She wakes up with eyeliner. She sleeps with eyeliner too. And we’re not talking about a TV series where the women look immaculately dressed and perfectly coiffed even through a storm.
We’re talking of an average woman who has eyeliner tattooed on her eyelid. Also know as permanent makeup.
She is not a film star or celebrity, not even a high-profile socialite. She is literally the girl next door.
In the 1930’s beauty parlours would often inject vegetable dyes into unsuspecting customers, disguising it as ‘complexion treatment’. However, in recent decades the need to ‘disguise’ it has been done away with.
Even the ‘natural’ look comes in 50 ml bottles with a blush to match.
The latest figures indicate that the UAE market for color cosmetic products will be worth Dhs519.5m by 2014, reflecting a 27.8% increase over the 2009-2014 period. (Euromonitor)
A recent research conducted by YouGov indicates that despite the glorious sunshine in the region, 17% of UAE residents receive a spray tan once per month. A quarter of UAE residents enjoy monthly manicures and pedicures, and head and shoulder massages at least once per month. 1 in 10 receive a full body massage each month or enjoy a Moroccan bath
More interesting popular treatments include eyelash extensions – 12% have them monthly, teeth whitening – a quarterly treatment for 21%, and gold facials – enjoyed monthly by 1 in 10.
Beauty sleep has been replaced by ‘dark circles’ cream and sunshine by tanning parlours.
Cosmetics and make up have become a necessity that most people cannot dispense with. There is now greater demand for organic and mineral cosmetics, reflecting a growing awareness among the consumer of harmful chemicals that have adverse effects. However, these come at a price.
In the meantime, beauty is no longer in the eye of the beholder. It is on every dressing table, in every shopping bag.
