#SHEmeansbusiness

On March 8 2016, International Women’s Day, Facebook launched a campaign #SheMeansBusiness with the goal of supporting, empowering and celebrating the female entrepreneurs and women-owned businesses.

When women succeed, we all win.

When women do better, economies do better. That’s why Facebook is celebrating women who have built and run businesses, and delivering resources to help those who might one day do so themselves.

Because the next successful entrepreneur could be anyone. She could even be you.

According to The National, Ms Sarah Beydoun of Sarah’s Bag was among dozens of women from the region who attended an event last week to celebrate the launch of a new initiative from Facebook called #SheMeansBusiness, which supports female entrepreneurs in the Middle East and North Africa.

The initiative has partnered with UAE organisations such as Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre (Sheraa), Emirates Foundation and Egypt’s Ahead of the Curve to train 10,000 women in a year via workshops, training sessions and online resources to equip female entrepreneurs with the knowledge, connections, skills and technology required to build and grow their business online. Facebook has had 70 per cent growth in the number of women setting up businesses on the platform in the past year, according to Nicola Mendelsohn, vice president for Eur­ope, the Middle East and Africa (Emea) at Facebook.

“Today on Facebook there are 65 million business pages. And the wonderful thing is it’s free. Anyone can set up a business for free on Facebook and you can start to reach the people that matter to you,” she says.

According to recent estimates, if women’s participation in labor markets in the MENA equaled that of men’s, the regional GDP could rise by 47% over the next decade, and the MENA could realize $600 billion in economic impact annually ($2.7 trillion by 2025). (Source – McKinsey report)

Global GDPA new McKinsey Global Institute report finds that $12 trillion could be added to global GDP by 2025 by advancing women’s equality.

 

Female ownersA study shows that women own more than 300,000 small and medium enterprises in MENA, about 1/3 of the more than 1m SMEs in the regional economy.

 

63%of Saudi women have unregistered yet successful businesses, and rely on mobile phones and personal computers to do business.

 

2/3Two-thirds of governmental employees in the UAE are female.

58%The UAE has had a 58% increase in female entrepreneurs…in just 4 years.

 

InstagramHalf of Instagram users in Saudi Arabia are women using it for business.

 

Increasing numbers of womenThe number of Saudi women in the workforce has risen, from a very low base, and in 2014 reached 1.2 million (18%) of the female working-age population.

 

Women in GovernmentThe UAE was the first in the region to make female representation in all governmental boards mandatory.

 

Reduce the Gender GapThe B20 Employment Taskforce, with AT Kearney, determined reducing the gender gap by 25% added 12% to the total OECD economy by 2030.

Sarah’s Bag says its international expansion corresponded with the rise of social media.

“We rode this wave and it was very impactful for us. People got to know us from Instagram,” says Ms Beydoun. “We were able to connect to new retailers from Instagram and Facebook. We were able to connect to influencers – very important in the fashion world. The fashion world is very visual, so any picture you post is a chance to sell the product.”

And as an experienced entrepreneur with a successful business, Ms Beydoun sees #SheMeansBusiness as a chance to give back. Having worked with female prisoners and sold bags to women at the other side of the spectrum, she has learnt a lot about how women can use their talents to make a success of their lives.

“When you see this whole spectrum you realise that the most important thing for a woman is to be productive and financially independent,” she adds.

We can all join this wonderful campaign and support each other. You can get all the details from their website https://shemeansbusiness.fb.com/ae/

Thank you all for your love and support!

Content Courtesy Shemeansbusiness.fb.com

#HeerMaquillaje

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pink Power – Beauty Blender!

Rea Ann Silva is the founder of Beauty Blender. She started her career as makeup artist in 1993 and from then on worked with celebrities, famous photographers, beauty magazines like Vanity Fair and Essence.

Rea Ann Silva and her daughter @watcherica

In 2002, she came up with the concept of original pink Beauty Blender which has changed the makeup application tools today. In 2003, the famous Beauty Blender was incorporated and it is by far one of the most favourite and important makeup applicator for all the makeup artists and even the people who use makeup in their day to day lives.

In 2013, Beauty blender won Allure’s Best of Beauty Award for the 5th time with the original Pink Beauty Blender. She also featured in New York Times Style section and won the “Fastest Growing Company” Award.

The texture of the beauty blender is super soft, it can be used dry but when you wet the sponge and use it for apply foundation, it gives a flawless finish. Beauty blenders can be used to apply liquid foundations, powders, eyeshadows, creams, and even skin care products.

“17 Beauty Blenders are sold every minute”, according to the International Marketing Director of Beauty Blender.

Now for the fun part – check out this challenge posed by the vlogger Selena Faye for the women all around the world to text their boyfriends the picture of a beauty blender and ask them what they think it is. All of these are hilarious!

Good going!

Egg :’))

Stress ball!!

That’s kind of creative – klown nose!

Hahaha!!

Bravo!!! hahaha!

Thank you guys for reading this post! If you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed blogging it then do follow me for more and like the blog.

Photo Courtesy Beauty Blender

#Heermaquillaje

STORYBOOK COSMETICS!

Oh! This is something really interesting and fun here. Specially, after day dreaming about the fairyland for almost all my childhood and teenage years, Storybook Cosmetics has brought somethings from our fantasy world to life.

When there is something really hyped about, like say the Harry Potter – whenever their books would come out or their movies, many of us who are fantasy fanatics go frenzy over shopping all kinds of things inspired by the movies or characters. Like the magic wand, the witch broom etc.

