Benefit Guide Book For The Perfect Eyebrows Ever

Eyebrows are the first thing people notice about your face. It is like the trademark of your face, everyone has their own eyebrows shape and colour. And the eyebrows trend is growing bigger and bigger by the day. You can now easily, hide the imperfections,  fix any mistake you did while plugging them, leave them without plugging at all and cover the growing hairs, you can even change their shape everyday , go a shade darker or a shade lighter depending on your makeup.

I have been using Benefit brow kit for almost two years now, I have tried so many products trying to create a natural look with full eyebrows, and no other product gave me that like Benefit did. For everyday I use the powder and for a heavy full face makeup I use the powder with the wax, my colour is Medium, there is Light and dark.

  Two weeks ago I received A book called The Curious Case of the brows dilemma, but boy this is not of an ordinary book, it is actually a book box carrying on all the eyebrows related products that Benefit has. The Brow Zing, High brow pen and two shades of the Gimme Brow eyebrow tinted mascara. The book has directions and tips on how to get the perfect eyebrows. As I said above I am using the Brow zing for my eyebrows, but the Gimme brow was new to me, and after I tried own, the way I do my eyebrows has completely changed, I can know easily lighten them up or darken them up after I use the powder from Brow Zing just few strokes with the very tiny brush and it completely changes the colour of your eyebrow into a super natural one, I now use the lighter own as I now have lighter hair, so that how I create natural looking eyebrows matching my hair colour without having to bleach them or do anything crazy with them.

The High brow pen is perfect to put downwards the eyebrow or to highlight the brow bow, and try this tip, draw two lines towards your tear duct it will completely open up your eyes and transfer your makeup, try this makeup trick tomorrow you will be thanking me later I know.

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Makeup Forever New Pro Bronze Fusion

10 days ago I received a package from Makeup Forever with two of their newest products, The Pro Bronze Fusion. in two different shades 30 M Sienna and number 35I Caramel. To be honest these two awesome bronzers just came in time for me. It is summer already and I am still looking pale from this harsh cold winter we had this year. Although I was moving between Cairo, Jeddah and The states but the weather this year was so cold, and I didn't have the time to get a proper tan. So for the last 10 days I have been using the Makeup forever religiously, and girls I have to tell you it is awesome. It gives you a natural looking bronze look, that's healthy and shiny for a summer look. It doesn't turn orange on my face which happens to me with a lot of other bronzers in the market. Also I was using the Makeup forever mini kabuki brush that fits perfect in your everyday makeup bag. That brush helps blend in the bronzer on your check with the rest of the makeup without showing any brush strokes, or the infamous contour rectangle that looks awuful if not bleneded well.

 The Pro Bronze fusion collection comes in 6 different shades divided into two groups the Luminous Matte for flawless undetectable nude finish, and lightly iridescent for a warm glowing complexion. You can find it in Dubai, KSA, Qatar, Kuwait and Egypt as well for the price of 180 Derhams and what is equivalent in other currencies.
Follow Makeup forever account on Instagram for all updates: Makeupforeverofficial.

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Marilyn Monroe for Max Factor

It was Mr. Max Factor who transformed Norma Jeane into Marilyn Monroe with an iconic beauty look that captured the hearts of the world.  Today Max Factor celebrates this fantastic story, with the announcement of Marilyn Monroe as Global glamour ambassador.  
2015 marks 80 years since Mr. Max Factor Junior opened the doors of his Hollywood make-up studio, transforming the looks of Hollywood’s elite.  His most iconic client of all?  Norma Jeane. Norma Jeane entered his Blonde Room in the late 1940s as a brunette, and thanks to Mr. Max Factor emerged complete with platinum blonde hair, a beauty look fit for Marilyn Monroe.  Since then Max Factor make-up was used to create an icon in Marilyn Monroe.
Today, as the world returns to normality after the season of glitz and glamour, Max Factor announces Marilyn Monroe as its global glamour ambassador.  This exciting partnership is set to inspire women around the globe to undergo their own personal glamour transformation, one that they never imagined possible at a time of year when they’re more open than ever to new possibilities.

