Why go camping when you can go #glamping ? The hospitality industry has coined this new phrase by marrying the experience of the big outdoors with the convenience and luxury of resort-style living.

Bin Majid Beach Hotel launched the Longbeach Campground late last year, and my little family and I were one of the very first people to have the pleasure of spending the first night under the stars, in a beautifully setup tent (click here if you missed it).  I absolutely loved the experience, and really didn’t think it could get any better.

But the team at Bin Majid Beach Hotel have outdone themselves with the launch of their second season last weekend. The entire campsite has been given a major facelift, complete with three very different styles of tent options, an infinity pool and an outdoor floating cinema. I could hardly recognize the place! This is #glamping at its best. 

My Instagram inbox is on fire. I uploaded a series of Insta Stories showcasing my firsthand experience of the much coveted Hollywood Carbon Laser Facial, and indeed it looks pretty scary.

Despite the freakish nature of the actual treatment, this facial peel treatment has a line up of celebrities who endorse it including the likes of Angelina Jolie and the Kardashians.

I may be a slacker in many other departments, but when it comes to my bedtime ritual of really cleansing my face, I adhere to it with the staunch religious piety of a newly converted nun.

I cannot fathom the thought of going to bed with even the lightest veil of makeup. Doing so is a cardinal skincare sin, and is akin to marinating your pores in makeup (and you have the after-effects to show when you wake up looking like you’ve had a rendezvous with The Grouch from Sesame Street). 

Last Friday I had the pleasure of being one of the first diners in Dubai to try out the Playhouse Brunch in Liwan restaurant at the newly opened 5-star property Swissotel (which has opened in Al Ghurair Dubai earlier this year).

As a mummy, I love restaurants that go the extra mile to keep little diners happy. A happy child means happy parents, and a genuinely chilled out brunch. There are quite a few brunches across the city that cater to this need with a dedicated kids play area, etc but none of the ones I’ve been to come even close to all the fun and games that’s to be had at the Play House Brunch!

Love Japanese cuisine? I’ve got the perfect Friday brunch suggestion for you, complete with a fantabulous view of the majestic Dubai Fountain and the Burj Khalifa. With a red carpet welcome right at the doorstep and artistic interiors that will awaken the Instagrammer in you, Katana Dubai is a hidden dining gem in Address Downton, Dubai.

Every Friday, Katana Dubai hosts its Red Sun Brunch from 12 noon to 4 pm where diners get served a 25-course tour of three popular styles of Japanese cooking.

The scent of lavender has long been associated with promoting a great night’s sleep. My fondest memory of the scent of lavender is on the warm, cuddly fur of our family cat Pusula. My father had a large lavender bush in our garden, and Pusula would plant himself in the scented bushes for long, lazy summer siestas. Then somewhere through my night slumber, I’d feel his grubby paws climbing over my sheets and he wold curl up into a ball of fluff, heavily intoxicated with the calming scent of lavender.

Picture25The Numaish Festive Fair is taking place from Fri 28 – Sat 29 Sept at the Godolphin Ballroom in Jumeirah Emirates Towers.

As always, Numaish has curated an enticing lineup of the latest in Indian designer wear, and one of my favorite labels showcasing this month is Anavila.

‘Anavila’ translates to ‘pure’ in the ancient Indian tongue of Sanskrit, and is also the name of the founder of this beautiful fashion label.

I’m a die-hard sheet-mask addict. Aren’t the Koreans absolutely brilliant to come up with this super easy, mess-free concept of slapping on a sheet drenched in skin-loving serum and removing it without the need for any form of cleanup?

Cult beauty brand Sephora Collection has gone all out with a brand new range of sheet masks, all inspired by the fruity goodness of Mother Nature and they have a flavor for every occasion!

Love organic beauty products? Make Neal’s Yard Remedies your one-stop shop. Apart from a gorgeous range of skin, hair care and essential oils of their own, their stores in the UAE also curate and stock interesting organic and natural beauty brands from across the globe.

I recently discovered NOAH, an Italian hair-care range that boasts of not having any chemical nasties like silicones, parabens, paraffin mineral oils, DEA and SLS.