Raphael Stevens

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10 Things to Do If Your Confidence Needs a Major Boost

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Confidence might sound like some fluffy, idealistic principle your Girl Scout leader used to talk about, but it’s the most powerful, tangible thing you can cultivate to achieve the life you want. You might have learned from ’90s makeover movies that once you make major changes, then you’ll finally feel confident. But actually, confidence is the key to make drastic improvements, whether it comes to your health, career, or relationships. In other words, stop waiting for circumstances to happen and, instead, work on boosting confidence first. The changes you want to make in your life will happen as a byproduct. Here are 10 concrete ways to love yourself like Lizzo and boost confidence to achieve your best life.
1. Be brutally honest with yourself
Do you love your job? Do you genuinely enjoy all of your friendships? Are you open about the hobbies that bring you joy (yes, even the geeky ones)? Not only will being brutally honest illuminate areas in your life where you’re not your true self, but it will also force you to stop trying to “fit in” (middle school trauma can still really affect us, you know?). And when you realize what you do genuinely love and enjoy, do more of it. You can’t be fully confident unless you openly own, accept, and feel comfortable with who you are.
That also means knowing your strengths and accepting whatever you previously deemed a “weakness.” You know that famous quote by Albert Einstein that’s written on inspirational cards and quoted in graduation speeches? “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” Remember this lesson when you’re picking at your “weaknesses.” If you’re shy in large groups, don’t sit around wishing you were more outgoing. Instead, appreciate that you’re really charismatic in one-on-one situations. Keep track of the hobbies, people, and activities that make you feel like your true self, and then seek them out more. 

2. Use visualization
Before first dates or big presentations, we often focus on the worst-case scenarios. Not just your-date-turned-out-to-be-a-serial-killer type of scenario, but the forget-the-entire-presentation or what-if-they-don’t-like-me kinds of scenarios. Instead, visualize yourself acing the presentation or enjoying the first date as the highest version of yourself. If you’re not sure what your highest self looks like, think about how you act in your most comfortable relationships. Are you goofy, vivacious, enthusiastic, kind, or thoughtful? What memory do you have where you did feel good about yourself? Visualize showing up as that person and the best-case outcome. You’ll not only feel more confident going into uncomfortable situations, but you’ll be more likely to achieve your highest self.

Source: @simplytandya

3. Practice empathy and positivity
We’ve already established that confidence requires a change in internal mindset, not a change in outside validation. But if changing your mindset was as easy as flipping a switch, we’d all be confident. So the key to self-confidence? Empathy and positivity. Just like happiness, empathy and positivity are skills, not circumstances. When you work those muscles on other people and situations, you’ll start to feel empathy and positivity for yourself too. Work on positive thinking through gratitude journaling or exercises, and prioritize the glass-half-full mentality in all situations. See the good in other people (including celebrities, influencers, and frenemies–ex-boyfriends exempt from this list), and you’ll start to see more good in yourself too (guaranteed). 

4. Accept compliments
PSA: can we agree to stop downplaying when we receive a compliment!? Especially as women, we’re taught to be polite at our own expense. However, it’s just not true that putting ourselves down makes other people feel more comfortable. In fact, it typically makes people more uncomfortable, not to mention it’s hurting your confidence. When a coworker tells you that you nailed the presentation, don’t respond with “I couldn’t have done it without my team,” or “Really? I messed up the whole second half!” Say, “Thank you so much! I worked so hard and am so excited about how it turned out.”
Likewise, when a friend compliments your hair, don’t say, “Ugh, I have such frizzy hair, I spent 45 minutes getting it to lay straight!” Instead, respond with a simple “Thank you!” and take a moment to internally feel good about yourself (why yes, my hair does look phenomenal. *Cues ***Flawless by Beyoncé*). If just saying “thank you” feels uncomfortable, feel free to give a compliment in return but stop downplaying the compliments you receive. 

Source: @devyn.p.miller

5. Be smart about social media
It’s no secret that social media is a common confidence-suck. Being constantly bombarded by the pretty, filtered version of hundreds or thousands of other people’s lives is not exactly the best recipe to feel good about our own. We know that we only put our very best pictures, selfies, and sides for the world to see, while keeping “real life” (like messy kitchens, PMS tears, and stretch marks) offline. But somehow, it doesn’t always register that other people do the same. Do yourself a favor and mute or unfollow everyone on Instagram except a few select accounts that bring you inspiration, motivation, and happiness whenever you click through their feed or stories (like, IDK, @theeverygirl, just as a totally random example). 