The "original blonde bombshell” is set to feature as both Norma Jeane and Marilyn Monroe in new TV, print and online campaigns, rolling out Globally from 6th January2015.

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What's In Her Bag? The Artistic Hands

Today we get in the bag of  the talented Saudi Makeup artist and beauty blogger Wafa Ahmed, better known as The Artistic Hands. Wafa is a makeup guru, and I learned a lot of makeup tips from her. I was curious to know what she caries in her bag, and the makeup she uses for quick retouches.

So when asked what's in her bag she said: "Honestly I’ve always been a fan of huge bags and I used to carry so much stuff with me that I don’t even need I’m sure a lot of you girls can relate with me! Lol But lately I’ve switched to smaller/mini bags. It’s just so much easier and lighter for everyday.My bag is Fendi Baguette in dark navy I got it last year. I like that it fits a lot of stuff but it doesn’t feel heavy at all!

My wallet is the Glitter Bug Stacy in rose gold from Kate Spade. I LOVE this wallet sometimes when I’m in a hurry I only take it with me and it has a pocket that fits my phone, which it’s perfect!

For makeup touch ups throughout the day I always have my Diorskin Forever Pressed Powder. Lip butter or lip balm and I like to give myself a couple of options for the lips hehe!

Something I can’t forget is my hand cream I have dry hands that need to be moisturized all the time and my favorite one at the moment is Clarins Hands and Nails Treatment Cream. I keep them all in a mini makeup pouch I got from Benefit. Lastly I like to carry my little notebook with me to list down any ideas or things I don’t want to forget.

Follow Wafa: @theartistichads

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Wow By Wojooh

Faces or now Wojooh has recently launched their first very own line, which goes by the nameWOW BY WOJOOH. They launched an innovative makeup line, made to meet the highest European standards, and rooted in the region. All the colors, textures and tones that perfectly complement regional skin tones from the palest to the darkest nuance. A stylish and trendy line targeted at the region’s muses with140 products and vibrant shades ranging from heatproof foundation to extreme wear lip lacquer. The range includes several magnificent long-lasting, covering formulas and lots of bright colors, all tailor-made for the Middle Eastern environment and consumer.

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Interview with Huda Beauty

Disclaimer: This interview I wrote for www.arabnews.com, website and printed journal, I am just sharing it as it her on m blog

On a very hot summer day we flew over to Dubai for an exclusive private lunch with the worlds’ most famous brand name, Vaseline, and with the Middle East’s top beauty guru and makeup artist Huda Heidi Kattan. Huda is the beautiful lady behind www.Hudabeauty.com, one of the world’s most visited beauty blogs. The Dubai-based beauty blogger has successfully built a well structured beauty empire out of her blog. She was one of the very first one to start a representative beauty blog out of the entire Middle East. Gradually, Huda started doing YouTube videos, became a brand ambassador and lately an owner of one of the most fast selling beauty brands in the Middle East.
As we entered the Maya restaurant at Le Meridian hotel, we were welcomed by the Vaseline team and the beautiful brunette blogger, dressed in a cute polka dots apron. Huda was standing in front of a counter demonstrating several techniques to use the ordinary jar of the original Vaseline jelly, the little yellow jar found in almost every house. There are endless ways to use Vaseline for beauty purposes, she explained. For example, the use for Vaseline to soothe dry ankles and cuticles of toes is well known, but who knew that we could make a lips-pluming lip gloss, using a broken blusher or an eye shadow, mixed with a few drops of Mint or Cinnamon extract! And who knew you could use Vaseline jelly as an anti-wrinkle treatment around the eye or lip area (celebrities like Jennifer Aniston swears by this tip). Huda opened for us a new world of DIY (Do it yourself) products. We tried some treatments ourselves, and in just a few minutes we could feel our lips getting bigger and fuller, with a treatment which is natural and safe.
After a delicious lunch we sat down for a girly chit- chat with the amazing Huda. With an eye for beauty, she was the perfect person to answer our questions on homemade beauty remedies. 

my seat:)

