< PreviousSome of the latest and greatest beauty products to get your hands on for Winter ‘22 Samira Olfat Shakheh Nabat Eyeshadow Palette Dhs140, April Beauty located in The Dubai Mall Makeup meets literature with celeb MUA Samira Olfat’s 12-pan eyeshadow palette. Embodying the packaging of Shakheh Nabat are words by Persian poet Hafez along with a colour story inspired by his masterpieces. With matte and glossy textures along with shades akin to the warmth of the Liwa desert, these eyeshadows are ones we will be wearing all year long. Urban Decay All Nighter Vitamin C Setting Spray Dhs156, Sephora Keep your makeup fresh all day and your complexion brighter than ever with Urban Decay’s newest member of their setting spray fam. Infused with a gentle form of vitamin C, this spray hydrates skin and keeps your beat both smudge- proof and transfer- resistant. A few spritzes and you’re set for the next 16 hours. Nimya Don’t Tell Anyone! Lip Gloss Dhs89, Watsons NikkieTutorials knows exactly what a girl wants on her luscious lips - a non-sticky gloss that gives the illusion of a fuller pout. She more than delivered with her debut lip glosses. These nourishing lippies feel softer than a 5-star pillow, never bleed, and give a shiny (yet non- oily) finish. We never leave home without one. Makeup By Mario Master Prep and Eye Set Dhs108, Sephora When we found out that Kim K’s MUA, Mario Dedivanovic, was *finally* launching his namesake makeup brand in the GCC, we legit squealed with excitement. No matter if we’re tan in the summer or a lil’ pale in the winter, we can use the Master Prep and Eye Set to give our lids an expert shadow base. We simply custom blend the two primer shades to match our skin tone and set with the translucent powder. be wearing all long. NEW, NEED, WO RD S BY L AU R EN O’ C O NNELL PHOT O G R APHY BY E F R A I M EVI DO R ST Y LIN G BY MER C E D E S F LEMIN G 30 BeautyDreem Distillery Moonlit Mask Dhs250, peach.shop On the evenings we choose to stay in and celebrate JOMO, this leave- on nighttime mask is always part of our festivities. Containing bakuchiol, broad- spectrum CBD, and hyaluronic acid, this mask plumps, deeply hydrates, and boosts our skin’s nocturnal renewal cycle. We wake up feeling fresh, radiant and ready to take on the day. The Fit Face Glow Roller Dhs280, faces.com Hate needles? Us too. For those who want to firm their complexions *without* being jabbed, this needleless Glow Roller is for you. Simply glide the golden roller over skin to exfoliate, stimulate collagen, and give your face a natural lift. Make sure to apply your fav cream before using it and remember that you’ll get the best results if you store in it your fridge. Amazinc Mineral Butter SPF 50 Dhs95, ellunaorganic beauty.com SPF is a *must* sis, and we just discovered a new one we know you’ll love. This lightweight, broad-spectrum mineral sunblock is designed to be worn as a moisturiser or under makeup. It combats both the collagen destroying UVA and burning UVB rays keeping skin healthy and glowing. You’ll appreciate that this butter is vegan, reef safe, and the prettiest shade of pink, too. Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum Dhs199, beautytribe.com In case you haven’t heard, vitamin C needs to be part of your morning skincare routine. It minimises the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, evens out skin tone, lightens discolouration, and protects skin against free radical damage (we’re looking at you, UAE sun). The vitamin C derivative in Mad Hippie is ultra-stable and highly effective. Unmatchable, tbh. Buy one for your mum, too. Initio Paragon Extrait De Parfum Dhs1292, Initio Boutique at The Dubai Mall and Perfume Bay stores, Abu Dhabi A perfume designed to protect your aura? Yes plz. Infused with palo santo and white sage, used for centuries to cleanse away negative energies, as well as notes of bergamot, lavender, and black pepper, this woody fragrance delights our senses while keeping our mind, body, and spirit intact. Evil eye, beware. Arcadia Eternal Eau De Toilet Dhs650, arcadiabyamna.com Emirati Amna Al Habtoor, founder of sustainable and niche fragrance line, Arcadia, just released her latest scent, Eternal, an ode to the UAE. This amber perfume contains notes of white flowers, pear, and oakmoss. A few spritzes invoke our earliest memories of exploring the Emirates and reminds us of its fragrant beauty. NOW 31 BeautyHourglass Ambient Soft Glow Foundation Dhs259, apothecabeauty. com Ditch the filters, girl, because Hourglass’s latest foundation drop is a banger. This medium coverage and long-wear formula contains light-diffusing blurring spheres to give skin a gorgeous, soft- focused glow. With 32 shades, this is one foundation that all our gal pals can enjoy. It’s safe to say that our complexions have never looked smoother, more even, and full of radiance. PrettyLittleThing Black Swirl False Nails Dhs30, prettylittlething.ae No time to get a mani? No problem. Thanks to PrettyLittleThing’s false nails, we can easily replicate time spent in the salon with their seriously stylish extensions. Simply apply adhesive to these trendy negative space black swirl nails