< PreviousGETTY IMAGES 20 February 2020 BEAUTY SOURCES: MAKEUP ARTISTS MELISSA STREET (@ EPICMAKEUP) AND ROBIN BLACK (@BEAUTYISBORING)February 2020 21 Follow us on InstagramFollow us on Instagram @CosmoMiddleEast @CosmoMiddleEast BEAUTY Whiteheads Popping these bbs (sooo tempting!) makes them harder to cover. Stick a clear hydrocolloid pimple patch right over one, then smooth a tiny dot of thin liquid concealer onto the patch to make it nearly invisible. (Emphasis on “tiny”—excess product can get gunked up around patch edges.) TRY 1. Hero Cosmetics Invisible+ Patch, Dhs199 for 39 patches, amazon.ae 2. BareMinerals BareSkin Complete Coverage Serum Concealer, Dhs94, cosmeticsnow.ae Blackheads No extracting! Squeeze and you’ll be left with a bunch of open pores and an uneven, difficult-to-conceal surface. Instead, slather on a mattifying primer with salicylic acid. It’ll blur spots and help dissolve them over time. Finish with an oil-free foundation and you’re g2g. TRY 3. First Aid Beauty Hello Fab Pores Be Gone Matte Primer, Dhs177, flitit.com 4. L’Oréal Paris 24hr Fresh Wear Foundation, Dhs106, lifestyleshops.com Raised bumps Hold ice on the mini mountain for five minutes, then dab on hydrocortisone cream (the combo will bring down redness and swelling). Next, apply a matte concealer on top of and around the bump, scroll through Insta for 20 minutes to let it set, and use your fingers to lightly blend it out. TRY 5. Aveeno 1% Hydrocortisone Anti-Itch Cream, Dhs20, ae.pricena.com 6. Covergirl Clean Matte Concealer, Dhs22 at amazon.ae TRY MVPs for every acne haver Bright-red pimples Don’t try to bury these in a ton of make- up—they’ll just look weird and cakey. Use a colour corrector (green if you’re fair; yellow or orange if you’re medium or dark) designed to counteract redness and/or discoloration. Then add a cream concealer on top. TRY 7. Dior Fix It 2-in-1 Prime & Color Correct, Dhs131, ae.carethy.net 8. Bobbi Brown Instant Full Cover Concealer, Dhs155, ounass.ae Open wounds Spray a liquid bandage on a Q-tip and apply it to the erupted zit. It’ll dry down into a clear, protective layer that keeps germs out—and is a lot less noticeable than, you know, putting an actual bandage on your face. Once it’s dry, use your fingers to tap long- wearing concealer on top. TRY 9. Nexcare Liquid Bandage, Dhs36, sprii.ae 10. Dior Diorskin Forever Undercover Concealer, Dhs147at Sephora Scabs Pat a silicone-based primer directly over the crusty area and let it set for two minutes. Silicone creates a film that softens and smooths, meaning it gives cover-up an actual chance. Then use a stippling brush with densely packed, fine bristles to smooth on a waterproof concealer. TRY 11. Maybelline New York FaceStudio Master Prime Hydrate + Smooth, Dhs53, maxfashion. com 12. Sephora Collection Pro Small Stippling Brush, Dhs50 at Sephora 7 5 8 6 1 2 3 4 9 concealing every kind of acne Very necessary intel from the experts’ experts. By AMA KWARTENG 12 11 1022 February 2020 Follow us on InstagramFollow us on Instagram @CosmoMiddleEast @CosmoMiddleEast BEAUTY We spoke to our baes at Tips & Toes about the top trends for your talons this year. Here’s five you need to try RN UPDATED FRENCH MANICURE The ‘90s trend is back, and it’s wayyy cooler than before. Maybelline New York Nail Polish in 754 Pow Green, Dhs10 at nisnass.ae WORDS BY SARA ALHUMIRI BLUE FOR YOU Navy shades and cobalt are the colours to covet. Essie Aruba Blue 280 Nail Polish, Dhs47 at nisnass.ae ALL ABOUT THAT OMBRÉ Tap into your expressive side and add a lil somethin’ somethin’ extra at the tips. Nail Brushes, Dhs25 for five pieces at amazon.ae NAIL ART Embellish, enhance, engrave – oh my! Essie Nail Solutions Quick E Drying Drops, Dhs54 at namshi.com RAINBOW NAILS Why pick one colour when you can have, well, ten! Glitties Silver Jewel