The Powder Room Journal
Ingredients explained, routines analysed, and the questions our community are asking
The Powder Room Journal
Do you know what fragrances are in your candles and diffusers?
Stressed? Light a candle. Need to take a relaxing bath? Light a candle. Guests coming over? Light a candle. These days candles have grown from mere objects for light to ones that comfort us with soothing aromas. However, beneath the pleasant facade of many home fragrance products like scented candles, lies a lesser-known reality that could be compromising the air quality of our homes and our health. We did some research on the potentially harmful ingredients often found in candles and home fragrances and were quite shocked with what we found. The trouble with synthetic fragrances Synthetic fragrances are engineered scents designed to mimic natural aromas at a fraction of the cost. While this might sound like a win for both consumers and brands, the drawback lies in the complex cocktail of chemicals these fragrances often contain. Many are derived from petrochemicals, which can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air, contributing to indoor air pollution. VOCs are not just a buzzword; they have been associated with a range of health issues, from headaches and dizziness to more severe long-term effects like respiratory distress and even harm to the central nervous system. The allergy and irritation factor For those with allergies, asthma, or sensitivities, synthetic fragrances can be particularly problematic. Exposure can trigger a range of reactions, including skin irritation, respiratory issues, and migraine headaches. The dilemma is compounded by the fact that many brands aren't required to disclose the specific ingredients that make up their "fragrance" blend, making it challenging for consumers to identify potential allergens or irritants. Natural candles The good news is that awareness is growing, and with it, the availability of healthier, more natural alternatives. When shopping for home fragrances, look for those made with natural essential oils. These products not only provide the sensory pleasure of scent but also offer the therapeutic benefits associated with aromatherapy. Additionally, opting for candles made from natural waxes like soy or beeswax can further reduce the release of harmful chemicals into your home environment. Creating a fragrant yet safe space Beyond choosing healthier products, there are other ways to infuse your home with delightful aromas safely. Consider natural methods like simmering herbs and spices in water on the stove or creating your own potpourri with dried flowers and essential oils. Not only are these alternatives free from synthetic chemicals, but they also add a personal touch to your home's scent story. While the convenience, price and allure of synthetic fragrances in candles and diffusers are undeniable, I mean gingerbread snickerdoodle cookie candles? It’s time to ask if the potential health risks they pose are worth it at all.
Team Powder Beauty's must-haves for the everything shower
Lasting for hours, this TikTok trend is peak self-care, involving a bodycare routine that will leave you feeling so fresh and clean for the entire week. If there’s one thing, we love about TikTok, it’s romanticizing mundane habits and being the main character of our lives. Something the Everything Shower trend is all about. What is an Everything Shower? The Everything Shower is a weekly head-to-toe bodycare routine featuring exfoliating scrubs, hair masks, body oils and all the luxurious products you usually save for special days. It’s meant to be a relaxing experience for your body and mind as studies show, building weekly rituals like this can help in boosting your overall wellness. And caring for oneself is always a major mood boost! What products do I need for an Everything Shower? The Powder Beauty team have curated the best conscious body, hair and face products to inspire your Everything Shower routine. Step-1: Pre-shower prep The vibes are everything. So, make sure to set the scene in your bathroom before jumping into the shower. We love to light some scented candles with notes of eucalyptus or lavender like the NEOM Organics Real Luxury Scented Candle and put on calming instrumental music or a true crime podcast- whatever helps you unwind. Next, give your hair some TLC with a pre-wash treatment like a scalp scrub or a mask based on how your hair is feeling that week. If your scalp is oily, we recommend exfoliating it with a scalp scrub and if you need more conditioning try a hair mask like the Davines NOUNOU Nourishing Hair Mask. Now, give your mask some time to marinate by focusing on your body. Time to take out all of your body tools, whether that be a dry brush or a body gua sha. A dry brush can help exfoliate any dead skin cells on the surface, improve blood circulation and enhance lymphatic drainage. Step-2: Shower Time After you’re done with all the prep, it’s time to jump in the shower. This is the shower routine we recommend: Start with the hair. Wash off your hair treatment and double shampoo if you need to. We like using a combination of a detox shampoo along with a hydrating one during the Everything Shower to make our locks clean and ready for the week. Pro-tip: We also recommend starting with the hair first as the runoff of hair products could lead to breakouts or clogged pores on your face and body. Moving on to bodycare. It's important to slough away dead skin cells to reveal brighter, smoother skin. We’re obsessed with body scrubs made from natural exfoliants like sea salt, coffee, or repurposed grounds. These not only buff away dryness but also improve circulation and prep the skin for maximum absorption of moisturizers. Skincare. With the everything shower, you have time to use the sheet mask that’s been sitting on your shelf for weeks. Put that on and leave it as you move on to your post-shower ritual. Step 3- Post-shower Care Now that you’re done with the shower, we’ve reached the final step of the Everything Shower routine, which is possibly our favorite. This is the step where you get to appreciate how soft your skin and hair already feel and lock all the goodness away with more products. Post-shower hydration is key to locking in moisture. Don’t dry off your body completely as applying body lotion to damp skin helps in sealing hydration and allows the products to penetrate deeper into the skin. Our team also swears by lightweight, body oils like the Ignae Body Oil, that nourishes deeply without leaving a greasy residue. Not only will your skin feel moisturized, but it will also give you a healthy, natural glow. After wrapping up your bodycare, you can opt to use a leave-in conditioner on your hair or style it with your go-to hair tool by using a heat protection spray before. We also recommend using a texturizing spray to add some volume and make your hair style last longer. Finally, yes finally, you can finish off your skincare routine by using your favorite serums and using a skin tool like a face roller or ice globes. If you’re heading out, make sure to use plenty of SPF to protect your skin as well. Now that you know what it takes to build an Everything Shower routine, we wish you many happy at-home spa sessions for a lifetime.
