September Favorites

I'm bringing back these posts because a) I love reading these and b) I think it'll be a great way to round off each month!

September was an okay month but I definitely enjoyed these bunch of things over the last 30 days - there's some beauty stuff, a book and weirdly, a car cleaning service (don't say that I never surprise you)

The Martian by Andy Weir
Haven't seen the film yet but love the book. Great read even though there are an insane amount of technical details in there. For those who haven't heard of either, the book follows Mark Watney, an astronaut who gets stuck in Mars after a storm separates him from his teammates who were heading back to Earth. He figures it might take a while for him to get help as they presume that he's dead and starts planning his survival on the planet.

Wet n Wild - MegaLength Mascara
An oldie but a goodie - if you're looking for a mascara to give you clump-free long lashes, this mascara is for you. I would recommend this one for days where you are wearing minimal or no makeup as it looks very natural and doesn't them weigh down through the day. Perfect for those no-makeup makeup looks and for those who have semi-decent natural lashes as these don't really add much volume. If you're doing a glam look, I would definitely recommend the Maybelline Lash Sensational, another great budget option.

Kiko Milano - Heatwave Vanilla Lip Oil
First of all, Kiko has finally made it here - super exciting! Lip oils are becoming quite popular these days and this one works very nicely - smells incredible and feels really nourishing on your lips. Recommend if you're looking to try out a reasonably priced lip oil.

Kathleen Lights x Makeup Geek Highlighter Palette
Beautiful, beautiful palette. The formula is based off of the MUG foiled eyeshadows which I've heard great things about - it's very smooth and easy to blend (recommend using a blending brush and not a fan brush). It gives you a nice subtle highlight but is totally buildable into a blinding one with ease. If you're on the pale-light side, you'll most likely be able to use the first two shades as highlighter and possibly the third as a bronzing shade or on the lids.

Lush - Angels on Bare Skin Cleanser
As with all Lush products, this smells amazing and has a wonderful mix of clay, almond, lavender and lots of other delicious things which makes for a very good cleanser. It provides a nice gentle exfoliation without irritating my sensitive skin and helps balance it out nicely without any redness. I use it every other day on my face but it can be used everyday and for the body as well (love products that have these bonuses). I would however recommend using this in the shower as it can get slightly messy due to its gritty clay texture. Their new Halloween and Christmas collections also in store and online now (squee!)

Tarte - Shape Tape Concealer
Believe the hype, this concealer is pretty incredible. I got it after hearing the 20th beauty guru recommending it on Youtube and it was totally worth it! It's super light weight with medium to full coverage, stays on all frikkin day and it really does not crease. Really hoping this launches with rest of the Tarte goodies at Sephora Middle East at the end of October (still yay!). This one does have a slight fragrance if that's of concern to you but otherwise, excellent product.

Lottie London - Powder Power Brush
I love this brush - it's so soft, is a great size for powdering your face and it doesn't shed! Bonus - cute as a button! Definitely want to try out rest of their brushes.

Mavala Stop
So if you go back to the beginning of the year and read my resolutions, getting a grip on my terrible nail-biting habit was one of them. Mavala Stop is slowly making this a reality - it's a clear nail polish that youapply on and the next time you bite on your nail, it tastes bloody disgusting. I've tried other products that have similar effects but thisone is by far the worst tasting and therefore the most effective. Highly recommend if you're struggling with this habit.

OCD.ae
OCD.ae is a car cleaning service based in Dubai - they come right to your doorstep and do a full clean of your car inside and out, as simple as that. I've spent, what feels like, a lifetime waiting at petrol stations to get my car cleaned and therefore, this is excellent. They have different packages depending on how intense a cleaning you want. I used them the other day and opted for the Gold Package - they did a nice deep clean of the interiors, got rid of all the different random stains and were very thorough with the exterior as well! Very impressed, definitely recommend if you've been putting this off for the same reasons as me.


And that brings us to the end of this post.. until next month. What were some of your favorites this month, comment below! Also, what kind of posts would you like to see from the Monalogues - beauty, lifestyle, personal or something else? Hit me up and let me know, would love to hear the answer to this one!