Holographic Fine Glitter, Dhs34 at amazon.ae H o w t o n a i l S / S 2 0 Top tip on how to get healthy nails. STAT. Don’t – we repeat – don’t cut your cuticles. The fold of skin is there to stop harmful bacteria getting into the body of your nailbeds. Cutting it can cause it to grow back thicker and can also cause infections. Ew. February 2020 23 Follow us on InstagramFollow us on Instagram @CosmoMiddleEast @CosmoMiddleEast BEAUTY Dual Beauty 2020 is the year of doubling up your beauty game, says Sonam Basantani. Make space in your make-up bag and save cash with these awesome 2-in-1 hacks 1. Armani Beauty Neo Nude A-Blush, Dhs160 at Harvey Nichols - Dubai A one-stop liquid formula that effortlessly flushes your cheeks and lips with colour 2. Smashbox Always On Matte Liquid Lipstick (Rust Fund), Dhs116 at Sephora Dot on the lids and blend out with a fluffy brush for an eight- hour smudge and budge-proof finish 3. Oskia Citylife I-Zone Lip & Eye Balm, Dhs220 at net-a-porter.com Use on the entire eye area or lips to moisturise, plump and prime skin before make-up 4. Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Skin Protectant, Dhs158 at namshi.com This ultimate multi-tasker not only hydrates dry skin, lips and cuticles but the salve has a balm texture that can also be used to groom and set brows in place 5. MAC Brow Set, Dhs80 at MAC Cosmetics A brush-on clear gel that shapes and styles brows into place and can be used to keep down pesky flyaways 6. Hourglass Vanish Flash Highlighting Stick, Dhs223 at Sephora The unique creamy formula not only gives you high-octane cheekbone sheen, but it can also double up as a shimmery eyeshadow or lip topper 7. Nudestix Lip + Cheek Pencil, Dhs115 at Sephora This ultra-creamy and pigmented pencil can be used as lip colour or blush. Just dab on, blend and go! 8. Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Brow Colour, Dhs78 at revolve.com Double up the waterproof formula as a long-wearing subtle liquid liner or dot it on the cheeks for a faux freckled look 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 424 February 2020 Follow us on InstagramFollow us on Instagram @CosmoMiddleEast @CosmoMiddleEast perfect at-home hair colour do it How to do AT-HOME HAIR COLOUR the way people with A legit salon-worthy dye job for, like, 5 per cent of the Dhs. By RUBY BUDDEMEYER IMAGES: SHUTTERSTOCK, SUPPLIEDFebruary 2020 25 Follow us on InstagramFollow us on Instagram @CosmoMiddleEast @CosmoMiddleEast BEAUTY N o lie, I’ve been box- dyeing my hair since senior school (shout-out to my purple emo phase and my cool mum who let me go there!). So 10 years later, I can confi dently say that I know my way around a bottle of hair colour—and that I’ve made literally every imaginable muck up along the way. See: the time I stained my ears with permanent dye. Also: the time I bought the wrong formula and ended up with a fl aming-red bob. The truth is that at-home hair colour *can* be a hot mess— but it can also be the best (for your bank account and your hair). And since the directions on the label will only get you so far, I’ve compiled all my hard-earned hacks right here. You’re welcome. WHAT YOU SEE ISN’T WHAT YOU GET So your chances of re-creating that exact shade you loved on Insta are, sadly, kinda low. “When you get your hair done at a salon, your colourist combines various dyes and developers (chemicals that activate the dyes) to get you to your dream shade,” explains Meri Kate O’Connor, colourist at Tabb & Sparks Salon in Santa Monica, California. “With box dye, you’re working with one dye and one developer— it’s a one-size-fi ts-all situation.” So set some realistic expectations — and while you’re at it, ignore those misleading swatches of faux hair dangling next to dyes at the store. Instead, think of box dye as the perfect way to ~tweak~ your hair colour, whether that means upping shine or adding some dimension. And commit to this rule: Limit your at-home dyeing to two shades darker or half a shade lighter than your natural colour. “If you’re going darker, you have a good shot at getting the colour you see on the box, since you aren’t taking anything away from your base colour,” says O’Connor. “But if you’re trying to go a lot lighter, your room for error skyrockets.” Also important: Shades labeled “warm” or “golden” often end up looking orange (turns out, amateurs can’t really control “warmth”), so always opt for “cool” or “neutral.” BUT HOW LONG DOES IT ACTUALLY LAST? The answer, in three parts: SEMI- PERMANENT These dyes last 15 washes, max. “There’s no developer, there’s no hydrogen peroxide, there are no chemicals—the colour just sits on the hair’s surface,” says Patricia Slattery, AVP of hair color education, training, and testing at L’Oréal Paris. P.S. If a box’s fi ne- print instructions tell you to mix anything at all, the dye is not actually semi-perm and will last closer to 28 washes. Confusing, yes (and why I’m here for ya!). DEMI- PERMANENT It’ll blend a new colour with your natural colour—but not, like, cover any grays. “Demi- permanent is great for people who want to amp up their existing colour—like making chestnut-brown hair richer and shinier— for three to four weeks without having noticeable roots during a grow-out phase,” says Slattery. PERMANENT “These dyes are spiked with ammonia, which, when combined with hydrogen peroxide, penetrates deep into the cortex of your hair,” says Slattery. The result: long- lasting colour that fades sliiightly over time (kinda like a black T-shirt every time you wash it) and needs to be touched up every four to six weeks as your roots grow in. THE INTERNET’S FAVORITE AT- HOME HAIR COLORS Think of box dye as the perfect way to ~tweak~ your hair colour. The best for LONG-LASTING COLOR L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color, Dhs37, amazon.com The best for COVERING GRAYS Schwarzkopf Keratin Color Intense Caring ColOr, Dhs73, amazon.com The best for HYDRATING DRY HAIR Garnier Nutrisse Nourishing Color Creme, Dhs35, desertmart.com The best for ROOT TOUCH-UPS DpHue Root Touch-Up Kit, Dhs95, ebay.com26 February 2020 Follow us on InstagramFollow us on Instagram @CosmoMiddleEast @CosmoMiddleEast BEAUTY GOOD NEWS! YOU ACTUALLY CAN HIGHLIGHT YOUR HAIR AT HOME Especially if your natural colour is dirty blonde or lighter. Just make sure to use at-home highlighters only on your hairline. “Focus on the area around your face, where your hair is naturally the lightest,” says O’Connor. It’s also much easier to manage, since you can actually see what you’re doing. (I’m personally obsessed with Clairol Nice’n Easy Balayage for Blondes, Dhs55, amazon.ae—it is so simple to use and looks v natural.) 3 dye jobs you just CAN’T DIY Helllp! I hate my new hair colour If it’s... NOT DARK ENOUGH Wait a couple of weeks until you can safely try again—even the healthiest of strands can’t deal with multiple rounds of dye in one sitting. (Meantime, maybe invest in a nice hat?) Then try another round of the *same* dye—using a new colour will leave you with a shade that’s way off—and check it every five minutes before rinsing. If it’s... TOO DARK If you used a permanent dye, get thee to a hairstylist. If you’re dealing with a demi- or semi-perm job, rinse your hair twice with a clarifying shampoo to lift out some pigment. Look for one with stripping sulfates or “SLS” at the top of the ingredients list (they’re super harsh but great at getting rid of colour). Make sure you follow with a deep conditioner. If it’s... ORANGE Welp, you’ll unfortunately have to wait for it to grow out, but you can tone down the Cheeto a bit by swapping your regular shampoo for a