BTS: The Posh Fairy for L’Occitane Au Bresil

My latest project for Posh Fairy was a shoot for the soon to be launched L’Occitane au Bresil; a new brand with a French soul and a Brazilian heart. Traveling through the waters of Brazil, Olivier Baussan; the founder of L’Occitane en Provence discovered rich and exuberant eco-systems with fascinating ingredient stories, this encounter of Brazilian liveliness with L’Occitane’s values inspired to create a new brand: L’Occitane au Bresil.

The concept of the shoot was obviously inspired by Brasil, the beauty, the vivid colors, and the tradition. After scouting a few potential locations, we decided to shoot at a nursery, and Home & Garden were more than welcoming of the idea, and offered us complete access to their showroom. I will be sharing the final shots with you very soon, as they are currently exclusive material to Styles Magazine June issue.

And lastly for now, I would like to bring your attention towards every person who worked with me on this shoot, the team was in amazing harmony and they made the entire project such a great experience. A big thank you goes to all of them.

– Art director / Stylist: Joumana Soufi @thesidetalk
– Photographer: Jean Claude Dib @jeanclaudedib.photography
– Model: Hannah Delaimi @stylenscones
– Outfits: Enti @entikw
– Accessories: Stylist’s own
– Hair: Aziza ‘Zizi’ Skaff @azizaskaff of @blushkwt
– Makeup: Amal Al Adwani @amal_makeupartist
– BTS photography & videography: Roqaya Shamo @rshamo_
– Location: Home & Garden Nursery @homeandgarden

Simply the Best: The 7th Annual VIVA Beauty Awards Winners

We love makeup! Personally I get to experiment loads of beauty products all the time. Sometimes it gets overwhelming to judge the result of a certain product, and the whole thing gets mixed together with other products, let it be makeup or skin care, doesn’t it? Well, a little help every now and then is nothing but a bonus. That’s why I look for the VIVA Beauty Awards every year. Mostly to know if i’m missing on any good products some how, or just to know if my beauty routine is going on the right track.

Viva, the biggest selling women’s monthly magazine across the GCC, announced the winners of the 7th VIVA Beauty Awards, during a dazzling event which was held at the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai. The rewards went to:

Prestige
Best Foundation: Chanel Perfection Lumiére Velvet Smooth-Effect Make-up
Best Perfume: Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Eau De Parfum
Best Mascara: Lancôme Hypnôse Drama Instant Full Body Volume Mascara
Best Nail Varnish: Essie Nail Colour
Best Anti-Ageing Product: Clarins Double Serum
Best Hair Product: L’Oréal Professionnel Absolut Repair Masque
Best Face Moisturiser: Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF30
Best Lipstick: Christian Dior Rouge Dior
Best Body Product: Kiehl’s Créme de Corps

Mass
Best Foundation: Max Factor Miracle Touch Liquid Illusion Foundation
Best Perfume: L’Occitane Magnolia & Mure
Best Mascara: Max Factor 2000 Calorie Mascara
Best Nail Varnish: OPI Nail Lacquer
Best Anti-Ageing Product: Pond’s Age Miracle BB + Cream
Best Hair Product: TRESemmé Salon Silk Conditioner
Best Face Moisturiser: Olay Total Effects Day Cream
Best Lipstick: Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet lipstick
Best Body Product: The Body Shop Shea Body Butter

Best Hair Salon: JetSet
Best Nail Salon: N.bar

Editor’s Choice Cult Classic: Chanel Allure Eau De Toilette
Editor’s choice Most Innovative Product: Philips ActiveCare Jojoba Straightener
Editor’s Seal of Approval: Max Factor Whipped Creme Foundation

If you’re using most of these products, then you’re beauty routine couldn’t get any better, if not, maybe it’s now time for a bit of change. You can follow the hashtag on instagram #VIVABeautyAwards for more info on the event and the products, or, use good ol’ Google for heaps of links on any products you wanna know more about.

Lush Kitchen: Exclusive Fresh Cosmetics

This Springtime, Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics are launching the Lush Kitchen to produce exclusive, pre-release and customer favorite products. A brand new concept, small batches of limited edition products will be made daily and available to purchase exclusively online. Products will then be sent out on the day they are made, fresh from the Kitchen!

You will also be able to view real-time updates from behind the scenes activity in the Lush Kitchen, with special events and expert Q&A’s streamed live through the new Lush.co.uk website.

