Hair Gloss: Rita Hazan Ultimate Shine Gloss

I love buys from experts in their fields because you know they’ve tried everything in the industry. Since getting an ombre, my hair has been more high maintenance than anything else. Not only do I need to worry about making sure it’s constantly hydrated to not get straw like ends, I also need to make sure the colour is staying on top of it’s game. I’ve started using this product by top NYC Celebrity colorist, Rita Hazan. A light weight foam applied to the hair in the shower after shampooing and before the conditioner for a few minutes (I recommend you keep it for 5 mins, so don’t do it when you’re in a rush because you need the conditioner too!) Very light on the hair, the product has B5 vitamins and Amino acid to boost the colour as well as giving your hair a shine. You’re not going to see dramatic results, but it’s a great colour maintenance product in my opinion.

 

Leave in hair product: Alterna Caviar CC Cream

I rarely use leave in creams, but when I heard about a hair CC cream, I had to get my hands on it. If there’s one leave in cream product you’re going to get, this is it. Smells lovely, all you have to do is apply it on towel tried hair or post styling – it has 10 benefits from moisture, shine, smoothness, softness, UV protection, Manageability, Strength, Anti-breakage, heat protection to light hold all in one product. The list of benefits come from the ingredients such as the omega Caviar extract and vitamin C. Perfect to use through out the Summer.

 

Shampoo: LUSH Big Sea Salt shampoo

Being a person that loves her Kerastase, Oribe or Redken… it might be a shocker that this Lush shampoo is my favourite this month. It smells like the freshest thing I’ve ever smelt but the sea salt texture is quite intimidating as a shampoo. My hair is anything but fine so I can’t really tell you about it giving me ‘big’ hair, but I will say it definitely gave my hair a squeaky clean finish which is perfect if your scalp greases up quickly. I recommend this as a once a week shampoo in between your regular ones.

 

Dry Shampoo: L’Oreal Volumetry Powder Fresh

I’ve been using this L’oreal dry shampoo from their volumetry range which I love. This is the range if you’re looking for more volume on the roots. I like using the dry shampoo as not only does it blot any oil on the 2nd day of a blow dry, it also lifts up the hair and gives it some volume – it also has a clean, fresh scent to it!

 

Fragrance: Jo Malone Cologne Intense Tuberose Angelica

I must say this has got to be my favourite Jo Malone intense fragrance – possibly the fact that it has top notes of Tuberose and White floral. Comes in a luxe black bottle, this new floral fragrance from the brand is striking and deep – perfect for someone who loves Tuberose, white florals, ambers, woods or Angelica. I’ll definitely be packing this as a night fragrance for my Summer travels.

 

Night Fragrance: Tom Ford Velvet Orchid

Tom Ford’s fragrances are quite rich so I don’t always end up liking them on myself but I’m in love with his brand new fragrance – velvet orchid – where I was introduced to within a culinary journey at Celebrities, Royal Mirage which is the 2nd chapter of Black Orchid. Oriental floral, the feminine fragrance has notes of citrus, petals, honey and rum. Being a floral, jasmin and vanilla fan, this instantly drew me and each spritz adds a sense of richness and luxury.

 

Cleanser: Clarins Extra-comfort anti-pollution cleansing cream

Love Clarins skincare products, one of the best on the market. I’ve recently started using their brand new cleanser made out of Moringa, Mango and shea butter which is perfect with nourishing, moisturizing and softening but it also removes make up and impurities, as well as removes all the pollution that is drawn to our skin from the environment.

 

Oil cleanser: Ar457 Argan skin cleanser

Argan oil is one of those miracle ingredients. Not only can it be used on the hair and body – it can also be used on the skin. This oily cleanser by Ar457 is perfect if you need heavy moisturising, nourishing and radiance lifting. It also removes your make up and is a fab anti-ageing product.

 

Mask: Creme de la Mer Lifting and Firming mask

A pricy buy, but worth the investment. A skin food and treat – part serum, and part mask. Made out of Algae and active marine-plant stem cells, and packed with collagen and active ingredients – The luxurious mask is applied with a small brush that comes with the product and stays on the skin (rinse free) till the morning. Perfect for nourishing and firming the skin, as well as a youthful glow!

