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Name: Unathi Nkayi
Age: 31
Occupation: singer and radio personality
Location: Jozi
According to Unathi, the one product she simply couldn’t live without is a hair ointment called Jebba. ‘It has olive and hemp extracts that repair the hair and allow it to grow thick and strong’, she says. It’s the reason why my afro is so thick and long’.
Make-up wise, her cosmetic bag staples include MAC Studio Stick foundation, The Body Shop Bronzing Powder and a limited edition Alexander McQueen for MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in New Vegas. Of the latter, she says ‘It adds to my natural glow and ‘now that he is no longer with us, I treasure it even more’. She also has a limited edition MAC Hello Kitty Collection make-up brush that applies blush and foundation like a dream.
As far as skin care goes, Unathi’s clearly hooked on La Mer, saying she likes to start every morning with La Mer The Cleansing Gel followed by La Mer The Radiant Infusion (a toner) and La Mer The Lifting Face Serum. ‘I then focus on my eyes with the La Mer The Eye Concentrate and finish everything off with the La Mer The Moisturising Lotion’.
Her top skin care tip? ‘When applying beauty products ensure that you use them on your entire visage area. That would be your face, neck and shoulders covering your collarbone’, she says. ‘You see a lot of women paying attention to their face, but when the ageing process begins you see it first in the difference between the condition of their face, neck and shoulders’.
When it comes to taking care of her hair, she reveals that she likes to mix her hair food with olive oil. ‘It keeps my hair thick and strong’, she says. ‘It also stimulates the hair follicles allowing the hair to grow fast too. I have a very healthy afro’.
Now it’s time for a few quick questions!
Got anything exciting coming up?
I am on a tour called Unathi and Friends. (The show is nationwide and features Unathi singing as well as surprise celebrity performers). The first concert was in Grahamstown, my home town. The second will be on Saturday the 15th May at Gold Reef City at The Lyric Theatre.
What colour nail polishes are you rocking this summer?
Gold, deep reds like maroon, and neutral shades that are always fashionable.
How’d you get that hot bod?
I drink a lot of water on a daily basis which I think contributes to my natural glow. Once a week I sit in the sauna for 15 minutes covered in olive oil, but I spoil myself on a daily basis with La Mer body cream.
Quick – turf out your handbag. What beauty goods do you have stashed in there?
Firstly I never leave home without an old tooth brush to make sure my natural hair stays disciplined. Secondly (and you might think this strange) I also carry Tabard, the insect and mosquito repellent lotion. They love my sweet skin and always leave me with bites, so I decided I won't be having that if I'm out at night. I also have my La Mer lip balm in there.
What perfume do you wear? Do you have a day or night scent? A special occasion scent? Tell, tell, tell!
I am a perfume freak. I love perfume and like wearing a different scent for each season as well as night and day. My all time favourite is Emporio Armani. I also enjoy J’adore by Dior as well as the entire female range by Banana Republic and Karl Lagerfeld. My pride and joy, however, is the Egyptian oil I had made for me in Cairo by the descendants of Queen Nefertiti the goddess of lust.
If we had to snoop around in your bathroom (and we sooo would given the chance), what would we find in your shower or around your bath?
You'd find white candles everywhere. When I bath I like to light them and the reflection is beautiful against the mirror that covers my wall. I like brands like Dove, Shield and Radox because of their nurturing nature on the skin as well as Johnson and Johnson's Baby powder. I just love the fresh baby smell! I also like using eucalyptus oil for my baths.
Finally, any other beauty secrets or a last word of advice for the girls at w24.co.za?
We like to think our skin will last the test of time, but my mom taught me that if you pamper yourselves from a young age, you won't have to stress about the ageing process.