Mona xo

Blame the Blogger: Beauty Edition

This surely happens to most people - you read a blog post, you see that glowing review of a certain product and boom, you're usually halfway to the store (or checking out online). Is this just me?

Bloggers, influencers, enablers - call them what you may but they are a dangerous bunch. So, in this post, I'm going to talk about some of my recent purchases that totally have a blogger's name on it. I'm currently testing all of these guys, so let me know if you'd like a review on a specific one.

Let the blame game begin!

Product: Pixi Glow Peel Pads
Culprit: Aseya, Pretty in The Desert

This one has been on my list for a while but it went to the top when Aseya snapped it out a few weeks ago and mentioned how it's improved her skin. SOLD! The product has 20% glycolic acid which which is more than most glycolic products in the market - it helps with treating acne, scarring, hyper pigmentation, fine lines, wrinkles etc. - I've tried this once already and I'm very impressed!

Product: The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil
Culprit: Laura, Buy Now Blog Later

I'm really not loving micellar waters at the moment. Yes, the Bioderma one is still my favorite and it's excellent if you are looking to try out a micellar water. Don't be fooled by the alleged Garnier dupe of this one! It is nowhere close to the original - I don't care who says what.

So, as I was saying -  I was looking for a more satisfactory makeup removing experience and Laura has mentioned this a few times as her go-to. Cleansing oil is a first for me - it's meant to be good with sensitive skin and clears out waterproof makeup as well.

Product: RCMA No Color Powder
Culprit: Kathleen, Kathleen Lights

Kathleen Lights talked about this guy a while ago and it has since exploded online. It's supposedly the dupe for Laura Mercier powder and for a fraction of its price, so seemed like no-brainer purchase. Also, I <3 Kathleen Lights!

Product: Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Water Foundation
Culprit: Huda, Huda Beauty

First of all, I feel like I should list Tarte as the culprit for this one because the packaging itself is so terribly gorgeous, it's enough to make me want to purchase the whole damn range. This foundation is meant to be quite natural and light weight plus my first experience with a water foundation. Great reviews have been going around for this guy and Huda's recommendation was the final push - excited to see Tarte launching in the region soon!

Product: Colourpop Liquid Lipsticks
Culprit: LuAnne, Weesha's World

LuAnne is solely responsible for all my Colourpop liquid lipstick purchases - I'm sure this is true for most people! Both the Ultra Matte & Ultra Satin liquid lipsticks are great quality, have a diverse range of colors and are cheap as chips - what's not to love? My favorite shades at the moment are Tulle & Avenue (as featured in the picture) which I feel will suit a variety of skin colours as well. Great brand to experiment with for liquid lipsticks.

Product: Too Faced Chocolate Bon Bons Palette
Culprit: Bonnie, Bonnie Garner

I'm a newbie to makeup and so, eyeshadow palettes with upwards of 8 shadows scare me a little. When Bonnie blogged about this a while ago, it seemed like an approachable one and the colours formed a good all-round palette to have. So, I took the plunge and got it last month - it smells incredible as most Too Faced products, I'm afraid I might lick it. (let's be honest, I'm going to)

Of course there are many more purchases triggered by some lovely bloggers, but I'll save that for the next one. Meanwhile, let me know who you blame for some of your recent purchases and what were they? I'd love to check them out!

I know my blog schedule has been slightly off but hopefully back on this wagon here on. Thanks for sticking around and following the Monalogues.

Mona xo

Clarisonic Mia 2 Review - Yay or Nay?

So, I waited patiently to do this review and have now been using the Clarisonic Mia 2 for a whole 4 months - that's like a lifetime in waiting-to-write-a-blog-post years.

If you've not already heard about this product, the Clarisonic Mia 2 is a facial sonic cleansing brush with an oscillating brush head that's meant to give you squeaky clean skin by cleaning 6 times more intensely than if you would wash your face with your hands alone.

What, where, how much

Let's look at the basic info - the Mia 2 model is a good one to start with. It comes with a compact charger (each charge will last you 30-ish uses), a sensitive brush head, a sample of the Clarisonic cleanser and a travel case. It's definitely pricey at AED 700 - see it as a relatively long-term investment but do keep in mind that it's best to change brush heads every 3 months which cost roughly 100 AED. You can get the Mia 2 as well as the brush heads at Sephora. There seem to be vendors selling it online for cheaper, be cautious of fakes as always.