Try this addictive chocolate smoothie bowl for a vegan protein boost
This is our go-to vegan recipe to satisfy that sweet tooth while helping us stay on track with our fitness goals. Featuring the Sacred Glow Co. vegan chocolate-flavored protein powder, this smoothie bowl is packed with muscle-building nutrients like protein, fiber, and healthy fats, while still delivering the rich, chocolatey flavor you crave. To start, gather your ingredients: 1 scoop vegan chocolate-flavored protein powder (try this one!) 1 frozen banana 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk 1 tbsp almond butter 1 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder 1/4 tsp vanilla extract Toppings of your choice (we suggest fresh berries, chopped nuts, coconut flakes and maybe a dollop of nut butter) Once you've got everything you need, it's time to get blending. Start by adding the frozen banana to your blender, followed by the almond milk, almond butter, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and finally the protein powder.Blend everything together until smooth and creamy, then pour your smoothie into a bowl. Now it's time for the fun part: adding your toppings!We suggest starting with a handful of fresh berries, like sliced strawberries or raspberries, for a burst of fruity flavor. Next, sprinkle on some chopped nuts (we love almonds or hazelnuts for their rich, nutty taste), and finish things off with a sprinkle of coconut flakes for a little tropical flair.Not only is this chocolate protein smoothie bowl delicious and satisfying, but it's also packed with the nutrients your body needs to build and repair muscle after a workout. And because it's vegan, it's also a great option for anyone looking to eat more plant-based foods and reduce their environmental impact.
Movember Men’s Health Edition - In Conversation with Dr Fernando Porras
Dr Fernando Porras is a Functional Medicine practitioner at Yutopia clinic in Dubai that specialise in identifying the root causes of conditions and follow an evidence based therapeutic approach to treatments. Starting his career in primary care and preventive medicine, Dr Porras realised there were other ways of treating and preventing illness through a comprehensive approach to achieve optimal health and healing. Dr Porras practices on the foundation that “in order to achieve great health, we must first remove what is causing us harm.” Known for his famous requote of philosopher Hippocrates “Before you heal someone, ask him if he’s willing to give up the things that make him sick”, we sat down with Dr Porras to delve into Men’s health. Dr Porras please tell us a little bit about yourself.I’m a General Practitioner, I have studied and practiced medicine between Costa Rica and the United States. I first worked in primary care while deciding which medical specialty met my expectations. After some time, conventional medicine was not really suited for me. The consultation times were very short, treatments were only based on treating symptoms with medications that had several side effects and often left patients with more questions. Unfortunately, at the time, I was limited to the knowledge I had and did not have the answers to what was going on with their conditions. I started taking courses and reading books to learn about a more comprehensive approach called functional medicine. Could you tell us what is Functional Medicine?Functional medicine looks for the root cause of the problem and tackles it with changes in lifestyle habits and diet. It seeks a functional balance of the body without neglecting conventional medicine, which in many cases is essential. The idea of functional medicine is to have a person take control of their health, know their bodies and how to correct any imbalances in a proactive way. What is your professional approach to overall health?My approach is very individualised. I do not agree with sending unnecessary tests and treatments to just follow a protocol. The approach is based on changes in diet, gut health, sleep hygiene, stress management, type of physical activity, exercise and hormone balance. I believe it is better to use the best of both worlds, traditional and integrative medicine. I use state-of-the-art laboratory tests/treatments and I adapt these into a person's daily lifestyle, habits and traditions. What is the difference between men and women when it comes to taking care of health?Women tend to take more care of their health. They are instinctively always looking out for others. A significant number of women take care of their family, their home and work. They have less free time but they are more inclined to taking care of themselves. It is because of this and many other reasons that they tend to live longer. Men in general have more time to dedicate to themselves but they are not as attentive to notice changes in what is affecting their health. The vast majority do not think in prevention and postpone visiting the doctor. It’s in our nature to belittle the signs and symptoms that can later lead to major complications. We are more interested in treatments that lead to enhancing performance rather than prevention and self-care.What is the biggest health concern currently with men's health?One of the biggest concerns is the rapid rate of Metabolic problems. These are noted as being overweight or obese, high sugar, high blood pressure and fatty liver. These appear slowly and their accumulation leads to complications such as the appearance of chronic diseases, erectile dysfunction, low libido and heart attacks. Most of these conditions are preventable, that is why it is important to emphasize the need of spreading awareness. What are the risk factors of the above?The risk factors that commonly cause metabolic problems are A sedentary lifestyle - This includes people who spend most of their time sitting down, like a desk job in an office. Despite being active and exercising after work, all those hours spent sitting down are a risk factor similar to smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. Smoking - The toxic substances absorbed into the body cause chronic inflammation and can lead to cancer and chronic disease. Processed foods - high consumption can alter the intestinal flora and produce hormonal changes such as resistance to insulin. Little consumption of animal protein and fats - We have been misinformed into thinking that red meat and saturated fat from animal sources is bad and can lead to heart problems or cancer. Studies have already debunked this myth and we can now see how its normal consumption is needed for the production of hormones and muscle repair. Muscle is a protector of metabolic disease and brain health. When we lose muscle as we age, we tend to be frail and get sick a lot easier. This can be prevented by retaining as much muscle as we can even in old age. Low levels of vitamin D - This is mainly due to low exposure to the sun at recommended hours and low consumption of foods rich in vitamin D. Supplements are not absorbed very well due to bad quality or poor gut health. High consumption of industrial seed oils - The most commonly used are soybean, corn, rapeseed, cottonseed and safflower seed. They are toxic for the body and can take up to 8 years to be removed. Studies have shown that their over consumption are the main drivers of chronic diseases. Other causes can be toxins - from mold, pesticides, cleaning products and undiagnosed chronic infections. These can be found at home, at work and even exposed to on frequent travels. How vital is prevention when tackling risk factors?Prevention will always be vital. Identifying individual risk factors is important so people know how to address them. For example, not everyone is allergic or intolerant to gluten, but for people who are, avoiding or eliminating it from their diet, can