Raphael Stevens

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    in lifestyle and culture

    7 Kuwaiti women who are having a big impact on the world

    While not only contributing to society and the economy, these women in Kuwait have made significant progress towards impacting the generations ahead.
    Also read: 9 inspiring Saudi women who have made an impact on the world
    From female-led startups to being successful entrepreneurs, these seven Kuwaiti women are inspirational figures to look up to.
    Her Highness Sheikha Intisar AlSabah

    A member of the royal family, Her Highness Sheikha Intisar Salem Al Ali AlSabah is a philanthropist, entrepreneur, author, film producer, columnist and more. She’s an inspiration to many while empowering Arab women who’s at the forefront of her decision-making. She’s also the founder of Alnowair which is a positivity initiative and a non-profit initiative considered to be her biggest contribution to date to her beloved country.
    Montaha Al-Ajeel

    The Kuwaiti fashion designer made her first break-through in Paris Fashion week leading her to international acclaim. Within a few years of creating high quality haute couture dresses, she’s won a number of prestigious awards in the Arab world and has become a role model in her own unique way.
    HRH Sheikha Bashayer Al Sabah-Arab

    Her Highness is a successful businesswoman and the honorary president of the Arab Fashion Council in Kuwait while also being passionate about charities of all kinds. Known for her entrepreneurial flair, she’s become a social media success and a lifestyle icon for many.
    Ghosson Al Khaled

    Working her way up the ladder throughout her career, Ghosson Al Khaled is now the deputy CEO of ACICO industries company. While believing in charity work as well as being a role model to many, she currently directs a $1.3 billion asset company with a turnover of $300 million.
    Noor Al Qatami

    Having lived in the USA for a number of years, Noor Al-Qatami is the founder of Saveco which opened its first grand store in 2014, becoming a hit in the Kuwaiti market. With a high quality mega market that mimics grocery shopping experiences that she had in the USA, the concept was born. Over the years the concept has expanded across Kuwait.
    Rana Al-Nibari

    Rana Al-Nibari is the managing director of The Scientific Center in Kuwait an institution that communicates STEM to the general public. She’s also the founder of Socialobby which provides businesses and individuals with social media campaigns and solutions, consultation and online marketing services. It also facilitates training programs and events that focus on social media marketing strategies, building relationships with online influencers, email marketing, blogging, search engine optimisation and more.
    Sheikha Majda Al Sabah

    Born in Kuwait, Sheikha Majda Al Sabah was raised with the mindset to chase her dreams, work hard and achieve them. While establishing herself as a beauty entrepreneur and philanthropist in 2007, she also set up the ASAP initiative, which is a private campaign committed to increasing mental health awareness and to destigmatise mental health in the region.
    – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
    Images: Instagram More

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    in lifestyle and culture

    A brand new landmark has been unveiled in the UAE and it’s bright pink

    An incredible discovery has been made in the UAE – a bright pink lake.
    The unearthing of this unique nature spot was by an Emirati student, Ammar Al Farsi who is from Sharjah.

    Using a drone, the 19-year-old captured the stunning shots which he shared to social media.
    The lake is found amongst the Saraya Islands, which are located the emirate of Ras AL Khaimah.

    Per Al Khaleej Daily, the size of the lake is estimated to be around 40 metres long and 10 metres wide.

    البحيرة الوردية من الجوو 🍓💖The Pink Lake from above pic.twitter.com/LrdWy7nfy0
    — Ammar Alfarsi || عمار الفارسي (@ammar_alfarsii) January 18, 2021

    But the biggest question on our minds is, why exactly is it pink?
    Well, according to the Director-General of the Environment Protection and Development Authority in Ras Al Khaimah, Dr. Saif Al Ghais, it’s something to do with the amount of algae in the water, but this cannot be conclusive until a sample is taken from the lake itself.
    “The water discolouration and its transformation to pink is due to the proliferation of red algae, which include more than 4,000 species,” he told Al Khaleej.
    What a fabulous discovery for a 19-year-old to make!
    – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
    Images: Ammar Al Farsi Twitter More

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    in lifestyle and culture

    Those with a COVID-19 vaccine don’t need to quarantine at this luxe destination

    As the UAE just reached the incredible milestone of having administered over two million COVID-19 vaccine doses, a luxury destination has just announced those who have received their jab will no longer need to quarantine.
    The Seychelles has announced it’s reopening its borders and those no need for international travellers to quarantine as long as they have been vaccinated.

