Mzansi Life & Style showcases the best that South Africa has to offer in terms of entertainment, fashion, lifestyle, culture, cuisine, travel, beauty and celebrity news. Subscribe to my website by adding your email address in the "follow" button below.
As someone who’s been shopping at Dis-Chem for years (and proudly swipes my loyalty card every time), I’m genuinely excited about their new Better Rewards programme, and trust me, it’s a real game-changer.
Launched on 21 October 2025, Better Rewards is Dis-Chem’s reimagined loyalty programme that finally gives shoppers what we’ve all been waiting for – instant savings at the till on thousands of everyday essentials. No more waiting for points to accumulate or wondering when the next reward will appear. With Better Rewards, the value is immediate and tangible – exactly what South Africans need right now.
Dis-Chem’s new approach gives you 10% off across 140 top brands and more than 10 000 products, even on promotional items. That means whether I’m stocking up on my favourite skincare, vitamins, or cleaning products, I’m saving more every time I shop.
Skin Renewal is a South African powerhouse in medical aesthetics, and they have not only survived but thrived for 20 years, growing into a network of over 20 premium clinics nationwide. Over the past two decades, Skin Renewal has flourished due to a blend of unwavering patient trust, clinical excellence, and a patient-first philosophy. In an industry where trends fade and new names constantly emerge, few brands can claim a legacy as enduring as Skin Renewal.
Here’s a Q&A with Skin Renewal’s co-founder and Medical Director, Dr Maureen Allem.
MRC – Mishkah Roman-Cassiem
MA – Maureen Allem
Dr Maureen Allem
MRC: Congratulations on celebrating 20 years of Skin Renewal. What do you think has ensured your longevity as a brand?
MA: The answer lies in a powerful combination of medical excellence, innovation, and a deep commitment to personalised care. For 20 years, Skin Renewal has led South Africa’s aesthetic medicine space with a powerful blend of medical integrity, innovation, and personalised care.
MRC: What are Skin Renewal’s signature treatments that truly set you apart in the market?
MA: The growing demand for Skin Renewal’s Signature Triple Tightening Lift reflects a rising need for effective facial rejuvenation solutions in the age of accelerated weight loss. As GLP-1 agonists such as Ozempic®️ (semaglutide) and Mounjaro®️ (tirzepatide) revolutionize weight management, patients are achieving rapid, medically guided fat reduction. However, this transformation often comes with an unintended consequence: a noticeable loss of facial volume, skin laxity, and the emergence of what has become known as “Ozempic face.”
Significant weight loss, while beneficial for overall health, can lead to the shrinking of deep facial fat pads, leaving the skin unsupported and resulting in a hollow, prematurely aged appearance. To mitigate this, many expert dermatologists now recommend incorporating skin-tightening treatments for every 4 kilograms lost, as an essential step in preserving facial integrity throughout the weight loss journey. This is precisely where Skin Renewal’s Triple Tightening Lift delivers its unique value. As one of our most requested Signature synergistic treatments, it brings together three advanced technologies—radiofrequency, lifting chemical peels, and laser rejuvenation in a single, doctor-led session. This multi-modal approach targets every level of the skin’s structure, stimulating collagen, enhancing elasticity, and gradually restoring youthful facial contours.
Powered by Skin Renewal’s Multiplier Effect, the Triple Tightening Lift delivers results that are greater than the sum of its parts making it a trusted, non-invasive solution for clients navigating significant aesthetic changes due to weight loss. More than just a treatment, it is a proactive strategy to ensure your face reflects the same radiant vitality as your body transformation.
Another popular Signature treatment at Skin Renewal is the PRF + Skin Needling Glow Facial inspired by the remarkable advances in regenerative medicine, one of the most exciting trends and the ever-growing appreciation for skin needling. Thus this cutting-edge facial redefines how radiant, healthy skin is achieved.
This transformative treatment begins with a personalized harnessing of your own biology. By combining advanced skin needling with second-generation Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF) , gently derived from a small sample of your own blood, your skin is revitalized from within. Unlike traditional PRP therapies, PRF is created through a refined, gentle process, resulting in a delicate natural fibrin matrix. This matrix steadily releases potent growth factors and stem cells for up to 14 days, ensuring a continuous wave of renewal beneath the surface.
