< PreviousYOU OPEN YOUR MOUTH An open mouth indicates that you’re not here for surprises, says Glass. In relationships, you crave quality time with bae more than a first date with a hottie. Serious, long-term relationships are your jam. YOU PUCKER UP Do you make a kissy face while you swipe? Then you’re all about keeping up appearances. “You’re very focused on your aesthetic,” says Glass. Constantly posting annoyingly cute couple pics with mushy captions too? We see you. YOU BLINK A LOT If you literally can’t keep your lids still, it suggests you’re wary of more than an accidental jab to the eye, says body-language expert Lillian Glass, PhD. You may bail when things get too serious because you think the closer your bond gets, the worse the split is bound to be. YOU STICK OUT YOUR TONGUE Unforch, this look can symbolise aggression toward yourself, says Glass. So when it comes to dating, you tend to fall for unreliable types more often than you’d like – and immediately regret that right swipe. YOU TILT YOUR HEAD BACK Trust issues much? Tipping your head back means you want to get to the bottom of everything, says Glass. So if you’re the type whose heart pounds every time he checks his texts, cool it, baby girl. What Your Mascara Face Says About Your Love Life MOUTH OPENERS, THIS ONE’S FOR YOU. BY ASHLEY OERMAN WELL, THIS EXPLAINS SOME THINGS, ARI. 70 | APRIL 2019 Are you following us on Instagram? @CosmoMiddleEast BEAUTY | LASHING OUT “Always visit a dermatologist when you fi rst start showing signs of acne. If acne is treated in the early stages, the likelihood that the patient will make a full recovery with no scars on the face is very high, but the longer you leave the acne untreated the more diffi cult it is to get rid of the acne and the possibility high that the patient will have scars and marks on the face which is diffi cult to impossible to get rid of. Any acne treatment you do should be supported by the correct dermo-cosmetics” –DR ANWAR AL HAMMADI, CONSULTANT DERMATOLOGIST FROM DERMAMED CLINIC, DUBAI WWW.BIODERMA.AE INSTAGRAM: @BIODERMAME Acne affects 80% of people between the age of 12 and 24 years old. FAJAR’S DERMATOLOGICAL TREATMENT BY DR ANWAR AL HAMADI WAS SUPPORTED BY THE FOLLOWING DERMA-COSMETIC PRODUCTS: Fajar suffered from chronic acne for six months and nothing worked. Dr Anwar Al Hammadi, with the support of the Bioderma team, cleared her acne in just two months! She shares her story with Cosmo. “I had really bad acne for six months. I couldn’t even touch my face or look at myself in a mirror. I’ve always been a confi dent girl but with such severe acne, I used to hide my face and avoid talking to people.” “I tried a lot of treatments and expensive products but absolutely nothing worked. It was all a waste of money.” “Dr Anwar changed my life. He prescribed acne medication for six months, which he warned would make my skin dry and irritable. Bioderma saved my life at this point. The face wash, #ControlYourAcneSkin Focus on the cause to treat the symptoms SEBIUM GEL MOUSSANT, A purifying cleanser that gently cleanses and purifies the skin and limits the sebum secretion and keep pores from becoming clogged DHS104 / 200ML SEBIUM H20 A cleansing and make-up removing micellar water that gently purifies the skin and regulates the sebum quality. DHS82 / 250ML SEBIUM HYDRA A moisturising and soothing compensating treatment for skin that has been weakened, dried or irritated by dermatological treatment DHS97 / 40ML PHOTODERM AKN MAT SPF 30 A dual-action mattifying fluid with high photoprotection and assists in the prevention of skin blemishes. DHS125 / 40ML AVAILABLE IN ALL PHARMACIES cleanser, sunscreen and moisturiser soothed and protected my skin, replenishing it with moisture and making it feel amazing. It was a great support during my acne treatment.” “I saw results in as little as 2 months and am back to being as confi dent as ever! People at school actually come up to me and compliment my skin now. Thank you Dr Anwar and the Bioderma team for taking such good care of me and for restoring my confi dence!” Follow Fajar’s acne journey on Manal Muffin’s YouTube account PROMOTIONThe latest drops and news that’s got us talking BY CHLOE BOSHER Scents of life Pick ‘n mix with the Body Shop’s new 15-piece Vegan fragrance collection. Layer your unique fragrance, with fi ve powerful essences, fi ve long lasting fragrances and fi ve fresh spritzes. With Middle Eastern-inspired names such as spice sensation, gold addiction and amber wonder, this collection will make you feel right at home. RESCUE ME Did you know sleeping less than six hours a night is harmful to your skin and causes long-term damage. Scared? We were. Enter the overnight mask by Filorga, which replenishes the skin with moisture to equivalent to those missed hours of sleep. You’ll see results visible in just seven nights! We just stocked up a closet full. results visible in just seven nights! We just stocked up a closet full. GOING