purple formula and using a colour-depositing mask. And no, for those of you thinking, I could just go darker, you can’t hide orange hair with, say, dark brown. You’ll just end up brassy. PLATINUM Even if it’s technically only a shade lighter than your base. Nothing is worth the risk of burning off your hair or scalp (!). TRENDY COLORS Hues like soft pastels or bright neons require starting with a light base (aka you’ll need some bleach)—without that, nothing much will show up. JET BLACK Only for true at-home savants—or those prepared to live with a dye job gone very wrong. Once you go this dark, you’re kinda-sorta stuck with it until your hair grows out all the way. IMAGES: SHUTTERSTOCK, UNSPLASHFebruary 2020 27 Follow us on InstagramFollow us on Instagram @CosmoMiddleEast @CosmoMiddleEast BEAUTY Sara’s Beauty Spot Follow us on @cosmomiddleeast to watch Sara’s Beauty Spot come to life with live swatches and real-time unboxing 5. Pinky Goat Lashes (Mina), Dhs36 at pinkygoat.com Dramatic lashes? Yes please. Complete any of your make- up looks with winner of best falsies at the 2019 Cosmo Beauty Awards. We don’t lie, people! 6. Kayali Miniature Set Collection (Limited Edition), Dhs350 at shophudabeauty.com Why settle for one perfume when you can have four adorable mini ones? Make- up guru and business woman Mona Kattan has released a limited edition gift set– and just in time for Valentine’s, no less! 7. Huda Beauty’s New Matte & Melted Shadows (Faux Fur & Bamboo Hoops), Dhs116 at Sephora Looks like the Kattan sisters have been busy! Huda Beauty has released five new shades of melted shadows, and they’re even better than the first. 8. Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate (30ml), Dhs328 at cultbeauty.co.uk Other than beautiful packaging, this limited edition Shiseido serum will basically turn back time for you skin. Trust me, the Cosmo team have been obsessing over the results for the last two weeks. WRITTEN & COMPILED BY: SARA ALHUMIRI The products that landed on our desks this month and deserve your attention 5 p D C up fa ( 1. Fenty Beauty Snap Shadows Mix & Match (Pastel Frost), Dhs115 at Sephora Rihanna can take my money RN because she keeps releasing fire products that I can’t do anything but add to cart. This Pastel Frost palette is one one eight. Each of the six sparkling shades will make all your eyeshadow dreams come true. 2. Smart Girls Get More Mascara (Giant Lashes Waterproof), Dhs17 at Lulu Hypermarket Affordable, cruelty-free, and vegan. This new drugstore brand is firmly on our radar. What to try first? Their waterproof mascara; Valentine’s day is coming up, after all. 3. Barkha Beauty Matte Lipsticks (Mika), Dhs119 at barkhabeauty.com If you love a good liquid lip, then Barkha Beauty’s latest releases are meant for you. I’m a sucker for a warm pink-nude shade, and these colours were definitely IT. The lightweight texture of the formula made the lippies so comfortable that I forgot I was even wearing it! 4. Dior Capture Totale Multi-Perfection Eye Cream (15ml), Dhs498 at faces.com Boujee skincare rarely disappoints and, true to form, this didn’t either. Dior’s Capture Totale eye cream has the softest texture, without the downside of feeling too heavy on your skin. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 828 February 2020 Follow us on InstagramFollow us on Instagram @CosmoMiddleEast @CosmoMiddleEast BEAUTY O kay, not, like, no one no one—there are some women out there who are on their cycle exactly every 28 days— but the vast majority? Nope, no, nope. Only 13 per cent have a precise four- week cycle, according to new data published in NPJ Digital Medicine. And guess what else? Nearly 20 per cent have a 30-day-or-longer cycle, meaning some months, they don’t get a cycle at all. The weird web of lies we’ve all bought into might’ve