6. Change the words that follow “I am”
Personally, my identity has been defined as a writer my whole life. Ever since elementary school, my love for writing was always the first thing teachers noticed about me. For 24 years, I put myself into categories of, “I’m a writer, and I’m creative,” but because of that identity, I also said, “I’m not good at business” or “I am not a math person.” I loaded up on English classes in college and didn’t take one business, finance, or economics class. I always took on the “creative and free-spirited” type of personality, and didn’t feel confident in any skills related to business or personal finance. 
But when I became a grown-ass woman (AKA, like a few months ago, but it depends who you ask), I was over feeling like I wasn’t good with money and that creativity was all I had to offer the world. I started telling myself, “I am a businesswoman,” and, “I am smart with money.” It gave me the confidence to sign up for finance classes and start my own side business. The lesson here? Think about what stories you’ve been telling yourself about who you are, and then replace the words that follow “I am.”  Have you been telling yourself, “I am awkward,” “I am shy,” “I am ugly,” or “I am not good enough?” Change the words after “I am” to anything you want to be, and eventually, you’ll start to believe it. Fake it ’til you make it, you know?

Source: @crystalinmarie

7. Get outside yourself
Listen, I’m not calling anyone self-centered in a negative way. As humans, we see reality through our own perspectives, and therefore, everything centers around the way we experience it. When you’re feeling a lack of confidence, it can be tempting to wallow in your feelings or vent to friends. While you should lean on the people who make you feel better, make sure to get outside yourself too. Ask other people questions more than you talk about yourself (and listen!), or volunteer for an organization that needs help.
Not only will focusing on other people make you feel better about yourself (because nothing is more powerful than helping someone else), but you’ll also realize that other people don’t think about you the way you think they do. Other people are too caught up in their own problems to realize you’re a little awkward or have a breakout on your chin. One of the most important life hacks I’ve ever learned: you’ll stop feeling self-conscious the minute you turn your attention to helping someone else. 

8. Do more things that make you uncomfortable
Stepping outside your comfort zone is–you guessed it–uncomfortable, but it can make a huge difference in how you feel about yourself. Try something new that you’re scared to try, whether it’s cooking a new type of food, attending a different workout class, or networking with people you’re typically too shy to reach out to. The good news is that you don’t have to be good at whatever new thing you’re doing in order to boost self-esteem. In fact, you probably won’t be good. The confidence comes when you keep showing up, even when you’re not good at it. It will teach you to feel comfortable in uncomfortable situations and accomplished in trying something new. 

Source: @missenocha

9. Keep promises to yourself
We have a conception that “confidence” has to mean thinking highly of ourselves, which is not necessarily true. To break it down, confidence is actually a combination of both self-esteem and self-efficacy. Self-efficacy refers to the belief you have in yourself to accomplish something. In other words, to boost confidence, you must make and keep promises to yourself. If you want to eat more veggies or get to bed earlier, make a plan, and then follow through with it. Remember that there’s more on the line than leafy greens or getting enough sleep. Think of it like a friend; the more you can rely on them and trust them, the more you love and respect them. The same goes for the relationship you have with yourself. Eat what you say you will, get to bed when you say you will, and watch your confidence skyrocket.

10. Cultivate the “eff it!” mentality
Channel your inner Dua Lipa and just don’t care. Typically, I’m not a fan of IDGAF energy (I think caring about people is the most powerful thing we can do as human beings, even when it hurts), but when it comes to cultivating self-confidence, I’m an advocate. You see, sometimes you have to remind yourself that not everything is as big of a deal as you make it in your mind. You gained a few extra pounds–who cares? You’re shy meeting new people–big deal! The side business you want to launch might fail–so what? Doing something you want to do or being someone you want to be (while saying “screw you!” to insecurities) might be the absolute best thing you could ever do for yourself. Just as a reminder, don’t take everything so seriously; it’s just life! The point is to enjoy it. 

What tips have helped improve your confidence? More

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    in health and weelbeing

    10 Things to Do If Your Confidence Needs a Major Boost

    Confidence might sound like some fluffy, idealistic principle your Girl Scout leader used to talk about, but it’s the most powerful, tangible thing you can cultivate to achieve the life you want. You might have learned from ’90s makeover movies that once you make major changes, then you’ll finally feel confident. But actually, confidence is the key to make drastic improvements, whether it comes to your health, career, or relationships. In other words, stop waiting for circumstances to happen and, instead, work on boosting confidence first. The changes you want to make in your life will happen as a byproduct. Here are 10 concrete ways to love yourself like Lizzo and boost confidence to achieve your best life.
    1. Be brutally honest with yourself
    Do you love your job? Do you genuinely enjoy all of your friendships? Are you open about the hobbies that bring you joy (yes, even the geeky ones)? Not only will being brutally honest illuminate areas in your life where you’re not your true self, but it will also force you to stop trying to “fit in” (middle school trauma can still really affect us, you know?). And when you realize what you do genuinely love and enjoy, do more of it. You can’t be fully confident unless you openly own, accept, and feel comfortable with who you are.
    That also means knowing your strengths and accepting whatever you previously deemed a “weakness.” You know that famous quote by Albert Einstein that’s written on inspirational cards and quoted in graduation speeches? “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” Remember this lesson when you’re picking at your “weaknesses.” If you’re shy in large groups, don’t sit around wishing you were more outgoing. Instead, appreciate that you’re really charismatic in one-on-one situations. Keep track of the hobbies, people, and activities that make you feel like your true self, and then seek them out more. 