How does it work?

It's pretty easy to use - apply your cleanser of choice either onto the brush or onto your face. Mia 2 also has a useful setting which is a buzzer for every time you need to switch to a different spot on your face in the 1-minute period - 20 seconds on chin/nose, 20 seconds on forehead, 10 seconds on each cheek. It also has two speeds in case you want to experiment with what works better with your skin.

So, switch on the Clarisonic and follow the vibrating buzz-es. Afterwards, rinse your face and then rinse your brush head, dab the brush head onto a towel to remove the extra water, put on the lid and it should dry off before your next use. You can use it in the shower even as it's waterproof.

Chapter 1: Mia 2 + Sensitive Brush Head

Now, for the review itself. My expectations from the Mia 2 was to help improve my skin texture in general. I started off using the Mia 2 once a day with the sensitive brush head that came with the product and the first time I used it - I was very impressed, my skin was super smooth, soft and so clean.

Yeah, this lasted all of one week. I started breaking out so horribly and I hadn't changed anything else in my routine except for adding the Mia 2. So, I gave it up and decided to just chalk it to a bad purchase. I went online, read some reviews to see who I can blame this on and move on with my life, and came across a bunch that mentioned that they had the same issue before it got so much better.

So, I went back to reluctantly using the Mia 2 and waited for the light at the end of the tunnel. Nope, nothing - still as bad and no signs of improvement. At this point, I did feel as though the sensitive brush head was harsh on my skin and caused redness, but I just dismissed that thought assuming that that is how the brush felt and plus I was still waiting for this to turn better as it did for most people.

Chapter 2: Mia 2 + Acne Brush Head

My final ray of hope was to try a different brush head. My skin had been strangely sensitive over the last 6 months prior to Mia 2, so I had figured that the 'sensitive' brush head that I'm already using should be best for it. I anyway looked at some options and decided to try out the acne cleansing brush head which is usually for acne-prone skin.

In the meanwhile, I stopped using the Clarisonic till I got this new brush head and as soon as it came, I braced myself for whatever was about to come - one last try.

And.. it worked. The acne brush head is INCREDIBLE. It is essentially the brush head that is meant to be used for people with sensitive skin - it's much softer and gentle on your skin than the damn sensitive brush head + it almost feels like it's polishing your skin while deep cleaning it. So if you've reached this part of the post and hate your Clarisonic, try the acne brush head!

Since the acne brush head, I've experienced some vast improvements in my skin - much smoother, my skin feels so soft and radiant, my pores seem smaller and makeup goes on much nicer. It's even helped with absorption of my other products into my skin helping get better results from them as well, so more bang for your buck. I usually use it once a day at night and follow it up with my night routine.

It didn't seem help to particularly help with scars or pigmentation - let me know if you've seen otherwise.

Verdict

Yay! Absolutely recommend if you're looking to elevate your skincare routine. You'll be fine without it for sure but I'm glad I got onto this wagon (though it took a while). If you're looking for a good cleanse and refined skin texture, you can bank on this product for that. It also means for fewer facials (lesser $$) as you have far less blackheads, acne and clogged pores etc. You're giving your skin some TLC essentially everyday with this one.


And that brings to me to the end of this saga. Let me know if you have any tips/tricks for me to try out with this one!

Mona xo 

#TMTurns1 Giveaway: Herbline Essentials

It's no secret that Herbline Essentials is one of my favourite brands for skincare - they are part of my nighttime skincare routine as well as one of my favourite face masks.

There are so many natural brands in the market but what I love about HE is that their products are quite reasonably priced, they have ranges for all kinds of skin types and they work! So, if you are looking to try out some of their products, this would be a great time as they have some amazing bundle offers on their website for a limited time and they offer free delivery across the UAE!

