Omani actress and Bobbi Brown ambassador Buthaina Al Raisi, regularly shares her industry knowledge with her 5 million followers on Instagram. There’s power in knowing what works for you, so we asked Al Raisi to share her favourites.
Talk us through your morning routine.
My morning routine is the most important. As soon as I wake up, I wash my face with a gentle cleanser that is so on the skin, then I use a day moisturizer, and you must never forget to use an eye cream. Then I apply an SPF.
What can we always find in your makeup bag?
The most important product in my makeup bag is a lip gloss or balm, especially in summer when the weather is hot, and your lips can get dry easily. I apply it every hour to keep them moisturized.
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Are you a fan of masks?
I love face masks from German brand M. Asam, particularly the grape seed extract. I feel and see an instant effect. It is amazing for balancing uneven skin tone – I can see the results as soon as I use it.
Which three makeup products could you not live without?
The Bobbi Brown Setting Spray as I like to use this before makeup to moisturize and balance the oil in my skin. It is really refreshing because it contains lavender. Another really important product for me is a foundation, and my favourite is also from Bobbi Brown – Skin Long-Wear Weightless Foundation. It gives a nice coverage but does not feel too heavy on my skin. And finally, lip gloss. I love to use lip gloss all the time but I don’t have a speciffic favourite one because every brand has a great lip gloss – I use a lot of different brands and love trying new brands too.
Skincare wise, I adore the Renewal Oil from La Mer. It nourishes the skin and deeply hydrates. I also love the La Mer Eye Balm which evens out the colour around the eye area and helps reduce dark circles. The third has to be The Tonic, by La Mer. It balances the oil in my skin so well.
How would you describe your relationship with makeup?
I have always loved makeup. I adore new makeup products and have been fascinated with them since I was a child. As I built my social media presence, I began to enjoy sharing the products that I like with my followers. I feel that helps me to connect with my audience.
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How has your relationship with makeup evolved?
Your relationship with makeup and cosmetics changes so much over time, and as you mature. For example, I used to wear very bold, bright coloured makeup, and my winged eyeliner was much more dramatic than it is now. I used to wear lots of layers of foundation, and be a bit more daring with colours, now I focus more on neutral shades and earthy colours.
Let’s talk fragrance. What are you loving at the moment?
I adore perfumes and am very passionate about fragrance. So much so, I have created my own perfume When the Rain Falls, which I am pleased to say has been received with a lot of positivity and excitement. I put my heart and soul into it, it’s elegant and sophisticated with a strong undertone – like my personality.
How do you choose your evening fragrance?
In general, I don’t go for light perfumes – even my day perfumes have a personality and heaviness. In terms of evening perfumes, I love my own perfume but I also love a completely different one called: Sehr Al Luban it contains Frankincense which is a classic, much-loved scent in the region.
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Talk us through your hair routine.
I love being asked about hair because for me, hair is the femininity of a woman. I take great care of my hair and often do treatments almost daily. I get a lot of questions about my hair and my first top tip is regarding colouring; in fact, I don’t like to colour my hair at all and I avoid using anything with chemicals. Since I was a child I have not used anything containing chemicals on my hair. I use Caffeine Shampoo from organic German brand Ahuhu. This keeps my hair strong and thick and stops it from falling. I love using natural treatments for my hair and I make my own tonics from natural ingredients such as egg, Henna, honey, banana, lavender and rosemary.
What are your ultimate makeup tips?
My top makeup tip is to prepare your skin – if you prepare your skin in the right way, your makeup will be always awless. My second tip is that after contouring, highlighting and using blush, use one big clean big brush and pass it all over the skin – this will give the best blend. Another tip I suggest is to ice your skin. Everyone has ice in the house and it can help close pores up – try it!
What’s the most unusual item in your makeup bag?
My eyelash curler because I carry it everywhere with me – people feel it is strange to keep it on me all the time but because my lashes are so straight I have to keep curling them throughout the day.
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