    2. Use visualization
    Before first dates or big presentations, we often focus on the worst-case scenarios. Not just your-date-turned-out-to-be-a-serial-killer type of scenario, but the forget-the-entire-presentation or what-if-they-don’t-like-me kinds of scenarios. Instead, visualize yourself acing the presentation or enjoying the first date as the highest version of yourself. If you’re not sure what your highest self looks like, think about how you act in your most comfortable relationships. Are you goofy, vivacious, enthusiastic, kind, or thoughtful? What memory do you have where you did feel good about yourself? Visualize showing up as that person and the best-case outcome. You’ll not only feel more confident going into uncomfortable situations, but you’ll be more likely to achieve your highest self.

    Source: @simplytandya

    3. Practice empathy and positivity
    We’ve already established that confidence requires a change in internal mindset, not a change in outside validation. But if changing your mindset was as easy as flipping a switch, we’d all be confident. So the key to self-confidence? Empathy and positivity. Just like happiness, empathy and positivity are skills, not circumstances. When you work those muscles on other people and situations, you’ll start to feel empathy and positivity for yourself too. Work on positive thinking through gratitude journaling or exercises, and prioritize the glass-half-full mentality in all situations. See the good in other people (including celebrities, influencers, and frenemies–ex-boyfriends exempt from this list), and you’ll start to see more good in yourself too (guaranteed). 

    4. Accept compliments
    PSA: can we agree to stop downplaying when we receive a compliment!? Especially as women, we’re taught to be polite at our own expense. However, it’s just not true that putting ourselves down makes other people feel more comfortable. In fact, it typically makes people more uncomfortable, not to mention it’s hurting your confidence. When a coworker tells you that you nailed the presentation, don’t respond with “I couldn’t have done it without my team,” or “Really? I messed up the whole second half!” Say, “Thank you so much! I worked so hard and am so excited about how it turned out.”
    Likewise, when a friend compliments your hair, don’t say, “Ugh, I have such frizzy hair, I spent 45 minutes getting it to lay straight!” Instead, respond with a simple “Thank you!” and take a moment to internally feel good about yourself (why yes, my hair does look phenomenal. *Cues ***Flawless by Beyoncé*). If just saying “thank you” feels uncomfortable, feel free to give a compliment in return but stop downplaying the compliments you receive. 

    Source: @devyn.p.miller

    5. Be smart about social media
    It’s no secret that social media is a common confidence-suck. Being constantly bombarded by the pretty, filtered version of hundreds or thousands of other people’s lives is not exactly the best recipe to feel good about our own. We know that we only put our very best pictures, selfies, and sides for the world to see, while keeping “real life” (like messy kitchens, PMS tears, and stretch marks) offline. But somehow, it doesn’t always register that other people do the same. Do yourself a favor and mute or unfollow everyone on Instagram except a few select accounts that bring you inspiration, motivation, and happiness whenever you click through their feed or stories (like, IDK, @theeverygirl, just as a totally random example). 

    6. Change the words that follow “I am”
    Personally, my identity has been defined as a writer my whole life. Ever since elementary school, my love for writing was always the first thing teachers noticed about me. For 24 years, I put myself into categories of, “I’m a writer, and I’m creative,” but because of that identity, I also said, “I’m not good at business” or “I am not a math person.” I loaded up on English classes in college and didn’t take one business, finance, or economics class. I always took on the “creative and free-spirited” type of personality, and didn’t feel confident in any skills related to business or personal finance. 
    But when I became a grown-ass woman (AKA, like a few months ago, but it depends who you ask), I was over feeling like I wasn’t good with money and that creativity was all I had to offer the world. I started telling myself, “I am a businesswoman,” and, “I am smart with money.” It gave me the confidence to sign up for finance classes and start my own side business. The lesson here? Think about what stories you’ve been telling yourself about who you are, and then replace the words that follow “I am.”  Have you been telling yourself, “I am awkward,” “I am shy,” “I am ugly,” or “I am not good enough?” Change the words after “I am” to anything you want to be, and eventually, you’ll start to believe it. Fake it ’til you make it, you know?

    Source: @crystalinmarie

    7. Get outside yourself
    Listen, I’m not calling anyone self-centered in a negative way. As humans, we see reality through our own perspectives, and therefore, everything centers around the way we experience it. When you’re feeling a lack of confidence, it can be tempting to wallow in your feelings or vent to friends. While you should lean on the people who make you feel better, make sure to get outside yourself too. Ask other people questions more than you talk about yourself (and listen!), or volunteer for an organization that needs help.
    Not only will focusing on other people make you feel better about yourself (because nothing is more powerful than helping someone else), but you’ll also realize that other people don’t think about you the way you think they do. Other people are too caught up in their own problems to realize you’re a little awkward or have a breakout on your chin. One of the most important life hacks I’ve ever learned: you’ll stop feeling self-conscious the minute you turn your attention to helping someone else. 