Me with Dalal Al Dob, Makeup artist and Kuwaiti blogger

Me with Huda

with Dr. Lilian, Pond's skincare's brand ambassador

 So who is the lady behind Huda Beauty?
I am originally Iraqi, born and raised in the US and have lived their almost all my life. My husband is from Colombia and we moved to Dubai some years ago. I have a little baby girl called Nour Giselle, and I am a makeup artist obsessed with makeup and beauty.
You are from among the very first beauty bloggers in the Middle East. Why did you start your blog?
I was inspired by my mother. She taught me and my sisters many beauty tips. She was quick to come to our aid with some homemade remedy to correct a makeup flaw. So I grew up obsessed by this world, and used to send my girlfriends a weekly e-mail of some beauty tips and do-it-yourself tips. Then my friends used to forward those e-mails to their friends making it very popular. Then one day a friend suggested that I start a blog to share the invaluable tips and that is how it all began.
What makes your blog so unique?
I believe each blog is a reflection of its writer. I am always true to myself, and I like to keep a close relationship with my readers. I do this because I love beauty and I am really passionate about it. And I really hate to see a lot of bloggers taking it so hard; it is not really a competition out there.
How do you maintain your blog content? Who does the writing and posting?
I do all the writing myself and my PA helps me to upload the posts. We try to upload three to four posts a day.
So why did you choose to be Vaseline’s brand ambassador?
I get offers from so many different brands, but I chose Vaseline because I love it, and I was actually the one who suggested that to their PR team. So when they told me there is a vacancy for a brand ambassador, I was picked up the offer immediately.
What is your favorite product from Vaseline?
The Vaseline Intensive care cocoa butter body lotion is super hydrating and I apply it almost every night. And the Healthy Even Tone body lotion has been doing miracles to my skin. It helped me to get rid of all skin discoloration and uneven tones, as well as some scars and marks I used to have.
So does it work to remove stretch marks, every woman’s nightmare?
I would love to say yes, but it can help to prevent them during pregnancy, as they hydrate the skin. But no product can really remove the stretch marks 100%; they will only make them look better. To remove them completely a laser treatment has to be done. It is very painful but very effective.
You get offered so many products to try and review, how do you manage to do so, and how you do you write about them?
I always try the products myself first and I never write about a product I am not convinced with. I love to have the freedom of choosing what I can or can’t write about.
Tell us another (out of the box) tip, on how to use the Vaseline jelly.
You can actually use Vaseline to elongate your eyelashes. Mix a bit of Vaseline jelly with some Vitamin E capsules for the best results, and apply on your lashes using a clean mascara wand. To make them thicker you can add some drops of Castor oil to that mix. I am also experimenting now, to use Vaseline for split ends, but I need to find a way to make it light weighted for the hair.
You are a mother of three-year-old Giselle. How do you balance between family and work?
I have to admit it is a very difficult thing to do, and can sometimes be overwhelming, especially when I have to travel a lot. But for me, family will always come first. I love to take vacations with my husband and my daughter and spend some quality time together. And my advice to all women is to try to take out 10 minutes for yourselves, just to relax and take care of your bodies and maintain your beauty routines.
You have been living in Dubai for some years now. How do you find it?
I love Dubai. I moved here six years ago, and I love the fact that I can find anything I could possibly need, around me. It is such a great place to live in.
Your blog attracts not only Arab women but a lot of foreign readers as well. What do you think the reason is?
I guess it is because they are attracted to the unique Arabian features and the makeup looks that suit it- I have such strong Arabian features- and because the blog is completely different from the type they are used to read. Or also perhaps thay are fascinated by the Middle Eastern natural remedies.
Do you ever switch off technology?
(Takes a moment to answer) mmm I like to think I do, but thinking about it now, I don’t.
Tell us what is the best way to apply makeup according to how we are dressed?
I don’t like to match makeup to clothes. I prefer to choose a look and create. Like saying “today I want a romantic look”, or I want to look bold, or mysterious, and apply makeup accordingly.
How do you prevent any makeup from falling off during an event?
One of the main reasons, makeup is ruined is humidity or sweat. So one makeup trick I have learned from my working years and watching professional makeup artists, is using the Starbucks napkins, you know these greige colored napkins that you take with your coffee. Actually they can be your makeup saver for the night. Just pat them on your face and they will absorb excess moisture, leaving you with a fresh face.
Living in the Gulf as general has a very bad effect on hair, due to the humid weather. How can we overcome this problem?
Yes, humidity is one of the biggest problems our hair faces in the Gulf. I have personally tried a lot of products and treatments to control frizzy hair. But I didn’t find anything work well, till I tried Kerastase Elixir hair cream. It tames the frizzy hairs and makes it look healthy and shiny. Actually I have it on right now. (Laughs).
Which is the best country to shop for makeup?
The best place has to be London; I love to shop for my makeup there. And the USA of course, and recently I discovered Hong Kong. They have such a great market there, and I love to try their different untraditional brands.
Your sisters Mona and Alya are very famous as well: one is the owner of one of Dubai’s well known beauty salons and is a PR maverick, and the other is a health and fitness guru. Is there anything the Kattan girls can’t do?
We were raised to follow our passions. That is why we all work in the things we love the most, and give it our 100 percent.
How is your relationship with your sisters?
We fight all the time (laughs), especially with the youngest one Mona, but she is super kind. I love them both madly ; they are my greatest supporters.
How did you turn from a beauty blogger to a beauty brand owner?
I always try new products and techniques, and over the years I gained experience on what works for me and what doesn’t. So I started creating good quality products to serve the needs, based on my experience.
Why did you start your own lashes line?
I started my own lashes line, because I didn’t find lashes in the market which I really liked. There were only two brands available but I was still always trimming them, cutting them or reshaping them to give me the look I needed. So I started to work on a lashes line, which can be easily applied with different unique shapes, lengths and thickness.
What is the secret behind the names?
They are all named after my girl friends’ names.
What is your favorite type of lashes?
The Giselle, named after my daughter. 
What about your nails line?
I have always found difficulty finding good quality and trendy nails. So we decided to launch a very fun and fashionable artificial nails line for the practical ladies.
What other products are you planning to launch soon?
We are working on launching different products soon. And currently we are in the process of launching two new lashes types. 
What is your favorite beauty brand ever?
It has to be Chanel. 
What is your daily beauty routine?
After a warm shower I love to apply any good oil I have. Almond oil is really good for hydrating the skin, followed by the Vaseline intensive cocoa butter.
What advice can you give to young bloggers and entrepreneurs?
Always stay true to yourselves and be modest and humble.