NAKED The new Naked range by Lush is completely packaging free, featuring two primer facial oils, a cold cream and four types of cleansers. The ‘Sleepy head’ cleanser with lavender a perfect pre-bed pamper, while the jade roller ticks all of our boxes (move over the tool) – it’s a 3-in-1 situ that massages, cleanses and tones at the same time while reducing pores with the activation of chamomile vinegar and rose water. Thank you Lush for constantly trying to reduce the world’s carbon footprint. UFO To The Rescue! Our fave face cleansing brush now comes with an upgrade. UFO now comes in a mini size, with a smart mask option that has a pre-programmed treatment routine. Download the Foreo app to make it compatible with your device, press start and you’re 90secs away from a spa-worthy treatment in the palm of your hand. Dhs950, Foreo BRING ON THE YOUTH SHIELD We’re surrounded by digital pollution, AKA blue light from all of our devices, which dehydrates and ages our skin prematurely. The anti-pollution shield from Sisleyouth with organic buckwheat, ginkgo and pea extract protects you from the blue devil, enhancing the skin’s resistance and literally helping it to breathe again. Anti-pollution, Dhs735, Sisleyouth Night mask, Dhs360, Filorga 72 | APRIL 2019 Are you following us on Instagram? @CosmoMiddleEast BEAUTY | BUZZK-POP Lamise, the first Korean beauty store in the region, stocks some of Koreas most loved brands. Founded by Kate Wooyeon, who says the key to a healthy glow is her nine-step skincare routine: remove, cleanse, tone, eye cream, serum, moisturiser, sunscreen, exfoliate and mask. Stock up for your very own K-routine Lamise is in 1004 Gourmet, The Greens, 04 323 4536 GLAMSTICKS Created for the beauty lover on-the-go (me) the new Dolce&Gabbana Beauty Intenseyes eyeshadow sticks are genius. The creamy texture makes the pigment glide onto the skin and it’s super blendable; no brushes needed. All you need to do is swipe and use your fi nger. The packaging is gorge and we’re obsessed with all 12 shades, from neutrals and shimmers to mattes. Mix and combine them for a fun day look or ultra-cool evening glam. Intenseyes eyeshadow sticks, Dhs150 each AIRBRUSHED PERFECTOR The USA’s favourite make-up brand Hourglass is finally available on Sephora. ae. A must-have product from the range is the veil mineral primer which eliminates enlarged pores, redness and fine lines, allowing you to apply your make-up evenly for airbrushed perfection. And to top it all off, all Hourglass products are vegan! Love! Dhs100, Sephora.ae Ready, Set, Go For all you girls on the go – the face perfecting palette from ZERO make- up is a handy palm sized all-in-one available in six shades. With a conceal, blend, blush and pout section in the top layer and the fi nishing powder on the bottom, you won’t need anything else. Dhs199, available at @Wojooh L r b wh glo rou tone mois exfol Stock veryo Lamisei Gourmet, 04 323453 D e APRIL 2019 | 73 Are you following us on Instagram? @CosmoMiddleEast BEAUTY | BUZZDON’T RESPOND TO TEXTS AFTER HE’S GONE TO BRUNCH Brunch in NYC (where I lived pre-Dubai) meant a stack of pancakes, lots of carbs and four hours of convo before going home to snooze. So yeah, I showed up for my fi rst Dubai brunch in sweats and a tee (plenty of room to eat) not AT ALL prepared for the raging food and party fest that hit me hard. Dubai brunches are cray and people who walk out of there, completely out of their senses. Ignore his texts, especially to hang out – nothing good’s going to come out of it. The Ultimate Dubai Girl’s LOVE SURVIVAL GUIDE Every red flag to watch out for when it comes to guys …and then some Y ou’ve just moved to Dubai and are all set to live it up in the city where everything seems to sparkle, including the metro. So you’ve got the job, found the perfect apartment and your squad is pretty much #goals. The only thing missing is that ring on your fi nger, and the right kind of guy to get you the rock of your dreams. Land of opportunity it may be, but is it the place you’ll meet THE ONE? We’re not going to lie, there’s tons of pros but there’s also a bunch of cons you’re going to navigate your way through in the land of meet-and- greet. Enter, our fail- proof, ironclad survival guide of do’s and don’ts. Read and thank us later. DON’T JUDGE IF HE TAKES YOU OUT VIA METRO He’s cute, has a good job and is taking you out for a nice meal… BUT there’s no Uber, Careem or car waiting outside. Instead, he’s actually making you walk in your four-inch heels and (GASP) get on the metro. Before you sling back those stilettos and strut out of the date, just fi gure out WHY he’s taking the long route. Is he green? In the mood for adventure? Or is he too cheap to cough up the bucks for a cab? If it’s because of the latter then it’s time to walk away, but give the guy a chance to explain before you count him out of the running. 