“It always comes down to the science,” explains Suzanne Santos. With its minimalist packaging and top-notch formulas, Aesop has earned a cult-like status among its clientele, who appreciate its unfussy products, pared-back design and uncompromising approach to the efficiency of its offerings. Steering clear of wild claims about wonder potions, Aesop instead prefers to position itself as a knowledgeable ally, diligently perfecting the optimum skincare products for your age, whatever that may be.
Santos is living proof of this, with the kind of peachy skin that comes from a lifetime of expert care. Not that the company – which is now owned by L'Oreal – is judgemental, Santos explains. She says that it is never too late, even for those who have already opted for steps such as skin tightening surgery or injectables. “We’re not demonising," she explains,"we’re saying come to us thereafter. We’ve got the products that will help your skin to endure.”
Launched in a Melbourne hair salon in 1987 by Dennis Paphitis – with Santos as his right hand – Aesop was born with a rebellious spirit and only four products that delivered high-quality ingredients to a new audience. Eschewing wasteful packaging from the beginning, except where legally mandated, and with no flashy marketing campaigns, the company has grown organically over the years mainly via word of mouth.
Its products are simple to use, made with good quality ingredients and blended in such a way to bring the best out of every constituent. “The ingredients we buy are there to perform. When we choose magnesium ascorbyl phosphate as a vitamin C, that is intentional,” Santos explains. “The honouring of science and what it can create, more than a reverence to it, is what we are.”
These formulations include bestsellers such as the Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Intense Serum, which utilises the natural antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of parsley seed to fight free radicals, and the lightweight, vitamin-enriched Exalted Eye Serum, which is crafted for the delicate area around the eyes.
The Sublime Replenishing Night Masque, meanwhile, is loaded with antioxidant-rich sodium ascorbyl phosphate, frankincense and vitamins B, C, E and F, creating a creamy lotion designed to hydrate the skin while you sleep. Ideal for hotter, drier climes, it is little wonder it is flying off the shelves in the Gulf.
“It is about the health of your skin, this incredibly robust barrier. This sense of self that we take almost for granted. And all that ravages it, from our genes to our lifestyle,” says Santos. “Our question has always been ‘How can that be strengthened?’ How can we provide answers and solutions that are genuine and real?’”
As well as having the science-based expertise to blend ingredients for optimal potency, cutting through the jargon and buzzwords is a key part of what Aesop stands for, explains Santos.
It is not enough to shout about a single ingredient unless that can be backed up with knowledge of how to best optimise it. “To have isolated ingredients drawn out as if they are the protagonist? This is not science. Ingredients need to be held and contained, they need to be preserved. They need to be held in order to activate their performance-driven activities by other ingredients,” she explains.
“It always comes down to what’s the dream and what is possible,” Santos explains. “We could argue that people should just put on more hydration on their skin because when you step outside, whatever the amount of hydration you have, it should probably be three times more for the world that we live in.”
When we meet, Santos is in Dubai for the opening of the brand’s new Dubai Mall store, a haven of calm and painted a soothing shade of blue-ish grey. The walls are lined with shelves, stacked with neat rows of bottles and jars and the counter is covered with glass beakers and containers. Think old-fashioned apothecary meets high-tech lab. Santos is proud of the effect, explaining how every element has been chosen in a bid to create that Aesop “experience”, long before it became a buzzword.
“That to me is a very important reflection of why we have the lighting, the aromas, the music. This music is not incidental. It doesn’t just get selected randomly with a Spotify list," says Santos. "I could be standing in any country in the world and it would be the same. There’s a unification because it’s not about culture. It’s about a set of experiences, lives and lifestyles.”
Aesop has been in the Middle East for a decade, which might come as a surprise to some people, given their low profile. “We’re not new on the ground. We are, I would argue, not large in a physical presence, but present in the minds and part of the lives of very many. We are now a foundational brand within the region,” she says proudly. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed this, but people walk into our stores with a very clear understanding of why they are there. They are responding to every effort that is put into the birth of the product, the concept behind it.”
