Thursday 20 December 2018

A LITTLE BIT MORE OF OUR TRIP TO COLOMBIA

My country boasts an incredibly biodiversity. I couldn´t keep these pictures just for me from our latest trip to Colombia, where we visited the countryside and we enjoyed the exotic and  exuberant nature.
During our stay in Santa Fe de Antioquia, we visit Occidente Bridge which was built in 1895. They took around 8 years to build this bridge, which in the 19th century played a very important role in the development of Antioquia, as it became the connection from the region to the sea. 
The views over the Cauca River are just breathtaking 
We stayed in a beautiful and colonial hotel called Santa Fe Colonial where we had a vey relaxing time. My kids loved running around, playing in the pool and interacting with nature. 
  This was a very special holiday for all of us. My son keeps asking when we will go back to Santa Fe de Antioquia. I wish I can visit Colombia soon to see my family and friends and also to take my kids to this beautiful colonial town. 

See the video of our trip here: 

Wednesday 10 October 2018

MY JOURNEY WITH MY DAUGTHER’S FACE ECZEMA AND HOW LA ROCHE - POSAY PRODUCTS HELPED HER TO HEAL


Hello all!
 Winter is coming to an end and although sometimes I like this time of the year, other times I really want Summer to come soon!

Winter in Johannesburg is the driest season of the year. The lack of rain gives nature a yellow look, makes our eyes feel very itchy and our throats feel very dry.  We need more intake of water and we need extra moisturize, otherwise our skin looks dry and cracked like a snakes skin. 

I will never forget my first Winter in Johannesburg where I could feel the skin over my whole body itching, because of the dryness, and then I learned that I needed to apply stronger products to avoid it.

During Winter this year, I lived a terrible nightmare with my daughter’s skin, and I was so sad seeing her beautiful face full of redness and eczema due the dryness of the weather. Even worse, the day of her Christening was becoming closer, and I didn’t want her face to look like that during such an important day. Also, I was sad that my family would meet her for first time with this eczema on her little face and it didn’t look good at all.
This is how the eczema started
WHAT DID I DO
 After using a few products that always worked on my son’s skin, but were not working on my daughter’s skin, I started using La Roche – Posay Lipikar  Baume.   After giving her a shower, I noticed that her skin was beginning to show improvement at times, but then the eczema came back again leaving me hopeless.
(Sorry for the quality of the following picture. Taking pictures of my daughter is very difficult because she moves a lot and never stop, this is how her face was looking) 
As it was the first time I experienced something like this with my baby girl, I was very scared of applying any kind of soap, face wash or anything that I thought would make her skin worse. Well, we as mom sometimes we don’t have experience with some situations like this one, and we learn as we go. So I was washing her face only with water and the rest of her skin with La Roche – Posay Lipikar Syndet AP +.

One day during her shower, I read this on the bottle: “ Helps reduce severe dryness starting in the shower” and I thought “What about if I pour some of this cream wash on her face? This can’t get any worse!”, so I applied La Roche – Posay Lipikar Cream Wash on her face and I saw how the miracle of healing began to show on her face.

 From the first day I saw immediate results, and learned that some face wash can worsen skin conditions, but some others actually help to heal.
 LA ROCHE – POSAY SYNDET AP + 1
This product is an Anti – Irritation and Anti – Scratching cream wash.  It’s a white gel which foams ups easily. It has a very subtle scent that for me smells quite like a dermatological product, but I really like it because it helps to heal.  It comes with a pump that makes it easier to use with small children as I normally support my daughter with one hand in the bath, so she doesn’t slip, and with the other hand I am pumping the soap on my hand so I can apply it on her.
Now when my daughters face has completely healed from the eczema, I will keep this product as gold for when signs of eczema show up on her face again, or when my son has dry or reddish skin.

I also use it when she has nappy rash as this helps immediately to soothe and heal.  This product is great for this as well !!!

LA ROCHE – POSAY LIPIKAR BAUME AP +
This is a thick balm that soothes and breaks the vicious cycle of itching and irritation.  This product is Paraben – Fee and Fragrance Free, however it has a scent that I didn’t like a whole lot, it is subtle but at the same time a bit strong for my taste. This is the only criticism I would give to this product, to change the scent or make it very similar to the Cream Wash.  In the end, the scent shouldn’t be important if the purpose is to take care and soothe the skin ;).

I must add that I applied this product on my son’s skin during this season and he never suffered of eczema.
 CONCLUSIONS
Definitely La Roche – Posay Lipikar AP + and Baume AP + are great products to prevent, treat and heal skin conditions such as extreme dryness or eczema. To achieve better results, these 2 products must be used at the same time as a duo, because they complement each other, and only using one of them won’t give the best results.  I always thought that La Roche – Posay was a brand of products for adults, but I love the fact that it is so good for kids, and this is probably the perception that many adults and many of my friends have. I would suggest to launch a range for kids with the similar look of the Anthelios range.

  As parents we like to buy products for kids that have a look and design for kids. Also kids want their products specially in the shower that look kid friendly with little characters so this might be something that La Roche – Posay should look at.
To finalize, I want to say thanks to La Roche – Posay for healing my daughter’s eczema, she got much better and was looking so lovely at her Christening! 
(Her some one pic of that day)
 You can buy La Roche - Posay at Dischem stores countrywide, www.dermastore.co.za and www.skinmiles.com








Wednesday 26 September 2018

SANTA FE DE ANTIOQUIA, A COLONIAL GEM IN COLOMBIA

 Hello all! Traveling is one of my favourite activities, specially in my country. Few months ago, I visited Colombia with my family. It was so nice to take them around and show them some of my special places. 
Since I was little, Santa Fe de Antioquia has been one of the most popular destinations not only in my city but in the country. I grew up going there often, either with my family or with friend´s, as it is only one hour drive from Medellín, my city. 

One of my best memories that I have is that I learned to swim here!

This little town was the first capital of Antioquia, its history and colonial architecture makes it a valuable gem and a must visit destination not only to locals but also to tourists. 

 The day we arrived we had lunch at this restaurant owned by a guy from Galicia. 
Walking in Santa Fe de Antioquia is an absolute pleasure. This town has very interesting houses, libraries, shops, bars... it feels like every single corner has a story to tell. 
Did you notice that the streets are made with stones? 

Isn´t Santa Fe de Antioquia so beautiful? The region has tropical weather all year round, thus my looks are very summery and relaxed.  

Watch this space. My next post will be about the nature and wild side of Santa Fe and I will post a video about the trip as well. 

I am wearing:

Hat: Cotton On
Dress: Mr. Price
Sandals: Cotton On 
Shades: Rayban 



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Saturday 18 August 2018

AFTERNOON IN BERMEO, MY THIRD HOME

Hello all! Every year I visit Bermeo, the village where my husband was born and the place I consider my third home. Bermeo was the first capital of Vizcaya until everything was moved to Bilbao. Walking in its piazzas and port is really magical. 
I am wearing this poncho that my sister gave me and that has become in one of my favorite fashion pieces of my wardrobe. 

 
Bermeo, you always will have a very special place in my heart. Till next year :) 

I AM WEARING: 

Top: Pick N Pay Fashion
Shorts: Woolworths 
Sandals: Woolworths 
Long Poncho: Band of Gypsies 
Shades: Rayban 
Bag: H&M