Meet the MUA

Shahla Hassan is a celebrity makeup-artist with over 20 years of experience under her belt. In her own words, her training began in the most unconventional setting as a young girl when she dropped by at local salons after school to learn the art of “making up!” Yes, this was the time when there were no concept of primers, setting sprays or other products to make your makeup last! She has attained professional training and apprentice in Dubai’s leading salons and worked with international brands like Avon, MAC and more. Her beauty experitise remains to be bridal makeup with signature Arabian eyes. You can book an appointment through her official page on Facebook.

Step 1 – Cleanse and clean the skin

The first step in your skin care routine should be cleansing to remove all the dirt, oil, and impurities from the surface of your skin. Pick a gentle facial cleanser, such as a micellar water.

Bonus tips

· If your skin is prone to drying in winters, resort to a cream cleanser, which helps restore moisture while cleansing your skin.

· For oily skin types a gel or foam cleanser comes with high recommendation, to eliminate the dirt and grime from the skin without irritating it.

· If you have combination skin, it means that some parts of the skin are oily and other parts are normal or dry. In this case, look for cleansers that are designed specifically for combination skin as these cleansers work to treat both oily and dry skin.

Step 2 – Skipping the toner? Here is why you shouldn’t

While moisturising is stable, but it is so important to use toner before you moisturise and after cleansing the skin. Toner prepares the skin to accept moisturiser so it doesn’t just lay on the skin’s surface, ensuring the makeup stays on longer.

Step 3 – Befriend a makeup mist and see the difference!

Not only does it help with hydration, it rescues your skin from drying out as you blend in your foundation. From a mattifying face mist to one that protects against pollution, to yet another that helps build and maintain your self-tanner game (yes, actually), you're sure to find a formula that suits your face mist fancy. But as a beginner look for winter favourite mists which are good for hydration.

Step 4 – Prime importance!

Primer is essential for anyone who is looking for maximum durability and longevity in makeup, from morning until night. The key to avoiding makeup breakdown is to use a primer that is answering the needs of your skin concerns and skin type.

Step 5 – Blend, Powder, Spray!

Whether you are using a beauty blender or foundation to blend in your foundation, make sure it is done evenly. Make sure you set the areas of the face where you have applied concealer carefully with a setting powder. The last step is to set the whole face with a setting spray, and make sure you keep your face expressionless till it dries completely.

EXTRA AF- Four-Step Prepping Regime

1. Exfoliate: Starting with clean skin, the next step would be to exfoliate for a smooth finish. This can be done chemically, with various peels, or mechanically, with scrubs or tools.

2. Hydrate: After this step, serums to rehydrate and plump the skin are very helpful. If the skin is on the dry side, moisturiser is also needed.

3. Prime: Once these products have been properly worked into the skin, a primer is a must to be sure the makeup stays intact on the skin. Primers can be hydrating, shine-free and also pore-reducing.

4. Massage: Regardless of how many steps are involved in the skin prep routine, the key is how well they are worked into the skin. It’s quite alright to make it a spa-like experience with a nice massage! And the most important tip is to refrain from applying the makeup on top of products that are not fully absorbed into the skin. Be patient – flawless skin and makeup take time.