have great health benefits. Prevention is key for stopping and reversing chronic disease. How often should men get health check-ups and what should they focus on?A normal check-up should be done once a year. You always want to rule out having any risk factors specially if you have a strong genetic predisposition because of family heritage. Your genes are not your destiny but they can provide lots of information of how your body behaves and what can trigger chronic disease.What are key signs/symptoms that men should pay attention to when it comes to their health?Fatigue - This is a symptom indicative of poor recovery, the body is having difficulty repairing itself, either due to lack of nutrients, hormonal imbalance or quality of sleep.Brain fog - This is described as the inability to think clearly and/or feeling overwhelmed when performing mental tasks. This can also be caused by exposure to toxins or due to poor recovery. Loss of muscle mass - Even though we have normalized that as we age, its common to gain weight and lose muscle, it is not normal. An increase of fat in the abdominal circumference with low muscle mass is a red flag for poor health and should be looked into. Low sexual performance or loss of libido - This has been one of the biggest concern for men. It was a problem that used to be related to old age but now it is starting to appear as early as age 30. Changes in your intestinal health - such as constipation or chronic diarrhea. Acid reflux, stomach bloating, and gas. All these increase the risk of colon or gastric cancer in the future. How important are nutrition and lifestyle factors when it comes to men's comprehensive health?About 80% of chronic diseases are due to changes in lifestyle and diet. Studies show that changes in nutrition and lifestyle have a direct impact on health. It is important to highlight that we are what we eat and the care we give to the body is reflected in the long term. There are lots studies now looking into lifespan and health-span. The general idea is to have men live longer, but that means that if we live more years, they also have to be high quality. A perfect balance between how much we eat, the quality of what we eat and how active we are during the day, it has shown to have the best results for longevity. How can we engage men more in the practice of self-care when it comes to their health?Education is always necessary. Making sure we can get the message across about the importance of awareness and prevention. The topics must be aimed at not normalising or minimising the warning signs and symptoms that could lead to a complication in the future. These should be exposed on platforms that are more commonly used by men, for example podcasts. These platforms are not exclusively for men but have shown to have a greater audience. A lot of men have benefited by tuning in to hear other men talk about strategies on how to improve their health. Men learn by listening to other men who have gone through a similar problem and can relate a lot more Can you share with us your top comprehensive recommendations for men to take better care of their health.- Cut out processed food, industrial seed oils and refined sugars as much as you can. - Exercise 5 times a week, preferably strength training and stretching. - Focus on a high health fat and protein diet. If you will eat carbs, have high quality carbs. - Avoid late dinners and snacking at night. - Start your day with water with a pinch of salt, 15-minute movement and immediate exposure to sunlight. It will help regulate your circadian rhythm. - Prioritise high quality sleep. Minimise your exposure to blue light 2 hours before going to sleep, use black out curtains and make your bed and room as comfortable as possible. - Test your grip strength in the morning. If you have a weak grip strength, you probably had poor sleep, and you should prioritise rest. - Manage stress with mediation and/or hobbies. - Laugh You can visit Dr Fernando Porras and Yutopia Clinic on Instagram or their website to learn more about Functional & Integrative Medicine.
Six Unexpected Reasons You’re Breaking Out
It’s always been said that beauty reflects your internal health, and that the condition of your skin reflects what’s happening on the inside. This couldn’t be more true. Whether it’s hormones, stress at work getting you down, skincare products throwing off the balance of your skin, or the inner workings of your body manifesting as breakouts, there are numerous causes of acne. If you’re scratching your head at why you can’t seem to clear those pesky blemishes, read on as we deep dive into six common, yet often overlooked, causes of acne. 1. You Have Poor Gut health Our gut is a complex organ with a microbiome containing millions of different bacteria and other microorganisms. When the balance of our gut microbiome is thrown off, possible by the food we are eating, this is often represented on our skin. Nutritional therapists explain that this is because our gut regulates toxins and waste and prevents it from reaching the blood and skin. However, when our gut microbiome is off-kilter, it may allow harmful, acne-causing toxins to affect the skin. 2. You’re Stressed When your body is stressed, it has a very basic biological response to release the hormone cortisol, which puts your body into a state of emergency. Unfortunately, our bodies haven’t evolved to tell the difference between having to run for our lives and when we are just running behind on an important work assignment. This means that instead of expending energy on things like keeping your skin clear, it focuses on basic bodily functions like temperature regulation and fat storage. You can treat stress acne like you would treat hormonal acne, with exfoliation like salicylic acid and hydration. Of course, the best treatment is always by reducing stressors in your life. 3. You Have Nutritional Deficiencies Whether it’s due to your diet or other health issues, a lack of nutrients could be the reason you’re breaking out. Our skin is kept balanced by several vitamins and minerals. There is a reason that Vitamin A, Vitamin C, B Vitamins, Zinc, and Vitamin E are seen so often as key ingredients in skincare products - they are essential to a healthy skin barrier free from clogged pores and breakouts. Addressing the issue at the root will help clear your skin, think more colourful fruits and veggies with every meal. In the meantime, incorporating skincare products with these powerful vitamins can help rebalance your skin. 4. You’re Over Exfoliating Again, this relates to your skin's microbiome. When you overuse exfoliating products or scrub your face too hard or too regularly, you disrupt the balance of your skin's microbiome and its ability to prevent breakouts. Start holding packs on those peels or scrubs, they have their place in our skincare routines but overusing them can do more harm than good. Try a very gentle scrub or exfoliating mask instead. 5. You’re Using Comedogenic Beauty Products Some of the makeup you’re using in an attempt to cover up your acne or maybe even skincare that you think should be helping, may contain comedogenic or ‘pore-clogging’ ingredients. Some of the most common culprits are coconut oil, cocoa butter, and dimethicone, so if you’re prone to breakouts you may want to watch out for these ingredients. 6. You’re Chronically Dehydrated It's no secret that drinking plenty of water each day is important for so many bodily functions, including our skin. Dehydration can materialise on our skin in many ways including dullness, fine lines and crepiness, and of course acne. Alcoholic drinks can quickly dehydrate you, as well as salty foods. Although it’s not the solution any of us want to hear, cutting back on some of these things while upping your water intake should get you back on track.
