< PreviousCrop top, Dhs89, Trousers, Dhs119, both Trendyol, Trainers, Dhs475, Adidas Originals, all at @Sivvi.com ...WITH CHARLOTTE TILBURY MAKE-UP EYES: Eyeshadow, Date Eye Look NEW Icon Palette Mascara, Full Fat Lashes LIPS: Lipliner, Pink Venus Lip Cheat Lip colour, Penelope Pink K.I.S.S.I.N.G CHEEK: Blusher, Ecstasy Cheek to Chic 30 | APRIL 2019 Are you following us on Instagram? @CosmoMiddleEast THE BUZZ | FUN, FEARLESS FEMALEfriend to include him in the cast. We bonded during the rehearsals and I liked him right away. He was and is so charming, takes such good care of everyone around him and has the kindest heart.” Five years of dating later, when she was just 24, he popped the big question in front of her family. “We’re both super romantic but I was so young when he proposed, it was a huge surprise. He told me we were going out for dinner and while we were walking to the table, I heard music and my entire family – cousins included – were holding a banner that said, ‘Will you marry me?’ I started crying like a baby. I actually bawled.” The wedding took place two years later on the beach during sunset – their favourite time of day. “It wasn’t a wedding. We thought of it as a celebration of love… he even danced for me and put on a performance as a surprise. We had emotional speeches, a video… it was just perfect.” How has she managed to have it all? “I just have my priorities straight. I love my job, yes, but nothing is more important than my husband, parents and siblings. I don’t attend events or parties unless they’re absolutely mandatory and am all about spending quiet time at the end of a long day with those I love. I don’t care about the whole see-and-be-seen thing. Sometimes, I sacrifi ce jobs and projects so I can spend time with my family and Farid, even taking as much as a couple of months off to reconnect.” I had to talk about the elephant in the room. Aimée is the ONLY famous Lebanese star I’ve met who hasn’t gotten any work done. “Lebanon is a beautiful country that likes beautiful people,” she laughs. “I’m not against plastic surgery. Women should do anything that makes them feel beautiful. Personally, however, I’m all for embracing my imperfections… they’re an extension of my personality and frankly, I’m happy in my not-so- perfect body. I like the way I look. Also, I’m a little scared to mess with me. I don’t like faking it.” She points to a particularly adorable picture of her make- up and fi lter-free hugging her husband. “Even on social media I try to not use fi lters often, and to just show me as me though I am careful not to document my day-to- day… I like to keep my private life largely mine.” We decide to call it a day as Aimée has to be up at an unearthly hour to fi lm Al Zaman Al Jamil, a live talent show in Abu Dhabi. As we hugged goodbye, I silently vowed to not refresh my lashes that week and remove lipo from my wish-list, inspired to be wholly myself by the unlikely and fabulous Aimée Sayah. in her words BOOK I’M READING RIGHT NOW: The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom. MY FAVE MOVIE: Sweet November. MY CELEB CRUSH: It changes constantly. Right now, it’s Bradley Cooper. THE FIRST THING I DID THIS MORNING: Brush my teeth. I CAN’T SLEEP WITHOUT: Taking off all my make-up and putting on my night cream. IN MY BAG ALWAYS: Money, a mirror, lipstick, a book and my sunglasses. MY 4AM FRIEND: My husband. THE THING I LOVE ABOUT MYSELF MOST: My ability to prioritise family. ON MY TRAVEL BUCKETLIST: The AmalfiCoast. SOCIAL MEDIA IS… …not real life. You control social media, don’t let it control you. APRIL 2019 | 31 Are you following us on Instagram? @CosmoMiddleEast THE BUZZ | FUN, FEARLESS FEMALE32 | APRIL 2019 COSMO INFLUENCER AWARDS We’re giving a shout out to the most respected and followed social media all-stars who have made a buzz in 2019. From fashion, beauty and lifestyle to travel, food, up-and-comers, and entrepreneurs, our carefully curated nominees are game- changers in their respective fields. The winners will be selected on a popular choice basis, i.e., your votes will determine who walks away with the big prize on April 30. BEST IN FASHION These ladies provide daily style inspo to get our perf #OOTD. BEST IN BEAUTY MUA and