How to spend the last days of 2016 with That Luxurious Feeling

Celebrating NYE in Dubai is somewhat of a dilemma: everything needs to be BIG and BOLD and super exclusive. I promote That Luxurious Feeling in my life but it will never resonate with what I see here for New Years.

Luxury to me is pampering, the best beauty products available, great treats to eat, quiet time with my husband and close friends. I’m quite boring this way but I can guarantee you that my tips for spending these last two days of 2016 will have you balanced and ready for 2017. Soul and heart and mind.

First of all, let me present to you the world of Forrey & Galland. Four years ago, when I had just joined an Executive Team here in Dubai we had some American consultants visiting us for an audit. On the last day of their stay, one of the men put a small little box on my desk as an appreciation for my work. The box came from Forrey & Galland and inside it was a selection of small, delicious macaroons. 

I had never heard of the brand but I fell head over heels for what I later came to know as their signature style: the amazing packaging.

Forrey & Galland opened in The Dubai Mall in 2008 – and I have been shopping with them since that day when I had my very first macaroon.

This is how I have spent the last few days after Christmas: giving my deeply dull and dehydrated skin some love and affection through high-end skincare while at the same time allowing myself some sweets before January enters. I’ve seen Forrey & Galland represented at brunches and various events I’ve attended over 2016 and when I had the chance to present the store to you I got very pleased.

The first stores opened back in 1912 in Paris; under what is now described as the golden years of La Belle Epoque. You could find one boutique at Rue du Fauborg Saint Honore and the other one located on Avenue Victor Hugo. The addresses tells us that this luxury chocolate house was considered a destination for those with great taste and means to live the good life.

Sadly, as the World Wars changed Europe for ever, the stores had to close and it took decades before relatives to the original owners decided to re-launch the concept.

One for the lips. The company reopened in Dubai when the owners Isabelle Jaouen and Vincent Moret decided that what had always been significant for Forrey & Galland: blending Haute-Couture with Parisian Artisanal treats would work well in this region, as they added a third element of Middle Eastern flavours to their selection of chocolate pralines, macaroons, dates and marzipans.

Everything you find in store is locally handmade to ensure the quality and freshness, the company employs a number of Chefs, artists and designer in their Atelier which is located right outside of Dubai.

As it is still a “family business” everyone’s involved in the process of taste, flavours and design. I love all their exquisite nougat pralines and often gift other people the signature white truffle with infused rose petals!

I think this is perfect for New Years Eve if you want your party to be something extra, but still down to earth.

This is what makes me run to the Forrey & Galland store: their handmade marzipan figures. In Scandinavia, marzipan is a well known part of our Christmas traditions. My family loves it and it has to be made out of the highest quality of ingredients. I can’t stand a “marzipan” that is too hard, not well blended or only tastes like sugar. For our first Christmas in Dubai I was devastated because we couldn’t find a single place here that kept handmade marzipan in store. Once I realised that Forrey & Galland makes them (and marzipan pralines as well) they had me as a forever returning customer hahaha. I know that too much sweets will show up on my skin; unless I’m good and only eat clean and high-quality ingredient sweets. Yes, it cost a little more but it prevent me from stuffing my face with it and it always provide me with that extra Luxurious Feeling.

When I had the chance to show you the selection and their way of playing with packaging, I told them that out of all the arrangements, this wooden “jewellery box” is my favourite. A three-tiered box of heavenly sweets!

I’ve liked it all over their Instagram and drooled over it in their window displays. Nothing is too fancy for the company to use and their boxes and arrangements are made of wood, velvet, leather and silk. Tassels, bows, embossing, personalised arrangement: everything is possible!

If you live in London, you’ll find Forrey & Galland represented at the food halls of Harrods (only the best is good enough here) and a second store will open in Riyadh, KSA.

What you see here is my way of ending the year in style and luxury. No expensive cars or diamonds but some of my favourite treats and of course beauty: 

SK-II Cellumination Aura Bright: this fantastic range that takes brightening and whitening your skin to a whole new level (not Michael Jackson) but it is working from within to add life and lustre back into your skin. I’ve been ill for over a week and my skin is dry, dehydrated, dull and uneven in skin tone. The Aura Bright Cocktail contains Ume Extract + Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, also known as the company’s famous PITERA™ which have a documented effect or brightening the skin tone, softening uneven texture and coloration while at the same time stopping the process of the skin building up additional melanin.

It is the most luxurious skin care range and this serum or thick essence with it’s Niacinamide and Butylene Glycol makes it perfect for my sensitive skin. I press it into face and neck and then use a disposable sheet mask purchased at  MUJI on top to make sure that the fluid get a perfect chance to sink in properly. It leaves a velvety finish ready for a moisturiser or oil.

The Aēsop Rosehip Seed Lip Cream is on my top 5 of lip products and a must have when I feel the need to pamper. Filled with Glycerin, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Coconut Oil and Cocoa Seed Butter (just to name a FEW of the goodies) it is as beautiful as I find the whole Aēsop-range to be. If you ever run into one of their sleek contemporary designed store, purchase everything that your budget will allow you to!

I hope this will inspire you all to take good care of yourself as we end 2016. Bring some pralines to your guests and do that extra facial that you know you are in need of. We need to be ready – soon there’s a new year to embrace! ♥

 

Thank you to Forrey & Galland for the collaboration. Beauty products privately bought.
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4 Comments
  1. Wonderful post and you made me want to try these Forrey & Galland macaroons, marzipans, pralines and everything else they produce. The picture are sweetly delicious and yes, this is a luxurious way to spend the end of the year.

    Wishing you good health, happiness, and success in the coming year and always. Happy New Year lovely M.!

    1. Beautiful Mar! Happy Birthday again and thank you for being such an amazing friend to me this year. I’m so incredibly happy for all of our conversations and love to skype with you. See you in 2017!

  2. Beautiful post! The SK-II Cellumination Aura Bright sounds like an amazing product! I have super sensitive skin but it sounds like you also have sensitive skin and it works great for you! I will have to give it a try :-). The sweet treats from Forrey & Galland look amazing as well! Hope you are having a fantastic start of the new year!!

    1. Hi Lily! I’m always so happy to see your kind comments 🙂 It feels so amazing that you enjoy the same products as I do, and get inspiration via TLF. Thank you!! xx M

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