Saudi National Day 🇸🇦 In Conversation with Nouf Alyousef
Say hello to Nouf Alyousef, Saudi Arabia’s rising star taking the fitness world by storm. Nouf is professionally and globally trained boxing coach, motivational coach and personal trainer. Full of drive and passion to empower women to find and embrace their own strength, Nouf is shining her light across the country with her holistic approach to health and fitness. We had the wonderful opportunity to interview Nouf to honour Saudi National Day and recognise the amazing development of skilled entrepreneurial women in the country. Q: Nouf, it's such a pleasure to chat with you. Please tell our readers about your journey to being one of the leading female figures in fitness for Saudi Arabia. A: The pleasure is mine. And thank you for choosing me to be part of this lovely interview. First of all, thank you for the compliment and I hope that my humble journey in the last five years till today has inspired women to work on themselves mentally and physically. Q: Could you share with us your struggles as a teenager and young adult that led you onto the path of fitness? A: As a teenager I was not active nor fit at that time, I did not have the awareness of what healthy food is and from where should I start. I struggled from obesity as a young adult until I reached 21yrs old here where the ‘Ahaaa’ moment happened. I promised myself that ‘Once I find the answer of how to be a healthy Individual, I want to pass my knowledge to other people” and the Coaching journey started there. Q: Your style of coaching involves training your clients physically but also mentally and emotionally. Could you share more on this approach and why it's important to look at all components of a person's health? A: Our mind is the controller of our behaviour as humans and if we can’t take care of our mental health, the physical would be hard to achieve. In my opinion, if you aim on targeting your mental first the physical will follow. For many years we neglected our mental health and we did not even look at it, blaming ourselves of being lazy, not organised, lacking motivation, not committed … etc without digging deeper internally. The pandemic back in 2020 revealed all the under table of people’s mental health and made them aware of that side. It takes a crisis sometimes to figure things out. Q: What drives your passion and keeps you motivated? A: Watching the development of my clients mentally and physical health throughout their journey makes me want to give more and inspires me to be a better coach each time. Their commitment to be better and strong regardless of their background is refreshing. Q: It's amazing to see the development of Saudi Arabia in all industries from fashion, technology and agriculture, what changes are happening in the Saudi fitness world? A: The Saudi Vision of 2030 is aiming to increase the number of individuals who are playing sport, promoting the physical and the social wellbeing along with raising awareness of the importance of having a healthy lifestyle. It opened the door for women to participate in all kinds of sport, being part of local and international competitions and creating their own sport clubs. I’m so proud of what my country achieved till today and all the historical hosted international Sport events that took place in my beloved country as Formula 1, Clash on the Dunes, DAKAR and Rage of the Red Sea … etc Saudi Arabia raised the bar. Q: On top of all the amazing stuff you already do, you've set up a new initiative called 'Project I', tell us all about it! A: Project I, it is a pop-up workshop that focuses on the mind & body. The goal behind creating this initiative is taking women out of the intimidated gym environment by building a mentally safer space for them, letting them be active at the same time and having the twist of art in it to release what is in the mind. The creative part is there which is what I’m personally always trying to have in my projects. Q: Could you share some advice for anyone who is looking to make a change in their overall fitness? A: Take it ‘One step at a time’ It’s a long journey with ups & downs. Q: Lastly, what's your motto currently in your life that you live by? A: Nothing is impossible as long as you are putting in the work.
Three Top Tips for National Wellness Month
With the wellness industry worth an estimated 4.5 trillion, it’s safe to say that investing in yourself has never been more important. In an over-saturated market, it can often feel over-stimulating and confusing, and sometimes pricey, to give yourself the gift of wellness. Thankfully there are plenty of ways you can achieve an optimal quality of wellness without the hefty price tag and doubt. We’ve narrowed down our top 3 methods of wellness just for you! Healthy Eating Our daily nutrition is top of the list for a reason. Feeding our body with nutrient-dense and nourishing wholefoods is amazing for our energy levels, hormones and overall health. While living in an on-demand society where food is ready at our door within 30min, it can be tempting to order at the touch of a button. However, takeaway food often contains pre-packaged ingredients, unhealthy oils and methods of cooking, as well as lower nutritional value while being more costly in the long run. While the ease and flexibility are there (and sometimes that’s a necessity), there is lots of fun and therapy involved in cooking for yourself. Eating healthily doesn’t have to be restrictive, there are plenty of delicious, easy wholefoods recipes to follow that can cater to all dietary requirements. We are loving Dubai-based fitness trainer Baraa El Sabbagh free recipe e-book full of indulgent wholesome healthy dishes! Movement All forms of movement whether it’s dancing, cardio, pilates and especially walking, have scientifically proven benefits for both the body and mind. When we move our bodies through physical activity we stimulate the lymphatic system, which is our primary immune-fighting system that supports all other organs in their processes. Physical movement also releases endorphins, our happy hormones, and gives us a break in the day from work and tasks. A minute of movement is better than no movement at all! We are loving Shahad Nazer for her beautiful aesthetic and tips on Yoga as well as her meaningful affirmations. Rest and Digest With a world of information at our fingertips, it seems as if we are always on-the-go and overloading our brains with constant stimulation. Whether it's from work, social activities and especially technology, we just never seem to stop. This creates a flight or fight response in the body which eventually becomes our consistent state of being. While we may feel we have the capacity to tick all the boxes, often times more than not, we are just living in survival mode. The reason this is not a good thing is because out flight or fight response is only meant to be activated in a moment of danger or threat. This increases our adrenaline and gives us a false sense of energy. As our bodies work as a whole, then every other system in the body gets affected. Ways we can change this is by allowing and giving ourselves permission to slow down and be present Powder’s recommendations to implement this month - Take it easy, slow down and enjoy the process!
