The Blush Diaries | A Dubai Based Fashion and Beauty Blog by Rania Esper

Taming Frizzy Hair

Hey, you guys! I hope your year has been off to an amazing start. I’ve had a slow few weeks due to jet lag and the flu, but here I am, back at it. As you might already know, I have wild, frizzy curls which can be difficult to control in Dubai’s humid weather. I’ve talked in the past about my curly hair method, which I use from time to time to give my hair a little break from blowouts. Lately, I haven’t really had the time or dedication to stick to it and have been back to either getting blowouts at the salon or doing them myself at home. I’ve switched up some products and found a significant difference in the manageability of my hair, not only from day to day, but also when I blow dry it myself. Here are some of the products that have helped me with taming frizzy hair.

1. I’ve always loved Redken shampoos and conditioners, but the Redken All Soft is by far one of the best lines I’ve ever used. It’s exceptionally moisturizing, and I can even feel my hair getting supple while I’m in the shower. It smells incredible, which is always a huge plus for me.

2. There’s a lot of buzz going around in the blogosphere about the Bamboo Kendi Oil, so I had to give it a try. My hair has become so much glossier since I’ve started using it, and I find that it is amazing at taming frizzy hair and giving my curls a softer feel.

3. I get these frizzy baby hairs at the top of my head, and the Pantene Oil Replacement is the only product I can use to smooth them away without leaving my hair oily. It’s also great for freshening up the hair the day or two after a blowout.

4. Finally, and most importantly for me, was switching which brush I use. I was consistently using the bristled round brushes, and while they create beautiful curls during a blowout, they get tangled up in my hair, and my at-home blowout gets messed up a few hours later. After trying the iconic brush, I’m never going back. I get through my blowout in much less time, and my hair looks so shiny and healthy afterwards.

I’d love to hear about any tips or tricks you may have for taming frizzy hair or a good at-home blowout.

xo Rania

[show_shopthepost_widget id=”2408704″]

The Journey to Happiness and Positivity

Most people do this thing at the beginning of each year where they decide to start over, like clicking on a reset button. I’m not a big fan of new year’s resolutions, but I’m all for a little reflecting at any given time. 2016 was quite tough for me and carried some difficulties along with wonderful, memorable moments. At the other side of it all, I came out of it with a lot more strength and positivity than I’ve ever had before. I’ve learned to live bolder, shine brighter, to say yes to new things, to give and accept grace, and to express myself more freely. Most importantly, I’ve realized how important it is to live your life for yourself, and not to worry about pleasing others. The Journey to happiness can be long and hard, but it requires a conscious decision to enjoy every moment, recover from the hardships and search for the excitement. There will be always be ups and downs, of course, but you have to ride it out and focus on the good in each day. The best piece of wisdom I heard at the beginning of the year came from my brother, and he said: Don’t let a number define you, because you get a fresh start whenever you want.

Happy New Year my loves, I hope this one will be great.

xo Rania

The Journey to happiness.

Photography by Natelee.

The Chunky Sweater Every Girl Needs

You guys know that I live in Dubai, which means there is a barely a few weeks of chunky sweater weather for me to indulge in my obsession with knits. Nothing says snow like a white, cable knit garment with puffy sleeves. I remember hating the cold during my college years in Michigan, and specifically an oversized chunky sweater. The minute I was deprived of all things fall and winter, I started dreaming of the days when I can experience it again.

Don’t get me wrong, when the temperature is so low that you can’t feel the tips of your fingers and toes, it’s impossible to get away with an outfit like this. But since I am dreaming up this outfit, and I do live in Dubai, this look is totally plausible. If it’s too cold, all you have to do is add a warm coat and printed scarf. The point is, I buy more sweaters than I get the chance to wear, and I don’t feel bad about it either.

I wanted a basic and simple look this time so the chunky sweater would really stand out, but I think it would also look great with a suede mini skirt and over the knee boots. The great thing about sweaters is you can wear them out, while lounging at home, or even at the beach on those windier days. Have you stocked up on sweaters this year, and how do you style your favorite ones?

xo Rania

Chunky Sweater: Chicwish | Jeans: American Eagle Jeggings | Bag: Banana Republic | Necklace: Baublebar
[show_shopthepost_widget id=”2243131″]

Photography by Natelee.

Follow these links for more Fashion, Beauty and Lifestyle posts.

Best Black Friday Sales for the Online Shopper

Happy Thanksgiving to all those celebrating, my loves. I hope you all had a great evening with family and/or friends and you are ready for all the best Black Friday Sales. I was never a fan of waking up at the early hours of the morning and heading to the mall, but it was a fun tradition and was more about enjoying the experience with my cousins and girl friends. Now that I’m living in Dubai, and can’t spend this day carrying on that tradition, I’ve become more excited about all the online sales going on. I’ve rounded up the best black Friday Sales from my personal favorite brands, and selected a few must-have pieces for the coming season. Happy Shopping, and if you have good sales of your own you’d like to share with me, leave me a comment below!

xo Rania

Pull and Bear: 20% Off Everything and Free Shipping.

