Summer is just about here, and all the stores are filled with summertime collections. We’ve trawled the malls to find our best buys to keep you looking (and feeling) cool – clothes, scents, sandals and more

Hot nights
Body Shop’s latest Hot Brights range does exactly what it claims – delivers beautiful strong colours to make a real statement and get you feeling your best this summer. They come in complementary pairings – Hot Brights Eye Colour for instance gives you Violet Sunset, dusky pink with rich mauve; or Pearly Sky, deep aqua with cream. There’s a couple of Eye Liner combos, Hot Brights Blush for a modern yet natural-looking flush, and a pair of Lips & Cheeks stains. Body Shop’s lip stains have long been a favourite of those in the know, and we love the options here: Rose Sunrise for a fresh pink gloss and Coral Sand which matches a bronzy Lip & Cheek Stain with a soft coral gloss to finish.
Hot Brights Eye Colour AED 55 | Hot Brights Eye Liner AED 55 | Hot Brights Blush AED 110 | Hot Brights Lips & Cheeks AED 72 | The Body Shop, Marina Mall (02 681 4933), Abu Dhabi Mall (02 645 7300) and elsewhere

Flower girl
Kenzo Flower eau de toilettes are light and delicate, natural and clear, very definitely floral but not overpowering – just what you want for summertime. There are three new fragrances in the range – Eau de Fleur de soi (supposedly silk, definitely a gentle, breezy note); Eau de Fleur de magnolia, a much stronger floral scent; and our favourite, Eau de Fleur de thé – an unlikely sounding combination, but notes of green tea with just a hint of musk really do work.
Kenzo Eau de Fleur AED 257 | Paris Gallery, Abu Dhabi Mall (02 645 2000) and Marina Mall (02 681 6662)

 

Mighty mascara
One downside of the heat is the way you get fooled by your makeup – you spend hours getting your lashes looking good, only to find them drooping and wilting only a few hours later. Clinique has the answer – its High Impact Curling Mascara is designed to provide dramatic volume plus extreme curl for 24 hours of long-wearing, non-smudging, big, bold lashes that keep their curl all day.
Clinique High Impact Curling Mascara AED 100 | Paris Gallery, Abu Dhabi Mall (02 645 2000) and Marina Mall (02 681 6662)

Big eyes
Missha’s new professional Volume HD (High Definition) mascara promises to give your lashes maximum volume and depth for extra thickness. The mascara is also waterproof, will last all day, and contains silicon fluid and pearl powder to add shine. It comes with a special brush that guarantees a 270o lift, too.
Missha Volume HD mascara AED 69 | Areej, Marina Mall (02 681 5662)

 

 

Secret essentials
women’secret has just what you need for cool looks on hot days. Flowers is a new line featuring the monotone colours that are bang on trend for the summer season, delivered as bikinis, sarongs, beach bags, sandals, loose cotton tops and miniskirts – easy-to-wear summertime essentials. Petunia is a more beachy collection filled with pretty florals for cool strappy beach dresses, detailed cami tops and halter style bikinis.
Cotton top AED 129 | Minidress AED 125 | women’secret, Marina Mall (02 681 8070), Abu Dhabi Mall (02 644 2201), Jimi Mall, Al Ain (03 763 6774), Bawadi Mall, Al Ain (03 784 0171)

Male man
Jean Paul Gaultier scents aren’t to every bloke’s taste, but Le Male is a real goodie for summer. There’s a touch of amber but also hints of mint and vanilla, and it comes in this rather cool pendant-style packaging great for anytime top-ups, and no you don’t have to buy into the “perfumed military accessory” blurb to wear it.
Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male perfume 75ml AED 245 | Paris Gallery, Abu Dhabi Mall (02 645 2000) and Marina Mall (02 681 6662)

Pretty feet
Little things make a big difference, and it’s the details that can powerfully transform a woman’s overall image. Nor do those details have to cost a fortune – this month Vincci launched a bargain sandals range starting from AED 50, including these pretty and colourful flip flops. New styles are promised throughout the summer.
Sandals AED 50 | Vincci, Marina Mall (02 681 8744)

 

 

Gold rush
Parfois has embraced all things gold for its May collections, albeit with pops of colour. We love the bracelets in the pic, and there’s also a collection of new bags for both work and play that range from nude chain bags to casual slouchy carriers in pretty florals and pastels.
Bracelets from AED 50 | Parfois, Marina Mall (02 681 6837)

 

 

 

[Originally published in Abu Dhabi Week vol 2 issue 19]