    8. Do more things that make you uncomfortable
    Stepping outside your comfort zone is–you guessed it–uncomfortable, but it can make a huge difference in how you feel about yourself. Try something new that you’re scared to try, whether it’s cooking a new type of food, attending a different workout class, or networking with people you’re typically too shy to reach out to. The good news is that you don’t have to be good at whatever new thing you’re doing in order to boost self-esteem. In fact, you probably won’t be good. The confidence comes when you keep showing up, even when you’re not good at it. It will teach you to feel comfortable in uncomfortable situations and accomplished in trying something new. 

    Source: @missenocha

    9. Keep promises to yourself
    We have a conception that “confidence” has to mean thinking highly of ourselves, which is not necessarily true. To break it down, confidence is actually a combination of both self-esteem and self-efficacy. Self-efficacy refers to the belief you have in yourself to accomplish something. In other words, to boost confidence, you must make and keep promises to yourself. If you want to eat more veggies or get to bed earlier, make a plan, and then follow through with it. Remember that there’s more on the line than leafy greens or getting enough sleep. Think of it like a friend; the more you can rely on them and trust them, the more you love and respect them. The same goes for the relationship you have with yourself. Eat what you say you will, get to bed when you say you will, and watch your confidence skyrocket.

    10. Cultivate the “eff it!” mentality
    Channel your inner Dua Lipa and just don’t care. Typically, I’m not a fan of IDGAF energy (I think caring about people is the most powerful thing we can do as human beings, even when it hurts), but when it comes to cultivating self-confidence, I’m an advocate. You see, sometimes you have to remind yourself that not everything is as big of a deal as you make it in your mind. You gained a few extra pounds–who cares? You’re shy meeting new people–big deal! The side business you want to launch might fail–so what? Doing something you want to do or being someone you want to be (while saying “screw you!” to insecurities) might be the absolute best thing you could ever do for yourself. Just as a reminder, don’t take everything so seriously; it’s just life! The point is to enjoy it. 

    What tips have helped improve your confidence? More

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    in lifestyle and culture

    How to Start a Blog This Weekend + a Free Worksheet

    I don’t know about you, but I’ve tried to start a blog about a million times. From all the way back in middle school when I made a custom Tumblr dedicated to Evan Lysacek (honestly thankful this was never published) to many, many graphic design blogs I almost launched over the past few years. Something trips me up every time: I don’t think my photography is good enough, I’m too caught up in agonizing over design decisions, I didn’t narrow down my topic far enough, and I have no idea what I really want to say. But these days, launching a blog doesn’t have to be a huge production. In fact, I’m positive you can do it all in a weekend (or less!). Thanks to our platform of choice, Squarespace, the design and setup of your blog will be a breeze. Which just leaves finding your niche and actually writing your initial posts. Sounds way more doable, right? Follow our five steps below and you’ll be launched in time for a celebratory glass of champagne on Sunday night. 

    Pick your niche
    Before you start building out your blog and writing your posts, narrow in on a specific area of expertise. What topics excite you? What do you want to write about and where do you feel you’ll add value? 
    If you don’t know what niche or topic you want your blog to focus on, pull out a blank piece of paper and take a few minutes to write down everything you’re interested in. Seriously, write down everything that comes to mind. Then, look over your list and think about each item you wrote down. Why are you interested in that topic? What drew you to it? Do you have a lot of opinions surrounding it? Do you want to further your own knowledge regarding it? Remember that you can combine areas of interest as well—you might want to write about travel and fashion, so key posts could focus on what to pack, what you wore where, city-specific capsule wardrobes, etc.
    It’s also helpful to recognize that your blog niche doesn’t have to stay the same forever. You might start out writing only about freelance career tips, but once you’ve cultivated an audience, find that you want to write more about yourself and your day-to-day life. Choosing an initial niche is helpful because it gives you (and your audience) a solid road map for where to start. 