beauty gurus who have all the tricks to make us look our best. BEST IN LIFESTYLE These ladies show us how to lead our best lives everyday. BEST IN FITNESS/ WELLBEING Pushing their minds and bodies for in and out TLC, we need a dose of these fierce ladies all day, everyday!. BEST IN TRAVEL We’ve travelled far and wide with these wanderlust babes. BEST IN FOOD The gorgeous gals who bring every delish place you’ll want to eat at, and dish you’ll want to devour, on the daily. BEST IN VLOGGING Forget Netflix, we’re hooked to these ladies’ content. From fashion and beauty to lifestyle and more, they bring us a little bit of it all. RISING STAR Up-and-comers who we think are headed for the big leagues. BEST CONTENT From every post to story, these ladies put out the very best. ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR Sunglasses, clothes, beauty and much more, these empires built from powerful social media standing are run by #BossBabes we’re totally inspired by. The full list of nominees, fi ve in each category, will be revealed by April 7, 2019. Keep your eyes on www.cosmopolitanme.com, www.cosmopolitan.ae/ infl uencerawards and @cosmomiddleeast for the BIG REVEAL. April 30, 2019. The winners will be announced at the awards. Log into www.cosmopolitan. ae/infl uencerawards to vote for your faves. P.S: When you vote you stand to win Dhs5,000 of beauty goodies. So don’t miss out! #Cosmoinfluencerawards cosmopolitan.ae/influencerawards APRIL 2019 | 33 COSMO INFLUENCER AWARDS34 | APRIL 2019 Are you following us on Instagram? @CosmoMiddleEast Time for Taylor Move over, mass make-up. Beauty brand Nudestix promises to change your life with its do-it-all pencils for the face eyes and lips. Co-founder and totally inspirational Millennial Taylor Frankel tells us more about the products creating a cult following across the globe BY OLIVIA ADAMS you!APRIL 2019 | 35 Are you following us on Instagram? @CosmoMiddleEast Away from the business, what do you like to do in your down time? My typical weekend is ordering UberEats and watching Netfl ix. I love Italian food, so I usually order pastas and pizzas and watch Suits. Sounds good to us. Tell us a beauty trick… Having one product that does it all, is the trick. Our Nudies Matte Blush is your eyeshadow, your lip colour and your blush. If I’ve just got off a long fl ight, and I want to look more alive [laughs], I take my Nudies Matte Blush and literally just apply it all over. It instantly makes you look more awake and fresh. Finally, tell our readers a tip on how to feel more confi dent Wear make-up that makes you look like you, just better, and not like you’re a diff erent person or wearing a mask. Take care of your body and make time for yourself, whether it’s going to the gym or seeing friends. I think when you have a balanced lifestyle you immediately feel more confi dent. You feel genuinely good and happy. YOU!YOU!YOU! | BOSS BABE N ot that long ago, ‘more is more’ make-up was the trend everyone was obeying. Taylor Frankel, who was 17 at this time, and her then 15-year-old sister Ally, didn’t buy it. They wanted to look like themselves, only better, and voiced these opinions to their beauty industry veteran mum – who created products for MAC as their chemical engineer - Jenny. Together, the Canadians created Nudestix, a beauty brand designed to create a “no make-up, make- up look” – basically, to keep you looking like you, just enhanced. Here, 22-year-old Taylor tells their story. Prepare to purchase by the end of the interview. Welcome back to Dubai! Thanks! What do you love about the city when you visit? Everything [laughs]! The shopping, the food….and I love the people in Dubai. Everyone is very welcoming and warm. And I love the weather - I come from Canada so anything to escape the cold I love [laughs]. Tell us about your new products… We have Nudies Matte Blush in the shade ‘Sunset Strip’, which is a blush inspired by a tropical retreat. It’s all about beautiful, glowing skin. Then we have our new matte bronze called ‘Sun Kissed’, created by global make-up artist Mary Phillips. Finally, we have the Magnetic Nude Glimmers in 99 per cent Angel, 24k Goddess and Bronzi Babe. What would you love to launch next? In summer we’re launching a