Beauty

Beauty: facial skincare with actives you can pronounce.

Most skincare aisles sell on packaging and promise. The honest version of beauty is much smaller: a cleanser, a hydrator, a targeted active or two, and sunscreen every day. The brands that do this well tell you what is in the bottle, at what concentration, and what it actually does on the skin.

We stock beauty around facial skincare, with Eleven 2 (a South African-made brand) as the hero. The range covers the routine basics, the active treatments worth the shelf space (bakuchiol, niacinamide, ceramides), and mineral sunscreens that hold up to South African UV. Hair colour (Herbatint) and a few targeted internal supports (collagen, biotin-zinc-selenium) round out the collection. The product list stays short on purpose. Less is more, especially when you are starting out.

What is actually happening

Actives you can pronounce
The skincare ingredients with the most evidence have plain names: niacinamide, retinol, bakuchiol, vitamin C, ceramides, hyaluronic acid. If a label leads with a marketing word instead of the active, the active is often the smallest ingredient in the bottle.
Routine layering basics
Apply thinnest to thickest: cleanser, water-based serum, oil-based serum, moisturiser, sunscreen in the morning. At night, the same order without sunscreen. Most routines fail because the order is wrong or the layers are too many.
SPF every day in South Africa
UV index in South Africa hits 11+ in summer and stays meaningful through winter. SPF is not optional for ageing, pigmentation, or skin cancer risk. Mineral (zinc oxide) sunscreens sit on the skin without the hormone-disruptor concerns of some chemical filters.
Less is more when starting
A four-step routine (cleanse, moisturise, treat, SPF) outperforms a ten-step routine for most skin. Add one active at a time, give it 6 to 8 weeks to show, then decide whether to keep, swap, or stop.

How we think about it

ROUTINE

Routine basics

A gentle face wash, a barrier-supporting moisturiser, and a daily sunscreen. These three are the foundation and the place 80 percent of visible improvement comes from.

BUILD

Targeted treatments

One active treatment at a time, matched to a specific concern: bakuchiol for early ageing without retinol irritation, niacinamide for pores and tone, vitamin C for pigmentation. Introduce slowly.

SEASONAL

Seasonal additions

Heavier moisturisers and barrier oils in winter, lighter textures and more SPF in summer. Internal supports (collagen, biotin-zinc-selenium) for skin and hair through life stages.

Our top picks for this concern

Curated by what works, ranked by what sells. The handful we reach for first.

Eleven 2 Gentle Face Wash 100ml

R159.00

A non-stripping, sulphate-free cleanser from a South African-made brand. Suits sensitive and combination skin, leaves the barrier intact, and works as the first step of any routine.
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Eleven 2 Ceramide Moisture Cream 30ml

R289.00

Ceramides are the lipids that hold the skin barrier together. This cream restores them directly, which is what most 'dry' or 'sensitive' skin actually needs. A core moisturiser for most routines.
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Eleven 2 Bakuchiol 30ml

R345.00

A plant-derived alternative to retinol. Smooths fine lines and evens tone with less irritation, which makes it the better starting point for retinol-curious skin or pregnancy.
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Eleven 2 Mineral Sunscreen SPF50

R299.00

Zinc-oxide mineral SPF 50 made for daily wear under South African UV. Sits well under makeup, no white cast on most skin tones, no chemical filters.
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New Leaf Marine Collagen- 60 Capsules

R369.00

Hydrolysed marine collagen peptides, taken daily. Evidence is strongest for skin elasticity and hydration after 8 to 12 weeks of consistent use. Capsule format if powder is not your thing.
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Eleven 2

Eleven 2 Rosehip Concentrate 30ml

R 319.00

1. Eleven 2 Rosehip Concentrate comes in a 30ml bottle. 2. It is made with rosehip oil, known for its rich content of vitamins and essential fatty acids. 3. The...

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Eleven 2

Eleven 2 Radient Eye Oil 10ml

R 149.00

Reduces puffiness and dark circles with coffee bean oil and vitamin C. Hydrates and protects delicate under-eye skin using rosehip seed oil. Natural, fragrance-free formula in recyclable glass packaging. Ingredients:...

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Build your stack

Three tiers, not 12. Start with one, add the next when you are ready.

1
ESSENTIALS
Cleanse, moisturise, protect

The three steps that do the most work. A gentle wash, a ceramide moisturiser, and daily mineral SPF. Run this for 8 weeks before adding anything.
Eleven 2 Gentle Face Wash 100ml R159.00 View →
2
BUILD
Add one active

Once the basics feel stable, add one targeted active matched to your goal (bakuchiol, niacinamide, vitamin C). Give it 8 weeks of nightly use to judge.
Eleven 2 Bakuchiol 30ml R345.00 View →
3
SPECIALTY
Internal supports and seasonal

Marine collagen and biotin-zinc-selenium for hair and skin over months. Hair colour for the colour cabinet. Add only when the topical routine is already working.
New Leaf Marine Collagen- 60 Capsules R369.00 View →

Common questions

What does bakuchiol actually do, and is it really a retinol alternative?

Bakuchiol is a plant compound (from the babchi plant) shown in trials to improve fine lines, pigmentation, and elasticity with similar end results to low-strength retinol but less irritation, dryness, and sun sensitivity. It is a good starting point if your skin reacts to retinol, or for pregnancy and breastfeeding where retinoids are avoided.

How do I layer actives without irritation?

One new active at a time. Use it two or three nights a week for the first two weeks, then build up if your skin tolerates it. Avoid stacking strong actives (retinol plus vitamin C plus AHA) in the same routine until you know your skin handles each one alone.

Is mineral SPF as effective as chemical SPF?

Yes, when applied properly. The catch is that mineral sunscreens need a thicker, even layer to hit the labelled SPF. Apply two finger-lengths to the face and neck, and reapply every two hours if outdoors. The advantage is no chemical filters (oxybenzone, octinoxate) absorbing into the body.

How long until I see skincare results?

Barrier products (moisturisers, ceramides) show in a few days. Hydration actives (hyaluronic acid, niacinamide) show in 2 to 4 weeks. Tone and texture actives (retinol, bakuchiol, vitamin C) take 8 to 12 weeks of consistent use. Pigmentation and deeper changes take 3 to 6 months.

Why is hair colour in the beauty collection?

Herbatint sits in beauty because it is a lower-tox colour option, herb-based, with no ammonia. Hair colour is something many people use monthly, and the ingredient list of a conventional box dye is worth a second look. Herbatint is the cleaner alternative we trust.

Do collagen supplements actually work?

The evidence is decent. Hydrolysed collagen peptides (marine or bovine) at 5 to 10g daily show improvements in skin elasticity, hydration, and dermal collagen density in placebo-controlled trials after 8 to 12 weeks. It is not a miracle, but it is a measurable effect for consistent users.

What about products like Gentle Day organic pads in beauty?

They are intimate-care basics: organic cotton, no fragrance, no chlorine bleaching. They sit in beauty because they are part of a low-tox personal-care routine. Same logic as the rest of the collection: read the label, prefer the shorter list.

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Beauty

What is actually happening

Actives you can pronounce

Routine layering basics

SPF every day in South Africa

Less is more when starting