    Secure your domain + build out your site
    Now for the fun part. Once you’ve narrowed in on your niche, it’s time to choose your blog name and template. It’s easy to get stuck agonizing over which name to pick, but my advice is to keep it simple. You can’t go wrong with blogging under your name—either just to get going or as your forever blog identity. A few things to keep in mind when choosing a name: 
    Check that the domain for that name is available 
    Check that any social handles you’ll need are available (Instagram, etc.) 
    Do a google search to ensure no other blogs have a similar name. You want to make sure your readers will be able to find your specific site.
    When you’ve landed on a name, it’s time to design your site. Squarespace is our platform of choice for websites and blogging—with beautiful, plug-n-play templates, you’ll be up and running in no time. Plus, you get a free domain name with any Squarespace annual plan. Win, win. 
    The niche you decided on earlier will help determine what your site design should focus on. If you’ll be writing long-form posts with lots of emphasis on text and links, you’ll want a template that is easy to navigate, read, and explore and isn’t too image-heavy. If you’ll be blogging about your favorite recipes, you’ll want a template that lets you easily add ingredients and cooking instructions. If you’ll be blogging about your style, you’ll want an image-friendly template with space to add shopping links. And so on. 
    Squarespace offers tons of pre-built templates with demo content in place to help you see how your blog might look when you’re finished. Start with one of their designated blog templates or browse all the templates and build something totally unique. 
    Our favorite text-forward templates: Harman, Foundry
    Our favorite image-foward templates: Souto, Brower, Stanton
    Our favorite magazine-style templates: Haute, Rally, Skye

    Pro-tip: Don’t get too hung up on the design initially. I’m a perfectionist (and a graphic designer) and sometimes I get so wrapped up in what something looks like that I spend way too long tinkering with it … and it never actually gets published. Luckily, Squarespace’s pre-built designs are already minimal and visually arresting, so there’s not much you’ll need to do. Don’t worry about having a logo just yet, update your site title and then use one of the hundreds of pre-loaded fonts in Squarespace to create a text-based logo that will work perfectly for your launch. Here, I used Bennet Banner for a striking, serif look. 

    Write your first posts
    Now that you have a site backend to work with, it’s time to start writing and uploading your posts. I prefer to write my posts directly within Squarespace so I can test how they will look with images, links, and text callouts. 
    When writing your posts, keep your target reader in mind. What are they looking for? What are they coming to this post hoping to find? Think about these questions as you write each post to ensure that you’re presenting your information in a way that is helpful to your readers.
    Design-wise, make use of visual hierarchy to organize the layout of your posts. Have you ever landed on a site or blog, saw a huge block of text, and just navigated away immediately? Same. Reading one long, never-ending paragraph can be daunting and you don’t want to lose readers before they even get started. Squarespace has built-in hierarchy for text, so all you need to do is label text you want bigger as “Heading” (either “Heading 1” through “Heading 4” based on your desired size) to create bigger, bolder text and draw your readers’ eyes. Break up your text with bold calls to action and tips. Add value with freebie downloads and further resources. 

    Optimize for SEO
    Once you have at least five posts ready to go (you’ll want to ensure that readers landing on your new blog have more than one post to read), optimize each post for SEO to take advantage of any organic Google searches for your topic. Key SEO features to add for blogging: 
    Add SEO descriptions (also called meta descriptions) SEO descriptions are usually 300-500 words that describe your page to a search engine (like Google). Add your page description to all pages on your site and include keywords to get your pages in front of more people. 

    Create custom blog post URLsYour URL is the exact address of a page that shows up in a search bar. Add keywords from the title of your post to your blog post URLs to ensure your posts are showing up in those keyword search results. 
    For more SEO tips: 
    READ: Ready to publish your website? Read this SEO checklist first.
    READ: Squarespace’s SEO Checklist 

    Launch! 
    Now that your blog posts are in and your SEO is finalized, you are ready to launch your blog. Announce your launch on social media to get readers excited and be upfront about your posting schedule so they know when to tune in for new posts. Start by promoting the posts you already have uploaded within the site and start tracking how your audience is responding. What posts are getting the most views and engagements? What posts do readers seem the most excited about? As your blog grows, you’ll have more and more data to utilize to create the most interesting and helpful posts for your readers. 

    Further reading from TEG:

    This post was in partnership with Squarespace, but all of the opinions within are those of The Everygirl editorial board. More

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    in lifestyle and culture

    Sheikh Hamdan’s favourite Dubai restaurant is set to open in London

    One of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s favourite Dubai restaurants is set to open its doors in London in 2021.
    According to The National, popular DIFC hotspot Gaia is set to open in Mayfair in the second quarter of next year.

    First bursting onto the Dubai foodie scene two years ago, Chef Izu Ani‘s brainchild has garnered a cult following for the delicious Mediterranean and Greek cuisine Gaia has to offer.
    In fact, just days after opening in October 2018 the Crown Prince of Dubai paid a visit to the eatery and has been a keen visitor ever since.