    Those visiting the nation, which consists of 115 islands, will need to ensure they have had two doses of the vaccine which will need to be attested by a certificate of vaccination. It is mandatory for the certificate to be uploaded to the Seychelles’ Travel Authorisation portal.
    Once the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is received, tourists will need to wait two weeks after the second dose to be eligible for a quarantine-free holiday.

    Prior to this announcement, the holiday destination had stringent measures in place for those who could and could not visit.
    Only travellers coming to the country via private jet were permitted entry of from these seven countries: the UAE, the UK, France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Austria.
    This recent announcement aims to kickstart the Seychelles’ tourism industry, which has been greatly affected by the pandemic.
    For those who live in the UAE seeking a holiday, this is positive news as the nationwide vaccination programme is well underway with both the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine and the Pfizer vaccine being administered across the emirates.
    – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
    Feature Image: Four Seasons Seychelles More

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    in lifestyle and culture

    Donald Trump’s daughter announces engagement to Lebanese ‘billionaire heir’

    As Donald Trump prepares to bid his final farewell to the White House, he does have some things to celebrate.
    The US president’s youngest daughter Tiffany Trump has just announced her engagement to Michael Boulos, whom she has been dating since 2018.

    The timing is very interesting given the announcement was made on her father’s last day in office, but nonetheless the 27-year-old was elated to share the couple’s happy news on Instagram.
    Trump posted a photo of herself and Boulos in the White House, also showcasing her diamond ring which, according to the Daily Mail, was designed by jeweller Samer Halimeh and is worth $1.2 million (Dhs4.4 million).

    “It has been an honour to celebrate many milestones, historic occasions and create memories with my family here at the White House, none more special than my engagement to my amazing fiancé Michael! Feeling blessed and excited for the next chapter!” she captioned the photo.

    Boulos is of Lebanese and French descent but grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, where his father, Massad runs Boulos Enterprises and is the CEO of SCOA Nigeria. The 23-year-old has been described as a “billionaire heir” by  Vanity Fair.
    Boulos eventually moved from Lagos to London to complete his undergraduate degree.
    As for how this newly-engaged couple met, they were introduced. to one another in Greece in the summer of 2018 at Dubai-based Lindsay Lohan’s club in Mykonos. The couple were then first seen publicly together at New York Fashion Week that same year.
    The happy news comes just as Donald Trump prepares to hang up his hat as President of the United States to make way for President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris.
    – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
    Images: Tiffany Trump Instagram More

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    in lifestyle and culture

    A female doctor has developed Saudi Arabia’s first COVID-19 vaccine

    As the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues to make strides in the fight against COVID-19, a major breakthrough has happened by a Saudi doctor.
    Dr. Iman Al Mansour from Iman Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University and Ph.D. holder in Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology-University of Massachusetts has just developed Saudi Arabia’s very first COVID-19 vaccine while being an assistant professor at the university.

    Per the university, the preclinical studies of the developed vaccine have been completed and the research has been published. Once the necessary approvals have been given clinical trials will commence.

    نجاح #أول_لقاح_سعودي مضاد لفيروس كورونا في جامعة الإمام عبدالرحمن بن فيصل بقيادة الدكتورة #إيمان_المنصور، وفريقها البحثي من التوصل إلى أول لقاح سعودي ضد فيروس كورونا المستجد…هنيئا لـ #جبل_طويق و لوطننا الغالي هذا الإنجاز🇸🇦💚 pic.twitter.com/r0t6TwDHGF
    — الردع السعودي #2030 🇸🇦 (@s_hm2030) January 15, 2021

    As per research findings published in the scientific Pharmaceutical Journal, the vaccine now enters the trial phase and has now adopted a DNA technology which no longer requires freezing, thanks to Dr. Iman Al-Mansour on this Saudi milestone.
    Also read: Female court judges will ‘very soon’ be appointed in Saudi Arabia
    While about 60,000 people have already been inoculated with the vaccination in the Kingdom, more than two million people have registered for the vaccine in the first month after the registration process was launched.
    Congratulation to Dr. Iman Al Mansour for achieving this phenomenal milestone in Saudi’s history.
    – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
    Feature image: Visit Saudi Instagram More