74 | APRIL 2019 Are you following us on Instagram? @CosmoMiddleEastTEACHERS AREN’T AS ‘GOOD’ AS YOU THINK Just because he’s chosen to educate kids for a living doesn’t mean he’s a saint. Some of the biggest party animals around are those who teach. Pin it down to all the vacay time – they’ve just got the energy to party. DO ACCEPT THAT THEY’RE PROBABLY GOING TO MOVE Dubai is a transient place and the only thing that keeps you here is your job. So be prepared for him to split if he’s either laid off or hates what he does. And even if he choses to stay for a few years, it’s probable he’ll want to head home eventually. So make sure you’re on the same page before committing to the long haul. DON’T LET HIM TAKE YOU TO LADIES’ NIGHTS At ladies’ nights, you get stuff for free. So girls, if he takes you to one of these, he’s either cheap or looking for other options while he’s out with you. When he suggests grabbing a drink somewhere, before you say yes, please google it and make sure that there’s no ladies anything going on. If he can’t pay full price and have a one-on- one with you, then he’s totally not worth it! IF HE’S LEAVING YOUR WHATSAPP READ, IT’S NOT YOU There’s this thing Dubai guys do – they read your WhatsApp and just don’t get around to answering it. With a city full of gorgeous options and a new tax-free paycheck, some guys think they’re all that. Fact is, they’re not; YOU are. And if he doesn’t respond, he’s NOT the one. Walk away and do not follow up, stalk or obsess. BY KAVITA SRINIVASAN. IMAGES: SHUTTERSTOCK DON’T JUDGE IF HE LOVES THE ENTERTAINER Again, there’s nothing wrong in being smart. Just because he’s looking for a good deal doesn’t mean he’s cheap. He could just be finance whiz who knows how to stash that cash for a rainy day and have a big, fat savings account. DON’T JUDGE IF WHERE HE LIVES There’s this not- so-subtle divide in Dubai between Dubai Marina and Downtown. Word on the street is that Downtown has more eligible, stable guys while Marina guys are all about a good party. A single GF once told me, “You’ll never find the right guy at Rock Bottom but you will at Zuma and LPM.” This is a total myth, girls. APRIL 2019 | 75 Are you following us on Instagram? @CosmoMiddleEast LOVE | DU-BAEWHY RELATIONSHIPS TAKE SO MUCH LONGER TO GET OVER . . . BY JULIA PUGACHEVSKY 76 | APRIL 2019 Are you following us on Instagram? @CosmoMiddleEast LOVE | BAD LOVE. . . AND HOW TO DISENTANGLE YOURSELF FROM YOUR EX ONCE AND FOR ALL APRIL 2019 | 77 Are you following us on Instagram? @CosmoMiddleEast LOVE | BAD LOVEOne of the most confusing aspects of breakups is who we end up taking the longest to get over. Why, for instance, does it feel easier to bounce back from parting ways with a genuinely kind, wonderful partner you considered a best friend than an ex who had virtually no redeeming qualities? Why are the people who proved to be mean-spirited, selfi sh, dishonest, manipulative – aka, so obviously bad in every way – sometimes the hardest to get over? While it’s easy to be hard on yourself and want to speed up the healing process, there are reasons why a toxic relationship keeps you hooked for too long to begin with. Here are six signs you might be in a damaging relationship now, or why you still can’t get over one from the past: The highs of the relationship feel incredible enough to mask the lows. In order to stay with someone emotionally abusive in the fi rst place, they’d have to be pretty gd amazing the rest of the time – especially in the beginning. “If the relationship were only exclusively abusive, and it were that way from the start, there is no doubt in my mind that no one would tolerate that sort of behavior,” says Mariana Bockarova, Ph.D., who teaches relationship psychology at the University of Toronto. “The issue is that there are so many wonderful, tender moments which make it very diffi cult to believe that this person who can be so loving can also be horrible at the same time.” Often, toxic relationships start out with lovebombing – aka where things move super quickly and you feel borderline obsessively- admired 24/7. It can feel like a reinforcement of everything every romantic movie ever told you love is, and can easily be confused with fi nding your soulmate. Of course, once actual confl icts start, things can take a drastic turn via namecalling, stonewalling, and the abusive partner’s aggressive unwillingness to ever be wrong. But once the fi ght is “over” or you’ve broken down crying, the abuser can apologise profusely and fabricate a new honeymoon period, where you feel like the worst is over, until it happens again. Bockarova says this is called a trauma bond, and FYI, it’s that much harder to get over because of all the emotions linked to this partner. Breaking up is a constant threat, and when it does happen, it’s usually very sudden. A common theme in toxic relationships is the abusive partner saying they’ll just break up with you every time there’s a minor or fi xable issue, which can make you feel unsteady being with them. But then the actual breakup