for an instant claw upgrade. Containing 24 reusable nails, our digits will be glammed all winter long. It’s perfect for the girl who is always in a time crunch (aka us). Beautifect Crystal Nail File Dhs90, ounass.ae We used to associate the colder months with split, peeling nails, but luckily, we can say that is a thing of the past. This sustainable crystal file, encased in a vegan leather pouch, is ultra- gentle to use and leaves our nails smoothly shaped and buffed to perfection. It lasts way longer than the typical sandpaper files and is more hygienic, too. It’s thin, lightweight, and the perfect size to keep in your bag. Palma De Salus Hydrating Hand Sanitizing Serum Dhs180, faces.com If the last few years taught us anything, it’s that hand hygiene is a must. To keep our paws clean without compromising our skin barrier, we totes recommend using hand sanitisers fortified with hydrators like Palma De Salus’s Hydrating Hand Sanitizing Serum. Enriched with avocado and jojoba oils, hyaluronic acid, and vitamins B3, B5, and E, our hands remain soft and nourished while being protected from 99% of germs and bacteria. Winning. Hindash Color Fluid Dhs92, hindash.com Famed Jordanian- born and Dubai- based MUA, Hindash, can do no wrong. His new lightweight matte liquid pigments have wowed us with their intense pigmentation and versatility. Designed to be used anywhere on the face, we’ve been rockin’ some fresh monochromatic lewks. They’re also vegan and formulated to smooth and lift the skin. Hindash, you did it again. Youmi Beauty 3D Silk Lash Set Dhs111, youmibeauty.com Lebanese mega- influencer, Youmna Khouri, just relaunched her beauty brand and, tbh, we couldn’t be more excited. Her gorg new lashes are some of the best we’ve ever laid our eyes on (and laid on our eyes). This high- quality silk lashes set comes with five different pairs, are comfy to wear, and can be used every day. We stan. 32 BeautySheGlam x Noor Stars Collab Dhs36, sheglam.com Ace the #coldgirlmakeup aesthetic with our fav Iraqi social media star’s latest beauty collab. This must-have blush and highlighter combo *needs* to be on everyone’s cheekbones in the cooler GCC months. Easy to blend, illuminating, and containing nourishing ingredients, the only thing you need to complete the look is a cup of haute cocoa. Beauty Works Deluxe Clip-In Extensions starting at Dhs995, Locks By Lou Lou Salon in JLT and Al Wasl Fake your way to a head full of luscious and long locks with these ultra-luxurious clip-in human hair extensions. Natural strands are protected from breakage thanks to the flat weft strips featuring a protective silicone layer in the clip-in system. The extensions are resusable, washable, and remain shiny and healthy looking throughout their lifespan. It’s never too late to have your dream hair. Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer in Vinca Blue and Rosé Dhs1899, Dyson Did someone say ~limited edition~? Dyson’s newest Supersonic Hair Dryer comes in the dreamiest of blues topped with a dash of rose gold. Featuring five styling attachments including the need-to-have flyaway tamer, this is the hair tool that belongs in your beauty arsenal. Our strands are protected from frying thanks to Dyson’s intelligent heat control and our mane has never looked more glossy and gorgeous. Le Inka Temporary Tattoos starting at Dhs20, leinka. com Calling everyone with commitment issues. Fake it till you make it with Le Inka’s innovative twist on temporary tattoos. Using their creator platform, some of our fav creators in the region, like Emirati Manga artist Asma- Al-Remiethi and Lebanese artist, Nassim Nasr, have converted their artwork into temporary, halal and plant-based body art. It’s chic and original. We’re obsessed. Maui Moisture Revive and Hydrate Shea Butter Conditioner Dhs60, Spinneys Let’s leave the dryness to the desert. We want our hair to always look soft and moisturised. Luckily, it’s never been easier (and more wallet friendly) than with Maui Moisture’s hydrating conditioner. This hair care product is loaded with nourishing ingredients like shea butter as well and coconut and macadamia oil. Not only do our locks feel silky, but they smell great, too. Christian Louboutin Les Yeux Noirs Lift Ultima Mascara Dhs250, bloomingdales.ae Made to keep lashes lifted and curled even in the hottest climates (tysm), Louboutin’s new mascara doesn’t disappoint. Its heavy lux packaging perfectly matches the Dubai Bling vibe. The formula itself is sweat and smudge- proof and the brush reaches even the teeny-tiniest of baby lashes. Drama always seems to follow us wherever we go, but now, we’ll be creating it with our hyped-up lashes. 