  • 113 Shares

    in beauty and fashion

    11 Inexpensive Dupes for Your Favorite High-End Skincare Products

    When I first got into beauty, I spent hours at my pink Dell Desktop computer researching beauty dupes. I got into beauty YouTube when all anyone talked about were MAC collections, Urban Decay Primer Potion (a product I still swear by to this day), and St. Ives Apricot Scrub (you know, before the industry blacklisted it entirely). But I was a mere youngling; there was no way I was getting my hands on all of these astronomically-priced products! So, I scoured the internet for similar products and shades to get me by, but in the process, I fell in love with finding dupes, saving money, and testing new things. And it turns out, I loved it so much that I am still doing it 15 years later! So, whenever I find an expensive product I love, I research and test products at a lower price point to see if it would be a dupe. All of that trialing brought me to accumulate quite the list of similar products to some of the most popular high-end skincare products on the market. Whether you’re saving yourself a little cash (all those Bachelor Monday wine nights get expensive!) or just love to test new things, we’ve curated 11 different dupes you should try next.

    Vitamin C is often in a liquid, serum consistency that you apply during the day, but if you want a rich, brightening mask that combines the impact of vitamin C with hydrating ingredients for nighttime, look no further than this mask from Soap & Glory. Similar to Youth to the People’s Superberry Hydrate and Glow Dream Mask, this overnight mask has a thick consistency that goes on like a heavy moisturizer but leaves your skin looking glowy as ever the next day.

    Finding a thick, intense balm you can use on your elbows, chapped skin, dry lips, eczema patches and more can be a struggle, especially if you’re thinking for an ultra-clean option filled with plant-based ingredients. This one from Alicia Keys’s brand new line at Ulta, Keys Soulcare, fits the bill, containing a rich blend of oils that’s hydrating and luxurious, just like Ren’s Evercalm Overnight Recovery Balm. Use this anywhere you have a dry patch, and it’ll disappear within days.

    Retinol is historically-known as a drying ingredient that can cause peeling and other irritating side effects. But there’s a new retinol in town, and it’s contained in an oil, making it gentle, effective, and moisturizing. Who thought you’d get those three words in a retinol product? Sunday Riley’s Luna Sleeping Night Oil has been a best-seller for years, and Pixi’s inexpensive option has all the makings of a dupe: similar packaging, same quality, and serious results.

    Shiseido’s Benefiance Wrinkle-Smoothing Eye Cream has been a favorite of our editors and readers for a while, but if you’re not quite ready to splurge on an eye cream (there are much more fun skincare products out there!), this one from Roc has amazing reviews; contains retinol; and targets puffiness, dark circles, and wrinkles, making it quite the eye cream trifecta. It’s moisturizing and depuffing at first use, but the effects of the retinol over time stack up to those of the Shiseido.

    Blue tansy is a newer skincare ingredient on the scene, so finding this inexpensive dupe for one of Herbivore’s most popular facial oils was basically my bliss. This oil is perfect for anyone with oily or acne-prone skin who is afraid of a heavy oil breaking them out or causing them to produce even more oil.

    If you’d like to try a nightly exfoliating product but want something dry-skin-friendly, a nighttime glycolic acid cream is a great addition to your routine. It’ll slough off dead skin, brighten, and clear skin without the severe drying or tingling effects of a typical AHA serum or toner. SkinCeuticals is known for these dermatologist-grade products, like their Glycolic 10 Renew Overnight Cream, but this K-Beauty option from Soko Glam does the job at a fraction of the price.

    On the other hand, if you want a daily resurfacing toner, like Glossier’s famed Solution, this PHA toner from The Inkey List has a very similar ingredient profile, similar texture, and impressive reviews. PHA is a much gentler option for exfoliation than an AHA like glycolic or lactic acid, but it still provides those same results, especially over time. After using this toner nightly, reviewers say their skin looks brighter, clearer, and smoother.

