Dubai Archives - Page 4 of 9 - Undefined Declarations

UD Review: Elemis Facial

Introduction

Since I’ve always had super sensitive skin, I almost never get a facial done! I prefer to stick to a basic cleaning and exfoliating routine. While using mostly pharmaceutical or dermatologist-tested skin products. Therefore, the Elemis facial was my first facial treatment in as long as I can remember! I’m glad that I went for it though. Unlike my fears, my skin felt soft and supple after the treatment and there was no sign of irritation or sensitivity whatsoever 🙂

How long is the treatment?

The treatment starts with a skin consultation with the therapist. This takes around 15 minutes to complete. A skin analysis machine is used to check your skin’s type according to some variables. A printed report will show you the ratios of different skin elements such as spots, wrinkles, texture, pores, UV spots and porphyrins.

According to the analysis, the therapist will recommend a facial for your skin type, as well as the matching products from the Elemis range. All facials are priced at 120 AED regardless of the type. The therapist recommended the “Purify & Shine Fix” for my skin since I suffer from combination blemish-prone skin.

The facial treatment time is 30 minutes. Making the total time for the consultation and treatment at 45 minutes.

What products are used?

The therapist explained to me that Elemis skin products are designed for all skin types, apart from a few exceptions.

The therapist started the treatment by removing my eye make-up and then using a facial cleanser. This was followed by the use of a toner, an exfoliating product, a mask to purify the skin, an eye treatment gel, and lastly a moisturizing cream.

A soothing arms and shoulder massage adds to the relaxation element of the facial and completes the pampering experience.

Elemis Skin Products are Designed for All Skin Types

Note: As most of you would agree, going to a facial is similar to going for a massage treatment. You do it in your own time, when you want to be pampered and take some time off to relax. Well, I made the mistake of booking my treatment on a day when I was also planning to visit an outdoor market in the area to take pictures for a photography University exercise. Since I wanted to be able to take pictures before the sun sets, I squeezed in the facial appointment that same afternoon. This resulted in a very stressed-out version of myself, who was trying to get through with the facial as early as possible so I could take some shots in the daylight.

The fact that the therapist at the Bloomingdale’s Elemis counter took her sweet time to do everything didn’t help much! However, I must say that I did manage to get to the market on time and I was able to snap some good pictures prior to sunset.

I just wanted to mention the fact that the therapist does her work in a very peaceful and relaxed manner. So the Elemis facial is a good option if you want to feel pampered and rejuvenated. It’s definitely not the destination for an express type of facial, where you go in and out of the treatment room at the same pace of a city lifestyle.

Elemis is where time slows down to make way for a more relaxed and blissful approach to life. Where the only thing that matters is you and your essential beauty needs.

Result:

My skin felt extremely soft and supple, like a baby’s skin! and there was no sign of irritation or redness at all!

Facial Name: Elemis Expert Touch

Cost: 120 AED

Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/ElemisMiddleEast

Elemis Counter at Bloomingdale's Dubai Mall — Elemis Counter at Bloomingdale’s Dubai Mall

UD Review: Yoga Ashram

How I found out about Yoga Ashram:

It’s the beginning of a new year, we all want to eat more healthily and get in shape. But I personally never had that as a new year’s resolution myself! I think my resolutions mostly revolved about realizing goals of bringing in more independence and freedom into my personal life. This year was a bit different though…I had been spending one too many evenings writing blog posts, checking e-mails or working on the blog and my next plan (yes, more like what I’m doing now), and so this year’s resolution involved my decision to put my University degree first, exercising and taking care of my health second and lastly working on my blog.

How am I doing so far? well needless to say it’s 6:32 pm local time and I’m staying in this evening to write this blog post and check e-mails and other “professional network” messages! But guess what, now I actually get to merge the fitness plan into my blogging routine. In other words, I get to do yoga and other fitness classes and review them on my blog! Good way to start the new year? I think so 🙂

How did I find out about this newly opened yoga place? As I was leaving the grocery store under my building, for some unknown reason, I decide to check out the bulletin board for the first time ever! Yes, the Universe does work in mysterious ways. I spot the flyer for Yoga Ashram and immediately tell my yoga-lover friend Olivia about it. I told her that we should check it out one day. But before we got a chance to do that, I randomly meet a lovely lady and fitness instructor (who I will introduce in another post) and we speak about the new yoga place and later walking over to check it out together. Yes, all of these events happened by chance 🙂

What types of yoga do they offer?

