From Zim with love

Brenda Phiri lifestyle writer
WE are at a point in history where it looks like everything is a paradox of itself. Never have people had so much, yet it looks like never have people needed to select what they eat and use so much. The effects of global warming and climate change being felt all over the world and non-pandemic conditions like diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure are now a problem for all nation. The environment and how you use it is increasingly a matter of prime concern.

Going green is the buzz word the way to go and the sprouting organic products all over shops are providing a fix for addicts.
A Zimbabwean entrepreneur, Kudzai Lucas, who is based in the United Kingdom, took it a step further and created a natural skin care range called Savannah Glow.

In the project that is expected to expand tremendously in the next five years, Lucas hopes to make Savannah Glow a household brand.
The presence of tried and tested international brands does not scare her off her path in making her vision a reality. Her products, unlike others, are genuinely organic and proudly Zimbabwean.

“Since coming onto the market early this year, the hair and skin care products have been well received by people of different races. This is in spite of my targeted audience being indigenous Africans and Caribbean people,” she said during the range’s launch recently.

The range is currently produced in the UK. Plans are underway to have them manufactured and distributed from the motherland. Locals will be able to access the products at a much cheaper price.

Lucas has plans to engage local farmers to produce the organic ingredients, a move that is aimed at lowering the cost of the range.
“The name Savanna Glow is derived from our African climate that is under the savannah region. Because the African skin and hair endures about 12 months of sun, they have their special needs as far as products are concerned. While Africa has been made a dumping ground for substandard products Savannah Glow products are made from purely of natural ingredients that are friendlier to the hair and skin,” she said.

Like many other frustrated women, Lucas tried several products that just did not do the job that they promised to.
Many people can relate to trying out different products; soaps that will end oiliness, creams that will fade away scars, snake oils that will make you look 20 years younger in two weeks, the list is endless. And they normally do not come cheap.

A survey of Harare shops show that on average women part with anything between US$25 and above US$200 for a month’s supply of genuine facial cosmetics from reputable brands.

While many consumers limit themselves to remaining to end users skipping between whatever is available on the market, Lucas took the matter into her hands through the range.

Hollywood celebrities are known to create their own scents as much as it a common for individuals to create their own products.
Lucas feels that people in First World countries have a better appreciation of organic products, a trait that is commendable even though they are highly priced. Spending time among them encouraged her to be proactive and come up with own solutions to skin problems.

“Growing up in Zimbabwe I had skin problems like any other teenager. The problem persisted until I was an adult. When I got married, I tried the expensive cosmetics that my husband used to buy since he liked pampering me. Unfortunately, nothing worked for my combination – dry and oily skin,” she said.

A mother of three boys, a wife and a qualified social worker in the UK, Lucas has devoted the last couple of months to research and experiments

“After being inspired by a colleague I resorted to making concoctions comprised of avocados, cucumbers and other natural ingredients that I used on my skin. I followed it up with internet research and talking to professionals. In no time I came up with my own products,” she said.

Matters of the skin are sensitive to most people. Because of this, Lucas engages experts like cosmetic chemists and microbiologists.
She has also gone for one-on-one tuition on cosmetology with professionals just to ensure everything is done by the book.

Lucas’ products include face creams, hair gels, body lotions and cleansing gels. With the help of professionals, correct amounts of organic ingredients are used in making them.

The ingredients include sweet almonds, shea butter and olive oil that are obtained from various African countries mostly from the West.