Review | Afari
Last year, I introduced you to Afari, the brainchild of my incredibly talented and dear friend, Margaux. I promised you a full review and today is the day. I’ve used up all of the products and can now give you a full run down of each.
First up is the Priming Cleanser (R595). As the name would suggest, this gentle yet effective cleanser primes the skin for the next steps in your skincare routine. The clear gel emulsifies into a silky milk that removes makeup, sunscreen and any other impurities, leaving the skin perfectly clean, smooth and amazingly hydrated.
I struggle find cleansers that don’t either dry out my skin or block my pores, causing congestion and breakouts. This one did neither and my skin looked and felt healthier for it.
The Brightening Elixir (R1595) is my favourite product. Mid-way between a serum and a lotion, this is one hard working product. When Margaux developed the range, she wanted to target all major skin concerns with as few products as possible. She nailed it with this elixir.
Designed to target pigmentation and uneven skin tone, the formula is packed full of, as the name would suggest, brightening actives that gently eliminate dark marks, while improving the radiance if the complexion. It also helps to prevent further spots from forming thanks to targeted antioxidant protection.
I noticed a difference in my dark marks after just a few weeks use, and without any irritation, dryness or breakouts.
What would a South African skincare range be without sun protection? The Protecting Day Cream SPF30 (R1395) offers broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection housed within a super-hydrating formula that leaves the skin dewy without a hint of ashiness or greasy residue.
I normally wear it on its own as it leaves the skin looking so fresh it doesn’t need any make up. But if I do wear foundation, this acts as a perfect primer and doesn’t pill or go blotchy underneath.
The Overnight Regenerating Cream (R1395) reminds me so much of the Filorga Sleep-Recover Anti-Fatigue Night Balm, which is no longer available in SA. It does exactly what it says on the bottle – it regenerates your skin overnight. It basically makes you look like you’ve had 8 hours of peaceful sleep, even when you’ve been burning the candle at both ends – the perfect addition to any mum’s routine.
The formula contains a host of actives that plump, smooth and brighten the skin by boosting collagen production and cell turnover while you sleep. It’s quite a thick texture, and I don’t use it every single night because I don’t feel like I need it, so use it twice a week instead. But if you have very dry skin, or are older, then it is perfect for nightly use.
If you want to try it for yourself, you can shop the whole range here.
As I mentioned in my original post, the brand is all about empowering women and helping them to uplift their communities. Read all about their stories here, and Bulbine frutescens, the exclusive active they harvest for Afari on an organic farm in Limpopo here.
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