stemmed from old-school studies that suggested the average cycle lasts 28 days. Somewhere down the line, though, “average” became “normal,” says Mary Jane Minkin, MD, clinical professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at Yale School of Medicine. Because “four weeks” is easier to remember than “uh, 24 to 38ish days”— the real range, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists—the myth has lived on, from senior school biology classes to right now. That’s problematic if you’re tracking your cycle to not get pregnant, sync your exercise and diet to each menstrual phase, or just protect your underwear drawer. It may also lead to panic if your cycle doesn’t strike right on day 28. “I’ve had patients worried and anxious because they think they’re irregular when they aren’t,” says reproductive endocrinologist Aimee Eyvazzadeh, MD. If you’re not on hormonal BC, your cycle length can also vary month to month, says Joyce Harper, PhD, professor of reproductive science at University College London. (Essentially, your uterus chooses her own adventure each time. Hormones released by your brain control your cycle and are impacted by all of the things, like age, genetics, stress, body weight, and sleep.) “If, for example, your follicle-stimulating hormone levels, which tell ovaries to release more estrogen to prep for ovulation, are elevated early in the cycle, you could ovulate earlier than the last month and have a shorter cycle,” explains Dr. Eyvazzadeh. So if we’re gonna talk about “normal” at all, it’s all normal. The only cycles that require MD intervention are ones that fall outside the 24- to 38-day range or are a full week shorter or longer than the last one. Same goes if you’ve got serious cramps and extreme pelvic pain or you never get your cycle at all. Start thinking of your cycle as that friend who always cancels. She’s just reliably unreliable. Basically noone has a 28-day menstrual cycle Brought to you by: The idea of a “normal” cycle is a lie. BY SUZANNAH WEISS 65% have a cycle between 25 and 30 days. 19% have a 31- to 35- day cycle. 9% have a cycle shorter than 25 days. Cycles are really weird... 7% of women have a 36- to 50-day cycle. Essentially, your uterus chooses her own adventure. SOURCE: NPJ DIGITAL MEDICINE, AUGUST 2019 IMAGES: SHUTTERSTOCK, SUPPLIEDFebruary 2020 29 Follow us on InstagramFollow us on Instagram @CosmoMiddleEast @CosmoMiddleEast BEAUTYBEAUTYBEAU Most expensive beauty product you’ve ever bought… “When I first started doing make-up I splurged on a Tom Ford eye shadow, Dhs389.“ Most embarrassing beauty product you’ve ever bought… “Is there such thing as an embarrassing beauty product? I don’t know – LOL.” First ever memory of fragrance… “Clinique Happy for men, Dhs122. I’m obsessed with it. I used to spray it on my pillow and I thought it smelt so good“ nce… appy obses pray I tho o goo for men, ssed with it on my ought it od“ Product that has become your signature look… “Brown pencil liner, NARS Mambo Dhs135” y2FebFebbbbbbbbbbbFebFebbFebbbbbbbbbruary A beauty product you always stole from your mum… “Blush. I always found it very interesting, because it reminded me of chalk” Bobbi Brown Coral Brightening Brick, Dhs284 Best budget buy… “Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer, Dhs45. I love it, it’s so good!” My life in beauty Mega make-up artist Hindash on the Dhs45 product every woman needs First beauty product you ever bought... “I would say concealer because I love concealer. And you know, acne, teenage acne…” Miracle product every woman needs to own… “Concealer, it makes you look awake and more alive” Product you cannot go a single day without wearing… “Brow gel, and brow pencil. Brows really frame your face and your eyes. Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Brows, Dhs170Next >