Because the standard Ladies’ Night at a pub with a few diluted drinks is so cliché… treat yourself and your besties to a laidback session of pampering and massages at Fairmont Dubai. Every Tuesday, from 2 to 10 pm, The Spa at Fairmont Dubai offers a highly discounted package inclusive of a leisurely lunch by the poolside, an hour-long session of yoga and meditation, access to the sauna and steam room, and a rejuvenating treatment of your choice. And how much would you expect for all this at one of Dubai’s finest hotel establishments? Hold your breath… it costs a mere AED 349 per person! Envy us boys!

Matto translates to ‘crazy’ in Italian, and this much-hyped new restaurant in The Oberoi Dubai, has worked hard on living up to this theme. The ambiance here is more in tune with a gastro-pub; the lighting is dim, a DJ revs up tunes from an amputated scooter, and a dominating wall displays this stunning graphic of a man swallowing a fish.

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We walked in with our little 6 year-old, and felt a little out of place. This is not a family-friendly space, and given we got there on a Thursday night, the tables were filled with boisterous co-workers and doe-eyed lovers ringing in the weekend.

I envy the people working in Bay Square, they are so spoilt for choice with foodie options. I’ve found myself revisiting this urban hub a number of times in the past few months, each visit for a totally different cuisine. Recently, we were invited to Masala Pot, a familial name that screams of fiery curries, biryanis and other subcontinental delights. They have a few branches scattered around the UAE, but I have never been and wasn’t sure on what to expect.

The restaurant has quirky-cool interiors, taking inspiration from newspaper cuttings. The walls are marked with tongue in cheek Hindi-English quotes relating to food, and everything here has a pale orange halo, so in tune with curries and the saffron hue of Indian patriotism. The restaurant looks more like a chic café, and the pricing here is definitely in line with this. A meal for two at Masala Pot will suffice under AED 150 easily.

For centuries, women have been turning to nature for reliable beauty rituals, ones enriched with the power of natural ingredients that have only recently been hyped by marketing gurus in the beauty industry. DSC_4981

I for one love to experiment with churning up my own recipes. At other times, I explore the shelves of commercial counters. But then I discovered Green Chic, a UAE-based online shopping site that does the homework for you… the site curates interesting natural beauty brands in one place, all affordably priced and delivered all across the UAE.

But why turn to natural beauty products? What’s new in the market? And what makes GreenChicME.com a great site to shop at? Today I introduce you to the very lovely Vila Vasoodaven who gives us an insight on all this and more…

Swedish makeup brand IsaDora is still relatively new in the UAE, although the brand was established way back in 1983. Reasonably priced, fragrance-free and clinically tested, IsaDora can be bought across a long list of retail outlets including Lifestyle.

I was recently sent this absolutely #Isadorable bag of IsaDora makeup, and got busy playing with my new stash. I even came up with a very doable, everyday makeup look and wanted to share this with you here…

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We went on a mini road trip to the capital last weekend, and decided to spend the last few days of Ramadan in Centro Capital Centre. Conveniently located in the hub of Abu Dhabi’s business district, this 3-star property has proven to be a very popular hotel among business executives. The pricing is very reasonable without compromising on the quality of the experience itself.

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Infact we had a dejavous experience! Walking into the lobby, I mistook this property to be Capital Centre Arjaan by Rotana And even told the receptionist I’ve been here before! When we stayed at Capital Centre Arjaan by Rotana, we were upgraded to a suite but they don’t have suites in Centro Capital Centre. The bedding, the sofa and even the accessories look identical to our last stay, with everything being compressed into a smaller, cozier space.

If you’ve been following my Beauty feeds, you already know I have quite an obsession with organic skincare products. Although we are spoilt for choice as Dubai dwellers when it comes to retail therapy, there seems to be a dearth of high-quality organic skincare brands, most of which are accompanied with hefty price tags.

 

Well I have some good news for you… We now have a brand new online store that does the dirty work for us, and curates an ever-changing list of natural and organic beauty must-haves from every corner of the globe. Aptly named Green Chic, you are bound to find something for every skin-type and budget on this site: www.greenchicme.com

Melvita Pulpe De Rose Radiance Plumping Duo Review Dubai Beauty Blog Skincare Natural Organic Beauty Green Chic ME online shopping Rose Damask Rosehip Oil

 

Green Chic was kind enough to send me a couple of beauty goodies, both brands being new to me. Today I want to share my thoughts on the Melvita Pulpe De Rose Plumping Radiance Duo with you. 

The heady scent of aromatic Oud has long been an integral part of Arabian culture. Originally derived from agarwood and burnt as an incense (dehn al oud), the classic scent has since been bottled and remixed, and has even found its way into the global arena of perfume-making.

Are you an Oud addict? I have great news for you… aptly named after Oud lovers, ODICT is a brand new range of unisex eau de parfums of Saudi/Kuwaiti origin, yet created in France, the scent capital of the world.

Boubouffe (pronounced ‘Bou Bouf’), the chic deli-style Lebanese restaurant, has moved from Sheikh Zayed Road to a cosy nook in Business Bay. The brand new branch boast of a scenic patio facing the urban jungle of the Downtown Dubai area, and I am sure it would be a lovely spot to have an idle sip and nibbles on a breezy evening. Sadly we are in the peak of summer right now, and forced to find a table indoors.

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The interiors are beautifully lit, spacious and inviting, and have the look and feel of a chic boulagerie you might happen to walk into on the cobbled streets of Paris. ‘Boubouffe’ translates to ‘food overload’ in French, but apart from the name and chic Parisian-style interiors, the restaurant’s menu has nothing French to offer. Instead, expect to be treated to a very authentic Lebanese fare.

Move over Hallmark, we have something far more kitcsh and Arabesque, proudly conceptualized and nurtured in our region. Today I am introducing to you a beautiful home-grown concept by a talented young lady in Amman, Jordan.

Meet Rasha Hamdan, the founder of Yislamoo. Processed with VSCOcam with t2 presetWhat started off as a greeting cards concept has now expanded to all things art with collaborations with local artists and a firm base in the capital of all things fashionable; Dubai ofcourse! Do have a browse through their gorgeous website www.yislamoo.com From greeting cards to wall art, mugs, canvas bags and more, this upcoming brand is taking the fashion-forward into a frenzy! Here’s what Rasha has to say…