If you’ve got sensitive or very dry skin, you probably know what to look for when it comes to cleansing your bod. Most soaps are a bad idea. Anything too high in SLS (sodium lauryl sulphate) can by irritating and highly perfumed products are just a nope, nope, nope. Still, if you’ve yet to find a cleanser you love and adore, consider Noreva Xerodiane AP+ Lipid Replenishing Cleansing Oil (R319,95, Clicks).

Despite its hideous name, it’s a lovely product that gently repels grease and dirt while replenishing your skin with lipids. The latter is important because pretty much anyone with reactive skin has some kind of barrier function issue. Replacing lost lipids should be a top priority if you want to repair it.

I liked that, despite being SLS-free, it still foamed up, albeit just a little, and when it was rinsed away I didn’t feel greasy and gross. You can use it to cleanse both your body and face, but I did notice that I still needed to whip out the micellar water (Bioderma Sensibio for the win!) to completely get rid of my mascara. If you don’t mind doing a quick second cleanse on the days you wear make-up, you’ll find Noreva’s newbie a fab 2-in-1 for dry, sensitive skin.

Next up, let’s talk about Cape Town, Mavala’s coolest nail colour! (R87, Clicks). A mooi cherry red (the colour of my face after you drag my KFC binge-eating ass up Table Mountain) it’s a fabulous shade for summer. Most of the reds I already have in my collection are blue-toned and darker-hued. The kind of shades I like to wear in winter. Cape Town, however, is bright, fun and fabulous!

I was also given a Mavala Gel Finish top coat (R185, Clicks) and while it won’t’ make anyone mistake my DIY mani for Gelish, it is super-duper shiny and prevented premature chipping. The only downer is that, as it’s quite thick, you have to really splodge it on and stroke out fast or it turns gunky on your nail. You then have to wait a little longer for it to dry than you would a thinner top coat. But hey, like I said, it’s fabulously shiny and most good things require a little patience.

One last thing – at almost R200 a bottle it’s not a budget buy BUT Clicks is currently running a buy 3 pay for 2 special on Mavala ‘nail treatments’ (the top coat and pretty much anything they make that isn’t a coloured polish seems to be considered a treatment) so if you’re a fan, now’s the time to buy.

Last, but not least, Cetaphil sent me a tube of their Daily Advance Ultra Hydrating lotion (R360, Clicks) and I love, love, love it! It comes in a big, fat, medicinal-looking tube that made me wonder why several of my friends rave about it. It just looked like the kind of thing that would smell like wood glue or camphor or hospitals, but SURPRISE, it’s Awesome with a capital A!

I really liked that, despite being formulated for very dry and sensitive skin, it’s a very lightweight glycerin-based lotion that glides across your bod before absorbing in a flash. It’s also 100% fragrance-free and so gentle you could use it on your baby as well as your face*. I tend to end up giving away the vast majority of body lotions I’m given because I can’t finish up 20 tubes in a year, but this is a serious keeper.

Love, love

Leigh

*For the record, my favourite Cetaphil product is still their wondrous Dermacontrol Oil Control Moisturiser with SPF 30, one of few high SPF daily moisturisers that don’t feel sunscreen-y. If you have combination skin and looking for a daily moisturiser to wear under make-up, know that this is a five-star pick!