Get glammed up and win a photo-shoot with your mum for mothers day! Some of you are celebrating today and others will be celebrating on Sunday, I will be picking 3 lucky winners on Saturday 25th March. To enter, simply follow Zizzleblog (top right corner of this page). You can exchange the shoot for a full family shoot if you would prefer!
Good Luck!! x
I visited the Tribe Spa to have a Repechage four layer facial. I have wanted to try this facial since I heard about it years ago but of the many spas I have been to none offered it. The Tribe spa is located in Tribe Fitness and has 2 treatment rooms, it is small but sufficient and the staff are very warm and welcoming.
I was really looking forward to trying the four later facial which uses layers of fresh European seaweed which is supposed to rejuvenate, tone and firm the appearance of the skin. I was actually on the 2nd week of a detox when I went for this facial so my skin was in desperate need of extraction as I had a lot of toxins surfacing.
The therapist was lovely and before starting showed me each layer and explained what it would do so that I understood the treatment. I really appreciated this because sometimes I have been for treatments where I have no idea of the time scale or what exactly they are applying and then I have to ask questions instead of relaxing and enjoying the treatment.
Initially she cleaned my face and then began the extraction, obviously this is never pleasant as extractions are painful but she was as gentle as possible and I was glad to get it over with and begin the nice stuff!
She applied a cool C-Serum Seaweed Concentrate liquid to moisturise, soothe and tone the skin. It felt really nice and she left it for a couple of minutes to absorb into my skin. Then she applied a rich thermal mask which she massaged onto my skin. It contained hydrating seaweed cream and we waited till it dried. As it dried it tingled because it was a thermal mask and created heat, it was a little strange but not uncomfortable.
The third layer dries almost like another skin, it has a rubbery texture and becomes solid. The light green fresh seaweed mask is soothing and cooling to the skin. I could feel the heat underneath this layer from the thermal mask and it felt like it was getting hotter probably because it trapped the heat. It was definitely doing something! the 4th and final layer is the application of the seaweed mineral mask on the skin which is applied thickly and dries like clay. It does get a little itchy underneath but you just have to bear with it. When it dries she pulled the rubbery layer underneath from the edges to loosen the top layer which had moulded to my face. Then she lifted it and it comes off in one piece as a mould of your face which I thought was really cool! Unfortunately it was in pieces by the time I got it home but cool nonetheless.
She wiped my face clean and I looked in the mirror to find a much brighter, smoother complexion which was actually immediate. Usually you leave a facial quite red-faced but this was a welcome surprise. I touched my face and it really did feel good! Smooth and clean with tighter pores.
I would highly recommend having the Repechage facial at Tribe Spa in Dubai Marina! It was a great experience and I would definitely go back and do it again.
I test new products on a weekly basis and I often find ones I love and add to my kit, however it is rare that I add something to my daily make-up regime! Well…NEW MUST HAVE ALERT!!
Living in the sandpit, sunscreen is A MUST and should always be worn before makeup however I have combination skin and often the added layer give me added shine so I am guilty of skipping it. Urban Defense Complexion Primer by Urban Decay has finally put an end to my search for a sunscreen that won’t mess up my makeup!!
The first time I applied it it disappeared into my skin and I felt that it would be useless but I was duped!! Like a force field, this crystal-clear primer feels like nothing you’ve ever tried and protects your skin from whatever the day throws at you. It feels as though you have not applied a product unlike some greasy primers that leave a residue. It contains SPF 30 to protect you from the sun but what amazed me was that it actually controlled my oil which is something that it does not claim to do. I did not powder for the entire day and my skin felt and looked moisturised and healthy without being oily and shiny!
Not only does it guard you from the sun, it also primes and smooths skin while minimising the look of pores..It DOES exist…a completely clear sunscreen that feels amazing, won’t interfere with your makeup, and smoothes your complexion for better application. In a clinical study of Urban Defense Complexion Primer, immediately after use:* •96% of participants had a reduction in pore visibility. • 100% had smoother-looking skin.•100% had more even-toned skin.*Based on clinical grading in a 31-person study.
My oily skinned comrades, you will be blown away, I literally have found no negatives, even the size is generous!! This is the best 149 AED you will spend on skin-prep, the product is available in all Sephora Middle East stores!
This wonderful collaboration is a celebration of friendship between the gorgeous Kat Von D and Jerrod Blandino who is the co-founder of Too Faced. The collection captures Kats edgy side and Jerrod’s playful nature and fuse to create the cutest collection of products.
The Eye Collection contains 6 eye-shadows from each and a tattoo liner from Kat Von D. The magnetic half hearts stick together making them easy to carry individually in your make-up bags priced at AED 275.
I just love the adorable makeup pouch featuring their beloved pets: one side features Piaf, Kat’s cat, while the other stars Clover Jerrod’s dog! It is stuffed with some of their best-selling mini’s including Blush, Highlighting powder and lipsticks priced at 165 AED.