    His father, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, is also a big fan having recently enjoyed lunch at Gaia.
    Now, with the eatery opening up in London, we just wonder if the royals will be taking a trip to the UK’s capital to see if the cuisine at Gaia London is just as good as it is in Dubai.
    Speaking on the opening of the new restaurant next year, Bulldozer Group chairman and co-founder Evgeny Kuzin explained it was a “natural next step”, The National reports.
    “London is an important location for us to expand and include in the Gaia portfolio,” he explains.
    “The Gaia philosophy focuses on humble, well-made, quality cuisine served within a relaxed environment and its welcoming and inviting approach contrasts from many of the upscale establishments in London. We aim to provide a balance between London’s casual dining scene and the fine-dining landscape.”
    Similarly, Chef Ani wants to ensure Gaia’s core “philosophy does not get diluted”.
    “Our goal is to grow as a business while keeping the ethos and quality intact,” he adds.
    Well, as soon as Gaia London is open you can bet we’ll be on the first flight out of Dubai to the UK capital.
    – For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram.
    Images: Supplied  More

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    in lifestyle and culture

    Repossi dedicates jewellery piece to raise money for Beirut explosion victims

    In the wake of the devastating blast that took place in Beirut, Lebanon on Tuesday evening, many stars have come forward to share their devastation, and many have also taken the opportunity to donate money to helping those who have been severely affected.
    One brand that is leading the way to help raise money for the Lebanese Red Cross is jewellery house Repossi.

    Taking to their official Instagram page, the brand confirmed that 100 per cent of the profits raised from the sale of their new Berbere Chromatic ring which is retailing for €2,900 (approximately Dhs12,654).

    All of the profits from the sale of the ring will go to the Lebanese Red Cross, which is currently aiding the thousands of people that have been injured in across Lebanon’s capital due to the explosion.
    With Lebanon being a dear country to the brand founder Gaia Repossi’s heart, as well as the rest of the team, it was important for the Repossi team to help support in any way they could.
    – For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
    Images: Supplied More

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    in beauty and fashion

    This Product Made Me Throw Out All My Makeup Wipes

    If there’s one thing I’m an absolute sucker for, it’s skincare. If it promises glowing, even skin, I’ll try getting tiny needles rolled into my face or washing my face with honey; and if a new product is released with stellar reviews? Well, sign me up.But the one skincare trend I never got into? Double cleansing.
    Double cleansing came onto the scene a few years ago with glowing reviews from just about everyone who has ever worn makeup. It was touted as the most sure-fire way to make sure every last stitch of makeup was removed from your face without stripping it dry. Its appeal is evident, but for whatever reason, I never got into it. I swear by my Clarisonic and figured that that did the job—but to my absolute dismay, it turns out I was wrong.
    To double-cleanse, the rules are pretty simple: first, wash your face with an oil-based cleanser or cleansing balm, then follow with your regular, water-based cleanser. Beginning with an oil-based cleanser ensures that your makeup is melted off before you wash your face, leaving it squeaky-clean in the best way possible. But honestly, said cleansers felt like they cost more money than necessary, and when push came to shove, I removed my makeup before my water-based cleanser with a good ole’ makeup wipe.
    But then our resident beauty guru, Beth, gave me the recommendation to try the Good Molecules Instant Cleansing Balm. She promised that it would change my face-washing game, but the biggest selling point is that it runs at the same price as a couple of Starbucks orders—so I figured, what’s to lose?

    The first time I used this, I immediately regretted every night of my previous life, which included face-washing that I thought was adequate, but so clearly was not. Upon rubbing a pea-sized amount of this onto my face, my full face of makeup—foundation, bronzer, mascara, eyebrow pencil—had literally melted off. At first, I looked like this picture of Mulan’s Matchmaker, but a quick once-over with water made it all disappear. After my second cleanse, my face felt the cleanest it ever has, without the dried-out feeling that makeup wipes are known to cause (my face is incredibly dry, so it’s been reaping the benefits of this ever since).
    I’ve continued using this product every night after I’ve worn makeup for about a month now, and it has continued to get a 5/5 star rating from me. Whether I’m wearing super natural, no-makeup makeup or a full face for my socially-distanced birthday, it leaves my skin as soft and clean as a baby’s. Not only is this better for my skin than my previously-loved makeup wipes, but it’s better for the environment too, and given I’ve hardly made a dent in the tub over the past month, I’d guess this is much more cost-effective as well—it’s a win-win-win. Also, my skin has been less irritated than ever, and I have infinitely less clogged pores—and since I changed nothing else in my routine, I’d chalk it up to this.
    Never did I think I’d have a cleansing balm holy grail, but this has made its way onto my top shelf, and it’s here to stay.

    More Good Molecules budget-friendly editor-favorites:

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    in health and weelbeing

    How to Improve Your Relationship When You’ve Been Stuck Together for Months

    We’ve been staying at home for months now. Your boss is still accidentally hitting mute on Zoom, you failed at baking sourdough more times than you’ve succeeded, and your significant other forgot to unload the dishwasher again. For couples that live together or have chosen to quarantine together, the global pandemic doesn’t just mean severe anxiety and limited toilet paper. It also means facing a future of indefinite togetherness, lack of alone time, and maybe some fights that you never expected to have (like whose turn it is to disinfect the groceries).Quarantining couples are fighting more than ever, missing their alone time, or feeling anxious about fast-tracking their relationship. No one signs up for 24/7 togetherness when signing a lease or marriage certificate, and it’s normal to struggle with your relationship as you’re struggling with scary headlines and changing routines. However, it’s possible to not just survive staying at home together, but to enjoy it. Here’s how you can still improve your relationship, even if you’ve been stuck together for months.