33 BeautyFor many years, the world of mass- market beauty has indulged in gender tropes and stereotypes. From colours to names, the way beauty and grooming products are marketed to women and men differs dramatically. Think about thick blue disposable razors vs. dainty pink ones; masculine leathery aftershaves vs. feminine oral scents in rose-tinted bottles. Similarly, cosmetics brands have also been guilty of ignoring darker skin tones when launching new products; a sea of mostly white faces staring back as you scroll down their grid. But as skincare-obsessed women share their products with their male partners, makeup mavens like Jeffree Star are dubbed the face of global beauty campaigns, and advertising that re ects diversity in race increases, the traditional lines of exclusivity in the industry are blurring, if not disappearing altogether. And at the front of that conversation is Dior Beauty, who have just released its most inclusive product yet. The line of products in the current Capture Totale range —all recyclable— includes a cleanser, milky toner, eye cream, and face cream, but the hero product is the new Le Sérum, the younger sibling to the Super Potent Serum, targeted at, well, just about everyone. The aforementioned complex is derived from the Longoza ower, which Dior Science has been studying for 30 years. It is designed to penetrate deep into the heart of the skin, at the dermoepidermal junction, to act on the “mother” cells in just four hours. This latest launch from the French Maison also boasts a genderless, ageless and skin toneless formula. “During our research we discovered that the anchorage in our stem cells decreases across all skin tones, all genders, and all ethnicities, including Caucasian, Asian, Hispanic and Black skin,” Patrick Choisy, Head of the Department of Innovation Natural Materials and Sustainable Development LVMH Recherche, tells Cosmo. “This product is perfect for people living in a country with a lot of humidity and high temperatures, like the Middle East, because the formula is very light but very ef cient. It’s not a question of gender or country, it’s just about improving the quality of the epidermis. And this product does exactly that.” Virginie Couturaud, Scientic Communication Director or Christian Dior Parfums, adds, “We all share the same stem cells - whichever city we live in, wherever in the world we are – which is why we approached this formula with inclusivity in mind.” For Le Sérum, Dior Beauty developed an avant-garde testing platform, equipped with revolutionary technologies capable of pushing the limits of inclusivity. This unique approach demonstrates the bene ts of one cell for every skin type. The formula was tested on over 600 people including 110 different skin colour tones, men and women aged 18 to 70-years-old, worldwide locations, and every skin type – even the most sensitive. “We recommend starting to use the product from the age of 18,” says Virginie. “We want to protect the degradation and SKIN DE 34 Beautydamage to skin from an early age. If you maintain the quality of your epidermis as soon as possible, the signs of ageing won’t appear until much later in life. It’s all about prevention.” The mother cells, which are divided into alpha [ ] or beta [ ], are universal, and what affects them therefore concerns all skin. By acting at the source, Le Sérum targets a multitude of skin types, ages and nationalities. The result? Just four hours after application, the appearance of wrinkles is reduced and the skin is visibly smoother by 33%. After 30 days of use, 80% of the signs of ageing are corrected, leaving the skin looking rmer, more plump and luminous. Sounds like a win all round for us. And Dior Beauty’s commitment to creating more socially responsible products doesn’t end there. Sustainability is also at the very heart of this release, from the ingredients to the packaging. The fermentation process is a 100% plant- based one; the ingredients obtained are biodegradable and recyclable with a composition containing a natural origin of 98%; and the bottle, which is produced in France to minimise the carbon footprint, is made of 20% recycled glass. “We’ve done a tremendous amount of work collecting information about every ingredient that is in our portfolio – and that is a lot of ingredients!” explains Patrick. “We asses everything from the biodegradability to the toxicity levels. We really look at the footprint we’re leaving on the environment, measuring it against the standard European Commission. This product has really pushed the barrier as much as possible in terms of what is achievable from natural ingredients. To create a serum of such extraordinary quality with 98% of naturals is amazing. We also thought that it was more sustainable to use packaging with pure glass because glass is recyclable, and the plastic cap on the top is made out of 20 different types of recycled materials.” Product ef cacy, gender expression and sustainability are undoubtedly the foundation for new product revolutions. And while it may be a touch too soon to tell whether men will embrace skincare with the same fervour as their female counterparts, one movement is obvious: beauty brands are pivoting towards more inclusive products. Le Sérum highlights the dazzling limitlessness of what happens when science meets beauty — stripped from the boundaries and labels. As traditional gender norms and whitewashing in the cosmetics industry are increasingly questioned, is there still a need for age, race, and gender-specic skincare, or is the future, in fact, neutral? Dior Beauty releases its most-inclusive product yet WO RD S BY MILLI MIDWO O D EP Dhs525 for 50ml Image Credits: Supplied by Dior Beauty 35 BeautyNik You Think You Know On The CoverThe journey from internet beauty blogger to bona de stardom is a notoriously tricky one. So how does a person like Nikkie De Jager-Drossaers - aka NikkieTutorials – make it happen and always come out on top? One thing that remains constant however, is her steadfast perseverance to infuse sentiments of self-love and self-acceptance into all her endeavours, no matter which way the wind blows. 