The 3rd item in the collection sports the classic Tattoo Liner in Trooper and Better Than Love Mascara! These two products will offer double the trouble, and double the fun for that lined, winged, and wide-eyed look that will be sure to turn heads. Priced at 90AED
These products are available from tomorrow exclusively on sephora.ae and from March 1st -March 15th in stores in the Middle East!
I am always impressed by Sephora mascaras and the new Cinescope is no exception. I picked one up today for 95 AED and I have lashes for days. Its ultra black which I love because it makes your lashes so much more visible and adds a little drama. Sephora The Mascara is still my favourite but I just think the whole range is wildly under rated. People always seem shocked when I tell them which mascara I use.
For years I switched between Dior, Givenchy and Benefit Mascaras however since discovering Sephora’s formula I have converted. I now find Benefit a little dry in comparison and Dior mascaras never last for me, they give an amazing few initial uses…serious drama and volume and perfect for a night on the town but it gets clumpy after a few weeks and the bristles begin to stick together…also very difficult to remove.I still love Givenchy Mascara’s and still use them on a night out because I think they layer better and you can create a dramatic effect that lasts and gives your lashes a boost. I used to work for Givenchy and worked on some of their huge mascara campaigns so they will always have a special place in my heart!
My daily mascara however is Sephora, I just love how natural it is and the formula is nice and light. I think if I layer Cinescope it would also work for me on a night out because of how dark it is but The Mascara has the perfect day formula. Cinescope feels moisturising and your lashes don’t feel brittle. The wand really sculpts and separates and best of all it is affordable! If you haven’t tried it, head on down to a Sephora near you or buy it online …you can thank me later :p
Herbal Essentials source many of their ingredients from the Himalayas. Their Moisturising Body lotion is perfect for normal skin. It has a very light formula that isn’t quite rich enough for dry skin. It has a very light formula composed of Aloe Vera, Honey and Shea Butter. I like to use it after sunbathing or even waxing as it is very cooling and soothing. It leaves your skin feeling soft and smooth and I like the non-sticky formula.
If your skin is more prone to being dry, I recommend using it after the shower by massaging it into damp skin which absorbs more moisture! The Moisturising Body Lotion is priced at 99 AED, if you have dry skin you will get through it pretty fast as it absorbs quickly into the skin however you do half the work rubbing it in as it really does have an amazing texture. Using it on damp skin will make the product go further!
It is sulphate and soap-free making it perfect for sensitive skin and generally better for everyone! Often we don’t realise how harmful things we use can be but Herbal Essentials is one of the few truly green brands that I trust.
You can find the products in Dubai at the newly launched counter in Mercato or simply visit their website for delivery!
BIODERMA Launches Sensibio Gel moussant in the UAE!
I am an advocate for Biodermas Sensibio H2O micellar water and was so pleased to learn they have added a new product to the range.
This product is specially designed for sensitive skin. More then 50% of you ladies have sensitive skin which means your skin is vulnerable and can be easily aggravated by sun, wind, pollution and stress. You may suffer from stinging, flushing or blotching and therefore you should use products that will keep your skin protected.
Benefits of using Sensibio Gel Moussant:
When used regularly, Sensibio Gel moussant works to support sensitive skin that is usually less resistant when it comes to irritants. Sensibio’s ingredients enhances the skins natural biology and increases the hydration rate by over 77%. It contains natural ingredients and is free of soap, fragrance, parabens, and colourants, to help relieve irritation and discomfort of the skin. The product is also hypoallergenic with a physiological pH and is non-comedogenic to avoid aggravating sensitive skin.
It should be used every morning and night by wetting the face and then applying with the fingertips until it is worked into a foam. I use mine with my Clarisonic however you can apply it with whatever technique you usually use. You should spend a few minutes massaging it on your face and then rinse off the foam with clean water. For a deeper clean, follow up with wiping the skin with Micellar water.
I love the product! It removed a full face of makeup quite easily and left my skin feeling squeaky clean but hydrated at same time. Just like the micellar water it amazed me that something so gentle can remove all of my makeup so easily.
The product will be available from January in all leading pharmacies in the UAE priced at 99dhs!
I was super excited to get my hands on Sephora’s Geometric Palette because you can create endless looks with it! It boasts 80 eye-shadows ranging from nudes to vibrant colour popping shades. It has 32 delicious glosses, six eyeliners, four brow powders, four blushes, four contouring powders and a mirror in the lid with two makeup tutorials. I decided to use the palette to do a transformation on myself.
Having spent a month at an Ayurvedic retreat in India, I absolutely believe and understand how the ancient tradition of Ayurveda restore balance and harmony. Herbal Essentials are inspired by Ayurveda and use natural ingredients, active essential oils and fresh spring water from the ancient foothills of the Himalayas. All their products are free from parabens, sulphate, paraffin and soap.