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Review: Michael Kors Beauty Line

So I was reading in magazines about the news Michael Kors' beauty launch in the Middle East. I wanted to try it of course, but I didn't expect to be their customer. The thing that I was doing a last minute shopping with Hassan at Dubai Mall, and I passed by Sephora, and I saw the Michael Kors team arranging the inventory over shelves. I stopped by to try them, I loved the lip glosses and the bronzers so much. Because Hassan and of course he wanted to leave to go to another place of more interest to him, I was in a hurry and couldn't try the other products. I got the FLUSH bronzer, which I loved loved, see it is not really a bronzer to me, I use it as a pinkish highlight or just apply it as a blush on the top of my check bones. It blends easily and gives a healthy pinky shine, but not to much. I swear it is one of the best blushers I have ever tried, just perfect.
The other thing I love is the super chic packing, just amazing, this is the bronzer I chose to keep on my hand bag for some makeup retouches. I can't wait to try all of the line, it really looks promising. And a little birdie told me it is coming so soon to Sephora KSA. Can't wait.

 Check the colour on my hand

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Interview and What's In her bag with Nina Bakry?

The moment I saw Nina Bakry's  über gorgeous earring on Instagram, I knew I had to put my hands on it. In a big City like Cairo full of jewelery makers, I started to find it hard for me to find a  piece of jewellery that can blow out my mind. Till someone on my Instagram friends list tagged a photo of that earring am telling you about.