Chicwish: Extra 25% Off Everything with code BLK25.

ASOS: 20% Everything with Code GOGOGO.

River Island: Up to 50% Off.

Stradivarius: 20% Off Everything.

House of Fraser: Up to 50% Off.

Shopbop: 25% Site-wide with code GOBIG16

Urban Outfitters: Buy one Get one 50% Off All Apparel.

Express: 50% Off Everything & Free Shipping.

Baublebar: 35% Everything with code VIP35.

[show_shopthepost_widget id=”2170631″]

[show_shopthepost_widget id=”2170675″]

Photography by Natelee.

Follow these links for more Fashion, Beauty and Lifestyle posts.

Steve Madden Over the Knee Boots

For the longest time, I never imagined I would actually wear an outfit like this, until I decided to invest in this pair of Steve Madden Over the Knee boots. Obviously, we don’t usually wear a lot of boots here in the Dubai desert. But thanks to the ever evolving fall/winter fashion, boots are even more fun to wear with skirts, shorts and dresses. It was tempting to get a pair in taupe, camel or burgundy, but I was sure I’d get the most wear out of a simple black pair. I mostly stick with light, neutral colors, but black will always be timeless and elegant. I really like my shoes to be comfortable, especially if they are heels, and I can walk in my Steve Madden over the knee boots for hours, so I highly recommend them.

This is my favorite time of the year, especially in Dubai, because the weather is just perfect. It’s still very sunny during the day, and perfect for the beach, but we get a beautiful breeze in the evenings. I honestly can’t believe November is already upon us, and the new year is just a few weeks away. This year feels like it just flew by, and I don’t know about you, but I am SO ready for 2017. As for what’s left of this year, I will be spending plenty of time with family and friends soaking up the holiday season, and listening to christmas music in my free time. Let me know what you think of this outfit, and I’d love to see how you styled your own pair of over the knee boots.

xo Rania

Steve Madden Over the knee boots | Bag: Kate Spade | Skirt: Banana Republic, The Outlet Village | Necklace: c/o River Island.

[show_shopthepost_widget id=”2119627″]
*This is not a sponsored post and all opinions are my own. Affiliate links are used in this post.

Photography by Natelee.

Follow these links for more Fashion, Beauty and Lifestyle posts.

Blush Pink Trench Coat for Fall

Right in the middle of summer, while planning our trip to Italy, I envisioned myself wearing a blush pink trench coat while roaming the streets of Florence. Luckily, I found the perfect one, and will be styling it through fall and even next spring. The thing about trench coats is they remind of you rain, which I personally don’t enjoy. But when it comes in a pretty dusty pink shade, you can change your perception of it and associate it more with cherry blossoms. I figured trench coats are meant to be worn on-the-go, which is why I paired it with my favorite distressed Denim from American Eagle.

It’s a real thing to be in love with coffee, and I am guilty as charged. Coffee for me isn’t always about functioning and a necessity for caffeine, I mostly just love the taste. I found photos of The Brass Cafe at The Beach Mall in JBR on instagram, and Natelee and I ended up doing an impromptu photoshoot there. The warm tones of gold and oak wood really brought of the color of my Blush Pink Trench Coat beautifully, and I couldn’t have picked a better location for this outfit. How do you feel about trench coats this fall?

You can shop my look below. My Blush pink trench coat is out of stock, but I have linked similar items to anything that is unavailable. My fake tattoo is from Conscious Ink and it says, ‘Perfectly Imperfect’, which is a sentiment I’m wholeheartedly embracing right now.

xx Rania

Photography by Natelee.

[show_shopthepost_widget id=”2047939″]

Follow these links for more Fashion, Beauty and Lifestyle posts.

Keep Skin Hydrated with Gentle Products

I’m not the best at drinking lots of water or maintaining a healthy sleep pattern, so when that takes its toll I like to find gentle products that keep skin hydrated and healthy. One of my favorite recent finds is the Sephora Luminizing Booster, particularly the magnesium one because it smells incredible. I mix a drop with my moisturizer and I feel instant relief on my face. It’s not greasy at all and almost feels like water.