The center offers a variety of yoga classes; hatha yoga and vinyasa yoga to name a few. I got to take a “power yoga” class the other day. And I must honestly say that I was extremely satisfied with the way the class was given. Our instructor that evening, Munishwer is an experienced yoga trainer. He has several degrees in yogic science and study. What I liked mostly about his method of teaching was that he took the time to correct our postures throughout the one-hour class. He would also explain to us the right way that each yoga move is done. As well as talk us through the benefits that each specific posture has to our bodies and health.

“Yoga postures are designed to circulate the blood flow to the specific body organs.”

…That was one quote from our expert yoga trainer Munishwer. Munishwer gave us great insight about the many advantages of the various yoga postures to our health and different body organs. His words were also necessary to add even more value to the yoga session. As imaging the blood flowing through the body helps achieve the right results from the class.

How did I feel after the class?

Honestly I felt rejuvenated, more relaxed, and in an overall better mood. My body also felt more toned and my muscles (even neck and shoulder) stretched and worked out. The trainer even asked us about our personal outcomes from the session. While most students mentioned weight loss and toning, I just wanted to relieve some stress after a long week at University. So that class was the perfect ending to my hectic week.

The Space and Location:

You will be impressed by the spacious studio at this yoga center. The main studio where we had the class is so spacious and open. The walls are basically glass windows that have an outstanding view of the Emirates Golf course and the rest of JLT.

Located in Jumeirah Bay X3 Tower, this studio is just a hop away from where I live! Do I have an excuse for not exercising now? Hmm, very unlikely…

Note: Yoga Ashram offer other types of fitness classes as well. Such as Pilates, Belly Dance, and Moms & Tods Yoga!

I’ll leave you with some images from my “power yoga” class to get you inspired. Next week, I try out “Belly Dancing” so watch out for that 🙂

Some Upcoming Yoga Classes:

How do I contact Yoga Ashram?

Call: 04-3609028

E-mail: info@yogaashram.com

Facebook Page: facebook.com/yogashramJLT

Location: Apartment 1504, Jumeirah Bay X3, JLT, Dubai

Motivational Evening at Katsuya Dubai Mall: Media in the Making

I was delighted and honored to be invited to a social event hosted by the lovely Anita Buys at the newly opened Katsuya restaurant in Dubai Mall. The dinner event brought together 15 career-driven women from alternative areas and saw us conversing over many interesting and media-relevant topics. I must say that my favorite topic of discussion that evening was the one involving comparison between journalists and bloggers. Being a blogger and journalism student myself, I constantly face the dilemma of choosing between being a full-time blogger or journalist. As I’m still unsure which one of those career paths will open more doors for me. Listening to views from more experienced media professionals and bloggers definitely helped give me an extra insight into both worlds.

Anita and I would love to meet more inspirational women from the media industry and hear more success stories in Anita’s future events. So if you work in PR/events/print media/online media/blogging or any other relevant industry and would like to join us in the next Media in the Making event, please contact Anita on her e-mail address:

anitabuys2020@gmail.com

Have a look at some photos from our wonderful and inspirational evening at Katsuya Dubai Mall…

Nada from Undefined Declarations Blog and the lovely Anita Buys

A Blogger's Essential Habit: Taking Pictures! — A Blogger’s Essential Habit: Taking Pictures!

Beautiful Outdoor Terrace at Katsuya Dubai Mall

Amazing view of the Dubai Mall Fountain and Souk Al Bahar

Hollywood Rolls - SIMPLY DIVINE! — Hollywood Rolls – SIMPLY DIVINE!