    Everyone needs a classic detoxifying mask in their skincare routine, and as much as we love the Origins Clear Improvement Charcoal Mask, you also don’t need to spend a lot to get a similar result. This mask from L’Oreal offers the same experience, texture (the classic dry-down clay mask we all love), and results. When I use this, my skin looks so much more even tone, and I notice fewer breakouts.

    Peptides are a great ingredient to add to a moisturizer because they support the health of your skin barrier, which is essential for glowy, bright skin. But you don’t have to pay Tata Harper prices to get the same results (as much as we love it!). This one from The Inkey List is the ideal packaging for a moisturizer: no squeezy tube, no jar to dip into, and no annoying spatulas. Instead, you simply push down on the top, and it comes right out. This keeps the ingredients stable and safe, making the product last much longer than a pot moisturizer might. This daily moisturizer can be used in the morning for a lightweight feel, but it’s hydrating enough to use at night too.

    Dr. Dennis Gross’s Universal Daily Peel pads are a cult-favorite in the skincare world. Makeup artists swear by them to use in the morning before serums and moisturizer to slough off dead skin and leave your face radiant and exfoliated before applying makeup. But when you’re using them daily, they can definitely get pretty pricey, so reaching for these ones from Neogen is a great option. Just like the Dr. Dennis Gross pads, these have multiple AHAs to really exfoliate your skin, but they’re still gentle enough for daily use. Plus, the Neogen pads have a little bit of a texture, so they offer physical and chemical exfoliation, which is perfect for just before makeup. I don’t use these every single day, but they’re ideal for days I want to look my best.

    Everyone needs a really good cleansing oil in their routine, and you don’t have to splurge on the Biossance cleansing oil to get something high-quality that’s filled with clean ingredients. I’ve only recently started trying products from Cocokind, but their products blow me away when you look at the price, the ingredients, and how they stack up with other brands. This cleansing oil would work well for seriously anyone regardless of skin type, and it’s so good, they even recommend it as a morning cleanser to start the day with hydrated, soft skin.
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    in health and weelbeing

    10 Insanely Easy Vegetarian Meals I Rely on During the Week

    One of my goals for 2021 was to make myself more well-balanced and nutritious meals at home. I want to add more fruits and veggies to my everyday diet, rely less on processed and packaged foods, and make simple swaps for healthier versions of some of my favorites (such as pasta and tortillas).Although I already enjoyed cooking for myself, I knew that I just did not do it enough. I also have been a vegetarian for over 10 years, so I wanted to challenge myself to try some new recipes. I am very proud to report that all 10 meals I’m about to talk about were made within a week—so far, so good on that goal!
    I also want to take this time to thank the four most important things in my life right now, especially when it comes to achieving this goal: my air fryer, Trader Joe’s carb-savvy tortillas, my new Always Pan, and chickpeas. 
    Whether you are a vegetarian yourself or just need some inspo for the new year, check out these 10 incredibly easy (and delicious, if I do say so myself) vegetarian meals that I rely on during the week:

    1. Buffalo Chickpea Salad Wraps

    This is a new favorite of mine! Chickpeas are a super easy way for vegetarians to include protein in their diet, and they are also incredibly versatile—making them a non-meat-eater’s best friend.
    To make these salad wraps, mash up clean and dried chickpeas in a bowl and mix in plant-based mayo, buffalo or hot sauce, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Spread on the tortilla of your choice (I love the carb-savvy ones from Trader Joe’s), and top with lettuce, avocado, onion, and feta cheese for the perfect WFH lunch.

    2. Burrito Bowl

    Looking at this photo makes my mouth water. Start by cooking onion, frozen corn, and peppers in a skillet with your favorite seasonings. When that’s finished, add the mixture to a base of brown rice and black beans (if you’re like me you’ll just get the microwave options), then add the toppings of your choice. I usually go with avocado, plain greek yogurt (as a sour cream substitute), chihuahua cheese, and a couple crushed tortilla chips. 

    3. Oatmeal with Peanut Butter and Banana

    This is a simple one! I make plain microwave old-fashioned oats with unsweetened vanilla almond milk, and then mix in agave syrup and cinnamon once they are cooked. I top it off with natural peanut butter and a banana for extra protein and deliciousness. 