When it comes to products, particularly in skincare, I follow the expiration instructions to a T. So even if something isn’t completely finished, but it says to throw it out after 6 months then that’s what I will do. I was using the SkinCeuticals eye cream earlier this year, which I talked about in my Home Spa Treatment post, but I’ve recently switched to the Shiseido White Lucent Anti-Dark Circle Eye Cream. Shiseido’s eye creams have always been winners in my book, but I especially love this one because it is super hydrating. There was a visible difference in the skin around my eyes after just a few days. It does not necessarily eliminate dark circles but is a great night eye cream.

Finally there is this Starskin ‘The Master Cleanser Detox Sea Kelp Leaf Cleansing Foam’. It washes off all traces of makeup, exfoliates dirt and excess oils, all while being able to keep skin hydrated and smooth. It can’t be used around the eyes, which is a bummer, but it has really helped keep my skin from breaking out. A little bit goes a long way, and I love the way my face feels after I wash with it, especially when I follow it up with the Sephora Booster.

I’d love to here about your current favorite tips to keep skin hydrated, and if you’ve tried any of these products, what have you thought of them?

xo Rania

[show_shopthepost_widget id=”2027356″]

Photography by Natelee.

Follow these links for more Fashion, Beauty and Lifestyle posts.

Missguided Nude Wrap Dress

I realize it’s been way too long since I last blogged, so I wanted my first post back to feature this super pretty nude wrap dress. This dress is actually a faux wrap, which is probably a safer option to avoid any unwanted slips — if you know what I mean.

I’ve always had a thing for neutrals and, except for the occasional bold print and fun color, I keep choosing more minimalistic pieces. The main reason I like the majority of my wardrobe to be this way is versatility. Because I take extra good care of my clothes and many items stay with me for years, I eventually tend to get bored with the heavily printed or overly trendy pieces.

While I’ve been experimenting a lot in the past few years, I lately find myself going back to basics. So I’m aiming for a more lady-like and slightly sexy look. I don’t think age should be a major factor affecting your style, but as I’m nearing thirty, I’m being drawn to a different vibe. I’ve certainly had my fun with tulle skirts and cute bows on the blog. While I’m not saying I’ll be giving them up entirely, I will be focusing on more sophisticated pieces that are still feminine. Another new obsession of mine is rose gold, and I finally found my perfect match in these mirrored sunglasses. What’s your style mood lately?

xo Rania

Nude Wrap Dress: Missguided | Heels: Aldo Shoes | Bag: Kate Spade | Lipstick: Candy K by Kylie Jenner | Photography by Natelee Cocks.
[show_shopthepost_widget id=”2005411″]

Follow these links for more Fashion, Beauty and Lifestyle posts.

White Eyelet Sundress for Summer

I have three words for you: White Eyelet Sundress. First of all, i’ll be completely transparent and say that I put on a little weight this year and I’m not too happy about it. It’s brought out the obvious truth that clothes aren’t necessarily made for curvy girls, and I have to work almost twice as hard to find a well-fitting piece. Don’t get me wrong, while I appreciate and love my curves most of the time, it can get frustrating when something just doesn’t fit right.

This is where a pretty little sundress can easily fix the problem. With a sweetheart neckline, fitted waist and a slightly billowy skirt, I knew this dress would be my go-t0 piece this summer.

I wanted to forgo the heels with this casual and flirty dress so I went for a comfy pair of lace up flats. Finally, I added the soft chambray shirt and cross body bag to complete the day-time look. I’d like to style it again with some cute wedges and possibly a soft cardigan. This certainly isn’t the first or last white eyelet sundress I will own, but with a bow like that who can resist?

xo Rania

White Eyelet Sundress: Miss Selfridge | Chambray Shirt: Express | Crossbody Bag: Satchels | Flats: Aldo Shoes

Photography by Natelee Cocks.

A special thanks to Comptoir102 for letting us use their space.

Follow these links for more Fashion, Beauty and Lifestyle posts.

International Friendship Day with Yalla Spree

In honor of International Friendship Day, which was on August 7th, I’ve partnered with Yalla Spree and Micaroon Makeup for the ultimate beauty giveaway. All participants receive a 20% discount, and 10 lucky winners will receive a goodie bag filled with some fabulous Micaroon products.

Yalla Spree is the UAE’s largest retail directory, offering everything from shop locations and reviews, to the hottest sales and bargains. I love visiting the many Dubai malls just to do some browsing and window shopping, but I was amazed at how many store locations I wasn’t aware of until I came across Yalla Spree. It’s also a great way to get updates on new items and special promotions that come up.

Macaroon Makeup just launched their liquid matte lipsticks, and this is the perfect opportunity to get your hands on some of their beautiful colors. To enter the giveaway, all you have to do is visit the Yalla Spree campaign page here and post a selfie telling us what your favorite color means to you. Tag your besties, share the love and show us your pretty pouts. Good luck babes!

xo Rania

“A friendship is a soul trapped in two bodies.”