Interesting and engaging discussion at Media in the Making dinner

Nada from Undefined Declarations Blog Enjoying the Evening at Katsuya

Prior to this amazing evening at Katsuya Dubai Mall, I have been to this Japanese dining hub with my American friend from LA. My friend who is a big fan of Katsuya and has been to many of their U.S. branches, has been waiting impatiently for the Dubai Mall branch to open. So once I found out that it was officially open, we went there for lunch on their first official opening day. I’ll be writing a review on that great lunch that I had with my friend Nia on that first opening day soon. So stay tuned for that.

In the end, I would like to thank the lovely and dynamic Anita Buys for organizing and hosting this event. Special thanks to the friendly and welcoming team at Katsuya Dubai Mall for their warm and generous hospitality that evening.

Signing off with a note to say that all dreams are achievable and that everything is possible with a little bit of determination, hard work and optimism. Add to that: a lot of patience 🙂

UD Profile Post: Savannah and her One-off Art Creations

Savannah – A Talented Young Artist

Today’s post is all about showcasing a highly talented and incredibly sweet young French lady. Savannah is an abstract Artist and professional Actress. I was delighted to see some of her art work being displayed at The Life & Style Show exhibition that was held in ADNEC, Abu Dhabi earlier this month. I’ll be writing a post on the show soon…but in today’s post, I introduce to you this lovely young Artist through a short interview that I had done with her over a nice lunch at Sushi Art in DIFC.

Savannah paints on different types of material, but her most recent creations are her one of a kind artistic greeting cards. At the Life and Style Show, Savannah got to introduce her cards to the people of Abu Dhabi. She is based in Dubai though and can be contacted by e-mail and mobile (details below).

Interview with Savannah – the French Artist:

Full Name: Savannah Frammery Passagne du Quercy

Savannah, as the youngest female CEO in the UAE, how old are you? 18

Apart from acting and painting, what are your hobbies? I like to read poetry, plays, classics, and fiction. I also like photography, running, and eating sushi 🙂

Me and Savannah conversing over sushi 🙂

How long have you been making your cards? About a year and a half.

What type of art is it? Abstract, modern art.

What materials do you use in your card creations? My choice for the materials is usually spontaneous. Sometimes I would use a paint brush with loads of water dripping. Other works might involve the use of different materials such as a toothbrush, my hands, sponge, and other various materials.

The cards are vertically painted on a canvas at first, then the details are added horizontally.

Savannah’s Artistic Creations

Where do you get your inspiration from? People, stories, personal experiences, thoughts, my life. My paintings are not just random. All cards have meaning, soul, depth, and they represent a part of my life.

In a few words, how would you describe your artistic style? It’s just me. Sometimes it can be described as feminine or colorful. And at other times it can be labelled as dark. My sense of style can be described as impulsive…it’s a blend of different styles. Since it all comes from the heart, my pieces are not planned.

How long does it take you to create one card? From 10 minutes to one hour.

Do you customize the cards for individuals? The cards can be personalized for various occasions such as weddings, and anniversaries.

What is your aim behind creating and selling them? I love giving people the pleasure of receiving a unique and original card that is affordable. People need to see the card as a piece of art, rather than just a greeting card.

Who is your target market? People who appreciate art and see the value in it. Art lovers basically…people who understand that with a card you can buy a gift. As opposed to just attaching a card to your gift, the card becomes a gift in itself.

How much do the cards cost? For 20 pounds – 100 AED, they can own a unique card that no one else will have. Since each card is an original creation of art. The prices for the cards range from 50 AED and above.

How can people contact you to purchase or order cards?

People can reach me by e-mail. A web site will be available shortly.

E-mail: savannahquercy@gmail.com

Savannah is a truly inspirational and creative soul with great talent and such a warm heart. At her young age, I’m sure that she has a bright and successful future ahead of her. I wish her all the best in her creative career and education and I look forward to seeing more of her amazingly talented creations.

Leaving you with some images from the show and of Savannah, with more to come in future posts. But for now, don’t hesitate to drop this talented young lady an e-mail to inquire more about her art work and card creations.

