[App]cessorise

The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) has measured imports of beauty products to the UAE not in millions of dirhams, but in the several billion. Women in the UAE are estimated to spend as much as a third more than their overseas counterparts on beauty products.

It appears they outstrip chic Paris when it comes to cosmetics and glamour, it appears. So rather than opt for Milan, Tokyo, London or Rome for its forthcoming fashion themed café, Vogue selected Dubai as the venue for its next venture; this is a region that cares about how it looks.

Male skincare, hair care and body wellness products are also becoming a huge part of the beauty industry today. Men are learning to exfoliate and use lip balm and sunscreen protection, with some guys even following their wives and girlfriends into the nail salon to get their ragged claws filed down. Back waxing is also of course available, but we’ll leave that subject to the privacy of those who wish to indulge.

Today you can comfortably say “there’s an app for that” in just about any walk of life and the beauty industry is no exception.

Technology can bring some pretty clever extras to the word of beauty; it can even provide some insight that even the most experienced shopping mall “moisturiser consultant” would fail to miss.

Remember, if you don’t think you can afford to visit a professional dermatologist and want some really far-reaching skin and health advice, some apps host online discussion forums so you can read experiences and advice from other individuals all around the world including the Gulf.

With apps now being created with the ability to capture your photo and analyse your face shape, skin tone, hairstyle and more, virtual beauty assistants are becoming more intuitive and interactive every day. So let’s go to the (online) shopping mall…

Mobile Makeover

Available today for Apple iPhone and with an Android version currently in the works, Mobile Makeover offers over 50+ step-by-step beauty guides, each created by an expert makeup artist or hairstylist. There’s a look to suit every style, from natural beauty to what has been labelled as “high-impact fashion” if you want to cause a stir. Thankfully in this age of multiculturalism, this app allows women to narrow down options based on their particular skin tone. Just be careful not to choose the “celebrity” or “clubbing” options if all you’re doing is picking up the shopping from Spinneys.

PerSKINality

Again with a view to looking for an app that can accommodate for the large number of nationalities present in the Gulf region we look to PerSKINality for Android phones. This app aims to be your virtual dermatologist and its makers claim to be able to identify and solve skin issues no matter where you are. Users are required to fill out the app’s questionnaire and then upload a makeup-less picture of themselves for analysis. Privacy is assured as no photos are shared, but the app will analyse your faces wrinkles, age spots and discoloration (if you have any) and then suggest a skin care plan for correcting it.

LoveMySkin

More of a good idea perhaps than a great app. LoveMySkin is designed to work as a mole map for skin cancer prevention. This somewhat gimmicky piece of software allows a to plot marks on your body so you can alert your dermatologist to any changes. While this app might not be a breakthrough in medical engineering, it could well serve as a useful reminder for Gulf residents who regularly go find themselves exploring the region’s wadis, hills and dunes in an open top 4x4 every Friday.

Haircaster

Again in what might be not much more than a slightly fun or lightweight kind of distraction, ladies who care about their hair may like to consider Haircaster for iPhone. It only works in America right now, but with many US cities from Miami to New York exhibiting similar levels of humidity to the Gulf region, with just a little homework research you can localise this app yourself and get a daily weather forecast for your hair. If you are genuinely worried about heat and humidity levels attacking your coiffured creation then this could be the app for you.

SpaFinder

Much more useful is SpaFinder compatible with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad.

This free app uses Google Maps to zone in on special deals at spas nearest to where you are. It flags last minute offers, allows you to search and book treatments in real-time using the so-called SpaBooker Network and it provides you with descriptions, reviews and treatment menus. Crucially, it also offers driving or walking directions based on your current location. This app is pleasingly Middle East friendly; a quick search for Yoga in Dubai Locations throws up three locations including the Burj Al Arab.