Mastering The Art of Beauty Self Care – Celebrity Edition
Self-care is the ultimate expression of truly loving yourself. It can present itself in a number of ways through personal boundaries, physical activity, self-development and spiritual growth. It’s a multi-dimensional, broad-spectrum approach to living a life that is vital to your emotional, mental, physical and spiritual well-being. Renowned psychologist Sanam Hafeez explains how beauty self-care can be both soothing and calming, “On a deeper level, it makes you feel like you’re honouring yourself aesthetically, by taking time out for yourself. Those few minutes, if spent going through the steps in a rhythmic, calm, and purposeful manner, can almost be meditative.” We look at some celebrities who reach the leader board in ultimate beauty self-care. A Worthy Skin Care Routine: Frank Ocean Renowned singer and award-winning artist, Frank Ocean swears by his daily ritualistic skin care routine to keep him feeling confident. Although in his early 30’s and looking no older than 19, Ocean is probably one of the most committed male skincare addicts out here, as quoted in GQ “I need the night cream because when I wake up, I feel very beautiful, moisturised, and ready to have people making eye contact with me. That’s the life hack right there.” Shop all of Powder’s obsession worthy skincare right here. Purposeful Dry Body Brushing: Gwyneth Paltrow Probably the most efficient, and purse-friendly, way to stimulate your lymphatic system and reduce cellulite, dry body brushing is definitely up there with mastering self-care. Dry brushing should be done pre-shower and according to Paltrow “It's an amazing way to exfoliate your body. You take the dry brush and, starting at your feet and working up, sweep it all over your body in light, firm strokes, always brushing toward your heart. It's fantastic for circulation and it helps smooth cellulite. I do it every night before I get in the bath.” We are sold Gwenny, you had us at 'amazing'! Shop the most-wanted body brush here at Powder. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gwyneth Paltrow (@gwynethpaltrow) Body Self Maintenance: Serena Williams A body care routine that ticks all the boxes, Williams is an advocate of regular exercise, no big feat for the tennis champion, coupled with nourishing oils to keep her skin supple and her mind centred. “I think self-care is very important to prioritize in life. When you make time for yourself, you feel like the best version of you and that extends into other facets of life. My self-care routine varies — whether I’m trying a new product or staying loyal to my feel-good classics like coconut oil, I always carve out moments to tend to myself and nurture my body.” No debate here, we love those precious stolen moments lathering indulgent oils all over. You can find our range of luxury body oils to pamper your skin, and mind, here. Nourishing your body: Jennifer Aniston All hail the queen of self-care, Jennifer Aniston. From journalling and meditation, to yoga and breath-work, queen Aniston has stolen the number one spot. Aniston swears by a nourishing her body internally just as much as externally. Growing up with a super-strict health fanatic mother, she said “It was no fun to come to my house because it was all cardboard-tasting foods. When I moved out, my big rebellion was to stock my fridge with food that had taste–I bought every cereal I’d ever wanted and other crap. Eventually, I started to feel like crap. I went to a nutritionist and realised that my mom had been doing me a favour. I committed to being mindful of what I put into my body.” A big advocate of natural supplements and clean protein powders, she focuses on maintaining a good balance to keep her feeling and looking amazing at 53! Shop our range of Aniston-worthy clean supplements and protein powder here.
Keep Calm and Ramadan On....
With the Holy Month of Ramadan reaching it’s half way point, it’s a good time to reflect on we’ve been feeling over the last couple weeks and to set some intentions for the remaining period. Fasting not just a spiritual detox but also a cleanse of the body and emotions. With modern-day lifestyles we can often find ourselves out of balance and Ramadan is the perfect opportunity for a reset! Common detox symptoms can include anything from mood swings, hunger pangs, intense cravings, fatigue and brain fog. This is the body’s way of telling us that it is cleansing, repairing and regenerating. Scientifically fasting for 30 consecutive days has the below proven benefits: Boost cognitive performance. Protect from obesity and associated chronic diseases. Reduce inflammation. Improve overall fitness. Support weight loss. Decrease the risk of metabolic diseases. There are ways in which we can support ourselves through the month of Ramadan to keep a beautiful balance for our mind, body and spirit. Keeping our eating habits healthy, our glucose levels stable and not overeating all contribute to a calmer state. Here we’ve listed our top tips and tricks! Breaking The Fast Hydration is key when breaking the fast. Starting off with a large glass of warm water (ideally 500ml), adding a squeeze of fresh lemon/lime for additional hydration and a pinch of Himalayan Salt for a mini dose of minerals. Taking your time to sip your drink to allow your stomach to begin its functioning. Prayer & Meditation The period of prayer and meditation right after breaking the fast is a great time to allow the digestion system to wake up to get ready for the meal ahead. There’s no rush! Take your time, allow your body and mind the time to reflect on the fasting day past and how you felt throughout the day. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect to yourself. Eating Iftar When it comes to eating your first meal after a long day of fasting it’s always beneficial to start small and slow. Its proven that consuming a liquid dish first allows the body to accommodate the intake of foods for the night ahead without being overloaded. This could look like a bowl of broth (Vegetable or bone broth), green juice or protein shake, all which are full of nutrients. After which if you still feel hungry you can go straight for the main dishes keeping in mind not to overeat. The night is young and there is plenty of time to have your main meal slightly later! If you do choose to eat a big meal straight away, it’s always good to start off with veggies/salads first to keep those glucose levels in check. (Fried and sugary foods are best avoided) The Rest Of The Night & Suhoor Eating every so often throughout the night can impact our digestive systems and the body’s ability to keep balanced in it’s regeneration process. Try to keep a generous gap between your Iftar and Suhoor meals to give the body the opportunity to rest and digest. This will allow for better absorption of nutrients, keep your bowels moving effectively and healthier sleep patterns. Focus on hydrating! Often we feel hungry when in actual fact we are thirsty! For Suhoor try to have your meal at least 2hrs before going back to sleep, keeping the meal light and easy digestible but also energy balancing for the day ahead. Exercise Keeping active during Ramadan is a great way to balance the mind and body. Gentle exercises such as Pilates, Yoga and Walking are great for keeping the body active without over straining. Supplements Supplement are a great way to support the body through the fasting month. Taking them at night with your meal is the best way to ensure optimal absorption and also not irritate your gut lining. Some of our top picks to keep the body and mind balanced as well as support you looking and feeling amazing can be found here.
