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1. Invest in an electric razor if you choose to shave your legs or other parts of your body. Trust me...it's worth it.
2. And for removing facial hair, spend a little extra for high quality tweezers, because yeah, not all tweezers are made equal. 🙃
3. Use rosewater ~liberally~ to refresh, tone, and moisturize skin and hair. It's a staple in Middle Eastern households for helping balance oil, reduce redness and irritation, and hydrate. It's made by steeping rose petals in water — how cool is that?
4. Get yourself some turmeric!! It's a potent anti-inflammatory and brightening antioxidant, so it'll make you glow while helping to protect your skin, hair, and scalp from free radicals.
5. If you have dark circles, focus your concealer in the inner area of your under-eye for a brightening effect. A lot of us have hereditary under-eye pigmentation, and spreading concealer all over your under-eye will actually highlight your bags more.
6. Pack on the mascara! Many of us have strong features, so we can "carry" a full-faced makeup look without looking unnatural or overpowering — so don't hold back!
7. BTW, to maximize volume, wiggle your mascara brush back and forth from bottom to top, like you're brushing your teeth. It works wonders.
8. Plus, don't forget to line your eyes to make your eyes pop. Kajal is super popular for pigmented, intense lining (and was originally used to help protect eyes from intense sun)!
9. Learn some color theory! Ever notice that blue-based lipsticks wash you out? It might be because you have olive-toned skin. Plums, burgundies, and other earth tones tend to look better than neons that wash us out.
10. Take advantage of color correcting, which is a godsend for the many of us prone to under-eye hyperpigmentation and post-acne scarring.
11. Highlight your cheekbones with blush. Many of us have high cheekbones, and it makes them pop in a beautiful way, like you've been kissed by the sun. "Blush on the apples of your cheek" could never!
12. Use black cumin (Nigella sativa) seed oil — run, don't walk. It's a nutrient-rich antibacterial, anti-inflammatory oil that's popular throughout the Middle Eastern region. It helps fade pigmentation and moisturizes gently enough to calm even eczema. It also helps combat brittleness and boost shine in hair!
13. Try henna on your hair to strengthen locks, boost shine, and add texture — while giving your mane beautiful, all-natural auburn highlights.
14. For moisturizing in a pinch, check your kitchen for sweet almond oil, which is a staple in Middle Eastern households for food and for beauty. It's loaded with vitamins E and A to make your skin glow, plus it's non-comedogenic so it won't clog pores.
15. Lightly coat dry curls in argan or apricot oils to make sure your strands are getting enough hydration AND protein. Without enough hydration, curls can become brittle, and lack of protein can make your hair quickly lose its shape or become prone to stringiness.
16. Use a mineral sunscreen, not a chemical sunscreen. Many folks with Middle Eastern heritage are prone to melasma (~myself included~), and chemical sunscreens can actually aggravate the condition.
17. If your skin is too sensitive for vitamin C, try using saffron, a powerhouse ingredient native to the Middle Eastern region that many call "liquid gold." It'll help brighten dull skin, reduce the appearance of fine lines and dark spots, and balance uneven skin tone.
If you have any other tips and tricks, LMK!!
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