But if you're looking to try your luck, I've teamed up with Herbline Essentials to give away products worth AED 500 to one lucky winner! (I almost wanted to keep this for myself)

The products included for this giveaway are:

- Neem and Brahmi Facewash
- Aloevera and Honey Under Eye Gel
- Apricot and Honey Face Scrub
- Aloevera and Liquorice Skin Protection and Healing Cream

Below are all the deets on how to win these lovely products:

The entries for this giveaway will close on 30 September 2015 and the winner will announced shortly after. The competition is open to GCC residents only. Good luck!

Mona xo

So Spa at Sofitel Downtown

I don't care if every other blog post has begun with how hot it is BECAUSE IT IS REALLY VERY HOT. I’ve grown up in Dubai and thus have spent many summers romancing the Dubai heat (it’s complicated) but this summer has really got me closer to being medium rare.

So if you share these heat woes and don’t want to hide out in a mall, head down for a spot of relaxation to a good ol’ spa. Feel like that’s always a good idea in any situation.

I visited So SPA at Sofitel Dubai Downtown recently for an Oriental massage and first impression - their spa reception is absolutely gorg! Textured stone walls, candles, a mini shop of products lined on one side of the wall and a small couch seating area on the other. 

Not to mention - a lovely statement set of tear-drop lights! (don’t know if that’s a thing but that’s what they looked like to me) I’m very used to warm lighting at spas but as you can see from the picture below, it was quite different here. Overall, quite modern and elegant. 

I was served a green sweet beverage along with a cold towel and asked to fill in the usual spa questionnaire. I was then led to my wonderful massage room which was quite simplistic keeping in theme with the rest of the spa. After I changed into my robe, my therapist offered me a selection of oils to choose from for my massage. I chose one of my favourites - Rosemary - and we began with the massage.

So the main function of an Oriental massage is to relieve pain and tension in the muscles, so there was kneading and treading movements which my therapist really knew her way around. As always, the one time you wish time would go slow, it flies by! At the end of my 60 minutes, I felt absolutely energised yet relaxed. 

After the massage, I was served another sweet beverage and a bowl of mixed nuts to munch on. Overall, a great experience - it’s a lovely spa, not over the top. Honestly though, it’s not your typical indulgent spa IMO where you would spend the day getting pampered but it’s a good luxurious option to get your quick but relaxing massages, facials and so on.

However, I do wish I had planned to spend more time there as they have a jacuzzi, hammam, sauna and access to the hotel's infinity pool with a superb Burj K view… maybe next time as there will definitely be one! 

They have a 2-for-1 offer on spa treatments this month, so dare I say this is perfect timing!

Oriental Massage, AED 475 for 60 minutes, contact 04-5036666

Mona xo

Current Favorite Face Masks

When it comes to face masks, I love that they serve a lot of purposes - they unclog your pores, clear out your face, help maintain healthy skin and the best part, it's a wonderful relaxing 20 minutes. And once they come off, it almost feels like you just shed skin, like you just got a new face - so clean and fresh!

My kind of masks are the ones with natural ingredients, like the DIY ones. But as I'm rubbish at DIY, I've managed to find the closest alternatives to those. So without further jibber jabber, here are some of my current favorite natural face masks! This list is constantly evolving as are all lists beauty related, amirite?

Balanced Guru - Spiced Up Berries Antioxidant Masque

What: Spiced Berries Antioxidant Masque by Balanced Guru. All their products are organic and 100% natural!

Has: Acai, clove, cinnamon, rosemary, amla, vitamin C and more goodies

How:  It comes in a powder form, so I recommend mixing it with yoghurt for a cooling effect (especially in this heat). You can expect a slight tingling sensation right when you put it on but it goes away after a few minutes.

Post-mask: Reduced redness, brighter skin

Bonus: Smells ah-mazing! Puts you straight into spa mode.

Where: The Farmers Garden, Greenheart Organic Farms and online at Youmah

Pharmaclay - Clayspray Red Clay

What: Clayspray Red Clay by Pharmaclay. It's a face mask in a can! Basically, it's emulsified clay that comes in a can which keeps it incredibly fresh and clean. This range has clay masks for all different skin types and is paraben-free among other wonderful things.

