When Dior Beauty announced its Rouge Premier lipstick this year, it caused a buzz for several reasons.
One was that it was billed as the first "haute couture" lipstick and another was that it contained pure 24k gold. For many years the unique properties of gold have been known. It is an anti-inflammatory, anti-ageing and even an antioxidant.
Little wonder, then, that beauty companies are eager to include this wonder material in skincare and beauty products.
Here are some that contain 24k gold.
Dior Rouge Premier lipstick
A lipstick five years in the making, Dior Rouge Premier lives up to its "haute couture" moniker. It has a velvety texture and is infused with hibiscus extract and 24k gold for hydration and glow.
With a custom-made, limited-edition case made by the storied French ceramic house Maison Bernardaud, the 0.8mm thick porcelain cover is decorated with one of Dior’s most recognisable patterns, the Toile de Jouy.
Available in 12 shades, the case can be refilled easily by snapping in a new bullet. It's currently only available at the Dior flagship store in Paris, but will be available across the US from September 1.
Price on request
La Prairie Pure Gold Radiance Nocturnal Balm
This luxurious bedtime ritual balm from Swiss beauty specialist La Prairie contains gold nanoparticles of 60 microns, which, as well as making the skin glow, contain peptides and the micronutrient polyphenol.
Together, the ingredients work to smooth and hydrate the skin for increased volume and a firmer surface texture. Refillable, it also comes with a marble tool to massage the face to improve micro-circulation.
Dh3,580, laprarie.com
Hollywood Gold 24k Instant Lifting Anti-Aging DMAE Cream
This lifting cream combines apple stem cells, vitamin E and colloidal gold to help promote cellular function and reduce the appearance of fine lines, while CO Marigold works to help plump the skin.
Dh951 (50ml), hollywoodgoldluxuryskincare.com
111Skin Rose Gold Facial Treatment Mask
These facial sheets contain 24k gold and damask rose to illuminate and calm the skin. Packed with vitamins, minerals and flavonoids to ward off free radicals, damask rose is excellent for the skin and, along with pure 24k gold, should give skin an instant boost, while making it look luminous.
Dh450 for a pack of five, bloomingdales.ae
Rosegold Cosmetics 24K Gold Elixir
This serum is infused with 24k gold to help reduce the pigmentation marks caused by melasma, as well as non-cancerous brown or blue-grey freckles and patches that occur because of sun exposure.
As the gold reacts with the four basal cells in the lower epidermis, it triggers new cell production that gives the appearance of fresher, more elastic skin, with reduced fine lines, dark spots and wrinkles.
Dh367.50 (30ml); drbashara.com
Cle de Peau Beaute Precious Gold Vitality Mask
The energising facial mask combines 24k gold with a specially formulated illuminator that acts to combat the telltale signs of ageing, including fine lines and wrinkles. Containing amino acids and botanicals, it aims to help skin appear revitalised and more radiant.
Dh1,256; harrods.com
ITU Abu Dhabi World Triathlon
T20 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS
Qualifier A, Muscat
(All matches to be streamed live on icc.tv)
Fixtures
Friday, February 18: 10am Oman v Nepal, Canada v Philippines; 2pm Ireland v UAE, Germany v Bahrain
Saturday, February 19: 10am Oman v Canada, Nepal v Philippines; 2pm UAE v Germany, Ireland v Bahrain
Monday, February 21: 10am Ireland v Germany, UAE v Bahrain; 2pm Nepal v Canada, Oman v Philippines
Tuesday, February 22: 2pm Semi-finals
Thursday, February 24: 2pm Final
UAE squad:Ahmed Raza(captain), Muhammad Waseem, Chirag Suri, Vriitya Aravind, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Raja Akifullah, Karthik Meiyappan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Zafar Farid, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Rahul Bhatia
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
Ibrahim's play list
Completed an electrical diploma at the Adnoc Technical Institute
Works as a public relations officer with Adnoc
Apart from the piano, he plays the accordion, oud and guitar
His favourite composer is Johann Sebastian Bach
Also enjoys listening to Mozart
Likes all genres of music including Arabic music and jazz
Enjoys rock groups Scorpions and Metallica
Other musicians he likes are Syrian-American pianist Malek Jandali and Lebanese oud player Rabih Abou Khalil
New schools in Dubai
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
England's lowest Test innings
- 45 v Australia in Sydney, January 28, 1887
- 46 v West Indies in Port of Spain, March 25, 1994
- 51 v West Indies in Kingston, February 4, 2009
- 52 v Australia at The Oval, August 14, 1948
- 53 v Australia at Lord's, July 16, 1888
- 58 v New Zealand in Auckland, March 22, 2018
