BY AGATHA CHUMA EAGER to break new ground in skin beauty products, United States (US)-based Zimbabwean beautician Mabel Machabvunga has come up with Tapira, a new organic body sugaring paste.
Machabvunga developed interest in skincare products because she was prone to skin diseases as she grew up.
In fact, it was her personal experience with acne (a skin condition characterised by red pimples on the skin, especially on the face), that inspired her to delve into skin products.
In an effort to treat her skin, Machabvunga would try any remedy that was available, be it eggs or mealie-meal.
She later decided to enrol at a beauty school where she got an idea on how to create a body sugaring paste not necessarily for acne, but for hair removal.
“Body sugaring is a hair-removal technique dating back to the Cleopatra era. A lot of people are familiar with waxing, but sugaring has actually been around for longer and people are now rediscovering it,” she pointed out.
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Machabvunga noted that body sugaring is quickly gaining popularity around the world as a growing number of people prefer it to the conventional waxing for hair removal.
“Sugaring makes use of a paste made from sugar, lemon and water which are all organic ingredients. The Tapira sugaring paste is very organic. The hair removal results and benefits of sugaring are much more superior to any other hair removal techniques and/or products currently on the market,” she explained.
“The sugar paste is all natural. This is good especially now as more people are becoming very conscious about what they put in and on their bodies. It is also popular among women although men do opt for the process.”
She also noted that since sugaring removes hair in the natural direction of its growth, it lessens the chances of ingrown hair or hair bumps which are an issue when people use other hair removal methods like shaving and waxing which removes hair in the opposite direction of its growth.
“Similar to waxing, sugaring removes body hair by quickly pulling the hair from the root and a lot of people who are concerned about their skins opt for this method just to appear smart and maintain a glowing skin,” she indicated.
Machabvunga said Tapira paste had no risk of burns and damage to the skin and hair follicles. The paste is effectively used and applied at room temperature unlike wax which is used at higher temperatures.
“My hope for the skincare and beauty industry, particularly in Zimbabwe, is to do with proper regulations being put in place. It would be helpful if regulatory boards for the industry were set up.
“A lot of skincare and beauty products on the Zimbabwean market are put there without going through the proper regulatory procedures to deem them safe or unsafe for human use. The products come with vague ingredient labels and hidden chemicals,” she pointed out.
Machabvunga’s sugaring paste business has been doing well with a wide range of clientele from Columbia and North Carolina and she has managed to establish a Wellness Spar helping her to generate income for the family.
She urged the young generation to venture into the beauty and skincare industry.
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