Nina has just started her jewelery line or to be more accurate "Body Jewelery" line. The line is not just about rings, earrings and hand cuffs, she has created some masterpieces to be worn on the upper arms, head,waist and even legs !!!

Last Saturday I visited Nina's workshop.The place reflects Nina's character, it's a mix of oriental kitsch, a unique style that I can weirdly describe as if like Frida Kahlo hangs out in Khan Al Khalili. So here is my interview with Nina, and we also got to know what's inside that pretty blonde's handbag.

 1- Tell us more about Nina, the girl behind that gorgeous line of body accessories.

I’m a lover of all things artistic and innovative. I am drawn to all forms of art and design. I have always had a passion for jewelry making, which led me to regularly visit the jewelry making workshops in Khan El Khalili and learn from the skillful jewelry makers. Recently, I enrolled in the Azza Fahmy Design Studio workshop which gave me more of an in depth know how of the more intricate jewelry making techniques.

2-  How and why did you start your own line?

I have always experimented with different materials. When I finally knew what kind of jewelry designer and maker I wanted to be and what materials best represent who I am, I decided to pursue it as more than a hobby. My line is a result of years of exploration, learning, growing, and settling into my own skin as a designer.

3- We love that when you started, you started big, and set up your own workshop, tell us was that as hard as it seems?

I have a large network of support, my husband, my family, my friends, they all gave me the extra push I needed to go out and get my own studio/workshop space. Once I had that, I knew things were real! I already knew what kind of equipment I would need and had good contacts with suppliers. Yes the move required capital at first, but it was an investment well worth it!

4- What inspires you? I am inspired by anything and everything. I draw inspiration from the world around me, it doesn’t have to be something so obvious, it could be a moment or a feeling. I also love exploring the aesthetic of various cultures. I am intrigued by the visual representation of cultures throughout history. 

5- What materials do you like to work with?I work with precious and semi-precious stones, copper, brass, silver, gold, and enamel.

6- Who are your favorite local / International jewelery designers?I get asked this question a lot , but i don’t have a particular favorite designer; I admire the work of artists across the board, not just in jewelry design. I admire the work of certain fashion designers, filmmakers, painters, and so on.

Nina in action

 7- How can we match accessories to our outfits?

I believe anything you put on your body can tell a story of who you are at that particular moment. Sometimes I choose my jewelry or accessories before I choose and outfit, and create an outfit that would make this piece of jewelry shine and stand out. There is no formula, just follow your gut and don’t pay attention to what the “trends” are or what people are wearing.

8- How can one pick a perfect statement piece of jewelry?

It has to stir an emotion within you. The first time I lay my eyes on a piece of jewelry, I have to feel something. If I don’t, I move on to look at other pieces.

9- Where is the best place to hunt for jewelry?

Of course Khan El Khalili, but the hidden spots, not the obvious tourist spots. There are also several great boutiques and jewelry designers all over Cairo.

10- Other than designing jewelry what else do you love to do?

I love cinema, local and foreign, I love going to art exhibitions, I love spending time with my family and friends. But mostly, I just love being at home.

11- Egypt probably has one of the biggest jewelry making markets, how are you planning to stand out from all the other designers?

I don’t really stress about other designers. I do what I do because I love it. If people like my stuff, then great, it’s a bonus!

 12- Give us some advice on how to care for our accessories.

Always store them separately, in little plastic baggies or in those sacs you get from the silversmith’s. When you are buying jewelry, ask the shop about the materials used, and how you can best care for them. 

13- How can people reach you?

My Instagram account is Nina Bakry Body Jewelry (@nina_bakry); people can reach me through the comments section. I can also be reached on Facebook at Nina Bakry Body Jewelry.

14- Future plans?

Just to keep doing what I love, and to always enjoy it!

15- So what does Nina have inside her bag?

She carries Hermes Evelyn, inside she has her YSL wallet, Dolce & Gabbana glasses, car keys, her notebook, Fendi makeup purse, with Bobbi Brown tinted moisturizer, Bobbi Brown art stick lipstick, Lancome mascara, Cath Kidston hand lotion, and Chanel beauty mist.

Nina

 

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