When you love beauty as much as we do, from the latest treatments to new products and star style, it goes without saying that we simply can’t get enough of it. When we’re not checking out products in the office, we’re researching online to find out what other people are saying. We’re big fans of the region’s army of beauty bloggers, here we introduce you to four of our favourites.
SISTERS IN STYLE
The Syeda girls love fashion and beauty and make it a joint effort to tell us all about it.
Who are The Syeda Sisters?
We’re two sisters who run a beauty, fashion and lifestyle blog called The Syeda Sisters blog. Our names are Omaimah & Areesha and we’re two years apart. We share the blog duties together so we can juggle our studies and work along with blogging. One of us is a dentistry student and the other a finance graduate. We were brought up in Bahrain and have roots in Karachi, Pakistan. We belong to the Syed family, hence our blog’s name.
How long have you been blogging and what made you start?
We began blogging in the summer of 2013. The journey so far has been remarkable and exciting, we can still remember the thrill we had when we first typed up a fresh blogpost titled ‘About us’. We’ve always been fans of beauty products and all things girly since a young age. We would religiously read the beauty section of magazines and online reviews of trending products on international beauty blogs. One day the idea of blogging hit us. A Bahrain-based beauty blog with a little bit of fashion and lifestyle? Nah! Who would give our blog a read? We knew zero about the technical side and had no idea where to start. It has been a purely a ‘do and learn’ experience. The blogging is the fun part: taking pictures and writing thorough, honest reviews for our awesome readers.
What has been the post that’s had the single biggest response?
That would be our review of the Body Shop’s Tea Tree Oil. It got a thundering 5,057 page views! It was also one of our very first reviews and got views from around the world from the USA to Singapore and Malaysia, even Russia!
What has been your all-time favourite review product?
That’s a really tough question. They’re many but if we could narrow it down to one it would be Benefit’s They’re Real push-up eye liner. The response was over-whelming with girls applauding for our honest review.
Any advice for beauty fans who want to start their own blog?
Yes! You need to be 100-per-cent honest even if it’s a sponsored product. If a particular company sends you a really expensive product and you genuinely didn’t find it useful then let your readers know!
THE MODEST BELLE
Sara Abdul Ghaffar has made a name for herself with readers the world over giving tips on modest style.
Who is The Modest Belle?
The Modest Belle is a blog that revolves around fashion, beauty and lifestyle. I am a bubbly and positive person who enjoys life’s simplest pleasures. I enjoy travel, delicious food and spending time with my family and loved ones.
I began my career working in the PR industry, which exposed me to the blogosphere in Bahrain. I was motivated by the few Bahraini bloggers (at the time) to start my own blog – something I had always wanted to do.
What made you start the blog, how long has it been running and how many followers do you have?
I began my blog as a creative outlet to express my love of fashion and to inspire women to dress modestly. Through the blog and YouTube channel, I have unveiled my passions through writing and showcasing photos of my personal style, my favourite fashion and beauty brands, DIY projects, along with other interests related to food and lifestyle.
I’ve always loved fashion and expressing my personality through my style. As a woman who wears hijab, I noticed how other women who wear hijab complain about how difficult it is to dress stylishly. I wanted to start a blog that would inspire women who dress conservatively to be fashionable, as I truly believe you can be stylish while remaining modest.
The blog’s been running for around three years now and my YouTube channel has been running for a year and a half. I have approximately 3,500 Instagram followers.
Since modesty is a popular subject for style-conscious Muslim women, do you find you have significant interest from outside the region?
Absolutely. This came as a surprise to me in the beginning. I have numerous readers/followers/viewers based in the US, Canada, UK and Europe. Globally, there are numerous women who dress modestly, who are not necessarily Muslim and/or hijab wearers. They seek inspiration from bloggers like myself as we have become a ‘modest fashion’ community.
What was the best piece of advice you were given when starting out?
Invest in a proper domain name and write about subjects you are truly passionate about.
Who is your beauty/style inspiration?
Style Inspiration: Olivia Palermo. Beauty Inspiration: Jennifer Lopez – her skin has never looked better and she’s 46! I know, I still can’t believe her age.
THE MAKE-UP LOVER
Simone Gannon first popped onto our radar when she was living in Bahrain. Now based in Dubai and managing director of Bright Room Digital, we still keep a close eye on her blog, Simone Loves Makeup, for ideas and products.
How did Simone Loves Makeup come about?
I was living in Singapore many years ago and rambling on to friends at home about all of the cool and crazy makeup products I was buying.
Blogging was a relatively new thing at the time so I figured I would give it a go as it would be great to talk about everything in one place, and then I could send my friends the link!
You’re mum to a young boy, how do you find the time to blog as well as being a successful businesswoman?
It can be hard to juggle everything at times, but I generally manage to keep all the balls in the air. My husband is great and supports me in my blogging and vlogging efforts, which really helps.
I’ve always enjoyed blogging and making YouTube videos, it’s become a real passion – so even when I’m really busy, I’ll squeeze in time during the week or at the weekend.
What tips would you offer to anyone wanting to start their own beauty blog?
I would say just do it! It’s easy to set up a blog and pretty low-cost, you just have to shell out a few BD on buying the domain name and setting up hosting. Figure out what you want to talk about and get going!
What’s been the strangest question or reaction you’ve experienced on your blog?
Probably people asking me where I live, right down to which street I live on, which can be a bit strange! Apart from the occasional odd question, the blog readers are lovely and big beauty fans, just like me!
What beauty product can you not live without?
Eyeliner. I wear eyeliner every day as I like defined eyes [and it helps me look awake!]. My two favourite liners are L’Oreal Perfect Slim Liquid Liner and Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Get Liner. Both excellent, long-lasting and easy on the wallet too.
THE ORIGINAL BOMBSHELL
Georgina Jensen, the original blonde with a blog and a dog (two now) who writes at blondeinbahrain.com and has more than 24,600 followers on Facebook!
What made you decide to start a blog?
I started blondeinbahrain.com as a creative outlet, as I love to write, create and take photos. I’ve lived in Bahrain since 1998 so know the island well, and have always known that there are a lot of great things going on here – sometimes they’re just a little harder to find, especially for expats. I wanted to showcase the beautiful places and talented people, and throw in a few handy tips as well.
What would you say is the secret to your success?
Commitment, consistency, and kindness. I’ve worked hard to get my blog where it is, and dedicated a great deal of time to it. It also pays to be nice to people – whoever they may be.
What’s the best opportunity you’ve been offered thanks to your blog?
It’s impossible to pinpoint one single opportunity, but the biggest benefit is that being part of the blogging scene has allowed me to make the most amazing friends – many of them fellow bloggers. Despite being very diverse, we’re such a tight-knit group and always support each other.
What’s your own favourite beauty product?
It’s got to be a bright, bold lipstick in either fuchsia or red. I just love Chunky Funky Lips, and Extreme Wear Lip Lacquer – both WOW by Wojooh. They’re both super-pigmented and stay on all day.
What’s next for the Blonde in Bahrain?
I’m looking forward to more collaborations – between brands I love and, of course, with my fellow bloggers.