Maryam Fattahi Salaam - Celebrating Inspirational Regional Women For International Women's Day
The second in our feature of women empowering women and change within the region, we sat down with the fitness entrepreneur and inspirational Maryam Fattahi Salam for International Women's Day. Maryam is a Dubai-based entrepreneur, lawyer and founder of cult studio Physique57, and an integral part of women's community in Dubai. Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do.I am a fitness enthusiast, Berkeley graduate and attorney, and my most cherished role, mom of 3 boys. I was born to Iranian parents in the United Arab Emirates and left to United States at the age of 17. It was during my years in New York City that I was exposed to the wonders of Physique 57, an internationally renowned fitness company that encourages health and wellbeing with a signature blend of fun and empowerment at its core. Walking out of my first class, I felt a sense of obligation to bring the life-changing workout to Dubai. When I moved back to Dubai in 2010, I saw there was a need that wasn’t being met in the Dubai fitness market, so I had to create what I was looking for. It was fun, safe, effective, and dynamic. And to me, women in this country needed access. Physique57 was one of the pioneering studios that kickstarted women's fitness in Dubai. How transformational has it been for the Dubai women's community over the years? When I launched Physique 57 Dubai in the summer of 2013, boutique fitness wasn’t even a thing in the Middle East. There were the big-box gyms and postage-stamp-sized yoga and pilates studios. But the in-between was missing. Fitness and fun didn't exist hand-in-hand, and we definitely changed that. With the Covid restrictions implemented in 2020, how did you adapt the business to keep it going? 2020 forced everyone, at some point or another, to deal with some pretty heavy stuff. The boiling points came in at different stages for everyone. On a personal level, the first thing that came through was the value of stillness. On a professional level, we had to evolve and protect our success by getting creative about ways to generate revenue and keep clients engaged. 2020 for every business—no matter where and no matter what the offering—I was the year of the pivot. It was a year of open-mindedness and trying new things. We launched a daily schedule of live-stream classes that saw women maximising their self-care time from home via our virtual Zoom studio. Ultimately, every business will go through vulnerable and fragile times. Having a solid product or service that people love, in and of itself, will never be enough. At Physique 57, we stuck together to keep unleashing the unlimited potential of our bodies knowing that in doing so, we would unleash the unlimited potential of our lives, too. It sounds like it was challenging yet it flourished, what gave you the motivation to persevere?My sister Negin was the epitome of strength, courage, and beauty. Throughout her thirteen year battle with breast cancer - while raising four children and running a business empire (Negin is the visionary and pioneer who founded N.Bar, 1847, and JetSet) - she remained a vision for how strange and amazing the journey of life is. Infinite beauty and joy, immeasurable painful experiences. Negin never ran away from the challenges of life, hers being a rollercoaster journey. My sister was initially given a prognosis of six months to live, and she defied all odds. She taught me to fall apart, make mistakes, fail, and be disappointed, albeit only for a short period of time. She fought the fiercest battle, and she will be my motivator in life and business forever and a day. Would you say you've had a strong community of women behind you? I have, without a single doubt, the most incredible community of awe-inspiring women behind me and behind Physique 57. Women who believe in self-love and in feeling strong, seen, and worthwhile. Women who believe that giving ourselves 57 minutes can change the course of our day and our lives. There’s nothing that is as gratifying as knowing we are a collective group of women who believe we have the power to make each day extraordinary. What's your take on how a woman's physical health can greatly affect her overall health?The idea of bringing Physique 57 to the UAE stemmed from my genuine experiences as a new mom at the age of 25 while digesting the news that my 31 year old sister had been diagnosed with Stage 4 BC. Making a happy, healthy home for my loved ones became a priority and nothing came close to how the classes made me feel. I credit the technique with getting my mental and physical strength to their very best. I often tell clients that if you don’t make time for your wellness, you will be forced to make time for your illness. Setting aside mini physical and mental breaks throughout the day are essentials in my calendar. If I am not fiercely protective of my alone time, I burn out. It’s happened more than once, and my family and I didn’t like what happened. I’ve since made a promise to us all that I will never forgo my me-time. A healthy lifestyle doesn’t have to be fancy or cost a lot. Slow down, swim in the sea, get on a yoga mat and follow YouTube videos. Connect to nature, soak up the sun, feel the earth beneath your feet. Spend time alone, journal, get to know yourself. Selfish would be burning myself out and being unable to be there for my family. Self-care is selfless. What is your perspective on clean conscious beauty and how does it fit in with general health and wellbeing? I’ve always strived for a healthy lifestyle, though it wasn’t until about 6 years ago when I really dove into the world of conscious beauty. Our skin is our largest organ and we absorb about 60% of what we put on it, so it is just as important as eating well and staying active. I take a common sense approach to beauty. Sustainability is very important to me, and I find testing on animals unnecessary. Bottom line - it’s as much about companies doing “good” for the planet as it is about the elimination of “bad” ingredients. How do you juggle being a mother, a wife, running a household and an independent business with multiple locations?Being a mom, businesswoman and taking care of myself is a never-ending juggling act. I don’t believe I manage my time perfectly, nor do I have an ideal work-life balance. A decade and a half later (my eldest turns 14 in June), I am still learning the art of disconnecting and being present. When I am with my boys, I try not to think about work. When I am at work, I stay focused on what’s going on right there. When I am with my husband, he is my priority. It is difficult not to think of all the things you could do better at - work, home, friends, family - when you’re on call 100% of the time. Know what you are good at, and know what you aren't good at. Delegate where you can… that would be cooking for me! Taking into account all the challenges you've faced, what is your take on what it is to be a modern woman in today's world and what is your take on how to create positive change? Being a woman in today’s world is magical. Every single one of us has a story and a journey. My late sister, Negin, would always tell me we have choices about creating joy. Not in the absence of struggle, but to gain the strength to deal with it. In her words, she had been dealt the cards she had and she would play the heck out of them. And those words are enough to carry me through this life… Lastly, what's your golden nugget advice to anyone going through the motions of uncertainty in starting and growing their own business?I would tell them to stop looking for motivation. This moment is all we have. Life is short. If you still have breath in your lungs, you can hit the refresh button and start again, and again, and again. Fear kills hope, it paralyses you. Make decisions that nobody but you might ever understand, and don’t look back. You can find more information on Maryam on her personal IG @mfsmaryam & the amazing Physique57 Studio Dubai @physique57dubai
