February 2015 – The Blush Diaries | A Dubai Based Fashion and Beauty Blog by Rania Esper

Le Blush Crème de Chanel

I had purchased this blush a while back because I’ve been anxious to try cream blush and the colors options from Chanel were stunning. I chose Presage which is a highly pigmented true peach shade. These blushes have a cream to powder finish and blend beautifully on the skin. A little bit goes a long way so you only have to apply a little bit and it’ll give a sweet flushed look that’ll last you all day. I used my fingers which is a bit risky because you can end up using too much product that way, but I was very gentle and it was easy to blend in. A stippling brush is probably the best way to apply it, and Sephora has a great one here. Have you tried this blush before and if so, what did you think of it?

Le Blush Crème de Chanel($38, prices may vary): Available at Sephora

Brazilian Blowout: Say bye-bye to Frizzy Hair

I may or may not have complained numerously about struggling with frizzy hair in an extremely humid climate. In a previous post I talked about my best tips for healthy hair and although those methods really kept it soft, the water in Dubai is very damaging and no matter what I did my hair stayed unmanageable. I even started rinsing it out with drinking water after each shower (I know, what a princess right?) and that really made a difference for me, but still not good enough.

When I was in Michigan for Christmas break my hair was healthier than ever and I was able to do a blowout and curl it in 30-45 mins, which is amazing for its length. As soon as I got back home, I realized it was taking me twice as long to do and I still had to go over it a couple of times later on. The demands of my job require that my tresses be styled most of the time, and although my natural curls are cute they are not suitable for outfit posts. I started feeling guilty about all the heat I’m applying to my hair and worried that it would destroy all my efforts at keeping it healthy.

The Blow Dry Bar at Marquee has an offer for the month of February where you can get a Brazilian Blowout at AED 1,000 regardless of the length of your hair. The blowout is supposed to last 3-4 months as long as you use Sulfate-free shampoo. The purpose is to eliminate frizz completely and while it does diminish 70% of your curls, it’s not supposed to make your hair pin straight. I just got it done this past weekend and I’m amazed at my hair. It’s exceptionally soft and shiny, I don’t have to blow dry it anymore because it’s barely curly and I just went over it with my curling iron and the whole thing took about 15 minutes. I was afraid I would lose volume but it’s barely a difference.

I didn’t buy the Sulfate-free shampoo from the salon (AED 180) and instead I’m using one by Vichy which I got at the pharmacy for AED 75. I will update you on the progress of the blowout, but if you’ve been thinking about getting it done this is such a great deal. Xo

Update: I’ve done a lot research on Brazilian Blowout and other similar treatments and found that there are harsh chemicals in these products. Please do your research before undergoing such treatments on your hair.

Guest Spot: Gabrielle Vossler

I’ve recently been doing my own blow dry and curling which I haven’t done since high school, and I’ve found it to be cost-effective and less of a hassle then visiting the salon once or twice a week. Practice makes perfect and it doesn’t hurt to learn some killer tips from an expert, so here is a step-by-step tutorial from Gabie Vossler.

As a hairstylist, I have to say the number one thing my clients in the salon want to learn is how to do a good blowout at home on their own hair. A good blow out can last anywhere from 2-4 days depending on the person’s hair and technique. Here are a few tips on getting that perfect, smooth, and least damaging blowout!

In order to prolong your hair tools (round brush, paddle brush, etc.) Do not touch the nozzle of the hair drier to the bristles of the brush. Not only does this damage the brush bristles, but it can also singe the hair. Keep the nozzle just above the hair and brush when smoothing and drying.
Although it does speed the drying time to flip your hair over and wave the hair drier back and forth over the hair, it is not doing your style any justice. To get a smooth blow out like you receive in the salon, always point the nozzle on the dryer downwards when going over the hair shaft. This smooths the cuticles of the hair down and will reduce the amount of frizz.
Use a concentrator on the nozzle of the dryer to focus the airflow where you want it. The grill of the hairdryer is extremely hot and will damage the hair if it is being pressed against it. Also, a concentrator helps make it easier to smooth hair down and eliminate frizz.
It is important to keep the hair drier moving to prevent heat damage. If you choose to use a round brush, keep twirling the brush slowly as you move down the hair strands. Slow movement is easier on the arms rather than pulling the brush through the hair quickly over and over.
Sectioning your hair will make a blow out so much easier. If you have thick hair, section the hair into four sections. For fine hair, typically one section will work. Take one inch sections and lift the hair up with the brush for more volume, and down for less (still point the nozzle downwards.)
After you have mastered smoothing the hair, when it is about 80% dry, you can twist the round brush around 2-3 times to create a loose curl or wave. Product (mouse, hairspray, volumizing spray) can help hold the style if you have straight hair naturally (zero texture). The top two pictures to the right have been styled using the twisting technique.

Be patient of the blow out does not come out perfectly the first time. Blowing out hair takes patience and practice, but the outcome is worth it! I recommend Olivia Garden round brushes as they evenly distribute heat through the hair, move smoothly, and do not rip out strands. Good luck!

