We’re just saying: Tala Samman, Dubai-based blogger of My Fash Diary, and Hannah Bronfman should be besties. A sick fashion sense? Check. Beauty junkies? Yup. Fit #bodygoals? Foodies? Moonlighting as DJs? Check, check, and check.
And if you need a tour guide for all the insider spots in Dubai, Samman, who was born in Chicago to Syrian parents, pretty much has this city on lock. Raised in the UAE her whole life, Samman was also the first fashion blogger in the region when she launched her site eight years ago.
“When I started my blog, it was the only one in the UAE,” she says. “It was a big deal because even though blogs were picking up in the States, Dubai was a few steps behind initially when it came to this whole industry.”
Starting off as a purely fashion site, My Fash Diary has since grown to include beauty, travel, food — and her Instagram also has some serious fitspiration. Oh yeah, and then there’s this whole DJing thing.
A regular at fashion events, and most recently the headlining DJ spinning for thousands at Zabeel Park at the city’s Electric Run, Samman said learning to DJ was something she even hid from her friends at first.
“I always wanted to learn how to DJ but I was always too shy to ask friends who were DJs because a lot of them are guys,” she said. “I don’t come from a very musical background, but two years ago, I ended up taking classes with a producer in Dubai at an academy that doesn’t exist here anymore. I remember him saying, ‘Girls never come here...it’s always just guys!'”
And when it comes to beauty, Samman says Middle Eastern women really know their stuff. “I feel like people don’t realise that Middle Eastern women are super savvy with their beauty,” she says. “Even people I know who don’t necessarily work in the beauty or fashion scene are savvier than people around the world when it comes to products. And they’re willing to spend on it — you’ll see more and more brands are getting stock here because there really is a demand for it.”
A regular on the scene, it’s hard to miss Samman with her violet locks (more on this in a bit), and covetable style. Ahead, the always-chic blogger shares some of the beauty must-haves in her makeup bag.
“I get my hair color done in Slam salon in Al-Quoz. I used to have an ashy ombré, but I started adding brights with Simona there. Last year, I went with purple and blue ends, and I just liked the purple. God knows how many colors are in here now — burgundy, blue, purple. I think I’ll keep it up until my mom says something.”
Photo: Courtesy of Tala Samman.
“I’m so big on my nails but I never do my own, ever. I get them done every week — I have to make sure they’re perfect because I’m always doing shoots. I love to go to Art Bar in the Nail Spa in Jumeirah and the Mall of the Emirates. They do freehand art so sometimes I get fun things like cartoon characters. Once I even got Kimojis.”
Photo: Courtesy of Tala Samman.
“I love illuminators. My favorite is Becca ’s. I’ll wear their liquid during the day and top it up with their pressed powder at night. Their pigments are so good and give me this dewy glow.”
Photo: Courtesy of Tala Samman.
" Whenever I travel, I always carry eye-gel patches. I’m shy to put it on the plane, but I’ll stick them on when it’s dark. I like Eyeko ’s a lot — they really help me look refreshed.”
Photo: Courtesy of Tala Samman.
“I only wear matte lips. I can’t touch anything sheer or glossy. I’ve tried every single brand. My go-tos are Kat Von D’s Lovesick, Anastasia’s Crush [Ed. note: An R29 Beauty Innovator Awards ' winner!] or Sepia if I want to go dark, and Huda Beauty’s Liquid Matte in Medusa that never leaves my lips cracked.”
Photo: Courtesy of Tala Samman.
“I started getting weird allergies this year, so I switched to a more natural skin-care routine with Earth Tu Face products. I’ll also get really light facial treatments like a light milk peel from Rebecca Treston at EuroMed. It’s a five minute treatment I’ll do once every two weeks.”
Photo: Courtesy of Tala Samman.
" We really lacked variety when it came to fitness studios in Dubai as recently as 2012. There was one studio that did pilates and I didn’t have any other option, which really frustrated me. I feel like now it’s super exciting because we have new fitness classes opening every month.
I get bored and lose motivation easily, so I try to mix up my workouts and throw in a little strength. I go to Machka in Jumeirah and work out with a trainer there, but I also love the barre classes at Physique57 and Define, a new studio here from Texas. We have Barry’s Bootcamp opening up here soon too!”
Photo: Courtesy of Tala Samman.
“I’m obsessed with Drybar ’s products. I stock up on their Triple Sec 3-in-1 Texturizer when I go the States. I’m also really liking Ouai’s Texturizing Spray.”
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