Jessica Hill and Aarti Jhurani checked out Dubai’s recent Beautyworld Middle East exhibition for some of the best hair and beauty products that are new to the UAE, available online or coming soon to a salon or shop near you. Click on the pictures to see what they found.
Bamboo Shampoo by O’Right
This Taiwanese company specialises in eco-friendly organic products with the cheerful motto “Everything will be all right”. We made a beeline for “the world’s greenest” bamboo moisturising shampoo, which is certified carbon-neutral and paraben-, colourant- and formaldehyde-free.
• Dh165 for a 1 litre bottle; visit www.o-right.co.uk
Biosoft Crème Wax
These Italian oil-based waxes claim to result in slower hair regrowth and fewer ingrowth issues. The fastest-moving product is the banana-scented creme wax, although we also liked the chocolate, aloe vera, green apple and argan variations.
• Dh50 for an 800ml tub; visit www.biosoftonline.com
Olaplex Bond Multiplier No 3 Hair Perfector
Olaplex claims to link broken hair bonds, both during and after the hair-colouring process. Just launched in the UAE, it already has a huge celebrity following – Kim Kardashian sleeps with it in her hair, Jennifer Lopez uses it when in the shower, and Shakira and Jessica Biel have had their hair Olaplex-treated by Hollywood hairstylist Tracey Cunningham. The No 3 Hair Perfector is a popular “take-home” item – it can be used as a pre-treatment to strengthen hair and preserve colouring.
• Dh150 for a 100ml bottle, available at all major salons
Celltone snail-extract tissue oil
Brimming with snail extract, Celltone’s tissue oil boasts that it is clinically proven to reduce the appearance of stretch marks and scars within 14 days, and provides five times more hydration within 24 hours. The product leaves a light, soapy aroma and a shiny, almost slime-like sheen to skin. Would work wonders on dry, flaky elbows.
• From Dh50 to Dh200
Apsu perfume by Ulrich Lang
Developed by Ulrich Lang, a German living in New York, this aromatic eau de toilette in lush notes of jasmine, iris and violet leaf is hard to resist. Apsu is launching in Liberty, London, next month and will follow in July in the UAE, where it will be available to buy at Atelier in Dubai.
• Dh459 for 100ml
10 Magicstripes Beauty Tape
The brainchild of Ukrainian make-up artist Natalie Franz – who has worked on the eyelids of Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift – these stickers work to remove droopiness. The best part is that they are undetectable when applied, especially with make-up on, and comfortable to wear.
• A packet of 64 stripes, which comes in three sizes, costs Dh79. Visit www.magicstripes.com
Dermohelix moisturising cream
This Italian company is pioneering a new extraction process involving an ultrasound machine for the oils it uses in its organic skincare creams, which boast a high concentration of bamboo, liquorice and carrot oils. The day and night face creams contain donkey milk as well as super-potent extracts of cumin oil.
• Dh264 for 100ml; visit www.dermohelix.com
Sheep hair steam pack by Mediheal
Mediheal are market leaders in Korea when it comes to facials and hair masks. This product may look like a slightly ridiculous oversized children’s swimming cap, but it contains a luscious cream made from goat milk that repairs damaged hair – and it creates just the right amount of heat on your head to help boost absorption. Put the cap onto your wet head, secure, then take it off after 20 minutes for hair that’s shiny, smooth and fragrant.
• Dh69 per cap including a 40g sachet of hair cream; available on www.amazon.com
Grounded coffee scrub
Made from the beans of the robusta coffee plant, these scrubs were developed by British couple Lloyd Hazell and Tasha Harris to treat eczema. The pair were awarded £30,000 on the BBC TV entrepreneur show Dragon's Den to set up their company Grounded Body Scrub in the UK. We love the coffee scrub containing coconut oil and the deliciously warm and fruity chocolate orange scrub.
• Dh80 for 200g, available at www.groundedbodyscrub.co.uk They offer free worldwide shipping
Renee Blanche Essential gift box
The Italian company is tapping into the trend for men’s grooming products with their range of beard beautifiers. The gift set is the perfect present for a man who likes to keep his facial hair looking dapper. Each box contains a 50ml essential beard oil, 100ml beard shampoo, 100ml beard balm and 50ml tub of beard wax. (Did you know men should shampoo their beards at least twice a week?)
• Dh104, visit www.reneeblanche.it
Orly Epix colour polish
This new nail product acts like a gelish but dries like a nail polish, which means there’s no need for a UV machine. All you need to do is apply a topcoat, and you’re good to go. Orly claims this polish will stay on for 10 days without chipping.
• Dh32 per 30ml bottle, 70 shades available, stocked at various salons in the UAE
Agave Vapor straightening-iron
Get your hair straightened and enjoy a conditioning treatment at the same time with Agave Vapor Iron. This straightener, which was developed by Beverly Hills salon owner Fernando Romero, infuses your hair with healing oil from Mexico’s agave plant, while it straightens.
• Dh660 for iron including two 118ml bottles of agave conditioner. Visit www.sephora.com
Hair styler
GHD’s Platinum styler, soon launching in salons across the UAE, is designed to give 50 per cent less hair breakage, 20 per cent more shine and twice as much colour integrity, all while straightening out or curling your locks.
• Dh1,282; visit www.ghdhair.com
RG Cosmetics BB Creme All-In-One
A multipurpose leave-in treatment for the hair, it has been formulated to “minimise hair products and maximise results”. It works to smoothen, treat and protect, while also reducing volume, straightening, brightening and sealing in hair colour.
• Dh128 for 118ml, available at Cosmetica Trading in Dubai
Alfaparf Milano Pigments Ultra Concentrated Pure Pigment
This nifty little tube from this Italian company is a must-have for those with coloured hair. All your need to do is add a tiny amount to your shampoo and conditioner every time you wash your hair to maintain the colour and brighten it.
• The brand will launch in the UAE soon.
LYN Colour Illusion Root Concealer
Got no time to rush to the salon to touch up your roots? Stock up on this concealer when it launches in salons in June. Available for black, brown and dark brown hair, the pigment coats strands evenly and stays on until the next wash. It does not transfer on to clothes and pillows, and since it’s water resistant, it stays in place even when you’re sweating.
• Dh75 for 57ml
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