For the first time, fans of Lush will be able to see the inner workings of the factory and just how the Lush Compounders (aka, cosmetic chefs) hand make Lush’s products, using the best quality and ethically sourced ingredients at their freshest and most effective. Everything about Lush is about what’s inside – from the fresh ingredients and beautiful essential oils used in their products, to the way they make you feel on the inside. By showcasing and exploring the magic in the transformation from source to product, customers will have access to the Lush experts in their craft and see the real, transparent and engaging way the products are made.

Follow the @lushkitchen to find out what we’re cooking up!

Dove Launches New Delicious Range of Purely Pampering Body Lotions

With the introduction of NEW Dove Purely Pampering Body lotions, there is now a new delicious way to care for skin. The new body lotions pamper skin with the most wholesome caring ingredients – ranging from shea butter to luscious almond cream.
The new moisturising Dove Body lotions care for skin layers deep, deeper than any other lotion, leaving skin healthy and beautifully soft and smooth.

NEW Dove Pampering Body lotions are available in the following variants:
• Shea Butter & Warm Vanilla
• Almond Cream & Hibiscus

Not only do the new Dove Body lotions offer everyday superior care for skin, but they envelop the senses with delicious fragrances. The unique scent combinations in the lotions have been carefully chosen by the fragrance experts at Dove to offer an immersive, indulgent everyday pampering experience, which awakens the senses.

Dove Purely Pampering Body lotions are currently available at major supermarkets.

Spring Makeup Trends 2014 from Pond’s Arabia

Spring is a great way to bring new colors into your makeup wardrobe. This spring brings together some bright, bold, and fun trends. Make up Artist & Brand Ambassador for Pond’s Arabia, Nilo Haq, put together this list of the hottest trends of the season. From orange lips, bushy eyebrows and white eyeliner there is something different for everyone to try!

Trend #1: Bright Orange Lips

Orange lips have been a popular color during the warm weather for quite some time. Take this trend up a notch by going bolder and brighter than ever! It’s a great pop of color for the spring/summer as compared to the usual red lip.

Trend #2: Glowing Skin

This spring bring on the glow! Everyone loves healthy, glowing skin. Try the trend by mixing a bit of Pond’s Gold Radiance Day Cream into your foundation for a natural yet glowing complexion. For added shine, apply a powder highlighter on the cheekbones. You’ll be getting compliments all day!

Trend #3: Pops of Blue

Make your eyes a notable statement with bright blue eye shadow on the eyelids. Play with the trend to suit your personality by even placing pops of blue shadow under the eye or even bold blue liquid eyeliner paired with heavy mascara.

Trend #4: White Eyeliner

White was a happening color this past winter and continues into spring 2014. Dare to wear something different by adding some white to your makeup! Try replacing your usual black eyeliner with white! It’s a fun way to change up your look without being too drastic. Complete your look by pairing it with a hot pink lip color!

Trend #5: Bushy Brows

Overly shaped and even arched eyebrows are a trend of the past. This season it’s all about bushy brows. Bushy brows may not be for everyone, so instead change up the shape of your brow by keeping them square.

Trend #6: Orchid

Radiant orchid is the color of the year for 2014! You’ll be seeing it from clothes to bags to coats. Adding orchid into your makeup bag is a must! Try the trend by applying some orchid eye shadow to your eyelids or a beautiful orchid shaded gloss. You will love it!

Sheer Bliss for Glamistas

From Hollywood to Hong Kong, from Dallas to Dubai… since launching in New York City in 1996, ladies all over the world have been pampered, achieving a higher state of happy. And the reason? bliss!

Yes, bliss is always here to make your life more relaxed, more fun and less stressful by offering out-of-the-ordinary products with colorful, upbeat designs. Urging you to enjoy yourself and not take life too seriously, bliss asks you, what good is perfect skin if it doesn’t make you smile?

As a very special treat for all subscribers to GlamBox, this February every Glamista will receive a limited-edition bliss GlamBox, featuring a total of six fun-filled products.