Savannah’s Stand at The Life & Style Show

Savannah – A Beautiful and Talented Soul

Savannah – Youngest CEO in UAE

Savannah – a true inspiration

Dubai Restaurant Review: Marta’s Workshop

I’ve been checking out quite a few new eateries in Dubai in the past couple of weeks. Since I adore change and get bored pretty easily, I find it always good fun to try fresh dining concepts and catch up with friends over a nice meal. My most recent review was of Mo’s – a new casual American dining spot in Jumeirah’s pristine cozy Citywalk Mall. You can read that short review here.

Today’s review is about another intimate space in my side of JLT!

Since my area doesn’t have that many eating outlets, I was so excited when I read a review from a food blogger – The REAL Geordie Armani – on a place that’s located just across the lake from where I live 🙂

Once I saw the review, I made an instant decision to have lunch at Marta’s Workshop the next day. Yes, that’s how desperate I am for a simple solution for my daily lunch dilemma :p

Now for the sake of keeping this review short, since it’s past 1 am (I made a commitment with myself to blog daily this week), I will get straight to the point and tell you what I had for lunch.

The Terrace at Marta's Workshop — The Terrace at Marta’s Workshop

I was offered a complimentary shot of gazpacho upon arrival….I opted for the fresh juice and meal option. Which costs AED 60.

My watermelon juice was so refreshing and sitting out on a terrace in December in Dubai only made the experience better.

Meal Options at Marta's Workshop — Meal Options at Marta’s Workshop

There were three options for the main course to choose from. I went with Renier’s (Marta’s head chef) suggestion for a tapas selection plate. The dish had crab cocktail bites, a bowl of sweet and sour shrimp and two “beef surprises”.

Tapas Selection at Marta's Workshop — Tapas Selection at Marta’s Workshop

What was special about those shrimps – as the chef explained to me – was the fact that they were cooked in a sousvied machine in water for 25 minutes only. As opposed to being sauteed or wok-fried in a pan.

My beef surprises were healthily baked in the oven for 10 minutes, after being stuffed with some leek, carrots and beef tenderloin.

My Personal Opinion:

Marta’s Kitchen started out as a food catering concept and has just recently opened its doors for the people working and living in the surrounding area…It was my first time to try Marta’s creations, although I’m sure that I’ve heard of her many times before.

Honestly speaking, the tapas tasted a lot like home-made food – a rare commodity in the city. So that element scored great points for me. The space has a very homely feel to it, the ambiance is so relaxed and the setting is so warm and welcoming.

On the other hand, the portions served in my “meal” were too small for someone who is looking to have lunch and not just a light snack on the go.

Now I’m sure that Marta has a good explanation for the size of portions in that tapas plate, or maybe it was only the tapas that was served in bite-size nibbles. I mean, luckily on that day, I wasn’t feeling too hungry. Because if I were, then that meal wouldn’t have been sufficient. I’m also not sure what kind of clients Marta is aiming to target with her newly opened eatery, as the portion size may not be an issue for certain expats. I can only speak for myself – a Saudi lifestyle blogger with a hearty appetite! I think I can also speak for the wider GCC community as I stated in my Top 10 List Post about the Gulf Region how we tend to eat big meals for lunch AND dinner….If you missed that post, you can read all about it here.

I’m sure that Marta can also justify the prices that she set for each meal option.

I might check out Marta’s Workshop on another day to try out a different meal option and measure the portion size in relevance to my ever-expanding appetite 🙂

Fore more information, check out the web site here.

Dubai Restaurant Review: Mo’s

When my coolest Saudi friend Memo was in town and we were planning to meet up for lunch, I suggested to take her to Mo’s; the new American casual dining place at the brand new Citywalk mall in Jumeirah.

Since Mo’s is part of the group that brought us Caramel, me and my BFF had high expectations for the food, like very high 🙂 Caramel at DIFC is one of our favorite hangout places for a fun night out or a casual lunch. The music they play at Caramel always makes us sing along since we are 90’s girls and the food was never disappointing. Except for the last time I was there for Thanksgiving dinner with my American friend who like me wasn’t so impressed by the turkey or the pumpkin cheese cake slice that were part of the set menu.

Memo has also expressed to me how she felt that Caramel was no longer offering exceptional dishes like the ones we were used to on our first visits to the hip American diner.