This events season always wreaks havoc with my skin, full makeup most evenings, late nights and a lot of eating on the go. At the moment I am paying for it big time, I can feel so many bumps under my skin just holding it together before the season ends and they erupt! I have already had a mini breakout on my chin and I know this is just the beginning. I needed to go and get me some products to keep my skin in check and I love Herbal Essentials Papaya and Honey Facemask. Mine had finished so I needed a replacement and I wanted a new toner.
The Papaya and Honey Face Mask is Detoxifing, it contains clay, papaya and honey to remove impurities and releases antioxidants into the skin. I use it when my skin is particularly oily or acne prone because it restores the balance and makes my skin normal again. At times of crisis I use it twice a week and then weekly when my skin is normal. It is easy to use, I just spray my face with an Evian spray to make it damp and then I wet my hands and spread the clay evenly using my fingers and avoiding my eye area. After 10 minutes it goes hard, I wet my face and I brush it off with my wet Clarisonic Mia 2 brush and then pat my skin dry with a flannel.
After the mask or my cleanser, I squirt a generous amount of the Neem Purifying Toner on some cotton wool and wipe my entire face, then using a dry cotton pad I wipe away any remaining product. This is great after the mask as it removes any remaining residue and seals the pores closed.The Neem Purifying Toner improves the appearance of large pores and is suitable for acne prone or oily skin. It contains aloe vera which has wonderful moisturising effects and neem which is known for its antibacterial properties.
I did not buy a moisturiser as I am super happy with the one I am using at the moment from Sephora, it is the Instant Moisture + Cream and contains a Hyalurinuc acid booster. It is a really nice formula, nice and light and doesn’t feel or look oily on the skin. I finish my regime with that as masks generally do dehydrate the skin and it is really gentle and restores the moisture.
Last week, I went to the JNK Salon to get Hair Botox for the first time. The salon is new and they offer a variety of treatments, they have a hair studio and also do manicures, pedicures, waxing and facials.
They have a small friendly team who are all experts in their fields. I explained that in July, I got a Brazilian Blowout but it had pretty much worn off. My concerns were that the Brazilian Blowout treatment was really harsh, I had to wear a mask and still coughed and my eyes watered for the whole 2 hours of the treatment as the chemicals were so toxic. Afterwards my hair was silky smooth and it naturally dried poker straight with no frizz and I was really happy until I realised how much my hair was breaking.
The hair technician explained that the Hair Botox actually fixes the proteins in the hair by restoring them and it will make my hair shinier and healthier. When I first got the Brazilian Blowout I was so happy with how silky and straight my hair was but maintenance was a bit tricky as you can’t go in chlorinated or saltwater and you have to wash your hair with sulphate free shampoo, this was really annoying as I was travelling all through summer and unwilling to sport a swimming cap. When it wore off I decided I would not get it again as although my days were hassle free and I did not have the Monica-effect in the humidity, I realised after a few weeks that it was severely damaged and not worth it just to have good hair days.
The Hair Botox seemed too good to be true, not only was the treatment gentle and smelled really good, it also claimed it would repair my broken and brittle hair. On top of that, you can use any shampoo, go swimming in the sea, dive into the pool and it will not effect the treatment. It lasts the same time as a Brazilian blowout and repeating the treatment before it wears out is recommended as it apparently gives even better results and lasts longer then the first time you have it.
Its been a week since my treatment, I have washed it three times and it is still drying frizz free and feels really soft and silky, it is actually breaking less which has amazed me because it means it has repaired my hair to some degree. In the picture I had tied my hair into a bun when it was wet and when it dried, I let it down and it had waves in it. I love that I still do get that wave in my hair as really my issue was only with the frizz. A blowdry now takes me 10 minutes instead of 40, I could rough dry my hair and it will still look good which is really amazing as before if I rough dried my hair it was a disaster. This is a treatment that I am sure I will be repeating if it lasts 4-6 months as they say. The thing is it is expensive so its only worth it if it lasts, prices start from 2500AED (£500).
If you do get it, make sure you go to a recommended salon, many salons use unlabelled bottles and they buy cheaper products and put them in which is what I think happened in the Nana Doll salon where I got my Brazilian Blowout. I am guilty of thinking that expensive salons are better because they can be trusted to buy good products however that is not always the case. I highly recommend the JNK salon, the staff have years of experience and they use only the best products. It is located in The Golden Tulip Hotel in Al Barsha and they are currently offering 30% off. I had a shellac manicure too which I was really happy with and my mum had a facial which she loved. I will be going back for a facial and I will definitely let you guys know how it was.
For Bookings at the JNK Salon call 04 340 1415 or 056 716 9977, you can follow their instagram @jnksaloon and like their Facebook page here!