There are two variations of the bliss GlamBox, either lemon & sage or blood orange & white pepper, designed in bright summery shades of blue, orange and yellow. Waiting inside each box to make you happy will be:

• soapy suds (lemon+sage or blood orange+white pepper) 60ml – Paraben free liquid soap to whip up a luxe lather for supremely soft skin.
• body butter (lemon+sage or blood orange+white pepper) 50ml – Vibrantly scented and long lasting body moisturiser to leave skin smooth and supple.
• fabulous foaming face wash 60ml – A 2-in-1 cleanser and exfoliator that calms the skin with soothing botanicals.
• that’s incredi-‘peel’ 2ml packette – Magical spa-strength ‘peel’ to create an overnight facial that targets fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots.
• triple oxygen face mask 5ml – A super quick-fix for dull, tired skin, voted ‘Best Beauty Buy’ 5 years in a row by InStyle magazine.
• triple oxygen +c cream 10ml – A lightweight gel-cream that releases oxygen to instantly recharge dull skin to brighten it up and super-charged with vitamin-C

You won’t want to miss out on sheer bliss, will you? So how can you get your very own limited edition box?

Simple. You can subscribe to GlamBox by visiting glambox.me and purchasing either 3, 6 or 12 months from as little as AED 70 per month. The search for happiness has never been easier. Just be quick as February subscriptions close on the 20th February!

Achieve a higher state of happy today this February with bliss and GlamBox.me

The ‘It’ Colour Palettes at Sephora

As fashionable as an “it bag”, Sephora introduces 2 trendy eye palettes with the most wearable colors that make it easy to make any fashion statement in color come to life. With a must-have material on the outside, this palette grabs attention just like your eyes will.

Color Spectrum has 12 iconic colorful eye shadows that are hand selected by pro beauty artists as the most wearable colors for any eye and skin color. Each color combination comes as a duo with a lid and crease color to brighten and define the eye making it finally easy to wear color.
The Palette includes 2 bases, one matte and one shimmer that work with each color combination to create a full look, 1 double ended shadow brush and 1 double-ended eyeliner pencil so every look is complete with everything you need at your fingertips.

Retail price: AED 169 / QAR 175 / KWD 13.75 / SAR 179 / BHD 17.9

Spring in Soho Palette is a mini multi-palette that is purse friendly and looks like a fashionable chic clutch from the runways!
It includes a collection of 8 eye shadows in a range of effects; mattes, shimmers and glitters, 5 lip colors to pair with your eye looks and 2 blush and bronzers to complete every look. Includes everything you need to take you from day-to-night for complete looks with your favorite shades on–the-go. Fashionable outer packaging complements any outfit and makes carrying this makeup palette an accessory you will want to show off.

Retail price: AED 95 / QAR 99 / KWD 8.25 / SAR 105 / BHD 10.6

Both palettes are available at all Sephora stores.

Product Review: No7 Lift & Luminate Day & Night Serum

I love beauty products, and as a blogger, I receive my fair share of them to review, a few of them suck, some make no difference, and a bunch are actually amazing, and I do stick to them for a long time. The last option was exactly how I felt about this No7 Lift & Luminate Day and Night Serum. After using it for about 3-4 weeks, I’m absolutely hooked!

For start, the idea of having both day & night serums in one package is very convenient. Rather than having to purchase 2 separate products, for day and night, like we’re used to, these two come together and compliment each other.

The Day formula serves to inhibit further melanin over-production, and is designed to brighten, protect against free radicals, and firm skin. The skin brightening complex includes sopora, kiwi, and vitamin C, the antioxidant complex adds mulberry and ginseng, and the firming complex repairs structural protein with vitamin A, peptides, and DPHP (an ingredient known for hydrating and boosting collagen production.)

Whilst the night serum works to remove existing surface melanin. Firming complexes in both serums smooth out lines and wrinkles and promotes skin firmness. It contains newer skincare ingredient, PHA (polyhydroxy acids); this wrinkle-fighter is an exfoliant and is described as a gentler alpha hydroxy acid making it suitable for sensitive skin. It claims to have a number of anti-aging benefits including increased cell turnover, skin brightening, and reduction of fine lines, wrinkles, and pore size. It also hydrates and strengthens skin’s barrier function.

One of the things I noticed about using this product, beside the long term results, was the instant improvement of the condition of my skin, every time I applied it, let it be the day or the night serum, they both worked like a primer whevever I applied them, which was even more impressive.

Verdict? Highly recommended if you’re looking for an instant glow and over all skin improvement in about 4 weeks time. Available at all Boots stores for 13 Kuwaiti Dinars, or 130 Emarati Dirhams.