new Nudies collection, called Nudies Blooms. This collection is all about a dewy blush for the eyes, cheeks and the lips. All shades are inspired by fl orals – hence the name - and one of the shades was created by Mary Phillips. We have another collaboration with Mary! Anything else you can tease us with? We’re also launching nude lip glosses, with one cherry colour. And then in autumn, we’re talking about complexion. Think foundation. Stay tuned. Sounds busy. What are the highs and lows of running a business? [Pause] The highs come from the interaction with our customers. When I hear fi rst-hand from our followers how much they love the products and how much the products have changed their lives – whether it’s a mum who says, ”I have fi ve minutes in the morning. I love your make-up because it makes me feel beautiful in an instant.” Or a teenage girl who says, “I love your make-up because it makes me feel confi dent in my own skin and I still feel like me.” It makes everything I do worthwhile, because you feel like you’re making a diff erence in somebody’s life. And the lows? The setbacks. You’re launching a new product, for example, and the manufacturer doesn’t prepare the product on time for the launch. But these are learning experiences, and I guess they are good problems to have because it means you have a functioning, running business. NUDESTIX is available to buy from Sephora Middle East stores and online at Sephora.ae CATCH TAYLOR IN OUR BRAND NEW SERIES ‘HOW I MADE IT’ ON INSTAGRAM @COSMOMIDDLEEAST, YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND FACEBOOKYou get a therapist, you get a therapist, you get a therapist! BY NINA BAHADUR The Broke Girl’s Guide TO National Alliance on Mental Illness.) Adding more fuel to the emotional dumpster fi re, the demand for therapy has skyrocketed in recent years, but the number of therapists has not. The result: People who need therapy can’t get it, and those currently in therapy can be thrown for a loop if their coverage changes. But there’s hope, people. (Lots, actually.) Take Ashley, a 26-year-old IT analyst who aged out of her parents’ insurance last year. When she realised her employer’s plan didn’t cover therapy at all, which would cause her regular sessions to cost more than her car payment and insurance combined, her therapist helped her fi nd a university clinic where graduate students could treat her for just Dhs50 a session. She says it’s worked out great for her. And that’s only one way to save loads of cash while still getting the help you (read: we all) need. Here, Cosmo’s defi nitive guide to getting quality therapy no matter how broke you are. THERAPY HERAPY, IT SEEMS, IS EVERYWHERE. We double-tap @MyTherapistSays memes on Instagram, we’re low-key turned on by Dr. Nicky on You, and we’ve wondered if it could help us deal with our crazy Craigslist roommates. Or the exes we can’t shake. Or those anxiety-causing Sunday emails from our bosses. Despite all that, locking down a therapist can feel weirdly daunting. Perhaps because it’s freaking expensive? Your insurance company likely isn’t required to cover mental health. But even if it is, some plans have pricey co-pays or high deductibles and don’t off er a good selection of in-network providers, meaning you could pay up to Dhs800 per session. (For their part, many therapists say insurance companies aren’t paying them enough for their services, so they may not take insurance at all, says Katrina Gay, national director of strategic partnerships for the 36 | APRIL 2019 Are you following us on Instagram? @CosmoMiddleEast YOU!YOU!YOU! | SHRINK WRAPPEDIf you literally have Dhs100 in your bank account rn… There are clinics where you can score sessions on the house. Although they’re not easy to find, you can ask any therapist for a referral or use the to find mental- health service providers offering payment assistance. If you’re willing to sacrifice your brunch fund… For a one-time Dhs200 fee – this gets better, promise – the nonprofit Open Path (OpenPathCollective.org) will hook you up with a therapist willing to drop their rates to Dhs120 to Dhs200. And if your home base isn’t a therapy hub, some providers offer remote therapy via BOTIM or phone sessions. Although it’s not