Has: Red Clay, Cacao

How: While I was totally up for spraying myself in the face with clay, that's not how this works. It's surprisingly fuss-free - there is a neat little pump which gives out a sizeable portion of fresh clay which has a mousse-like texture and is wonderfully easy to apply. It dries quite quickly once you have squeezed it out, so make sure to apply it onto your face quickly. It dries out almost as quickly on your face as well but it's recommended you leave it on for 15 minutes before you wash it off.

Warning: the clay does look (and sorta smells) like chocolate mousse so cravings might be activated.

Post-mask: Less sebum/oil, reduced breakouts and super soft skin

Bonus: So travel-friendly, no worries about explosions and all that.

Where: Bloomingdales, Dubai Mall

Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay

What: Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay. This little guy is no secret despite the title. The Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay is almost a cult favorite by now, I would think! If you looking to spring clean your face, then this is the mask you have been looking for. The back of this box says.. feel your face pulsate. Need I say more?

Has: Bentonite Clay. That's it - so it literally takes dirt to suck out all the dirt out of your pores.

How: This comes in a powder form and for mixing this, make sure to use only plastic/rubber utensils - no metals. I recommend mixing this with apple cider vinegar for best results. Once you have this on and it starts drying, your face will start 'pulsating' and tightening quite a bit but don't worry, it's not an unpleasant sensation. I usually put this on before I take a shower so that I can get my face completely wet before I slowly scrub it off, I've found that it's slightly painful doing it otherwise.

Warning: Don't plan to talk or eat during this time because it's actually not possible (I tried and failed miserably) 

Post-mask: You might experience some redness after but not for long. Apart from that, this will be one of those times that you wash off your mask and you have a new face - SO clean. Smaller pores and fading of acne scars/blemishes is what you can expect.

Bonus: Pocket friendly!

Where: Online at Souq

Herbline Essentials - Apricot and Honey Face Scrub

What: Apricot & Honey Face Scrub by Herbline Essentials. I know what you're thinking - this is a face scrub. But what you don't know is that this product works just as wonderfully as a face mask as well. This one is my go-to mask for when my face needs a pick-me-up.

Has: Apricot, maize, honey, walnut shell and some more things that sound edible

How: It's got a nice paste-like texture and so it's quite easy to apply it onto your face. Once it's, it has a lovely cooling effect. This is most relaxing of the four masks and it helps rejuvenate tired skin.

Post-mask: It's one of those masks where you can see a difference as you soon as you wash off - smooth, radiant skin. It has done wonders with evening out my skin tone as well as reducing my pigmentation.

Bonus: As you already know, it doubles as a scrub!

Where: All pharmacies across UAE and online at Herbline Essentials


Aaaand I'm done. Do you have any recommendations for me? Let me know in the comments below as always!

Mona xo

Nighttime Skincare Routine

I've been getting quite a few compliments on my skin lately and those are just the best kind of compliments, am I right? Tell anyone their skin looks great and you're in!

I've been painstakingly following a strict skincare routine over the last few months, so it's good to know that it's paying off. My skin was acting up in all sorts of ways and these products have been helping me nurse it back to health.

It's pretty basic stuff, I have kept it short and simple because that's the only way I can make sure I do it every night and not laze out of it. Keep in mind, I have combination skin which is quite prone to acne and pigmentation.

So here goes: presenting my current nighttime skincare routine! 

Step 1 - Cleanser

I start off my trusty Bioderma Sensibio H20 Cleanser. What timing - I just finished my previous bottle a few days ago and this landed up in my Bioderma Glambox this month! 

I like this cleanser a lot - it's good with sensitive skin, does a great job with makeup removal and the big plus is that it's not at all sticky. My only qualm with this product is that sometimes if you're wearing heavy eye makeup, it takes a little longer to get everything off completely but it gets the job done!

Available in all pharmacies across the UAE. AED 35 for 100 ml.

I also found it online here.

Step 2 - Toner

I follow that up with Herbline Essentials Cucumber and Rose Water Skin Tonic. Doesn't the product already just sound so wonderful? I'm in love with quite a few of their products but let's talk about this one for now.

This tonic is so soothing, it's like a mini-spa for your face at the end of the day. It's 100% natural, smells delicious and cools down your skin beautifully. Love, love, love.