can often be explosive and out-of- nowhere, which can throw you through an even bigger mental loop. “When a relationship ends, especially abruptly, this leaves you with a sense of not being sure of what went wrong, and in turn, aff ects your ability to start new relationships,” Bockarova says. “Without knowing what the problem that caused the breakup is, you may become very self- conscious and afraid to enter a new relationship, because you may see yourself as inherently fl awed.” That’s why even a hard but talked- through breakup with a great partner can feel emotionally less devastating than losing a terrible S.O. without any warning. With so many questions unanswered during and after the relationship, moving on can take that much more time. Your ex is a pro at making you feel like *you* ruined the relationship. Again, because emotions see- saw so much in the relationship, you might have moments where you still think things could work out, or that you’re the reason everything’s broken. Them being A COMMON THEME IN TOXIC RELATION- -SHIPS ISTHE ABUSIVE PARTNER SAYING THEY’LL BREAK UP WITH YOU EVERY TIME THERE’S AN ISSUE.” 78 | APRIL 2019 Are you following us on Instagram? @CosmoMiddleEast LOVE | BAD LOVESO caring and attentive can make it seem like there’s some piece to the puzzle missing that would make your partner never show that scarier, nastier side. Bockarova recommends reminding yourself of what’s actually been happening. “It’s better to recognise that no one can force another individual to act a certain way, and that if they have acted in a way that’s abusive, they’ve allowed themselves to cross a certain boundary. And it will be incredibly diffi cult to trust that that boundary won’t be crossed again.” You can’t stop someone from being hurtful or controlling, but the belief that you could can keep you invested far longer than you ever wanted to be. You maybe lost some close friends while in the relationship. Part of what gives a toxic partner power is isolating you from your friends who, in turn, can’t bring up any red fl ags they might spot. So whether you’re currently in the relationship or just got out of it, the toll it’s taken on your social life can be rough – and make you feel lonelier than ever. But, at the same time, reconnecting with friends can be a huge help in healing yourself – as long as you choose your squad wisely. “Never underestimate the power that other people can have, positive or negative – it’s really important in this phase to have or make good friends who will lend an open ear while making you feel safe and cared for,” Bockarova says. She also suggests therapy. However, if you went totally AWOL on your friends because of the relationship, they might want an explanation. Bockarova advises being open about the cycle of abuse you’ve experienced, which will hopefully bring you even closer as friends. Your self-esteem has taken one hell of a hit. No surprises here – dating a person who consistently treats you poorly can make you think you deserve it – and crush your feelings of self-worth in the process. “In very controlling relationships, the abused partner often loses relationships not only with their friends and family, but with themselves because of put downs for things they might enjoy doing,” Bockarova says. “For instance, being made to feel badly for enjoying a certain television show could cause someone to feel uncertain of themselves and not want to reveal that part of themselves to others.” Being nitpicked for your hobbies, body, friendships, career goals, outfi ts, and so on is supposed to wear you down and think you’re so lucky this person could even love you. Even if you break up, it takes a while to rebuild and reconnect with everything you used to love, so be patient with yourself! Your brain is still figuring out how to trust people again. Dating someone who oscillated between the best and worst person you ever met does a number on your sense of trust, and can make you feel like your own instincts and gut feeling are way off . And that can take a while to get past. RELATED STORY Bockarova’s advice? Throw yourself into some new hobbies or friend groups, even if it means getting out of your comfort zone. “Essentially, try to rediscover the world in a way that lets you concentrate on your wants and needs,” she says. “When you’re trying out something new, it may seem scary at first, but it will actually help you reestablish trust as long as it’s done in a way or with people who are kind and nonjudgmental.” Yes, getting out of and over a deeply unhealthy relationship can feel like the longest stretch of time ever, even if you don’t love your ex anymore. But be kind with yourself – there’s a reason this is so hard, but you got this. TOXIC RELATION- -SHIPS CAN TAKE A TOLL ON YOUR SOCIAL LIFE, WHICH IS WHY WHEN YOU BREAK UP YOU FEEL LONELIER THAN EVER.” IMAGE:S SHUTTERSTOCK APRIL 2019 | 79 Are you following us on Instagram? @CosmoMiddleEast LOVE | BAD LOVENext >