That’s the case for Beauty and the Beast as well. Storybook cosmetics is giving us amazing gift of a makeup brush that looks like an enchanted rose. This rose is crazy hyped up all over social media and we just can’t wait to get our hands on it. And if that wasn’t enough exciting they are also going to come up with Harry potter inspired makeup palette and brushes.

Storybook Cosmetics is owned by 3 sisters who are identical triplets. As fans of fantasy world, they want to create sparkly, magical and mystical line of makeup products. So far, we have heard a lot about them and their products. Everyone is waiting to get their hands on the products and lets hope it goes as wells its hyped up about.

I am seriously looking forward to these products, and if any of you guys are too, then let me know in the comments.

Thank you for your love and support!

Content and Photo Courtesy Storybook Cosmetics

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Glowing Makeup reacting to UV light!

I have seen many types of makeup art which has inspired me to write about them. And one of the art with makeup is this UV LIGHT MAKEUP. This is a very interesting by Adriano Rodrigues who is a photographer and an artist. He created this fantastic photo series called “Neon Dream” for his photography class project where he collaborated with makeup artist Breeanna Nichols.

This was created by first airbrushing the model black, and then dotting with the luminous makeup that lit up under a black light like bright constellations in the dark sky.

Check out the amazing work by Adriano Rodrigues:

Thank you!

Content and Photo Courtesy Fubiz

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PAT MCGRATH KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES

This is not a product review. This blog is about the most stunning and diligent makeup artist Pat McGrath. She first launched her product on October 2015, which was the Gold 001 pigments, gradually came the Phantom 002 eyeshadows and Skin Fetish 003 highlighter.

Gold 001

By 2016, she came out with Lust 004 and Metamorphosis everything kit 005. All of these are her master creations and absolutely stunning. They all come as kits which, even if you are not a makeup artist, will ignite the artist in you. And their packaging is amazing!

Phantom 002

“We can wear everything,” McGrath told ESSENCE. “And we do. And I do believe that one good thing about social media is it has helped support that idea.It’s just an amazing tool for beauty, for the fact you get to see everything on everybody.

Skin Fetish 003

According to McGrath via a release, “Gold 001 looks like pure metal, foil, gilding, brilliance. I have been working in the labs for years to see a pigment with this finish – I knew once I touched it that it was major; there is something magnificent about its pure form that leaves me breathless.”

Lust 004

Metamorphosis Everything Kit 005

I personally have been perplexed by her utter artistic talent that she has applied in the products as well as the supermodels and celebrities. Pat McGrath has been previewing her products in fashion week ever since 2015 and this NYFW she has given a sneak peak of her new blue eyeshadow but it has not been confirmed yet. So stay tuned to be updated on it.

The sneak peak at NYFW 2017

“Today’s woman, for us, beauty is about trying new things,” says McGrath. “It’s about trying something different.”

Photo credits from Pat McGrath and Getty images

Thank you!

#HeerMaquillaje

NYFW – Not just about the clothes!

Check out how New York Fashion Week Fall 2017 was used to express their political views after the election. The stage had become the voice for many in the form of fashion. Statements ranged from reminding everyone ‘People are People’ to sending out messages of women empowerment to calling for a revolution.

The designer Mara Hoffman, used the stage to remind everyone that Women’s march was not done. According to Refinery 29, The Women’s March co-chairs explained in a joint statement that they felt compelled to participate in Hoffman’s presentation. “So many of our communities are being stripped away from basic human rights, that we must all come together and use our platforms to stand together,” they said. “We commend Mara and other designers who have made a public stance on today’s political climate. The days of just sitting back and hoping for change are no longer an option.” The fabrics used for her fashion statements were knits, denims and other materials which give a classic idea of American workwear – clothing for those who still have work to do. 

According to allure, Rebecca Minkoff closed the show with live performance by MILCK, who sang her hit song ‘Quiet’ , the unofficial anthem of Women’s March.

Jonathan Simkhai added fuel to the girl-power graphic-tee trend by closing his fall show in a “Feminist AF” shirt and giving one to each guest in the front row.

Prabal Gurung stirred up the most hype surrounding the issue at his Sunday show, in which Bella Hadid led the finale in a white T-shirt that read “The Future is Female.” The other models all wore tees stamped with different political slogans such as “Stay Woke,” “Nevertheless, She Persisted,” and “Girls Just Want to Have Fundamental Rights.” The designer took his bow wearing one that said “This is What a Feminist Looks Like.” It was only a matter of hours before Gurung’s feminist tees made their way to street style influencers, including Irene Kim, Aimee Song, and Bryanboy. 

NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 12: Designer Prabal Gurung walks the runway at the Prabal Gurung collection during February 2017 New York Fashion Week at Gallery 1, Skylight Clarkson Sq on February 12, 2017 in New York City.

Content courtesy Allure and Refinery 29 and photo courtesy GettyImages

Thank you!

#HeerMaquillaje

A WALK OF ART – Visionary Shoes

Art itself is an art of every form, category, type, style, look, creativity, innovation and so much more. An artist’s mind has no limit to the creativity of art in any category and according to me, every individual is an artist. Because every individual has the creativity of art in their own unique ways. It’s all about getting in touch with that creativity of art in yourself.

The out of the box creativity done by Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Jerusalem is simply phenomenal. These shoes were not meant to be worn, they were not meant for comfort or use. the creators were given the freedom to creativity to express their design aesthetics.

A Walk of Art shoes is a line between art and fashion. These are made with glass, metal, wood and also 3D printed. Let’s check out some the amazing art of shoes:

Photo Credits by Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Jerusalem

You can find out more details about these creative shoes from their website www.walkartexhibition.com

Thank you! I hope you enjoyed this blog as much as I enjoyed writing it.

#HeerMaquillaje