Monday 30 January 2017

Spotlight on Clinique Crayola Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm



Clinique’s fabled Chubby Stick lip pencils, loaded with shea butter, not only moisturise your lips they also give them a  slight tint with just the right amount of sheen. 



Pink Sherbert


Now the brand has teamed up with Crayola, renowned for its crayons, to merge beauty and play. So bring out the kid in you and take yourself back to the classroom with these favourites from Clinique in a limited edition Crayola packaging. 

Clinique’s much loved shades have been colour matched and named with some of Crayola’s most popular hues including Mango Tango, Razzmatazz (a pinky-mauve) and Tickle Me Pink. 

There was always something magical when you opened a new box of crayons. Now you can relive those childhood memories with Crayola Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm (£17.50) while caring for and colouring your lips.

By Daralyn Danns

Friday 27 January 2017

Destination Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates


This is not a paid post.


Glittering turquoise waters were lapping at the sugary sands as I strolled among palm trees and pretty gardens carpeting an exquisitely-manicured waterfront. On my left-hand side the skyscrapers soaring above the city resembled Manhattan. The sun had the effect of a spotlight covering the scene with a golden glow. It could not have been more perfect if I had been styling a photo shoot.

Atmospheric and invigorating while radiating calm and serenity, Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, seduces you with charm and culture packaged in a sophisticated and classy environment.



Abu Dhabi: aerial view Corniche
Courtesy of
Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority


I was walking on the Corniche, a road that runs for approximately 5 miles (8 kilometres) by the waterfront from Zayed Port up to the Emirates Palace. People were enjoying bike rides. Many like me were enjoying an afternoon walk soaking up the winter sunshine, while others were relaxing in the bustling cafés and restaurants or swimming in the sea.

Perched on the Arabian Gulf, Abu Dhabi is the largest and the wealthiest of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates  Formed in 1971, this is a relatively new country that is not only rich in oil but also natural beauty. The triangular island of Abu Dhabi city, connected to the mainland by a small bridge, is, like neighbouring islands, awash with construction projects.




Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Courtesy of
Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority



And it is not just more towering buildings and luxurious hotels that are rising out of the desert, Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island is set to be a hub of world-renowned museums including branches of the Guggenheim and the Louvre which you would want to see just for the building alone. Surrounded by the sea it is an ingenious combination of 21st-century architecture and intrinsic Arabian influences. 

Paying homage to Abu Dhabi’s long maritime history is the recently-opened Cruise Terminal, in Zayed Port, where traditional markers of the region, including a souk collide with state-of-the-art design. A stone’s throw from the centre of the capital, it makes stopping here on a cruise an ideal way for getting a taste of the city. 

If you are looking for adventure head south to Yas Island, home of the Formula One circuit and Ferrari World, a theme park where you can take a ride on what is said to be the fastest roller-coaster on the planet.



 Louvre Abu Dhabi (artist's impression)
Courtesy of
Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority




While the winds of change have been brisk here, they have not been as rapid as those of its neighbour Dubai. The attention to detail here is amazing, everything seems to have been thoroughly thought through. Even the traffic flows well here. In Abu Dhabi, you savour a distinct Arabian flavour. 
Although modernity stakes its claim, this emirate is fiercely protective of its past and that makes it special. Being virtually crime free is another plus.

The Heritage Village gives a glimpse of what desert life was like living next to an oasis. Women weave and spin while men are occupied with skills such as making pottery. Its star attraction is the views of the Corniche. You should go there for that alone.

Shopaholics can test their bartering skills at traditional souks as well as sauntering round the myriad of shopping malls that the city has to offer. At the Marina Mall you can appreciate the vastness of Abu Dhabi as you take in the great views from the 100-metre high viewing platform.



Emirates Palace
Courtesy of
Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority



It is, however, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque that will really make your jaw drop – whatever time of day you visit. Designers have come from all over the world to create one of the world’s largest mosques. Elegant and tastefully decorated, its 82 white marble domes, 24 carat gold-gilded chandeliers and columns adorned with floral motives inlaid with semi-precious stones will dazzle you with their beauty. The reflective pools and stunning gardens that hem it intensify the splendour of this architectural wonder. 

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is named after the founder and first President of the UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and is based on his vision.

The mosque, said to hold over 40,000 worshippers, not only boasts in its main prayer hall one of the world’s largest chandeliers, which glistens with gold and Swarovski crystals, it also claims to have the world’s largest hand-knotted carpet. It is said to have taken approximately 1,300 Iranian craftsmen two and half years to complete. 

Women, especially, should take note that the dress code here is extremely conservative. Not even your wrists can be on show. You have to wear loose-fitting ankle-length skirts or trousers and long sleeves. Also ensure you are not wearing white or anything transparent including the scarf that covers your head.

There was just time on my whirlwind trip to fit in a visit to the fabled Emirates Palace, one of the city’s most renowned landmarks. Nestled on its own private beach, surrounded by beautiful lawns and gardens, dancing water fountains greet you as you walk up the sweeping driveway. Indulging in a gold-leaf flecked cappuccino I reflected on the many wonderful surprises that Abu Dhabi kept unravelling. With still more to discover, I hope one day to go back.

By Daralyn Danns



Getting there

Fly with Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates. You will experience Arabian hospitality as soon as you board the plane. For best fares and more details about destinations and Etihad visit etihad.com

Stay at the Emirates Palace. For more information and best rates visit kempinski.com


For more information about Abu Dhabi visit Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority visitabudhabi.ae