At Mo’s, the menu options are not the same ones offered at Caramel. We decided to go for the cheese quessedillas for starters…

For the main course, I had the chicken Asian salad. This one was similar to the one on Caramel’s menu. However, there wasn’t anything special about it. And I wouldn’t order it again.

Lovely and sweet Memo had the fried chicken salad. The chicken pieces were humongous and my friend only sampled her plate before ordering a caramel latte.

Latte: the safest choice at Mo's — Latte: the safest choice at Mo’s

Will I go back to Mo’s and give it a second chance? I highly doubt it. There are way too many new places to check out and even the all-time favorites like The Butcher’s Shop and Grill and The Noodle House have outlets in this cozy mall. So I wouldn’t be out of good eateries to lunch or dine at on my next visit to Citywalk.

What’s your favorite American eatery in Dubai? and how would you rate it to original American cuisine?

If you are a Western expat living in the Arab region, make sure you stay tuned for tomorrow’s post: Top 10 mostly used Arabic words.

Bye for now 🙂

The Rebellious Saudi Diva checks out Citywalk!

Undefined Declarations’ List: Top 10 Facts About the Gulf Region

1. Not everyone is super rich.

2. There are only two seasons in a year; summer and winter. The skies are mostly clear and sunny, and it rarely rains.

3. Life happens in shopping malls.

4. Apart from some designated areas, you rarely can walk from one place to another. The streets are not walkable.

5. Food plays a major role in our daily lives. We tend to eat big meals for lunch AND dinner.

6. We are very family-oriented.

7. We are used to the comfortable lifestyle and don’t enjoy struggling for anything! (although I am learning to appreciate the rewards of hard work).

Me at Macy Gray's Concert! — Me at Macy Gray’s Concert!

8. Islam is the main religion that is practiced between GCC citizens.

9. Car drifting is a popular hobby amongst the youth, especially in Saudi.

10. PDA’s are not acceptable and are against the law. You could be punished if caught.

Random Post: Where is He?!

In Dubai, I can say that I mostly live the expat life. This means that although I’m Saudi and from this region, my lifestyle is not exactly similar to that of most local or Arab people. Since I’m single and living alone, I get the opportunity to explore the places and do the activities that I choose to do. I spend my free time doing things that I usually plan in advance with my expat friends. Yes, most of my friends are expats from different nationalities and backgrounds. And most importantly, I get to meet new people on a regular basis. I think that one of the great aspects of living in cosmopolitan Dubai is the possibility to meet and network with people from all around the world, to exchange cultural knowledge and to build an ever-expanding network of friends and business contacts.

Now I can’t complain much, because I’ve always enjoyed being independent and free from my parents’ obsessive controlling ways, but these days, I can’t help but feel exhausted, tired and in a way…hopeless!

Maybe it’s the accumulated stress of taking an undergraduate course at a University located at the other end of town from where I live, trying to update the blog whenever I get the chance, and making sure that my Facebook Page stays alive and my followers engaged and entertained.

But lately, I have been feeling an increased sense of loneliness and solitude creeping up on me, I am no longer enjoying my personal space and freedom as much as I used to, the idea of being single and free doesn’t appeal to me that much, and most of all, I’m fed up and tired of all the responsibilities that come with being single in the city!

Actually, it’s not my first time to talk about this subject, you might remember my post on my visit to a legendary spiritual temple in Hong Kong. While there, I even prayed for a husband and specifically made the prayers on the male statue which is believed to save single women! you can read all about that post here.

They say that you’ll meet that special someone when you stop looking and start doing the things that you love most. Well, that’s precisely what I’ve been doing all of my life! I was never actively looking or putting effort into that area of my life. I was always focused on career and education, and am proud to say that I still am. I constantly had other priorities in life, and still do!

