp castor sugar120ml cream50ml milk2 tbsp

A stack of floating shelves creates a wall of storage and display in a living space – just add chairs for the perfect laptop landing spot. Plan a break at the end of a run of built-in cupboards to fit a compact desk and chair. A pegboard, painted to