I remember during my teenage years how shopping for skincare was rather underwhelming. Every teen-friendly product on the market was geared towards combating breakouts – which was a problem I experienced, yes, but that was all I could find. It was frustrating because I’d find a product that worked for a month, and then I was back to square one. Nothing took care of my blemishes or the pores that were as wide as the Grand Canyon.
I entered my late teens/early 20s still a deer caught in headlights when caring for my skin. By then, my puberty acne had calmed itself down, but I still broke out all the time, and on top of that, my skin was dehydrated. This was when I started experimenting with makeup which was another daunting journey of finding products that didn’t make me look like a bakery with all that CAKE! Products at this time were, again, not geared toward my skin type. As a dry skin girlie, I was bombarded with products for oily skin, so everything was MATTIFYING. What a nightmare!
The skincare industry has transformed tremendously in the last few years and thankfully, so has the local market. When ‘clean’ skincare and active-based products were introduced to the masses as South Africans, it was hard to join the train. Most of these companies, like The Ordinary, were international, and those shipping costs were no joke. However, we now have our own companies that are widely available and offer in-depth information on the products suited for each unique face.
I was introduced to Swiitchbeauty, a South African-based skincare and makeup brand, via Instagram. I was enticed by the aesthetics of their page and products (don’t judge me, I am a Gen Zennial), which are very minimal in design and colour but trust me, the contents inside are impactful. I was on the market for a face mist and serum, and being new to the skincare game, I was sceptical of starting off with high concentrations of acids. However, after reading the great reviews, I went out on a limb and bought a couple of products from them. Long story short, I recently made my second purchase, and I officially cannot live without my Swiitchbeauty treats.
THE PRODUCTS I TRIED
I kept it simple and got myself the #Superherospray Niacinamide Mist, a Korean face mist that tightens pores, evens skin texture, and leaves you with luminous, glass-like skin thanks to its hero ingredient Niacinamide. Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B₃ that helps control oil production, so it’s fantastic for assisting with breakouts, supporting the skin barrier, and is compatible with other products. This spray not only works as a toning mist, but I absolutely love incorporating it into my makeup routine as a setting mist. It maintains the glow in my skin by reducing the powdery look of setting powders and helps each product melt flawlessly into my skin. A versatile babe!
The spray retails for R180.00 per 125ml bottle.
The second product I purchased is the star of my current routine, the #WaterGel Plumping + Hydrating Serum. This serum saved my skin from the winter dryness and cold, something I had struggled with all my life. My skin drinks it up every time, creating the most hydrated and smoothest base for my makeup. The #WaterGel also tightens pores, calms redness, and gives a plump, dewy look. The hero ingredients are:
- Rose water which contains soothing and anti-inflammatory properties
- Shea butter, which nourishes without clogging pores
- CeramideNP, which locks in moisture
The serum retails for R190 per 50ml bottle.
HOW I INCORPORATE THEM INTO MY ROUTINE
What I enjoy about these products is how I seamlessly integrated them into my regime. In addition, they’re great for both AM and PM so being consistent is easy.
- After cleansing and air drying my face (I’ve ditched the face towel, and my skin thanks me every day), I spritz the #Superherospray about 4-5 times and let it absorb into my skin or pat it in.
- I follow up with the #WaterGel and work into my skin about 3-4 pumps of the good stuff. This serum absorbs so quickly into my skin, leaving it feeling super soft, supple, and hydrated.
- I apply my active/s of the day, moisturiser, and SPF for daytime or an occlusive like Squalane or a non-comedogenic facial oil in the evening to lock in the moisture.
I look forward to delving into their makeup products. They give me the ‘your skin but better’ vibe that I am currently obsessed with. For anyone with dry skin looking to boost moisture but not break the bank, I highly recommend Swiitchbeauty. For the price point, the products do not skimp out on efficacy and quality.
Glow on and conquer!