“People want effortlessness,” explains Santos. In a complicated world and 37 years after launching in a hair salon, she has perhaps just revealed the secret to Aesop’s monumental success – a breezy effortlessness underpinned by the rigours of science.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP
Group A
Paraguay
Japan
Switzerland
USA
Group B
Uruguay
Mexico
Italy
Tahiti
Group C
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UAE
Senegal
Russia
Group D
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Oman
Portugal
Nigeria
The years Ramadan fell in May
The Bio
Name: Lynn Davison
Profession: History teacher at Al Yasmina Academy, Abu Dhabi
Children: She has one son, Casey, 28
Hometown: Pontefract, West Yorkshire in the UK
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite Author: CJ Sansom
Favourite holiday destination: Bali
Favourite food: A Sunday roast
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
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%3Cp%3EAriana%E2%80%99s%20Persian%20Kitchen%3Cbr%3EDinner%20by%20Heston%20Blumenthal%3Cbr%3EEstiatorio%20Milos%3Cbr%3EHouse%20of%20Desserts%3Cbr%3EJaleo%20by%20Jose%20Andres%3Cbr%3ELa%20Mar%3Cbr%3ELing%20Ling%3Cbr%3ELittle%20Venice%20Cake%20Company%3Cbr%3EMalibu%2090265%3Cbr%3ENobu%20by%20the%20Beach%3Cbr%3EResonance%20by%20Heston%20Blumenthal%3Cbr%3EThe%20Royal%20Tearoom%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Youth YouTuber Programme
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- Learning, scripting, storytelling and basic shots
- Master on-camera presence and advanced script writing
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Najlaa Khoury, Archipelago Books
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Jordan cabinet changes
In
- Raed Mozafar Abu Al Saoud, Minister of Water and Irrigation
- Dr Bassam Samir Al Talhouni, Minister of Justice
- Majd Mohamed Shoueikeh, State Minister of Development of Foundation Performance
- Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
- Falah Abdalla Al Ammoush, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Basma Moussa Ishakat, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Ghazi Monawar Al Zein, Minister of Health
- Ibrahim Sobhi Alshahahede, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
- Dr Mohamed Suleiman Aburamman, Minister of Culture and Minister of Youth
Out
- Dr Adel Issa Al Tawissi, Minister of High Education and Scientific Research
- Hala Noaman “Basiso Lattouf”, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Mahmud Yassin Al Sheyab, Minister of Health
- Yahya Moussa Kasbi, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Nayef Hamidi Al Fayez, Minister of Environment
- Majd Mohamed Shoueika, Minister of Public Sector Development
- Khalid Moussa Al Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture
- Dr Awad Abu Jarad Al Mushakiba, Minister of Justice
- Mounir Moussa Ouwais, Minister of Water and Agriculture
- Dr Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education
- Mokarram Mustafa Al Kaysi, Minister of Youth
- Basma Mohamed Al Nousour, Minister of Culture
The five pillars of Islam
Indoor Cricket World Cup
Venue Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE squad Saqib Nazir (captain), Aaqib Malik, Fahad Al Hashmi, Isuru Umesh, Nadir Hussain, Sachin Talwar, Nashwan Nasir, Prashath Kumara, Ramveer Rai, Sameer Nayyak, Umar Shah, Vikrant Shetty
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand
UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
Company%20profile
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Barings Bank
Barings, one of Britain’s oldest investment banks, was
founded in 1762 and operated for 233 years before it went bust after a trading
scandal.
Barings Bank collapsed in February 1995 following colossal
losses caused by rogue trader Nick Lesson.
Leeson gambled more than $1 billion in speculative trades,
wiping out the venerable merchant bank’s cash reserves.
COMPANY%20PROFILE%3A
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Analysis
Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.
The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement.
We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment.
Read more about the coronavirus
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More on animal trafficking
Background: Chemical Weapons
Recipe
Garlicky shrimp in olive oil
Gambas Al Ajillo
Preparation time: 5 to 10 minutes
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Serves 4
Ingredients
180ml extra virgin olive oil; 4 to 5 large cloves of garlic, minced or pureed (or 3 to 4 garlic scapes, roughly chopped); 1 or 2 small hot red chillies, dried (or ¼ teaspoon dried red chilli flakes); 400g raw prawns, deveined, heads removed and tails left intact; a generous splash of sweet chilli vinegar; sea salt flakes for seasoning; a small handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
Method
▶ Heat the oil in a terracotta dish or frying pan. Once the oil is sizzling hot, add the garlic and chilli, stirring continuously for about 10 seconds until golden and aromatic.
▶ Add a splash of sweet chilli vinegar and as it vigorously simmers, releasing perfumed aromas, add the prawns and cook, stirring a few times.
▶ Once the prawns turn pink, after 1 or 2 minutes of cooking, remove from the heat and season with sea salt flakes.
▶ Once the prawns are cool enough to eat, scatter with parsley and serve with small forks or toothpicks as the perfect sharing starter. Finish off with crusty bread to soak up all that flavour-infused olive oil.
