MUST HAVE: Motorola Moto G (3rd Gen)

If you are looking for a quality, affordable and value for money smartphone, the Motorola Moto G, should be on your radar! I have had the pleasure of using the 8GB, black model for the past few weeks.

The Moto G is a good-looking phone. It is both stylish and sleek, with its Corning Gorilla Glass and the cool metal strip at the back, which houses the rear camera and the Motorola logo. The back cover (removable) is made of ribbed hard plastic, and one can personalise it with various Motorola shell colour covers (colours include black, navy, lime, blue, to name a few). The Moto G, fits nicely into one’s hand, and it small enough to slip into a pocket.

The Moto G has a sharp 5” HD, 720p IPS display which provides good brightness and colour reproduction (1280 x 720 pixels resolution). Thanks to the Corning Gorilla Glass and the IPX7-rated protection, you can be at ease knowing that your phone is water resistant (up to 1 meter and 30 minutes) and that the display is protected from unpleasant scrapes and scratches.

The Moto G has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 chip (1.4GHz quad-core) and advanced Adreno graphics, which enables one to switch back and forth between apps without slowing the phone down. Unfortunately, the phone has 1GB of RAM, however performance is still nice and smooth the majority of the time, with a lag now and then (the 16GB model contains 2GB of RAM). 8GB is a lot of internal storage space, however if extra storage is needed, the phone offers storage expansion support and can take a microSD card up to 32GB. The Moto G is powered by Android and comes pre-loaded with version 5.1 Lollipop. Android Lollipop is simple and very user friendly.

The Moto G takes really good photos. It has a 13-megapixel rear camera with dual-LED flash and a 5-megapixel camera up front for dope selfies! Video can be shot at up to 1080p or 720p for slow motion.

Other notable features are that it supports 4G LTE and has solid battery life (the battery is non-removable). 

With Christmas, just being one week away, the Moto G, makes an excellent gift for your loved ones! The phone is a must have because it is affordable, good-looking, water resistant, user friendly and it has a good camera to capture all of one’s special moments!

The Motorola Moto G (3^rd Gen) (8gb) is available from the Orange online store for R3,320 (price as at 17 December 2015, price subject to change). Click HERE to visit the Orange online store.

Urban Bliss – Bespoke Wellness Treatments for the Modern Gent

A few weeks ago, the Swag Craze team visited Urban BLISS in Johannesburg. Urban BLISS goes beyond the traditional spa approach and offers a truly bespoke and integrated wellness service to their clients. The philosophy at Urban BLISS is to fuse the latest modern technologies with the ancient art of relaxation through treatments that aim to create wellness by dedicated trained professionals. 

Ayesha Rajah (MD of A&I Importers) shared great insights on the latest wellness trends shaping the wellness landscape in 2015. The trends she mentioned included Hyper-personalised beauty, Cardio is the new cocktail (morning power raves) and Meditation is the new rock star to name a few.

(P.S. We are going to add a wellness section to Swag Craze and will provide you with more details on the trends which Ayesha shared with us).

Ayesha has over 20 years of experience in the skin care and beauty industry. She has gone to great lengths to create a unique environment at Urban BLISS featuring treatment rooms that echo some of the world’s finest cities, like London, Paris, New York and Tokyo.

Urban BLISS is indeed a rare sanctuary in the city. We received a complimentary 30 min treatment, which we loved, as well as Phytomer products which we will be reviewing soon!

Urban BLISS offers a variety of treatments and products for the modern gentleman. We recommend you try the following treatments and products (as we will) this spring/summer season: 

·        Oslo Men’s Facial with Spinal Detox- tailored specifically for a males skin needs and concerns using Phytomer Men’s range. The treatment targets excess oil, open pores, rough skin, ingrown hairs, problematic skin, anti-aging and hydration. Also includes a back exfoliation and detox using the self-heating mud.

·        Acne and Scar management treatments- from Deep Cleanses to chemical peels that have No Down time!

·        Massages- depending demands of sport activities, it can be customised to suit your individual needs.