AED1,110

 

Skincare Range: Diptyque Skincare

I love Diptyque candles and perfumes, so I was super excited to hear about the launch of their first skincare collection which include botanical ingredients like rose, mimosa and Jasmine (my favourite!). One of my favourites would have to be the protective moisturising lotion, which feels very luxe and smells of Jasmines! The collection is available at Areej stores in the region.

 

Eye Cream: Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado

I never really thought what an essential beauty product an eye cream would be till this month. A hydrated under eye really gives you a fresh face, as well as allows make up to come on smoothly. I’ve started using Kiehl’s Creamy Eye treatment with Avocado which is a lovely creamy texture (you only need very little product!). Really gives the skin a hydrated finish as well as doesn’t irritate the skin.

 

Spot treatment: Dermalogica Overnight clearing gel

Dermalogica is one of my favourite skincare products and being a person that is always on the lookout for good spot treatments (for those emergencies!), I had to try it out. Quite mild, clear, but doesn’t have any of those strong spot treatment smells (Quite good if you’re not sleeping alone!), it’s good if you’re having a bad skin day, to apply all over the skin and leave a stronger one for that one inflamed one. Another plus is the fact that it doesn’t dry up the skin (like other products that are high in Salicylic acid), but also has green tea extracts to help hydrate.

 

Foundation: Guerlain Terracota Joli Teint

A creamy lightweight foundation that gives a radiant finish. I’ve been wearing the natural shade. SPF 20 and works well with their best selling bronzer, the Terracota powder!

 

Liquid Foundation: Shisedo Radiant Lifting foundation

I’m always drawn to foundations that give a radiant and flawless finish & this liquid from Shisedo does that.  Anti Wrinkle, Anti-aging, it also has a light technology that gives the skin radiance, and has moisture which helps with the anti wrinkle effect. The foundation also has an SPF of 15.

 

Concealer: Lancome le Correcteur Pro concealer kit

If there are 5 make up products I swear by, one of them will have to be a great concealer. It can really wake you up if you look like you’ve slept under five hours, and it also makes any smokey eye look better (especially with a cream concealer, which is what this product is.) This palette is tiny, super handbag friendly and has 3 different applications – one to cover up and conceal, one to brighten and one to set – it also comes with a mini brush but I prefer to keep that only if I took it out on a night out – use your fingers or your dedicated concealer brush. It comes in around 8 shades, so do stop over a counter and try on before buying – the last thing you want is a concealer that is too dark or too light.

 

Blush: MAC Sheertone blush in Gingerly

I’m in love with this blush from MAC in Gingerly. If you’re a brunette with olive skin tone, you’re going to love it. It has a brown/peachy tone, I like applying over or instead of a bronzer. As it’s part of sheertone, it can easily be built up for a stronger pigment. Handbag friendly too!

 

Primer: Make up For Ever HD High Definition Primer

Make up for Ever’s high definition line is on a make up artists level, so you can count on the best products from that range. After introducing their fab foundation to my range, I’ve been using their High definition primer. Smells good, a micro perfecting primer, lightweight, oil-free and moisturising. The primer helps the foundation blend easier, last longer and adds some luminosity to the skin.

 

Bronzer: Bourjois Paris Delice de Poudre bronzing powder

Bourjois is one of those underrated beauty brands… The brand’s Delice de poudre is not only delicious (smells like chocolate), made out of the perfect bright bronze shade and super easy to throw in the bag. One of my star products for the month!

 

Eyeshadow palette: Make Up for Ever Arty Blossom

If you’re looking for a new eye shadow palette, I’ve been using the Art Blossom palette from Make up for Ever’s Spring ’14 collection. High pigments of beautiful shades from browns to brights. The size is super handy too – easy to carry and fits in any handbag!

 

Eyeliner: Max Factor Excess Intensity Longwear eyeliner

When looking for eyeliners to apply on the inside of my eyes, I always look for something incredibly black, easy to glide on and long lasting. This new eyeliner from Max Factor does that, and is perfect for a beauty over spender!