Check out this video for a visual demonstration: http://youtu.be/BxlwOojH7oc

Gabrielle Vossler is a stylist at the Glass Door Salon & Spa and has over 6 years of experience in the industry. You can view some beautiful photos of Gabie’s work on her website: www.gabriellevossler.com

Veloce Jewelry

After years of working in fine jewelry at her family-owned business, Christina Medawar took the leap and fulfilled her dream of opening a fashion jewelry store of her own. Christina shot her first commercial for Medawar Jewelers at the age of 4 years old and spent a lot of her childhood with her family at their showrooms. After learning the ins and outs of the business during her late teen years, she took over the management of Medawar Jewelers alongside her brother at the tender age of 20 years old. Continue reading Veloce Jewelry

Rose Gold

I found this gold skirt in my closet during a mini spring cleaning and was so excited to create an outfit with it. Sometimes you find a beautiful piece that can stay with you for years and will always be in style, to me this is one of them. I had to take my pink coat out for one last spin because it’s basically summer weather in Dubai and I don’t know when I’ll be able to wear it again. I’ve linked similar items to what I’m wearing below, the coat is the exact same one and is on sale! Xo

Photo Credit: Sand in The City

A love story

I met my husband in our sophomore year of high school and honestly, I was smitten the moment I saw him. We dated until graduation and although we were just kids, he was my first and greatest love. I moved to Michigan for college and he was at AUB in Lebanon, so needless to say the long distance trial lasted only a few weeks. We stayed “friends” for a few years and inevitably rekindled our romance after realizing there’s no purpose in hiding our feelings. It’s rare to find your best friend, beloved and rock in one person but I was lucky enough to have that at such a young age. Hadi is kind, warm, understanding and my biggest fan and has taught me to love myself and believe in my own dreams. We did this “Trash the Dress” photoshoot a year after we got married because our wedding day was a magical whirlwind and we didn’t get a chance to take cute portraits. I believe that love is a partnership, a companionship and irrevocable commitment so my humble advice is that you find someone who makes you a better version of yourself.

Photos by: Melrish Photoghraphy, taken at The Farm in Dubai.

And I’d choose you; in a hundred lifetimes, in a hundred worlds, in any version of reality, I’d find you and choose you.

~The Chaos of Stars

Little Black Dress

LBD
with
Chanel, DailyLook

If there’s one thing that could never go out of style, it’s a little black dress. I adore the peplum look and find it sultry while being extremely elegant. With Valentine’s day coming up I had to add a few pops of red into the mix. How would you style your LBD?

Piperlime Goodies

Piperlime is having a major sale at the moment, and I just snagged the gorgeous Kate Spade Cedar Street Maise in Rosy Dawn at 30% off! I’ve been coveting this bag for quite some time and I am so excited. I thought I’d put together a few of my favorites from the sale for you to see and hopefully make things easier for you. Happy shopping my loves! Everything is linked below. Xo

Winter Favorites

The cold and dry weather can be really harsh on our skin and if you don’t keep maintaining it you can lose that luminosity. There’s a few things that have really kept that glow in my skin the past few months and I just had to share them with you all!

The Rub Rub Rub shower scrub has sea salt and lemon extract so it exfoliates and moisturizes simultaneously without irritating the skin.
I’ve tried every single lip balm there is out there and although most smell amazing and some look good on the lips, the vaseline lip therapy the only thing that replenishes, hydrates and smooths my lips in just a few hours. It’s also now available in rose which I linked for you below.
Illuminators have never been my thing because I usually like my makeup to be pretty minimal and natural looking, well as of now I am officially obsessed! They give you a nice glow and sparkle on your skin, and you can choose how heavy or natural you want it to be. My 2 favorites are the NYX powder illuminator which is very build-able, and the Watt’s up by Benefit Cosmetics which is a creamy stick that is so easy to apply.
My favorite home-made mask is the dewy skin mask I’ve shared with you before. I get lazy sometimes or forget about it and the minute I go back to it I realize how amazing it really is. It evens the skin, treats acne, heals scars and smooths the overall complexion of my face. If you’ve never tried it, I suggest you do that right away because you won’t regret it.
The most obvious thing I can advise you to do is drink lots of water. I can see a difference in my skin from head-to-toe when I drink more water and I even see improvements in energy and digestion.

I hope these tips help you out, let me know you best kept secrets to combat the winter blues! Xo

Cotton Candy Pink

There are certain pieces that catch your eye instantly and you just wish you can wear them all the time, and this dress definitely did that for me. The color, the texture and especially the fit all make it very special and give a young and playful look. I paired it with the dotted tights to give it a 60’s edge and I kept the accessories simple to keep from taking attention away from the jacquard texture. Finally I thought the contrast of an off-white clutch would be the perfect touch. I hope you liked this dress as much I did! I’ve linked the dress below and similar items for everything else. Xo

Dress: ChicWish | Ring: BaubleBar, linked below.