·        Retail Products

·        Phytomer’s Soothing Leg Gel - Soothes sore and tight muscles and eases muscles spasm, assists with bruising as well

·        Phytomer’s Oligomer Pure Bath Sachets - assists with the recovery of Jet lag, stress, fatigue

·        Skin Doctors Capillary Clear – assist with the treatment of broken capillaries on the face

·        Skin Doctors Eye Tuck - treats bags and puffiness under the eye area

·        Skin Doctors In Grow Go - treats ingrown hairs

·        PRIORI Invigorating Face and Body Scrub - double exfoliator both mechanical and chemical can be used on both face and body

7de Laan actor Heino Schmitt with the Urban BLISS ladies

A visit to Urban BLISS will bring your body back to balance and leave you feeling tranquil, revitalised and restored. You can visit them at 85 Barry Hertzog Avenue, Emmarentia (011 486 0512/3).

MUST HAVE: L’Occitane Cedrat - A New Fresh, Masculine and Lightweight Fragrance Every Gent Needs To Own

New fragrances are always worth sniffing out, as it is always refreshing to add new and exciting products to one’s collection. L’Occitane recently launched a new skincare range for men titled: L’Occitane Cedrat. They have used the cedrat fruit to develop an energizing and masculine fragrance and skincare rage.  The range consist out of eau de cedrat, shower gel, deodorant stick, soap, face gel, shaving gel, after shave and cleanser which was tailored to meet the unique demands of men’s skin. I have been using the L’Occitane Cedrat eau de toilette and the L’Occitane Cedrat Shower Gel, and recommend it to all the dapper gents as these products will leave you smelling great for hours!

The L’Occitane Cedrat eau de toilette is a very masculine fragrance. The scent strikes a perfect ‘woody citrus’ balance. It opens with a refreshing citrusy scent, blending cedrat bark and sparkling bergamot. Spicy notes of nutmeg and blue ginger develop in the heart, to provide warmth and also to enhance the overall impression of the fragrance. The base closes with elegant flavors of cedar and cashmere wood. The fragrance smells amazing and has a very good silage.

The Cedrat eau de toilette comes in a signature flask-style bottle made of glass and crowned with a silver stopper. The bottle recalls the skin of the cedrat fruit and the color of the fragrant liquid is a citrusy, greenish-yellow shade (appropriate for the name of the fragrance).

The 100ml EDT Cedrat eau de toilette by L´Occitane retails for R740 and the 50ml EDT retails for R560.

The L’Occitane Cedrat Shower Gel is a multi-purpose, 2-in-1, product that can be used as body wash and as shampoo. The Cedrat Shower Gel by L’Occitane lathers well and gently cleanses one’s body while leaving a fresh and masculine scent. The shower gel is enriched with organic Corsican cedrat extract for its energizing properties.

The Cedrat Shower Gel by L’Occitane comes in an extra-large masculine bottle and retails for R235.

PS: These products in the Cedrat range will make great Fathers Day gifts! Click here for a list of L’Occitane Boutiques where you can shop the Cedrat range.

Looking Back – Top Stories From Last Week (W/E 21-03-15)

PUMA x Slam Jam - See PUMA’s latest sneaker collaboration that marks Slam Jam’s 25th Anniversary.

Nike Celebrates the Anniversary of the Nike Air Max in Braamfontein - In the lead up to Air Max Day, which is March 26, Nike South Africa have launched 25PSI, so that you can have a closer look at the evolution of the Air Max sneaker.

Fabiani MBFWJ - Fabiani brings us ‘A Return To Form’ and focuses on classic tailoring and sports luxe.

PUMA PERF Pack - PUMA has released its latest Fast Track collection, the nostalgic Perf Pack featuring the R698 and The States, two of the best selling sneaker silhouettes in PUMA’s rich history.

MUST HAVE: Sony SBH80 Stereo Bluetooth Headset

 One of the coolest devices available in wireless headsets is the Sony SBH80 Bluetooth Headset. I have been using it for the past month, and I am equally impressed with its ease of use and its sound quality. The Sony SBH80 Stereo Bluetooth Headset has allowed me to enjoy my favorite music and videos anytime and anywhere without the inconvenience that is attached to traditional wired headsets. Whether traveling, chilling at home, working at the office, working out at the gym or just walking around the city, the versatility of the Sony SBH80 has kind of made my life easier.

Pairing up the headsets with my phone was relatively easy. The SBH80 is compatible with all popular smartphones, tablets and laptops. It also supports Bluetooth® Multipoint which makes it possible to connect the SBH80 to two devices at the same time. Charging is done using a standard micro-usb connector (comes in the box), therefore no need for any proprietary adapters.

