What we’re loving: Things of beauty from dry shampoos to face masks

A handout photo of Sephora Lotus Mask (Courtesy: Sephora) NOTE: For What We're Loving feature in Arts & Life

A handout photo of Kiehl's Centella Skin-Calming Facial Cleanser (Courtesy: Kiehl's) NOTE: For What We're Loving feature in Arts & Life

A handout photo of Stila La Quill Eyeliner Brush (Courtesy: Asos)

A handout photo of CoLab Dry Shampoo - Tokyo (Courtesy: CoLab)

A handout photo of GlamGlow YouthCleanse (Courtesy: Sephora) NOTE: For What We're Loving feature in Arts & Life

Scaramouche + Fandango

Not only was my last flight a treat because I was in business class, but because Etihad Airways has launched some funky new amenity kits in partnership with Luxe City Guides featuring the very cool British unisex product line Scaramouche + Fandango. I consider myself a lip balm aficionado and their Lb. (short for lip balm, cute) is one of the best I’ve tried. Sweet-smelling and containing honey, shea butter and Vitamin E, I put it on and fell asleep for four hours. When I woke up, unlike most varieties, it was still there. Hy. (the facial hydrator) is just as moisturising and best of all, the brand is free of parabens “or other nasties”, nor does the company test on animals.

• Scaramouche + Fandango products are available on Etihad Airways Business Class flights. Visit www.scaramoucheandfandango.com for more information

* Ann Marie McQueen

Sephora Lotus Mask

Beauty giant Sephora launched some pretty cool face masks in its Middle East stores last month – and while I’m not one to purchase face masks often, the colourful packaging and bright display set-up really roped me in. The first pleasant surprise is that the mask is like a wet tissue, already pre-cut in the shape of a face, so my hands didn’t get sticky or dirty like they do with other masks. I followed the instructions – rinsed my face, dried it, unfolded the mask and stuck it onto my face. Though it was slightly big, it stuck on quite easily. Although it is enriched with lotus flower extract, there was no strong smell – another plus. I left it on for 15 minutes, and though I did feel my skin slightly tighten, it wasn’t uncomfortably stiff. It peeled off easily, and following the instructions, I massaged my skin slightly to rub in any leftover residue from the mask. Like it says on the back of the packaging, there’s no need to rinse your face after. Overall the procedure was quick, non-abrasive and, best of all, mess-free.

• Sephora face masks cost Dh25 at Sephora outlets across the UAE

* Hafsa Lodi

Kiehl’s Centella skin-calming facial cleanser

I’ve been on the hunt for a moderately affordable facial cleanser for a while. Though I’ve had great results from dermatologist-­prescribed cleansers, I’ve found that they’re too pricey to keep on buying, and with the huge variety available over-the-counter, there must be at least one that suits my skin. It’s been a bit tricky since I’m prone to breakouts, and many cleansers either aggravate my skin or severely dry it out. The Centella skin-calming facial cleanser from Kiehl’s doesn’t give me any of these bad reactions. The soft, creamy gel doesn’t contain any rough granules that some other cleansers do., and is packed with aloe vera, chamomile extract and Centella asiatica, a healing medicinal herb that is grown in tropical and subtropical countries including parts of Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan. After washing my face, my skin is left feeling soft and hydrated. I also haven’t felt the need to use a separate make-up remover – put two squirts of the formula onto your hand, massage onto damp skin, then wash off.

• Kiehl's Centella skin-calming facial cleanser comes in a 235ml bottle; Dh150 at Kiehl's stores across the UAE

* Hafsa Lodi

Stila La Quill Precision Eye Liner brush and Got Inked Cushion Eye Liner

I’m going to be honest – I was sucked in by the exquisitely beautiful packaging of the brush. It is meant to be used mainly with the Got Inked Cushion Eye Liner, which seems to have taken inspiration from the popular Korean cushion make-up trend. The eye­liners are pigmented and come in beautiful bejewelled shades. You need just one dip of the brush for smooth application in one stroke. The formula is not waterproof, but it is long-lasting. I picked up sultry smoky quartz – a black/bronze/khaki shade that makes my brown eyes pop. The brush is easy to use; however, if you feel the quill is weighing down your application, it can be detached. The brush head has synthetic hair, which makes it easy to wash and maintain, while the fine tip helps draw precise lines. The eyeliner is a part of the permanent collection, but the brush is limited edition.

• The Stila brush and liner duo is available at www.asos.com. Brush, Dh124; eyeliner, Dh113

* Aarti Jhurani

COLAB Dry Shampoo

This product is an absolute lifesaver on rushed mornings, when there isn’t much time to wash your hair. The fact that this dry shampoo doesn’t rely on a hard-to-work white powder to work its magic is what makes it a standout. It is available in a variety of fragrances (I am partial to the Tokyo-Oriental, with accents of orchid and mandarin), is easy to work with, and adds extra oomph. It is less expensive than many of the other dry shampoos on the market, and comes in a handbag-friendly size.

• COLAB Dry Shampoo is available at Virgin Megastore; Dh39 for a 200ml can

* Aarti Jhurani

Glamglow Youthcleanse Daily Exfoliating Cleanser

From the makers of the cult favourite Glamglow mud masks comes this mud-to-foam cleanser. The unique selling point here is the formula: I love that this exfoliating mud can be scrubbed onto dry skin, and then the more water you add, the more foamy it becomes. There are four varieties; I tried Youthcleanse, which has little exfoliating bits in it that ensured my combination skin was scrubbed clean, without drying it out too much. I often use this as a second cleanse after taking off my make-up, and it really helps brighten the skin while removing any lingering traces of make-up. It also works great on its own first thing in the morning, helping to smoothen skin for make-up application.

• Glamglow Youthcleanse Daily Exfoliating Cleanser is in Sephora stores; Dh170

* Aarti Jhurani