Greetings, dear readers! I hope you all are well and in high spirits!
I open this blog to celebrate change. It’s been 15 months since I moved from Europe to the UAE, and with this move, many challenges regarding my skincare routine have made me reconsider my lifestyle, my shopping habits, and my whole beauty screening process. And so, I start this voyage of adapting to a new environment, experimenting with different local ingredients, and caring for my skin, hair, and soul in the Middle East.
The UAE climate, famous for being hot and arid, significantly impacted the health of my skin and hair in less than eight weeks I settled in. The high temperatures and relentless sunshine increased oil production and clogged pores, and I suffered from overall skin congestion. The dry air stripped my skin of its natural moisture, and as a result, my skin looked dehydrated and dull.
One of the unexpected challenges I faced was the change in water quality. The water here tends to be quite hard; it contains high mineral content and is harsh on the skin and hair. Hard water led to dryness, itchiness, and even more breakouts than usual on my sensitive, acne-prone skin.
Living in a desert environment also means dealing with excessive dust. The fine particles in the air settle on our skin, clogging pores and causing irritation. This is why cleansing the skin two times a day every day has become not just a routine but a crucial step in removing sand and all impurities and strengthening my healthy complexion.
The unavailability of the clean cult beauty products I had grown accustomed to using while living in Europe hit hard and pushed me to try local ingredients and made-in-UAE beauty brands. The UAE’s market sometimes offers a different range of products than what I used to find in other countries. Consequently, I had to explore different independent local beauty brands and experiment with new ingredients.
As someone meticulous about researching and selecting cult clean beauty products from independent producers, deviating from my trusted beauty routine was initially challenging. As we all know, experimenting carries risks for all skin types, not just oily-prone skin. Almost always, I get unfavorable reactions, skin irritation, and breakouts.
I’m not giving up. I’m determined to hunt and test new ingredients as “local” as possible and find the right products that suit my skin and hair needs in this new environment.
The Founder
If you are an expat in the Middle East facing skin concerns and want to share your story, send us a message at [email protected]