Vogue’s 9 Dramatic Makeup and Hair Ideas to Try in 2014

It’s a new year, and most likely a new you wouldn’t hurt! Let’s experiment. Push the limits of your beauty routine and have some fun with your look. Here are vogue’s favorite outside-the-box ideas.

You can pull off bold strokes of color on your eyes without looking like a clown.

Shiseido Eye Color Bar Eyeshadow Palette, $50
nordstrom.com

Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash in Dark Blue, $23
sephora.com

Nars Fall 2013 Larger Than Life Long Wear Eyeliner in Las Rambias, $24
nordstrom.com

Don’t let the dead of winter get you (or your skin) down. Instead, keep things unmistakably dewy and sun-drenched until June with the help of a few key products that are nearly as good as a trip to the beach.

Aerin Beauty Pretty Bronze Portable Illuminating Powder in Sunshine, $55
neimanmarcus.com

Guerlain Terracota 4 Seasons in Nude, $75
bloomingdales.com

Clarins Liquid Bronze Self Tanning, $35
sephora.com

A platinum blonde chop is the new bob.

Kérastase Powder Bluff Texturizing Dry Shampoo, $36
kerastase-usa.com

Balmain Texturizing Salt Spray, $28
wonderlandbeautyparlor.myshopify.com

Serge Normant Meta Blonde Reviving Shampoo, $26
nordstrom.com

This year, don’t do things in half measure—-especially not your eye makeup.

Marc Jacobs Beauty Magic Marc’er Precision Pen, $30
sephora.com

Tom Ford Eye Primer Duo, $45
nordstrom.com

Clé de Peau Beauté The Mascara, $50
neimanmarcus.com

Stocking up on pastels for your spring wardrobe? Good for you. Now, pair your pieces with a rich, orange lipstick for a wildly sophisticated contrast.

Dior Addict Lipstick in Charmante, $31
sephora.com

Estée Lauder Pure Color Eye Shadow in Winking Periwinke, $21
saksfifthavenue.com

This is the year to channel your inner Jessica Chastain and opt for a warm auburn hue. It works with almost any skin tone and is the knockout understatement of the season.

John Frieda Colour Refreshing Gloss for Warm Reds, $13
For information: johnfrieda.com

Sally Hershberger Downtown appointment with colorist Aura Friedman, price upon request
For information: sallyhershberger.com

Oribe Masque For Beautiful Color, $59
neimanmarcus.com

For the adventurous, a slick, wet-looking coif offers up a surprising sexiness.

Bumble and bumble. Sunday Shampoo, $23
sephora.com

Redken Velvet Gelatine 07 Cushioning Blow-Dry Gel, $18
ulta.com

Ghd Detangling Comb, $22
neimanmarcus.com

Must we keep saying it? More is more when it comes to your brows. So be brave, friends, and put down the tweezers this year.

Bobbi Brown Brow Shaper and Hair Touchup, $22
neimanmarcus.com

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo in Ebony, $23
net-a-porter.com

Laura Mercier Double-Ended Eyebrow Brush, $34
saksfifthavenue.com

Is your tomato-red lipstick strictly an after-hours affair? Here is our challenge: Walk into work this week sporting a high-impact hue at 9 a.m.—it will set the right tone for the rest of the year.

Armani lip maestro, $32
barneys.com

NP Lip Set Primer, $14
target.com

Yves Saint Laurent lip pencil, $29
yslbeautyus.com

Product Review: Herbline Essentials Firm Skin Cream

I was recently introduced to Herbline Essentials Products. One of the products I’ve been using is their Firm Skin Cream and I absolutely love it! This powerful cell simulator works by soothing away wrinkles and dark patches leaving your skin firm, supple and younger looking. I’ve been overwhelmed with work and it’s showing on my skin, specially my face and eyes area, and the cold weather does not help either. I try to apply the cream at night before I sleep as many times as I can every week and it really does leave me with a different feel to my skin when I wake up in the morning.

It’s all in the amazing mix of natural and organic ingredients this products carries, highly effective blend of herbs, including nutmeg, cloves, citrus oil and coriander seed oil, which are all high in antioxidants and work to detoxify the skin with their strong antiseptic properties. Enriched with coco palm wax and sunflower oil, the base cream helps to retain the water in the skin, hydrating and restoring the skin’s natural elasticity.

I highly recommend it for a an amazing over-night skin care, specially if you’re feeling that your skin has been tired or needs that extra protection to look radiant and glowing. Try it out! Stay gorgeous xx