Beauty guides
Beauty advice for UAE life
Perfume, makeup and shopping guides for heat, humidity and air conditioning. Independent, practical and honest about what we have and haven't tested.
How to Choose Perfume for Dubai Heat
Heat and humidity change how a perfume smells and how long it lasts. Here is how to choose scents that work in UAE summers, with examples to test.
Read the guideHow to Make Your Perfume Last Longer in Hot Weather
Practical, honest ways to help perfume last longer in UAE heat and humidity, from skin prep and where to spray to layering and storage.
Read the guideArabian Perfumes vs. Designer Perfumes: What's the Difference?
Oud, attars, bakhoor and mukhallat explained, and how Arabian perfumery differs from Western designer fragrance in style, format and how it's worn.
Read the guideHow to Keep Makeup Looking Fresh Throughout a Dubai Workday
Heat outside, cold air conditioning inside. A step-by-step routine to help makeup stay fresh from the morning commute to the evening, with a small touch-up kit.
Read the guideHow to Buy Authentic Perfume Online in the UAE
How to avoid fake perfume when shopping online in the UAE, from choosing the seller to checking packaging, batch codes and testers.
Read the guideBest Long-Lasting Women's Perfumes Available in the UAE
Six rich eau de parfums sold in the UAE, chosen for the structure that tends to last (vanilla, amber, woods and musk), with notes, prices and how to wear them in the heat.
Read the guideArabian Perfumes for Women Who Don't Like Strong Oud
Rose, musk, fruity florals and soft vanilla from Gulf perfume houses, with no oud in the listed notes. Six picks with verified notes and UAE prices.
Read the guideBest Fresh and Clean Perfumes for Hot Weather
Citrus, green, watery and clean musk perfumes that feel light in UAE heat. Six picks with verified notes and UAE prices, from a pharmacy budget buy to Chanel.
Read the guideBest Foundations for Dubai's Hot and Humid Weather
Six long-wear foundations sold in the UAE, from AED 58 to luxury, with each brand's wear claims, finish and coverage, and how to choose for your skin type.
Read the guideBest Office Perfumes for Women in the UAE
Discreet, close-wearing perfumes for shared offices, lifts and meetings, from clean musk to iris and green tea. Six picks with verified notes and UAE prices.
Read the guideBest Setting Sprays for Long Makeup Wear
Six setting sprays sold in the UAE, matte and natural, alcohol-free and budget, with each brand's claims and how to use them in heat and humidity.
Read the guideArabian Fragrance Brands Worth Discovering in the UAE
Eight Gulf perfume houses you'll find in UAE malls, from Amouage and Rasasi to Afnan and Lattafa, with where each began, what it's known for and where to start.
Read the guideBest Perfumes Under AED 200 in the UAE
Six full-size perfumes priced at AED 200 or less on UAE stores, from Gulf houses and high-street brands, with verified notes, prices and the date we checked.
Read the guideBest Makeup for Outdoor Weddings in Dubai
A seven-piece long-wear kit for outdoor weddings and events in UAE heat, from primer to waterproof mascara and a lip that survives dinner, with a step-by-step routine.
Read the guideHow to Choose a Lipstick for Your Undertone
Warm, cool, neutral or olive? How to work out your undertone, which lip shades usually flatter it, and which finishes last in UAE heat. Guidelines, not rules.
Read the guideBest Fragrance Families for Different Occasions
Which scent families suit the office, summer days, evenings, weddings, Ramadan and gifts in the UAE, with real perfumes to explore for each occasion.
Read the guideHow to Choose Your First Oud Perfume
New to oud? Start with blends where oud meets rose, vanilla or amber, test on skin, and know the difference between oud oil, oud accords and sprays. Six to explore, from AED 160.
Read the guideBest Makeup Formulas for Long Working Days
Which makeup formulas hold up from morning commute to evening plans, what label words like long-wear and transfer-resistant really mean, and products to explore for each step.
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Coming soon
- Best date-night perfumes for Dubai eveningsPerfume Guides
- Best luxury perfumes for women in DubaiPerfume Guides
- Best blush colours for different complexionsMakeup Guides
- Best waterproof mascaras for hot weatherMakeup Guides
- Best lightweight foundations for everyday wearMakeup Guides
- Ramadan and Eid fragrance gift guideGift Guides