routine11.me was born because of my skincare routine before relocating to the UAE
When I relocated to the UAE in mid-March 2022, I thought my well-established skincare routine would smoothly transition with me. Little did I know that this change of address would shake up my entire regimen, forcing me to reevaluate my skincare choices and adapt to the unique climate and environment of my new home.
I now share what I used to use before adjusting my skincare routine to fit into life in the Emirates. This blog was not part of my plans, but it helped me with my relocation and healing process.
For the last 20 years, I’ve traveled so much, especially within my beloved Europe, but without settling for too long in one place.
When I moved to the UAE, I followed a well-established and cherished skincare routine. I never really had an idea about how many products I have in my skincare, haircare, and makeup routine; I was just focusing on hunting the best ingredients; maybe I had a little idea of how much I am spending maintaining healthy skin and keeping my hair on my head (to the day, the struggle is real).
But changing my home address changed everything for me. It felt like a little earthquake in my lifestyle.
It’s been over a year; the acceptance phase is still WIP. The climate and environment had something to say in my new lifestyle, and now everything has to be reorganized according to the new weather I find myself in.
End of March 2022, my Supergoop SPF stick was almost finished when it hit me: I could not find Supergoop products in the UAE, and while searching in stores, I ultimately used the stick. Amazon’s order came two weeks later and had customs fees. While my SPF dilemma was significant, the real drama unfolded when I struggled to find Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. This vital component of my evening routine was seemingly nonexistent in local stores. It was time to take a step back and reevaluate my entire inventory of products and brands to understand how I could maintain my skincare principles and regime in the UAE. It is how the name of the blog was born.
My skincare routine 11 cult beauty brands favorites before the UAE:
AM
My cleansing routine includes both water-based and balm-textured, oily-based cleansers. Back in Europe, I didn’t feel the need for a double cleanse, and I was using a water-based cleanser in the morning only on my period days when I used to wake up with a face full of oil. I moved to the UAE with (1) Farmacy Green Clean Cleansing Balm and The Ordinary Squalene Cleanser and the favorite water-based cleansers, (2) Youth to the People Kale + Green Tea Spinach Superfood Cleanser and Drunk Elephant Jelly Cleanser.
Nowadays, in the UAE, cleaning my face every morning with a water-based cleanser is mandatory.
Serum targeting skin concerns for my oily skin, (3) Dr. Dennis Gross Pore Perfecting & Refining Serum, Sunday Riley Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment, Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA BHA Toner, and Dr. Barbara Sturm Night Serum.
Eye cream, (4) REN Skincare Brightening Dark Circle eye cream, and Sunday Riley Auto Correct Eye Contour cream.
The Vitamin C, from (5) Paula’s Choice 15% Vitamin C Booster and Sunday Riley CEO Brightening Serum were both doing an amazing job.
Moisturizing cream/gel, (6) Byoma Moisture Gel cream, Summer Fridays Cloud Dew Oil-Free gel cream, and Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream.
SPF, (7) Supergoop SPF50 Glow stick, Unseen Sunscreen SPF30, and Glow Screen SPF30 (yes, that’s a lot of Supergoop).
PM
After the evening cleansing routine with a solid cleanser, four nights a week, (8) Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant and The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is the winner combination.
The other two nights a week are reserved for the magic Retinol, (9) Medik8 r-Retinoate Intense, or, sometimes, The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane.
As someone who aims for a “no makeup” makeup look and, of course, for a little pampering experience, I include face masks in my skincare routine, so I came to the UAE with (10) Summer Friday Over Time Mask and The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque.
Exfoliants are important. And I just love (11) Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment and The Body Shop Vitamin C Glow Revealing Microdermabrasion.
Depending on my mood or my period, the PM routine closes with one of the above moisturizers (Byoma Moisture Gel Cream, Summer Fridays Cloud Dew Oil-Free Gel Cream, and Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream).
Amin.
Of course, that’s not all the products I brought with me, but I was using the above-mentioned daily and alternatively.
As I faced the reality of unavailable products and brands (especially Paula’s Choice), I decided to change my shopping strategy, ordering online to my home addresses in Romania or Germany when I knew I was traveling and making more trips to Bloomingdales @ Dubai Mall to hunt the stocks.
For reasons like “It’s the end of the month and before salary, so look for reasonable prices this month,” or “We’re sorry, we’re out of stock,” or late orders, delivery fees, customs fees, “no delivery in your country” I am using these days, with no regrets:
🤍Omorovicza Thermal Cleaning Balm,
🤍Tata Harper Clarifying Cleanser,
🤍Fresh Sugar Strawberry Exfoliating Face Wash,
🤍Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA 2%BHA Peel,
🤍Shiseido YUZU-C Eye Awakening Essence.
I have tried some new brands since living in the UAE:
🤍FOREO UFO Mini;
🤍and from 111SKIN, I liked the Oxygen Express mask and Rose Gold Radiance serum; so far, so good; I will write about them soon.
This seismic shift provided me with the opportunity to explore outside my comfort zone and adapt to a different climate. Stay tuned for updates on my skincare discoveries and how they fit into my routine as I continue to make the UAE my home.
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]
*Disclosure: I received no compensation for this review. This is solely based on my personal experience and assessment.