Available in all pharmacies across the UAE. AED 105 for 120 ml.

I also found in online here.

Step 3 - Serum

Step 3 is the one and only Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate. I know I'm probably way late to this party but seriously.. what is this magical elixir? I put a few drops of this on my face at night and I wake up with my skin in a good mood. This serum is super hydrating and so thus I usually skip the moisturizing step (if you noticed)

It has solved so many of my problems - pigmentation, scars, dullness - you name it. It's a one stop shop for for anyone looking to repair their skin. I have the 50ml bottle at the mo which will easily last me five months as you really to use only a few drops every night. So if you're a little iffy about the price tag, remember that it's going to last you A WHILE.

Available in Kiehl's stores in Dubai Mall & Mercato, Harvey Nichols and Bloomingdales. 

AED 321 for 50 ml.

Step 4 - Eye cream

So, until recently, I didn't understand what the big deal was behind using an eye cream. Doesn't your moisturizer cover your under-eye needs or whatever? But as always, you read one too many beauty blogs (story of my life) and there I was buying the Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado.

And of course, it works! The cream is quite thick with a slight green tinge (owing to the avocado) and it takes a while for it to absorb into the skin. So, allot absorption time if you plan to wear this during the day. 

You feel a burst of coolness under your eyes the minute you put it on which is a welcome surprise and overall, the skin under my eyes is now nicely hydrated and also brightened up, thanks to this one. Note that it is recommended for younger age groups as it doesn't have any anti-aging properties. 

Available in Kiehl's stores in Dubai Mall & Mercato, Harvey Nichols and Bloomingdales. 

AED 150 for 28 ml.

And then I go to sleep! Let me know your night time routine and if there are any other awesome products you recommend.

Mona xo

Subscription Box Roundup - UAE edition

I absolutely love the idea of subscription boxes! What's not to love - they get delivered straight to your door, they serve as great gifts (both for yourself and others) and you get to try a whole new bunch of things every month. #win

There are quite a few subscription boxes that have popped up over the last year, so thought I'd do a little round up and share what's out here in the UAE across beauty, lifestyle, food, kids (plus moms) and pets.

Beauty

Glambox 

Glambox is easily the most popular of the subscription boxes in the UAE. For those who don't know, Glambox is a monthly beauty box that delivers a selection of beauty samples to your doorstep.

Subscription starts at AED 239 for three months.

I've used Glambox over the last year now and I am quite happy with it. They do have their off months - tiny samples, repetition of products etc but overall, I've discovered lots of good products through them.

Zanedo

Zanedo is another beauty box that's been around the block for a while. Their offering guarantees 2 full size products each month along with samples of other products.

Subscription starts at AED 189 for three months.

I did have a Zanedo subscription as well and was happy with the quality of the products that I received. I chose not to renew because I was not happy with the variety of samples.

Lifestyle

Box Therapy

Box Therapy is a fairly new monthly lifestyle box which aims to bring you products from across the board - beauty, decor, fashion, fitness, food and more. This is one is my favorite right now because there's just a little bit of everything.

Subscription starts at AED 396 for three months. They also have a promotional 1-month subscription option for right now for AED 162.

il.box

il.box is a bi-monthly box curated by the team at Khaleejesque, a lifestyle and culture magazine. Aimed to be the Gulf's first luxury subscription box, it will be delivered every two months along with the print issue of the magazine and will contain limited edition pieces as well as products from local Arab artists and businesses. Also included will be an exclusive invite to a special event and a luxury golden prize in one special box.

Subscription cost runs quite steep for this one, starts at AED 622/per box and AED 2484 for a yearly subscription (5 boxes). I took a peek at their January box on their website and I'm super tempted!

Food

Munchbox

Munchbox is a weekly snack box packed with nutritious, healthy snacks which are vegan, natural and free of artificial coloring. You can choose between their two boxes - Light for low-fat snacks or the Surprise Me box for if you're feeling adventurous. They have over 40 different snacks which they mix up for each delivery so you don't get bored.

Subscription starts from AED 49 per box per week. They also have a one-time delivery option if you just want to order them once in a while which starts at AED 59 per box.