    Reassess what’s working and what isn’t.
    Being stuck at home together is no longer uncharted territory that we’re all just trying to figure out. At this point, you’ve had enough experience to identify what’s working well (like dividing up chores or having weekly mental health check-ins), and what isn’t (like getting stir crazy or having the same fight about the dishes three times a week). Start with what has been going well in your relationships. Do you love playing Scrabble on Friday nights or feel supported when you’re stressed? Talk about what’s going well for both of you and the relationship. Then identify the areas that still need work and problem-solve together how to improve what hasn’t been working. 

    Source: @kayla_seah

    Switch up your routine
    If your evening routine is consistently eating takeout on the couch while watching Stranger Things, there’s nothing wrong with that (in fact, that sounds like my ideal night). However, try surprising your partner one night with dinner served at the dining room table (with candles, of course). Not only will switching it up help you get out of any ruts that come with the same routine every day for months, but doing something different might ignite a little extra spark. Planning a themed date night on the weekend, going on a hike together instead of working out in the living room, or even eating breakfast on the patio (instead of hunched over laptops) can make a huge difference. 

    Practice empathy for your partner
    If you are constantly bickering or get to the point where you can’t stand each other, this might be an enlightening time for some couples to reassess if this relationship is the right choice. However, if you are in it for the long haul and the extra bickering is only on account of stress and change in routine (not incompatibility), don’t worry. The fix could be as simple as practicing empathy.
    This is probably a weirder time than you anticipated when you were reciting vows or moving in together. Therefore, what you expect from your partner needs to change too. Be empathetic to the extra pressure they’re under (is their company suffering or were they furloughed?), and any anxiety they might be feeling from headlines or changes in routine. The greatest way you can grow stronger as a couple during a time like this is to better understand, relate to, and feel for each other.

    Source: @missalexlarosa

    Keep up your personal hobbies, and encourage your partner to keep up theirs
    While I’m embarrassed to declare Real Housewives of Beverly Hills as a “personal hobby,” it has always been my go-to when I need to turn my brain off on a lunch break or relax on a Sunday afternoon. My boyfriend knows when it’s RHOBH time to put in headphones if he’s working or do his own thing if he doesn’t feel like watching. This might be a sad example, but just because you’re spending 24/7 together doesn’t mean you should stop all the things you typically love doing. 
    Your significant other should encourage your hobbies, even if they don’t share your exact interests (and might be like mine where you notice his eyes are glued to the TV when Kyle and Lisa are fighting, even though he pretends he “doesn’t like reality TV”). Whether it’s the shows you watch, the books you read, or how you like to work out, keep up the things you love, and allow your partner the space and time to keep up theirs. Yes, relationships are about shared interests and compromises, but they’re also about giving each other the support to be who you really are. 

    Remember to celebrate milestones
    After four or five months of barely leaving the house, you might have experienced one (or both) of your birthdays in quarantine, and maybe even an anniversary has come and gone. Perhaps one of you graduated or got a promotion at work. Since it might feel easier to ignore anything that’s supposed to be “celebratory” (because it serves as a reminder of what you’re missing out on like birthday parties, anniversary trips, etc.), you might have glossed over or put little effort into celebrating. However, even if you’re grieving for what you thought 2020 would be like, it’s still important to make the most of it. Dress up for dinner at home, order takeout from your favorite fancy restaurant, and decorate the living room. Don’t just think of how to survive 2020; make your relationship better by making new memories. 

    Source: @raffinee

    Think of your relationship as a business
    So this might be the most unromantic relationship advice you’ve ever received, but hear me out. We often think love is supposed to be magically perfect, and two separate people are supposed to seamlessly combine their lives together (preferably with a romantic montage or public declaration of love, but that’s just me). And while many aspects of being in love with the right person should feel seamless and perfect, being stuck at home together for months doesn’t have to be one of them. 
    To navigate the changes and work through this new life together, both of you need to be open to accepting new responsibilities and helping each other in ways you didn’t have to before. Think of your partnership as you would think of a business: schedule regular meetings into the “team” calendar, divide up responsibilities based on what’s most effective, and consistently reflect on how you can be a better “coworker.” Remember that the goal is success (in this case, happiness in the relationship), not for you to be right or “win” an argument. Just limit your business-mindset to outside the bedroom, or else, you know, it could get weird. 

