ANSULENE & FAMILY'S FAVOURITES
A cosy peek into how we truly live at home
I have always been a minimalist, not because I am strict or rigid, but because I find peace and comfort in simplicity. I surround myself with only what I love and what feels good. My life is full of colour, laughter and movement… just without the clutter. Our home is filled with animals (11 of them:)) that bring joy and chaos in equal measure, and the garden outside our door is a living painting that I add to with my hands in the soil. Nature has always been my greatest teacher and my calmest companion.
As I head toward 60 this coming January, people often tell me that I look younger, and I smile because I know my secret has nothing to do with luck or expensive, complicated routines. It has everything to do with listening to nature, trusting her, and allowing her ingredients to take care of my skin and my family every single day.
✨ My story
My skincare routine is as uncomplicated as my heart wishes life to be. In the morning, I wash my face with one of our handcrafted soaps like Miracle Moringa, Avocado or Turmeric & Honey, each one carrying a little bit of earth’s goodness. Then I massage 3 drops of Miracle Facial Oil into my face, take a deep breath, and add sunscreen before stepping into the day. Makeup is never a mask for me. A touch of mascara, a soft shade of lipstick… lip balm for silky comfort if the Bloemfontein air is dry...that is enough for me to feel beautiful. My daily routine is not done unless either Fijbos, Perfect Peony or Sandalwood Rooibos Tea Body Butter is applied all over my body. When the day is done my Magic Cloth gently wipes away what is left, three drops of Miracle Facial Oil again, and both magnesium whipped body butter and Pure magnesium oil spray guides me softly into sleep. Throughout the day I keep Rose Garden Hand Cream in my handbag, because hands tell stories too, and they deserve to feel loved and beautifully scented.
Since we moved to Bloemfontein, sinus has become a stubborn companion. I created our Sinus Relief spray out of necessity for myself and our JB team, and soon learned that almost everyone in this city needs the very same comfort. Nature provides, so I simply bottle her help.
Even the smallest rituals matter to me. I strengthen my nails with Miracle Facial Oil or Prickly Pear Oil, and as my hair is very thin I keep it hair light and free with our zero waste Rosemary & Mint Shampoo Bar. The shampoo bar is also my "bathroom in a tin" when we travel - as we do quite a few markets outside Bloemfontein, it is very important to travel light. The shampoo bar will then be my soap for hair, body and even face...It really is an awesome travel "must have". Lately, we’ve traded toothpaste for our Tooth Powder, and while I love the fresh clean feeling, Frans is still learning that spitting is a skill of its own:)
🌿 Frans’ story
I have the best husband in the whole wide world, and he has been my biggest supporter on this JUSTBLiSS journey:) He has always loved little pleasures in life; a good breakfast in the morning with a warm cup of coffee. A freshly mowed lawn. Fiddling here and there in the garden. Feeding his 16+ fishes in the pond. His "secretary" Leah (one of the ginger cats) on his lap, even in a zoom meeting. Sandalwood on his skin. He shaves with our Sandalwood cream and a good brush every morning, and then smooths Sandalwood Beard Balm over his face.
He also reaches for the Pure magnesium oil spray, because lavender simply isn’t his love story the way it is mine. He has a very stressfull job, so the Magnesium Whipped Body Butter is used on a daily basis into those neck muscles...
✨ Roan’s story
Our youngest son, Roan, is 21 and writing his own adventure at varsity. As much as he wants life to be fast and convenient, he has learned that taking care of his skin doesn’t have to take time away from living. He loves the bold, deep scent of Oud and uses the Oud 3-in-1 Shampoo and Body wash for both body and hair, plus the Oud deodorant that keeps up with student life. Tomato Soap, Activated charcoal scrub and a little Squalane Oil keep his skin calm, clear and ready for anything.
✨ The grown-up children (who still love free products)
Our two older boys and their beautiful wives live in Durbanville and Amsterdam now. They are independent, adventurous and building their own lives… yet when it comes to skincare and home products, they are still quite happy to let mom supply the essentials. Some things never change, and I wouldn’t want them to:)
👶 Leila’s story
And then there is our darling granddaughter Leila, Ouma's Poppelappie, a little miracle with soft cheeks and the most beautiful smile. She uses our Pure 3-in-1 Shampoo and body wash and Pure Rooibos Tea Body Butter every day. We used Castile soap and the Pure Body Oil for massaging her little body when she was younger...She will be 2 in December, so she keeps her mom and dad on the run on a daily basis:) When a rash, a bump (or two) appears on her skin, Miracle Balm will always come to the rescue - it cleares her soft skin with such tenderness that it always reminds me why I love making these products… because they serve the ones we love most. Since walking she just wants to be outside, so luckily our sunscreen is there again to protect that sensitive skin of hers...:)
👴👵 My parents’ story
My dad is 91 and my mom is 84. Their presence in our lives is one of my greatest blessings. My dad inspired Miracle Balm. His skin is so delicate now that even a small knock can cause bleeding or marks beneath the surface. I needed something protective, thick and soothing… like a soft hug for his skin. That balm became my way of wrapping love around him. After his lymph cancer a few years ago, aluminium became something we keep far away, which made natural deodorant more than a preference… it became personal. His skin has been very dry since his treatment, and the Pure Rooibos Tea Body Butter has become a daily comfort he can feel immediately.
After his cancer, we became even more careful about what touches his skin. Natural deodorant wasn’t a trend for us — it was an act of protection. And because both he and my mom have extremely sensitive skin today, they wash only with Pure 3-in-1 Shampoo & Body Wash.
My mother’s hands are never still. Every day she cooks healthy meals for my dad, making sure he stays strong after his cancer. And when she isn’t in the kitchen, she is knitting. More than eighty beanies a year flow from those hands, each stitch carrying love and prayer. She gifts them to anyone who needs warmth… the oncology unit where my dad once sat, retirement homes, strangers who have become stories. Her giving spirit is endless, but busy hands like hers come with pain. Arthritis has become a daily companion, and sometimes even restless legs at night. She was the reason I created our Soothing Rooibos Tea Body Butter, to bring a little comfort back into those hardworking, generous hands.
🐾 Home is where nature lives too
With all our furry companions racing through the house, harsh chemicals can’t be part of our story. We clean clothes with our Washing Powder and Laundry Bar, wash dishes with Castile Soap, freshen carpets with vinegar and Baking soda, and keep bathrooms clean with toilet fizzies. When a gentle scent is needed, Perfect Peony Room & Linen Mist brings a soft, floral sense of comfort into the air. You won't believe it, but our Pure 3-in-1 Shampoo and Body wash is my go-to to wash our furry babies as well :) Only the best for my babies!!! :)
🌸 What matters most
Every product here carries a memory, a need, or a person I love deeply. We do not make products because a trend exists. We make them because someone in our family needed help, and nature had the answer.
This is why our routines are simple… because love doesn’t need to be complicated.
Thank you for reading our story and stepping into our home for a moment. I hope you discover products here that will gently care for your own family, through every age, every season, and every chapter still to