Welcome to the Lather Rinse Repeat newsletter, by beauty editor Michaela Williams. Sent out fortnightly, it’s a very loose collection of beauty news and general internetness.
The best beauty bits
The colourist who used to do my highlights has now joined the new JLT salon Willow Lane Dubai. I’m stoked as it’s so hard to find and keep someone who can do good cool-toned highlights here. Full head highlights, toner and blowdry came in at just over AED900 for my long hair - a nice price for the final results.
I’m trying my hardest not to shop for new beauty bits in the Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales, as I have so many products queued for reviewing. But have just allowed myself a new toothbrush at 70% off and it’s all very exciting. Is this what old age feels like?
Charlotte Tilbury has introduced a “mystery box”, which contains six full size products. “Mystery box” being in quotation marks, given that the included products (two eye palettes, one highlighter, the cleansing duo, one bronzer and a lippie) are listed in-store. Intrigue aside, it is a good deal at AED702.50, making it 50% off the usual RRP. Available from now until November 30th in-store, or notably, via WhatsApp +965 182 1212 (how Gulf is that!).
It’s properly cooled down in Dubai now, and I’m cracking on with my spicy-vanilla-woody fragrances for winter wear. Currently trialing Givenchy’s new Oiseau Rare, from the brand’s also newish beauty portal. It’s like a glammed up comfort scent, all vanilla and sandalwood but with sweet laurel and peppercorn for a little zing.
Another day, another influencer beauty brand is launched. This time, it’s Natalie Beauty, by Lebanese influencer Natalie Sallaum. The collection is inspired by coffee (yes, the beverage), and consists of 12 contour sticks and nine highlighter sticks.
I know drying lotions can be controversial (sucking out all that moisture isn’t great for healing!). BUT! The only thing that will well and truly destroy a deep-rooted, sore pimple - the kind I’m getting all over my jaw thanks to face masks - is this one from Bye Bye Blemish. Very similar to the Mario Bedescu one, but cheaper and readily available in the Middle East via PrettyLittleThing. I will only use it once per pimple as an overnight treatment, before switching to my favourite blemish patches.
This feature about how olfactory training with certain fragrances can help COVID-19 patients recover their sense of smell sheds a little light on why the virus can be so unsettling even months after recovery.
Hong Kong pharmacy chain Watsons launched in The Dubai Mall last month, but I’ve only had the chance to check out its range recently. Very happy to see some of my favourite Asian beauty brands including Hada Labo (the Hyaluronic Acid Lotion is iconic), Holika Holika and Coxir. The website is very limited - you’ll have to head in-store to see the full offerings.
I would do bad bad things to get my mitts on one of Drake’s candles.
TL;DR
Hajabi model Halima Aden announced she is quitting fashion, after making a major impact across editorial, catwalk and campaigns. I’m a huge advocate for walking away from something if it’s not working for you, and she says there was a lot of internal conflict, that her hijab was diminished in shoots and that her family did not support her career. But I’m also interested in seeing if she will perhaps work in a reduced capacity in the future. I think Halima’s decision also opens up about how models in general are treated - there’s a lot to unpack in particular regarding the commodification of Muslim women and their faith.
Book club this month was held at folly, one of my favourites for consistently amazing dinners, and one of Dubai’s best rooftops. Have shortlisted them for Christmas this lunch too - but is anyone else hesitant to make concrete plans for this year?
Speaking of, I truly hated Rodham: A Novel, and it was vindicating that everyone else in book club also despised it. One of my rituals after a particularly loathed or loved book, is to look it up on Goodreads, sort by rating and then only read the reviews that agree with my own bias.
Loving seeing the progress that Stray Dogs Center UAE is making with their new sanctuary. Today’s good news? They will now also take in donkeys, in addition to their ongoing feeding stations.
I’m a bit behind with this (realising the drawbacks of a fortnightly newsletter) but Zac Hanson is a racist now?? Or always was??? 2020 truly is here to destroy everything we hold dear.
“From Australia, this looks like a mindbogglingly dangerous chapter in the out-of-control American COVID-19 story,” says no-shits-left-to-give Ian Mackay, an associate professor of virology at the University of Queensland. Please enjoy this news story about international experts politely calling Americans idiots.
Love is Blind’s Mark-who-is-24 proposed to his girlfriend who he’s apparently also socially distancing from in these weird proposal pics. Fight me, but I think Jessica dodged a bullet - remember that old mate was also dating Lo from the same show at the same time as his baby mama. I’m blaming 2020 for making me care about this trash.
Pre-Christmas turkey dinner count: Three.