 

Lip & Cheek tint: YSL Baby Doll Lips & Cheeks Soft Matte colour in ’12’ Mocha Garconne

I’m in love with tints at the moment and recently been wearing a lot of the YSL Baby Doll Lips & Cheeks soft matte tints. For a gorgeous nude, I love the Mocha Garconne. All I do is apply a bit to the centre of the lips and just dab it through the rest of the lips for a lovely creamy yet matte colour on the lips. It has an air whipped texture, which feels lovely but once it dries up, it gives a sleek creamy matte finish. Haven’t used it a blush much, but you can also use it the same way as a blush.

 

Lipgloss: Clarins Gloss Prodige in ’11 Coral Tulip’

I tend to go for a bright or a nude when looking for lipstick. For a change, I’ve been wearing this light colour lipgloss – a subtle light flattering coral. Great texture, not sticky, and makes the lips look full (as it has some lip plumping ingredients!). The colour is a sheer and shiny coral that looks perfect with a tan.

 

Nude Lipstick: Bassam Fattouh lipstick in ‘Biscuit’ 

One of my favourite make up artists, Bassam Fattouh has a make up range that is so under rated – his products are truly amazing… This month, I’ve been using his nude lipstick from the Pin up collection called Biscuit. It gives a matte finish, yet still quite moisturising on the lips – I love the biscuit, caramel shade of nude that warms up your skin rather than washing it out.

 

Bright pink lips: Smashbox Be legendary lipstick in Pink Petal

There are two kinds of lipsticks I collect – nude ones and perfect bright pink ones. Finding the perfect one for those two is always a lot more difficult. I haven’t really found my favourite bright pink since MAC’s Impassioned. I’ve been using this shade from Smashbox that I love. Creamy, moisturising (it has shea butter) and filled with antioxidants to protect the lips – not to mention it’s in a fuchsia bright pink shade.

 

Perfect Red lipstick: Clinique Long last soft Matte lipstick in ‘Crimson’

I usually steer clear of matte lipsticks (even though I love the look) because I’m not a fan of the chalky feel, but I recently got my hands on Clinique’s brand new matte lipstick in ‘Crimson’ – long lasting, moisturising and can I say, one of the best red lipsticks I own…

 

Lipliner: NARS Satin Pencil in ‘Yu’

I’m so excited about NARS being stocked back in Dubai. It’s about time especially with such a large fan base in the city. Imagine a lipstick and lipliner in one – Rich, creamy, and long lasting filled with vitamins in the most gorgeous bright pink lips – obsessed.

 

Lip balm: Dior Addict Lip Glow

Personally, lip balms are a lot more important to me than lipsticks so I end up always making sure I have one in my handbag. I’ve been using this fab one by Dior called the Dior Addict Lip Glow – it has a lovely subtle Vanilla scent, the Mango butter hydrates the lips and it also has SPF 10 to protect the looks. The coolest thing of all? It has a colour reviver technology, which creates a unique shade depending on the chemistry of the lips.

 

Body Bronzer: Jane Iredale Tantasia Self Tanner & Bronzer

Even though this can also be used on the face, I use it on my legs and arms for a body bronzer top up. I generally like Jane Iredale products as they’re good for your skin so you don’t have to worry if you have skin sensitivity. As it gradually tops up, I don’t end up getting streaks as it builds up over time. Subtle with a natural glow – the moisturiser has a strong citrus smell, so if you like the citrus scent, you’re good to go!

 

Body Scrub: Soap & Glory ‘The Breakfast Scrub’ 

I love a delicious scrub. This one by Soap & Glory available at Boots is made out of Oat, banana, honey, almond, Shea butter and sugar. Makes your skin super soft, and smells so good. It has a maple breakfast porridge scent, smells so fresh and literally smells like your breakfast.

Available at Boots

 

Nails & Cuticles: Sephora Instant Nail & Cuticle care

Because of the weather and indoor air conditioning, our skins get dry whether we like it or not. We always tend to focus on moisturising the face and body – and forget everything else. In between manicures, I end up finding myself biting the skin around the nails which is not only horrible for the cuticles, it’s also quite painful. How many times do we end up buying a cuticle oil from our regular salon and not end up using it? I recently got my hands on this small tub by Sephora called Instant Nail & Cuticle care – made out of Camelia oil – which I keep on the desk to dip my fingers at least once a day (sometimes twice). All you have to do is dip your nail in and it instantly nourishes, strengthens and repairs. Highly recommend this!