The SBH80 worked great for audio and video. It switched seamlessly to phone functionality when picking up a call. The SBH80 has aptX audio enhancement, which gives the device a fantastic quality sound, while the buds allow a good seal and isolate ambient noise, therefore allowing one to enjoy music or video with pure deep bass and clear highs.

The SBH80 has double microphones, therefore ensuring that the person you’re talking to experience your voice clearly. There is a vibrating alert in the main unit of the SBH80, which alerts you when a call comes in. It took me a minute to first get use to the vibration when I got a call.

The SBH80 is a MUST HAVE for everyone who is serious about using wireless headphones, or for those who haven’t used a wireless headset before.  It provides a superb in-ear audio experience. You will enjoy a high quality sound with a nice bass enhancement.

The Sony SBH80 Stereo Bluetooth Headset is available from the Orange online store for R1105 (price as at 10 March 2015, price subject to change). Click HERE to visit the Orange online store.

Image Credit: Facebook

Looking Back – Top Stories From Last Week (W/E 7-03-15)

PUMA x ALIFE - See Swag Craze's PUMA x ALIFE undertaking.

Fabiani – A Return To Form - Fabiani takes the suit to the street this season.

PUMA Events - Click here for more information on PUMA's #FirstThursdays in Cape Town and #SelectSaturdays in Joburg.

PUMA Introduces Ignite - PUMA is proud to introduce IGNITE, a performance running shoe featuring innovative foam technology that maximizes energy return to keep you running longer.

MBFWJ 2015 - South Africa’s foremost established and emerging designers have converged in Melrose Arch in Johannesburg with their latest Autumn/Winter 2015 collections.

PUMA Tennis – For SS’15 PUMA looks to its Tennis archive to inspire its future and to celebrate the brand’s rich sports heritage of being Forever Faster.

Looking Back – Top Stories From Last Week (W/E 14/02/15)

PUMA x ICNY  

PUMA x ICNY collaboration - Inspired by Valentines Day, PUMA partnered with alternative sportswear pioneers ICNY to infuse on the new Faas 100 “Heartbreaker” running sneaker. See it here!

Home Automation Set To Rise in SA - One emerging trend in South Africa is the move towards home automation. Read more about it here.

AngelBerry Competition - Swag Craze and AngelBerry are giving away a special treat to 3 lucky readers. All you have to do is to enter our competition.

SA's First SAMW  - Highlights From The First SA Menswear Week, Autumn/Winter 2015. See our favorites.

PUMA x ALIFE collaboration - PUMA rekindles its partnership with New York lifestyle concept ALIFE through the release of their highly anticipated collaborative collection for SS’15. See it here.

Must Have: AngelBerry Frozen Yogurt – Delicious Holiday Snack

 AngelBerry is now finally available in South Africa, and I have been addicted to their frozen yogurt since they have arrived! The past holidays I have already consumed at least 1kg of frozen yogurt, enjoying the assortment of delicious flavors that they have to offer. I have enjoyed the following flavors: cherry, wild berries, mango, strawberry and vanilla and can’t wait for my next trip to the store to test the other flavors and delicious toppings that they have to offer! 

The vanilla, wild berries and mango flavors (that I enjoyed) are part of their Stevia range. AngelBerry’s Stevia sweetened range of flavors is unique, low in carbohydrates and it contains no calories. I liked all the flavors especially the wild berries, you need to visit the store and tell me which one you enjoy the most!

AngelBerry yogurt is extremely smooth and is very rich in flavor! You get the most delicious ‘premium taste sensation’ from the moment it enters your mouth. Their frozen yogurt is low in carbs and is 100% natural therefore making it the best guilt-free option and MUST HAVE this holidays!

They also sell smoothies, parfaits, cones and freshly-made American-style pancakes, which I am definitely going to try when I visit the store again!

I recommend that you visit the AngelBerry store with your loved ones in Johannesburg. The store is located at: Shop 21, Kyalami on Main and Nu Metro Cinema in Menlyn Park.

For more information and to keep up to date with upcoming AngelBerry stores, interesting new flavors, new products and competitions follow AngelBerry on Facebook: www.facebook.com/angelberrysa