Clean Beauty Takes Over Dubai

From our clothes to our food, it seems just about everyone is jumping the clean bandwagon. Emirati Leena Al Abbas is no exception; she worked in the corporate world for over 13 years and then opened up The Organic Glow Beauty Lounge after deciding to follow her passion for living a green lifestyle and combining it with her appreciation of beauty. She explains more…

As she had experienced allergic reactions from regular salon products, Leena made it her mission to educate women about using toxic-free, eco-friendly, and cruelty-free products that are safe for everybody, including pregnant women, which is how The Organic Glow Beauty Lounge was launched. She explains, “I used to get severe chemical reactions every time I used to do my hair color and nails in salons. So I started The Organic Glow Beauty Lounge back in 2010 when I realized there weren’t any salons in the UAE that offered natural and toxic-free treatments. Also, I wanted to offer women a healthier option for beauty treatments.”

The Shift towards Green
The shift towards an organic and healthier lifestyle started in the food industry much before the beauty industry, so there was more awareness when it came to food choices, but not so much for the beauty industry and self-care products, tells Leena. “Our skin is the largest organ in our body, so what you put on your body is just as important as what you ingest in your body,” she says, also, the beauty industry is not as regulated as the food industry, in terms of the specific chemicals used in products. Nowadays, there is an increase in awareness about the dangers of using products that contain toxic/harsh chemicals.SalonJVC1_preview

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According to Leena, their most popular treatments are the bamboo hair treatments, their ammonia-free hair color, toxin-free nail treatments, natural fruit facials, and their organic sugaring. “All of these treatments and the other services that we offer do not contain harsh chemicals and therefore, are safe for everyone, especially pregnant women and women with harsh chemical sensitivities,” she explains.

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Dubai Going Green
Green beauty, points out Leena, is definitely on the rise locally and internationally. “We see every day more and greener products in shops and salons,” she tells, so there is more choice than ever before and there is an increased awareness amongst consumers. But of course, there is still plenty of room for growth.

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Tips for Going Green

  • Avoid harsh chemical cleaning products, and switching to less toxic products. Try using natural ingredients such as baking soda, vinegar, sea salt, and lemon.
  • Start reading the ingredients on all beauty products you purchase and learn about the most dangerous chemicals that need to be avoided.
  • Making your own products is also easy. And again, there are plenty of choices nowadays in shops and information online to help you get started towards living a greener lifestyle.