    4. Cauliflower Gnocchi with Pesto, Goat Cheese, and Balsamic

    A true classic and a lazy girl’s best friend: Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi. I make mine in my air fryer (if you’re not doing this yet, it will change your life) with a dash of olive oil, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning, and then simply mix it up with pesto, balsamic glaze, and goat cheese crumbles. YUM. 

    5. Tofu Lettuce Wraps

    My mom and I have been making this recipe for years, and it just continues to evolve. I’m very excited to share that I recently cracked the code on how to get your tofu as crispy as possible, and the answer is two simple words: air. fryer. Seriously, this tiny little appliance made my life 1000x better, and if you don’t have one yet, WYD?!
    To make these lettuce wraps, air fry your drained and cubed tofu with your teriyaki sauce of choice and prepare some plain brown rice. You could also make some veggies to add if you’d like. Then add everything to a butter lettuce cup, and top with a bit of sriracha mayo and crispy chow mein noodles—or don’t, if you’re feeling extra healthy. 

    6. Spicy Potato Tacos

    As if 2020 wasn’t bad enough, it was also the year that Taco Bell decided to take potatoes off the menu and break my little vegetarian heart. So if you’re in the same boat as me and still mourning that loss, this is a special treat for you: at-home spicy potato tacos.
    I make these by air frying (yes, I’m using it again) cubed baby potatoes seasoned with salt, pepper, olive oil, garlic powder, chili powder, and red pepper flakes. The potatoes by themselves are delicious, but I like to put them on a low-carb tortilla and add a sprinkle of cheese, avocado, plain greek yogurt, and hot sauce to pretend I am at Taco Bell. I also like to tell myself these are a healthier version—so, you know, if they’re not, please don’t tell me that. 

    7. Lunch Snack Plate

    This is what I like to call lazy lunch. Basically, it consists of anything in my fridge that needs to be eaten. For example: on the day I took this photo, I had some leftover buffalo chickpea salad mixture on a lettuce wrap as well as a side of veggies and crackers with plant-based cauliflower tzatziki dip. 

    8. Breakfast Tacos

    I would seriously eat these tacos every day if I could. They are super simple: scrambled eggs, veggie sausage (I prefer MorningStar), goat cheese crumbles, cherry tomatoes, avocado, and hot sauce on low-carb tortillas. 

    9. Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

    Ah, chickpeas, we meet again. This very easy mediterranean salad is just a mixture of washed and drained chickpeas, avocado, red onion, cherry tomatoes, and feta cheese. For dressing, I drizzle the mixture with olive oil and red wine vinegar and season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. You could also add cucumber and kalamata olives—I was just out on this day!

    10. Veggie Fried Brown Rice with Tofu

    I’m a huge fan of using leftovers, and this dish is perfect for that. I had some leftover tofu and brown rice from my lettuce wraps, so I fried up some veggies—in this case, peppers, carrots, corn, and red onion—then added the rice, tofu, a fried egg, and some more teriyaki sauce all in the same pan.  More

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    in beauty and fashion

    How to Make Your Skinny Jeans Chic Again

    Over the past couple of years, just about every jean style besides skinny jeans has been in style. From straight-leg to looser, boyfriend styles to even flares, our skinny jeans have migrated to the bottom of our jean piles and collected dust for the past 12 months, praying for the time they see the light of day once again.I’m not here to tell you that skinnies are the it-jean once again, but I am here to share that you can make use of your beloved old friends in a chic way, even in 2021—and they’ll be grateful to get on your legs for a day.
    Here are six fool-proof ways to style your skinny jeans this year (none of which will make you feel like you’re in middle school again).

    1. With a long, buttoned blazer

    skinny jeans / blazer / loafers / sunglasses / bag

    2. With a white button-up and sneakers

    jeans / button-up / sneakers / bag / sunglasses

    3. With knee-high boots and a cropped cardigan

    boots / jeans / cardigan / sunglasses / bag

    4. With a tunic and loafers

    jeans / top / sunglasses / loafers / bag

    5. With a voluminous top and heeled booties

    top / jeans / booties / boots / bag / necklace

    6. With a sweater vest and loafers

    sweater vest / blouse / loafers / jeans / sunglasses More