2022 has been a busy year for Nikkie: she married her long-term partner Dylan in September, and launched her very-own beauty brand, Nimya, in Dubai. Whatever “it” is – the star power, secret sauce, special something – she has it. And with plenty left over. WO RD S BY L AU R EN O’ C O NNELL PHOT O G R APHY BY AM E R MO HAMAD ST Y LI N G BY N O U R B O U E Z Z kie ?Little Nikkie To fully understand how she became the woman she is today, we went back to the basics. Nikkie describes herself as being an easy-going child. “All I did was eat and sleep. On the rare occasion that I was having a tantrum, my mum would take me shopping. To be honest, nothing much has changed.” Relatable, to say the least. “As I was growing into my teen years though, I became more insecure. I lost my condence and got bullied a lot. I coped with it by making jokes. On the outside I was a humourous kid, but on the inside it was rough.” It was a heavy load for her to carry on her shoulders, but she “managed to pull through.” By sharing her story on her YouTube channel, she’s worked to pave a brighter path for youth following her footsteps. Growing up on YouTube Like any child tormented by her peers, Nikkie looked for escapism. In doing so, she inadvertently created her own safe space- in a very public way. “One weekend, when I was 14, I had the u and was watching The Hills on MTV with Lauren and Heidi. They were beautiful and all the rage. I became obsessed with the show and wanted to look like the girls. While searching online for makeup tips, I found a YouTube tutorial on how to do Lauren’s eyeliner. I had never seen makeup tutorials before, and suddenly, a whole new world opened before me. I was like, ‘this is everything’.” “Grabbing my bike, I raced to the store and bought some eyeliners. Upon coming home, I locked myself in my bathroom and followed the tutorial. After applying the eyeliner, I felt so gorgeous. I was Lauren Conrad in my own home. In reality, it looked like trash, but I kept practicing. I watched beauty tutorials from the time I woke up to the time I went to bed again. After three months, I decided I wanted to make them myself. I grabbed my mum’s camera, went into my bedroom, and started lming.” “In front of the camera, I acted like this self-assured girl. I pretended like I knew makeup and knew what I was doing. I created this bubble of condence where no one would judge me. Of course, there would be haters but these people didn’t know my personal life. I realised I could take this on-camera condence and use it in my off-camera life.” Tucked away in the privacy of her bedroom and broadcasting herself to the world, Nikkie’s inner light strengthened and began to shine. Staying grounded Was Nikkie’s family supportive of her channel from the get-go? Not exactly, but probably not for the reason you’d assume. That’s because they didn’t know her channel even existed. Nikkie kept her YouTubing a secret. “My brother found a video of mine after three years of me uploading videos. The dude waited until Christmas Eve, and when everyone was sat around the dinner table, he asked my mum if she’d ever seen any of my videos.” Oof. “I felt like the oor gave out underneath me. I got up and went right to my bedroom. You’d think that MamaTutorials would say something to the effect of being proud of me, but the rst thing she said was, “I love what you’re doing, but sweetie, why is it in English?” Bursting into laughter, Nikkie explains that her mum has always been her biggest supporter. “I love her so much.” While Nikkie’s internet life was becoming increasingly successful and growing at astronomical rates, her fellow countrymen made sure her ego was kept in check. “We have a saying in The Netherlands: ‘act normal and that’s more than enough’. We’re all about downgrading and as soon as you feel like you’re *that girl*, the people will let you know that you’re not *that girl*. It’s a mentality that keeps me humble and real.” Embodying the Present Today, Nikkie is still the jokester. “I’m a very tall girl and sometimes tallness can be intimidating. I joke a lot to break the ice, so others don’t feel uncomfortable around me. In reality, I think I am a very sweet person.” She also is as passionate and driven as she was as a child to make something of her life. “My Pisces sun in me gets pretty obsessed about new things. I can come across something I haven’t seen before, fall madly in love with it, dive into it, and not “In front of the camera, I acted like this self- assured girl. I pretended like I knew makeup and knew what I was doing. I created this bubble of con dence where no one would judge me.” Coat: Comme Des Stars Jewellery: Talent’s own 38 On The CoverNext >