dirt cheap, your lower rate is locked in until you get better insurance or a big raise. If you’re cool with paying more for convenience… Connect with a licensed therapist who specialises in your specific needs using apps like Talkspace (from Dhs200/week) and 7 Cups (from Dhs140/week). You can message a therapist literally whenever you want advice or someone to listen. Yeah, phone therapy is really easy – but does it work? First, find out what your insurance covers. It’s a harsh truth that not all insurance companies cover therapy, so find out if mental-or behavioral- health-care providers are included before you sign up, ideally. If you can’t stand reading boring paperwork, just call them to ask about your options. It’s easier than you think. If you’re already seeing a therapist you love… Ask if she’ll tweak her rates based on your budget, says Alyssa Petersel, founder of My Wellbeing, a New York City-based service that matches patients with therapists. You won’t see these pay-what-you- can deals advertised, but it’s worth calling your current provider (or one with potential) to ask if they’ll work with you. Many will, says Petersel. If your preferred therapist won’t cut you a deal… Oftentimes, mental-health providers hold regular meetings with groups of people struggling with similar issues, like grief or stress, for a lot less money than a 1:1 sesh. Ask your go-to if she does this or if she can refer you to someone who does. Although you’re not getting undivided attention, you’ll still have the opportunity to be heard and learn coping mechanisms. And you’ll get support from your fellow groupies. Check out options at universities... Supervised student therapists can be just as effective as the licensed kind when it comes to treating anxiety, depression, and more, per the American Psychological Association. And bonus, they’re much more cost effective. So check out the Association of Psychology Training Clinics (APTC. org) to find grad-school therapy- training programs offering services in your area. YOUR THERAPIST WILL TEXT YOU NOW UNFORCH, YOU DO NOT GET A DISCOUNT FOR BRINGING YOUR OWN COUCH. IT CAN BE GREAT FOR A QUICK(ER) FIX. Struggling with a work dilemma or relationship drama? “These problems may not necessitate long-term therapy, so accessing a professional through text could be all you need to resolve the problem,” says licensed psychologist Ashley Hampton, PhD. YOU’LL GET IN THE ZONE FASTER. Leaving work early, dealing with an annoying commute, parking, and answering work emails in the waiting room can leave you stressed out, making it harder to process and articulate your thoughts and feelings. “Someone meeting with me from home is already in their safe place, so they’re more relaxed from the start,” says licensed psychologist Lisa Marie Bobby, PhD. And when you’re done with your sesh, you can spend time reflecting – instead of fighting traffic, says Bobby. YOU CAN USE EMOJI (!!!). Sometimes your feelings on your boss’s passive- aggressive comments can only be described as . And when it comes to text therapy, that’s a legit way to contextualise your emotions, says mental-health therapist Tasha Holland-Kornegay, PhD. CARA HOWE FOR COMEDY CENTRAL. START HERE APRIL 2019 | 37 Are you following us on Instagram? @CosmoMiddleEast YOU!YOU!YOU! | SHRINK WRAPPEDthe robot wars For decades, mankind has feared the day technology becomes cleverer than us. Now it’s here, and we were too busy trying to sync our Sonos to notice. Welcome to The Big Techover... BY LAUREN BRAVO Are you following us on Instagram? @CosmoMiddleEast 38 | APRIL 2019 YOU!YOU!YOU! | TECHOVEREvery morning for the past few weeks, I have woken up sweating. I’ve woken up sweating because the radiator next to my bed has been on for an hour, turning the room into a kind of DIY Bikram-yoga studio. The reason I have carried on waking up sweating is that I’m too scared to go near and upset the balance of our app- controlled heating system, which is more sensitive than the proverbial snowflake. I can’t work out how to change it without plunging the whole flat into microclimatic chaos. What if I somehow offend the app? What if the app turns against us? APRIL 2019 | 39 Are you following us on Instagram? @CosmoMiddleEastNext >