Goodybox

Goodybox is a monthly snack box consisting of all natural and organic snacks. Each box contains a mix of 7 - 10 snacks and can be purchased on a one-time or a monthly subscription basis.

Subscription starts at AED 149/month and a one-time box is priced at AED 175.

Redcoffee24

Redcoffee24 has a monthly subscription for fresh coffee beans! They currently have four different varieties of coffee beans: Kenya AA, Nicaragua Maragogype , Rwanda AA and India Plantation AA.

Subscription starts at AED 40 per pack (227g) per month.

Kids + Moms

The Happy Box

The Happy Box is a monthly box which contains themed and educational projects for parents and kids to enjoy together. Great way to introduce new activities to kids every month!

Subscription starts at AED 705 for three months or AED 250 for a one-time box.

KenziBox

KenziBox is a monthly box which has four themed arts and crafts activities (including all the materials and instructions) for your kids to play around with.

Subscription starts at AED 525 for three months and a one-time box is priced at AED 185.

Mama's Box

Mama's Box is a monthly box for expecting mothers and mothers with kids up till the age of one. Each box is personalized with items corresponding to either your pregnancy stage or your baby's age. So, all your moms-to-be and new moms, they've got you covered.

Subscription starts at AED 705 for three months or AED 250 for a one-time box.

Pets

Petbox

Petbox is a monthly box for your furry little fellows. Based on your pet (dog/cat) and its size, Petbox will put together a box filled with treats and toys for them to enjoy every month.

Subscription starts from AED 564 for three months. You could also get a one-time box for AED 199.

Pet Pack

Pet Pack offers Pooch Packs and Purr Packs for your pets on a monthly basis. Each pack contains toys, treats and other surprises for your dog/cat!

Subscription starts at AED 537 for three months and a one-time box is priced at AED 199.

Waggiebox

Waggiebox is a monthly box for your dog which consists of healthy treats, dog products that are quality assured and even discounts to vets, daycare and grooming salons. I'm definitely looking to try this one for Illis!

Subscription starts at AED 189/month for tiny dogs, AED 199/month for small dogs, AED 209/month for medium dogs and AED 219/month for big dogs.

And that brings us to the end of my discoveries on this topic! Any that I missed? What are your favorites? Let me know in the comments below or tweet me @monagir.

Mona xo

January '15 Favorites

The Skimm

These days, we are exposed to a crazy amount of information which makes it quite difficult to sort through all the news (or even read any of) and get to the important stuff. The Skimm helps with just that. It's a daily email newsletter service that reads through all current topics/news, simplifies it and sends a daily update to your inbox in a fun, very easy-to-read format. Best of all, it's free!

Above
Sofitel Dubai Downtown

Love: Uninterrupted views of Burj Khalifa, fancy but with a no nonsense vibe
Place for: Date night, a chill evening out
Recommend: Falafel sliders and making a reservation (especially for the weekend)

Forest Essentials Advanced Soundarya Age Defying Facial Serum with 24K Gold
Forest Essentials is a luxury Ayurveda brand based in India. I bought this product on my recent trip to India and it's been working wonderfully for me. It's 100% natural, helps eliminate fine lines and pigmentation and the packaging is just gorgeous (I just had to say that, total sucker for packaging). I've seen a very noticeable reduction in pigmentation and my skin feels a lot more hydrated, so two thumbs up! Their products are not available in stores in UAE as yet but they do offer international shipping.

Boohoo 

I'm a big fan of online shopping and Boohoo is my most recent haunt. They have a great selection of styles which are quite young and fresh and they have a plus-size section as well which runs up to size 24. The above two dresses are part of my January haul - I'm totally big on prints.

Two Dots

This game has ruined my life but I'm honestly hopelessly addicted. I'm not usually one to play games on my phone but this one sucked me right in. The basics of the game is joining dots as you can tell but oh, it's so much more than that. Give it a go and let me know how you get on, I've just made my way up to level 56!

Free, Available for iOS and Android

Pure Candles Dubai

Scented candles are a no-brainer - they make the atmosphere so much more relaxed and calm, which everyone could use especially after a work day. My current favorite is the Ginger Lime candle from Pure Candles Dubai. All their candles are made of soy wax and are eco-friendly, made right here in Dubai. 