So could it be that that’s the main reason that the Universe still didn’t bring that person my way? that maybe I need to start putting more effort into attracting him into my life? do I need to implement or follow some strategies that will bring us closer together? 😀

Here’s a short video from Sex and the City that summarizes what I’m trying to say in this post (note: the early dating part doesn’t exactly apply to my story):

Sex and the city – Charlotte

Of all the elements that being single brings, the one that I mostly despise is having to act as both a lady and a man in one person’s body. By saying this I am talking about the endless responsibilities that come with living alone and having to do everything by yourself. Therefore, if you are ‘the one’ and you happen to be reading this, I would highly suggest that you are prepared for the following responsibilities:

All technical and computer related issues.
Handling the payment of utility and services bills.
All legal matters (anything that requires preparing important documents and submitting them to official entities. Example: Visa application process).
All rent related issues. These could range from looking for an apartment, to viewing it, to negotiating a contract, to signing the agreement and everything in between.
Setting up stuff, assembling furniture, connecting electronic devices. (and of course maintenance and fixing when anything goes wrong).
All travel bookings, hotel reservations and other travel related arrangements.
Help in grocery shopping and general stuff around the house.

Now that I’ve got that sorted out, I would like to ask you ladies (single, engaged, married): What are your views on being single and emotional stability and security? Do you think that it’s possible to be single and living alone and still feel emotionally stable? how do you cope with loneliness in the city? who do you turn to for moral support? how significant is sharing your life with a partner is to you? at what stage of your life did you feel at your most happy and secure?

And finally, in searching for or finding that special someone, what did you find has worked most for you?

I conclude this post with the ever popular Rihanna and “Where Have You Been”:

Where Have You Been- Rihanna

A huge thank you to the highly talented photographer at Pink Pepper Photography for the images used in this post 🙂

Stay tuned to my Facebook Page for more images from that fun photo shoot at Pink Pepper Photography studios!

Event Review: The UAE International Coffee & Tea Festival

“Did you know that the UAE is the only country that has a coffee pot on its currency?”

I never really paid any attention to this fact until Sofia Khan, Marketing Manager at the International Conferences & Exhibitions organization told me about it as I sampled a freshly brewed cappuccino at the espresso and brew bar.

The espresso bar was one of many stands at the fifth edition of the Dubai Coffee & Tea Festival. An event that brings together coffee and tea exhibitors, talented baristas and caffeine addicts like me 🙂

The cappuccino made from Nicaraguan coffee beans was not my first coffee cup for the day. In fact, from the time that I had arrived at the caffeine-infused trade show and while waiting to meet with the organizers to get quotes for my journalism feature story, I had been sampling various types of coffee from the different exhibitors. So by the time I had met with the organizers, I was already in an extremely hyper and high-energy mode! The caffeine high left me with no choice but to attack the organizers with my endless questions on everything from the event aim and vision, to the coffee industry in the UAE, the types of coffee and tea and the coffee roasting and brewing process!

I even sat in a corner of the hall near the organizers’ section and I had what one of the organizers called “my own office”!

I greatly enjoyed my conversation with the event director, Ryan Godinho. Ryan had so many interesting facts to share with me about coffee and about the event.

For example, did you know that there are more than 50,000 types of coffee? and more than 200,000 tea varieties?

Ryan, who started his career as an apprentice barista in Australia, also spoke to me about the progressive coffee industry there, the developed cafe culture and the highly-respected and well-paid barista profession.

The event wasn’t only about exhibitors promoting their coffee products or coffee machines though. The event hosted SCAA (Specialty Coffee Association of America) certified training workshops. These programs covered coffee grading and evaluation techniques, coffee preparation and craft roasting skills.

Another main feature of the show was the National Barista Championship. In which local baristas compete in front of an International panel of judges who came from various destinations. The winner of the UAE Championship gets the opportunity to represent the country at the 2014 World Barista Championship taking place in Rimini, Italy.

I was also delighted to speak to Anselm Godinho, Managing Director at the International Conferences & Exhibitions organization. Anselm explained to me about the event and the coffee industry from a rich business perspective. He gave me insight on a lot of topics including the original route of coffee history. He said: “Coffee was first discovered in Ethiopia, then moved to Yemen, Turkey, Austria and finally London.”

Anselm helped answer my query about the lack of organic coffee exhibitors by explaining to me that there is no certifying body for organic coffee. In addition, organic coffee looses a lot of its positive effects through the heating process. That’s why it’s not very common to brew organic coffee.