    Find a new activity to do together
    In a society where couples are starting podcasts and travel blogs together, you should have more than enough inspo and motivation to find a new activity you’ve never done together. It can be as simple as going on evening walks or doing a puzzle, or can be as time-consuming as learning a new language or starting a side business if you have the extra time to spend. The point is to find something you both are excited about, so you can spend quality time in a different and more meaningful way than you have in the past few months. Turn off Netflix, stop scrolling through Instagram, and try something new together.

    Source: @missenocha

    Make pleasure a priority 
    No, it’s not what you think. Hopefully, you already work on fulfilling intimacy with your partner (and if you’re not, click here or here), and it’s OK if the abundance of anxiety and loungewear has created a lull in your sex life (it’s normal!). What I mean instead is to make your pleasure (outside of the bedroom) a top priority. Start by basing decisions off of what would bring you more pleasure (like a warm bath versus a cold shower, or a slow yoga flow versus a sweaty dance workout). Also, take time to pamper yourself (turn on a playlist and dry brush), and don’t forget to check yourself out in the mirror (because you know you look good!).
    Why is this good for your relationship, you might ask? Living for the sake of pleasure (instead of just checking items off of a to-do list) will make you happier and feel more fulfilled. It might reduce stress or help you stop depending on your partner for happiness. Therefore, fights could be easier to solve or prevent, and you might enjoy your time together more. Oh, and if you want to talk about sex life specifically, it will help that too. Just as a bonus, no one can resist a confident, happy woman (just see for yourself).

    What habits or tricks have been helping improve your relationship while being stuck at home together? More

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    in lifestyle and culture

    Abu Dhabi hotspot is one of the most Instagrammable beach clubs in the world

    Here in the UAE we are not short of amazing beaches, but there is one place that seems to have achieved a global status – well on Instagram at least.
    Saadiyat Beach Club in Abu Dhabi has ranked as the 14thmost snapped beach club in the world, beating the likes of Nammos in Mykonos and Single Fin in Bali.

    It is also the only beach club in the UAE to make the cut, sitting alongside some of the most visited party spots such as Blue Marlin in Ibiza and Nikki Beach Marbella.

    The research into the top sunseekers paradise was done by swimwear brand Pour Moi – if you design for the beach you better know where your potential shoppers are getting their tan on – to reveal the top 20.
    Over half of the world’s top Instagrammed beach clubs are located in Europe with Spain dominating with six of its destinations appearing in the edit.
    Hundreds of the world’s best beach clubs were included in the analysis, and the data revealed that the Potato Head Beach Club in Bali is the most photographed beach club right now.

    If you holiday decision is made based on the party atmosphere, check out the full list below before packing your Zimmermann dress and heading out to seek fresh party beats with a glass of bubbly in hand.
          Potato Head Beach Club, Seminyak, Bali
          Phi Beach, Sardinia, Italy
          Blue Marlin, Ibiza, Spain
          Le Club 55, St Tropez, France
          Scorpios, Mykonos, Greece
          La Brisa, Canggu, Bali
          Ocean Club Marbella, Marbella, Spain
          Sundays Beach Club, Uluwatu, Bali
          Nikki Beach Marbella, Marbella, Spain
      Ku De Ta, Seminyak, Bali
      Noa Beach Club, Novalja, Croatia
      Marina Beach Club, Valencia, Spain
      Sunset Ashram, Ibiza, Spain
      Saadiyat Beach Club, Abu Dhabi, UAE
      Shimmy Beach Club, Cape Town
      Nammos, Mykonos, Greece
      Single Fin, Uluwatu, Bali
      Cotton Beach Club, Ibiza, Spain
      Paloma Beach, Cap Ferrat, France
    Clássico Beach Club, Brazil
    – For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
    Images: Instagram More

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    in lifestyle and culture

    This Dubai hotel is now offering in-room COVID-19 tests

    Until there’s a confirmed vaccine that works to fight coronavirus, it appears the way forward in order to travel is to undergo a COVID-19 test.
    With Dubai having opened up its borders, visitors are required to undergo testing in order to travel.

    So, to make it as easy as possible for their guests, one luxury hotel based in the Dubai International Financial Centre has announced it will now be offering in-room COVID-19 tests.
    Having partnered with the Burjeel Hospital, the Waldorf Astoria hotel in DIFC is now able to give guests the option of undergoing a test from their hotel room.

    The service can be accessed through guests’ personal concierge, which is a service offered by the luxury hotel. While it’s most likely guests would book it to use the spa or making dinner reservations, there’s now the option to book a COVID-19 test.
    The test – which will cost guests Dhs250 – will be performed by certified medical staff from the Burjeel Hosptial. The results will then be provided to guests within 24 hours of undergoing the examination.
    Just yesterday, CROSSROADS Maldives – a multi-island destination in the Indian Ocean – announced two of its fabulous resorts were back up and running, and it has also introduced PCR exit screening without having to travel out of the resorts and visit a testing facility.
    – For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
    Images: Waldorf Astoria DIFC More