Marriam Mossali - Celebrating Inspirational Regional Women For International Women's Day
The first in our feature of women empowering women and change within the region, we sat down with the inspirational boss lady Marriam Mossali for International Women's Day. Marriam is a Saudi Arabian entrepreneur and founder, running Saudi's leading Luxury Consultancy Niche Arabia, author and architect behind Saudi's first female driven platform Under The Abaya, to name a few of her many businesses, and Business of Fashion's 50 Most Influential Women in KSA. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Marriam Mossalli 🇸🇦 مريم مصلي (@marriam.mossalli) Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do... My Name is Marriam Mossalli. I’m the founder of Niche Arabia as well as the instigator behind UNDER THE ABAYA, one of the first female empowerment platforms within Saudi Arabia, as well as Saudi Style Council not-for-profit initiative that helps connect local creatives with international business opportunities. I would say that am a serial entrepreneur ever since I can remember when I was selling pumpkin shells at the beach or friendship bracelets at recess at elementary school. I've always been a serial entrepreneur. Under The Abaya is your non-profit, can you give us a summary and tell us how it's been a game changer for Saudi culture.. It’s a not-for-profit platform that helps empower Saudi women through having them be able to control their own narrative whether it’s through the media including social media. The idea here is to have the woman herself tell her story from her perspective because I think for way too long we have been relying on Western media to tell it for us and that’s where we get these inconsistencies and these misconceptions around the enigmatic Saudi female. I definitely think it's been a game-changer. We launched in 2018. We were one of the firsts to do this. We were told that our title was too controversial, women aren’t ready, that they would only be very superficially involved, that it was still considered taboo to put yourself out there. I think we really helped changed that within Saudi along with different government initiatives and leadership that have supported this movement. What ignited your passion to change the narrative of women in the region... I have always been an advocate of having someone tell their own story and so throughout my career, whether it has been as a features editor for the largest Arab newspaper in the Middle East or through my company, Niche Arabia, that has always been my mission. I often tell people that there was this instance that I think was like the last straw that precipitated and really motivated me to push forward. This was when I went to do a series of talks in LA, it was about female entrepreneurs in Saudi and yet every time I would get on stage to speak, I was still bombarded with those stereotypical questions, “How come you’re not covered head to toe?”, “Why you’re not wearing Niqab?” these things that you would think we have dispelled through just modern times and globalization but they were still existing and pervasive in 2016 and so for me that was really a motivator to say, “Hey you know what, the only one who is going to correct these things are us, Saudi women, we need to control that narrative. Hence the UNDER THE ABAYA book was born and we launched that in February 2018. What are the biggest milestones for you on this journey.. I would say the biggest milestones are always when we see our work in action. During the first edition, we were able to provide five women with academic scholarships to pursue their passion in photography and this year we worked on having various jobs opportunities given, as well as buying shelf-space and reserving it for young entrepreneurs wanting to test out their products. I think it is always seeing the fruits of our intuitive and how it actually applied to those women. How do you approach the challenges and resistance in the region that comes with your work... I have to say that in the beginning, it wasn’t so much the challenges within the Kingdom. It was really how do we get the attention of the Western media and so under this guise of Fashion as Saudi’s first street-style book, we really able to actually create a platform for Saudi women and allow them to be these stars of their own story. Then within the Kingdom, as I mentioned earlier, we were told that things were taboo and I think in Saudi it’s always about really pushing the envelope and once people see that it’s not so scary then it’s so easy for them to do and follow suit and that’s one of the risks you take as a leader is that, yes, you might fall flat on your face but there are times when you can just really launch and take-off, those are really rewarding times and I think that we were lucky, again, to have such support from people like Princess Reema Bint Bandar from the beginning as well as our amazing sponsors Cadillac for the first issue and Lux Arabia for the second. What is your vision for women in the region... My vision for the women in the region is really just to normalize our participation in the economy and in sports and in every other industry where it’s still kind of considered taboo. I think that oftentimes we always get the West like looking at this clickbait of, “Oh, first Saudi female…” and I am done! The “first” shouldn’t be something anymore, it should be the best. We should be striving to compete globally with other women around the world, whether it’s entrepreneurship or sports, or cooking, whatever it is. The idea here is that it’s no longer about being this phenomenon of, “Oh my God, the first-ever” but rather really being the best. Can you tell us a little about your other projects... Sure! I think for us, one of the biggest exciting things that we are doing is that on March 8th to 12th, we are launching the biggest female empowerment event to happen in the region which is a 6000-passenger cruise that will take us along the Red Sea up the coast all the way up to Aqaba, Jordan and the entire itinerary and theme is female-centric utilizing over 500 women that have been featured in our 1st and 2nd book and platform, from Yoga sessions to moonlight sound baths, to fitness classes on the deck, to fashion shows - utilizing real women from all different shapes and sizes and colour. That’s, kind of, what we’re doing and I am so excited to have that happening to celebrate our five years of female empowerment within Saudi Arabia. You are also a wife and mother, could you give us some insight into how you juggle it all... A lot of help. I definitely have a lot of support from family and