The synergy between the microchannels created by precise skin needling and the luxe infusion of PRF initiates a restorative process that is both deeply effective and inherently natural. As your skin’s innate healing intelligence is activated, a deep revitalisation begins. Dormant, senescent zombie cells that disrupt skin harmony are reawakened, cellular renewal is restored, firmness improves, texture refines, and a radiant, healthy glow emerges that is undeniably your own.
According to dermatologists one of the top five most common skin problems in South Africa is dark marks and skin discolouration, affecting people with darker skin tones more often****. Not just a physical condition, it can take a knock on one’s self-confidence too***. So, what can be done to manage this problem? Dark marks require effective treatments and long-term care.
NIVEA spent 10 years researching dark marks in order to develop an effective skin care solution. After testing 50,000 molecules, molecule number 630 was found to be the most effective to reduce dark marks and prevent their reappearance. Named Luminous630®the ingredient was formulated by NIVEA into a range of skin care products.
Results, however remarkable, need to be backed by science. During a NIVEA Luminous630® global three-month clinical trial, test persons with dark marks testified to having seen the first results after just two weeks of regular use*, with continued improvement demonstrated over the full 12 weeks. As such, the new NIVEA Luminous630® Range represents an exciting option for people affected by dark marks.
When put to the test against other anti-dark mark ingredients on the market such as Vitamin C and Niacinamide, Luminous630® was found to be the most effective anti-dark mark ingredient**. Luminous630® isn’t just an ingredient, it’s proof that when careful and considered research is done – especially on those skin tones majorly affected – outstanding efficacy is achieved.
This year, I turned 50 years old. For many women, saying that out loud, let alone on social media or in public, has for the longest time, felt like a swear word. But why? Isn’t it a blessing to have reached this milestone age? My mother died at 47 from a brain haemorrhage. It is odd to realize that I am older than my mother!
I am currently in the phase of my life called perimenopause. This is an odd period in a woman’s life because much like puberty, one has raging hormones and mood swings but none of the youth that accommpanies the former. One would expect that I’ve gained enough life experience to control my emotions, but other symptoms like insomnia and weight gain are a little more difficult to handle.
Often referred to as the transition phase before menopause, perimenopause is a significant period in a woman’s life marked by various hormonal changes. This phase can begin as early as the mid-30s or as late as the mid-50s, and can last anywhere from a few months to over a decade. Understanding perimenopause and knowing how to manage its symptoms naturally can help you navigate this transition with greater ease and well-being.
Symptoms of Perimenopause
Perimenopause is characterised by fluctuating levels of estrogen and progesterone, leading to a range of physical and emotional symptoms. Common symptoms include:
Irregular Periods: Changes in menstrual cycle length and flow.
Hot Flashes and Night Sweats: Sudden feelings of heat and sweating.
Sleep Disturbances: Difficulty falling or staying asleep.
Mood Swings: Increased irritability, anxiety, and depression.
Vaginal Dryness: Reduced estrogen levels leading to dryness and discomfort.
Decreased Libido: A reduction in sexual desire and arousal.
Weight Gain: Often around the abdomen due to hormonal changes.
Cognitive Changes: Memory lapses and difficulty concentrating.
During Women’s Day this August, we celebrate Kerri-Lee Taylor, an exceptional female entrepreneur whose work is transforming women’s lives. As the founder of Kiko Vitals, a leading wellness brand, Kerri-Lee is dedicated to restoring physical well-being and nurturing the inner lives of conscious modern women.
In today’s fast-paced world, women face unique challenges, with hormonal imbalances often affecting their overall well-being. Recognising this need for balance, Kerri-Lee Taylor embarked on a mission to provide women with holistic solutions that support hormone health and empower them on their wellness journey. Each meticulously crafted product from Kiko Vitals is thoughtfully formulated with premium ingredients known for their efficacy in promoting hormone health.
Kerri-Lee is an Integrative Hormone Expert affiliated with IIN who has made groundbreaking investments in FemTech companies. These investments have revolutionised how Kiko Vitals collects and utilises data. The resulting wealth of information includes daily insights on mood, energy, sleep, weight, and more profound symptoms and conditions such as PCOS, endometriosis, PMS, PMDD, infertility, period pains, irregular periods, and menopausal symptoms like hot flashes.
Mzansi Life & Style by Mishkah Roman-Cassiem 