After noting down a total of 23 pages of quotes and information at the show, I think I can confidently say that I was undoubtedly alert with extremely high energy levels from all the coffee that I sampled at the event!

With a gold-trimmed box containing an exotic selection of Swiss luxury organic tea blends and highly informative and interesting conversations with friendly event organizers, who wouldn’t want to return to the UAE International Coffee & Tea Festival next year?!

I know I definitely will…if not for another blog post or feature story, at least to gratify my uncontrollable coffee addiction 🙂

Boon Coffee: Ethiopian Beans Roasted in the UAE

My Complimentary Luxury Organic Tea Blends :) — My Complimentary Luxury Organic Tea Blends 🙂

Personal Makeup Artist Course at The Annex Institute Dubai

I don’t want to sound like a drama queen, but when I was growing up, I always tended to do things at a later stage than my friends. Starting and learning how to put on makeup was no exception! I guess my mind was always preoccupied with other life-changing decisions…like mapping out and working on my next plan to get more personal space and freedom. For example, in the summer before I left Saudi to go study in London, I was busy communicating with London College of Fashion to enroll at a course there, preparing and sending my documents, taking the IELTS test, deciding on accommodation options and other legal matters.

Makeup was always something in the back of my head. I had the basic products and I knew how to use them at beginner level I would say. I had no idea how to do an evening look or blend different eye shadow colors to make a cool effect. My personal concept of makeup began and ended with mascara and a tinted lip balm 🙂

If you were following my blog lately, you might have read my post on the Annex Institute; a brand new creative school based in Downtown Dubai. The school offers various creative courses covering hair, Makeup, film and photography.

I was lucky to attend a ‘Personal Makeup Artist‘ course at the school. Where I finally got the opportunity to make use of my Smokey Eyes kit that I had bought over the summer and never got a chance to test out since I have no clue as to how to achieve the look!

During the day course, Chief Creative Officer and Makeup Artist Aqeel Al Nasser used me as a model for a highly elegant and sultry brown Smokey Eyes look. While applying the makeup, Aqeel explained every step that he did with high precision and detail. I must admit that I learned so many makeup tricks that I wasn’t previously aware of like:

The correct way to apply and blend eye shadow and blusher powder.
How to avoid the smudged mascara look (that I’m famous for sporting).
Essential contouring and highlighting techniques.
The correct way to apply eye liner.
The types of brushes to use for each product.
As much as I hate to admit this, but I was introduced to gel liner for the first time 😀

Aqeel even went on to explain to us the right way to clean our makeup brushes, which after trying out myself, I couldn’t imagine how increasingly efficient and effective it was! It makes your life so much easier, that you wonder how you would previously spend hours washing brushes in the sink with liquid soap and water! Or maybe that was just me being lost in my own world of life-changing missions and not knowing about this basic tip 🙂

Whether you are an expert in makeup application and evening looks or are a basic makeup user like me (who only owns a total of 4 brushes), the super friendly team at the Annex Institute will help you progress to the next level of your learning curve…their courses are certified by Internationally acclaimed organizations and institutions. With their many hair and makeup courses, they can accommodate to all levels and skills. Just drop them a line and they will offer you a course based on your requirements and interests.

Being the tom boyish girl that I am, I am now looking forward to taking my next course at the Annex: Creative Business Course. It’s a three-day Introductory business course to help you start your own creative business.

But before that, I must finish reading my Blog Inc. book…and I need to make time for the course once my University term ends or at the beginning of my next semester 🙂

Yes, despite being a Diva, I also have a very masculine and career-oriented side to me that you can’t ever hide 🙂

Now that I know how to put my own makeup in a professional way, it’s your turn to learn the essential tips and tricks of makeup and beauty. Check out the Annex Institute’s web site and follow them on Facebook!

Web Site: http://www.annex.ae/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/annexdxb

P.S. Do follow the Annex’s Facebook Page, as they regularly post useful and interesting hair and makeup tips on a daily basis! I’m a fan and I can say that I’ve learned a good number of tricks from that page 🙂