That's it for my favorites from January! Tweet me @MonaGir and let me know what some of your favorites are from last month! 

Mona xo

GlamBox + The Face Shop UAE

GlamBox has partnered with The Face Shop UAE to bring out their first all-natural box for November '14. I was invited to the announcement event at St. Tropez Bistro (Mall of the Emirates) and was quite excited to have a look at their beauty and skincare products!

GlamBox is a monthly subscription box that delivers a selection of beauty samples to your doorstep. I've been a subscriber for over a year now and have discovered some great products through them! (and I also love receiving mail!)

The Face Shop is a Korean brand that specializes in beauty and skin care products for women, men and even children. They have separate ranges of all-natural products based on your skin type/needs - mango seed for dry skin, chia seed for oily skin and white seed for uneven skin tone/brightening.  They also had a special sun care range that would provide the right kind of protection for your skin type.

Apart from the variety of all-natural face masks, they also had some interesting nail packs and foot masks/patches on display.  

Some of their packaging was so cute - look at how adorable these hand creams are! They have a very light texture and smell delicious.

We received a tube of these daily perfumed hand creams in the GlamBox goodie bag, can't wait to try that out. I definitely foresee them being a handbag staple!

Here's some more adorable packaging - their blush and eyeshadow products! I tried out some of the eyeshadows and noticed that the pigmentation was quite low - I had to pack on quite a bit to achieve an effect. So, keep that in mind if you're looking for something strong.

Overall, it was a lovely afternoon spent with GlamBox and The Face Shop UAE! The event was well organized and I really had the opportunity get to know the products and the brands.


They have stores across the Emirates, so find the one closest to you using the store locator and go check out some of their products.

For you GlamBox subscribers, you'll be getting some samples very soon in your monthly box. If you're not a GlamBox subscriber as yet, subscribe now using the code 'THEFACESHOPUAE' and the first lucky 20 subscribers will receive the Face Shop box along with their first box!

Let me know what are some your favorites!

Mona xo

September '14 Favorites

It's been a month since I launched this blog and I've received such a great response so far. Thank you to everyone who has shared, read and commented on this blog. (I mean it)

It's October already! One thing I'm thankful for is that the weather is going to get so much better very soon, so +1 for that. I thought it might be fun to do a monthly favorites post and so I did - presenting my September favorites!

Duolingo

Duolingo makes it super simple to learn basics of languages such as English, Spanish, Danish, Irish, French, Dutch, German, Italian and Portuguese. The interface is almost like a game and while that's fun, it's also addictive. There, you've been warned. Try it out - it's free and available for iOS, Android and there is a web version as well. 

Red Shoe Trekkie
Movie reviews, recipes, travel
I came across this fairly new blog (based in the UAE) through Myla (Find Me A Break) and really like what I've read so far. He/she is only a few posts old but definitely go check it out.

Organix Tea Tree Mint Shampoo
This shampoo is the bomb (dot com). I have super greasy hair and this product really keeps my hair fresh and alive all day. It also leaves a nice minty tingly feeling on your scalp (which I'm clearly into)
Available at Life Pharmacy and Carrefour

Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution
So, I don't really face major acne problems but as and when I do, it's dark spot central (for many many weeks). I bought this product about 2 months ago and have been religiously applying this every night. I have seen a great change - visible reduction in dark spots and evened out skin tone. I have combination skin and this product has worked well for me. I have seen otherwise for those with dry skin.
Available at Kiehl's Dubai Mall 

Book Munch Cafe

Wasl Square, Al Safa, Dubai

Love: Cozy interiors, great staff, lots of peace and quiet 

Place for: Meetings, working, reading, coffee with friends 

Recommend: Eggs Benedict, Pomegranate Fizz

Hudhuds 

This is the Instagram account of Emirati artist, Hedaya Al Rahmah. She has great pictures of some really cool fashion and art pieces (some of which she designs) among other things, total eye candy on my Instagram timeline. 

Tweet me @MonaGir and let me know what some of your favorites are from last month! 

Mona xo