my team on the ground and I think that’s what is required, is that you just make balance and make sure that you are not neglecting any of those things. Which why I often see my son tagging along at every single event and now it’s biting me, now it’s definitely biting me in the butt because now I can’t leave him at all but it’s a lesson learned for the second one. I’m going to let her be a lot more independent, I think. You've been an advocate of Conscious (clean) beauty pretty much since the beginning, how do you feel about it now and it's future in the region... In fact, we often talk about what we would ingest and what we put in our body and we forget what we put on top of it in terms of the products that are being absorbed through our pores and so for me they kind of go hand in hand. If you're gonna talk about organic then you need to talk about clean beauty and I think that, you know, coming from the Middle East specially, these types holistic, clean procedures or beauty regimes has been really, kind of, with us since the beginning. Its been something very endemic in this region. A lot of them, whether it’s cupping or anything you see Goop basically has been appropriated, I feel, from the Middle East and so I think that it’s amazing that finally we’re having our influencers and our KOLs speaking up more about it and really advocating a healthier cleaner future for ourselves and for our kids. I mean, it’s funny, I grew up very Westernized - eating fruit roll-ups and lucky charms and all of things that I’m sure are not great for you and it wasn’t until moving back to Saudi that, I was like, you know, I had fruit for breakfast, I’ve my avocado toast, those type of things versus those pre-packaged sugars and I would tell you same thing goes for my beauty products. I would use things like Clinique thinking that, “oh, because this person has a lab coat at the cosmetic counter - must be something good for you,” you fall for the marketing and I think that nowadays we are more conscious consumers and we look more into what are purchasing and what we are putting inside and outside our bodies. Could you tell us your favourite Powder picks... My favourite picks for Powder, definitely French Girl bath salts and I would tell you also to choose a face oil, I also use Salt & Stone, Moon Juice Plump Jelly and Rahua oil for my hair. Lastly, so many of us doubt our own capability, what's your best advice to all the women on the first step to fulfilling their potential... I would tell you that it’s okay to be scared and that’s completely normal. If it wasn’t scary, would it be exciting? Would it be fun? Leverage that, use that to motivate you to push forward. If something has already been done, that’s boring. I think that one of the things that I always try to tell my team is that, think big and really go for the stars because you never know when something is going to pan out. Again, I started UNDER THE ABAYA just thinking I’m going to create this cool book, non-profit, help some girls go to college which, Alhamdillah, we did. We were able to get five academic scholarships but I never ever anticipated it to be this platform that it has evolved into. We're now buying shelf-space at stories for young entrepreneurs, we're providing opportunities, jobs for fresh graduates, we are connecting women with real job opportunities. These are all things that evolved from a small vision and it continues to evolve and now we are celebrating five years so, that’s differently my advice.You can find more information on Marriam's exciting projects on IG @marriam.mossali
Making The Switch - Dubai based Trainer & Coach Claudine Foong Talks Clean Beauty
Claudine Foong is a Dubai-based Strength & Movement Trainer, Well-being coach, previous Pro-Athlete, wife and mother. We sat down with Claudine to talk all things beauty, how and why she made the switch to conscious clean brands. Tell us a little bit about yourself Hi! My name is Claudine Foong and I’m a mother of two amazing little humans. I’m also a former touring golf professional, but my focus over the last 12 years has been directed towards training others to become stronger, move better and live their life with more vitality. How did you get into clean beauty? Health and wellness have always been at the forefront of my life. As a former professional golf athlete, I am very mindful in how I treat my body. As the largest organ, our skin absorbs everything we apply to it. I began researching the ingredients in the sunscreen I was using on a daily basis, as I spent several hours each day playing and practicing in the sun. I then looked into personal care products I was using which resulted in switching to cleaner alternatives. Makeup was a little more challenging to find products that were both clean and performed well. However, fully committing myself to clean beauty became an easy decision after discovering I was pregnant with my first child. I haven’t looked back since and I couldn’t be happier. How did you find the transition process here in the region? I’ve been living in Dubai for nearly 9 years and until recently, found it challenging to find what I was looking for when it came to clean beauty. That is until I discovered, Powder Beauty. Instead of stocking up on makeup when I visit home in Canada every year, I’ve now found a local brand that not only meets, but exceeds, my clean beauty expectations. What are other lifestyle changes you have made to support yourself? We are a family of foodies and for us, food and culture go hand-in-hand. always aim to eat as clean as possible by limiting gluten, dairy and processed foods and sugars. I still leave room for an indulgent meal every now and then! I’m also active and exercise regularly. What are your top 3 tips you could give yourself if you could go back in time?1. Drink 1/2 your body weight in ounces of water per day. 2. Go to bed before 10pm. 3. Meditation and breath work are just as important as movement and clean eating. What does clean beauty and healthy living mean to you? How do they go hand in hand? Clean Beauty and healthy living absolutely go hand-in-hand. Most of us understand the importance of exercise and eating well. We don’t realise that a lot of the beauty products out there are unsafe, full of toxins, allergens and endocrine disruptors. As mentioned earlier, our skin absorbs everything we put on it. It’s vital that we take the time to look at the ingredients listed on our beauty products, so we can make the most informed decisions for our body. What is your advice to anyone in the region interested in making the swap or looking for more information? My advice for anyone wanting to swap and look for more information, is to do some research on what products you’re currently using in your beauty regimen. Powder Beauty provides some excellent clean beauty alternatives over conventional brands. Lastly, what are your favourite must have Powder Beauty buys and why? Roen Beauty CAKE Mascara - I have looked for and tried out countless clean mascaras. This is the last product I swapped over because nothing seemed to compare to what I loved, until I tried this mascara. ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 - for someone who rarely wears foundation, I love this skin tint because it looks and feels like you have nothing on. You can find Claudine on IG here @claudinefoong