If summer had a face, it’d probably be Maryam El Zeiny’s. Dubai-based and permanently glowing, she’s the kind of girl whose feed makes you want to drop everything and book a beach getaway. A scroll through her Instagram or TikTok, and you get it instantly: the sun-kissed skin (the tan she’s known for), the effortless beachy hair, the outfits that look like your Pinterest board.
Maryam isn’t the kind of influencer who’s constantly telling you what to buy. She’s more like the friend with impeccable taste whose recommendations never miss. Which is exactly why we had to ask her the question every beauty girl wants answered: what’s actually in her rotation right now?
@maryamelzzz What a time to be alive
Cosmo ME asked her to break down the products carrying her through the season, the ones she reaches for on repeat, whether she’s headed to the beach, out for dinner, or just trying to survive the Dubai heat. From skin to hair to the perfume she can’t stop wearing, consider this your cheat sheet to bottling a little bit of that Maryam glow for yourself.
Hourglass Unreal Liquid Highlighter
Every summer, glowy makeup has its moment, and this summer is no different. It delivers a radiant glow and a serum-like texture. “This highlighter gives you that natural glow but better,” said Maryam. With a formula that lasts up to 12 hours, it’s easy to see why it’s become one of her favourites.
Shop at sephora.me.
It Cosmetics Bye Bye Dark Spots Concealer + Serum
If there’s one thing a good concealer needs to do in the summer, it’s actually stay put through the heat while still looking like skin. This one is powered by niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and caffeine, so it’s clinically proven to fade dark spots over time while giving medium, natural-finish coverage, meaning it’s doing more than just sitting on top. Maryam swears by it: “It just blends into your skin like butter. It’s the perfect consistency for summer.” Full coverage without the cakey feel? Say less.
Shop at sephora.me.
Makeup by Mario Soft Pop Blush Stick in Earthy Pink
Cream blush is having a moment, and this one might just be the summer MVP. The dual-ended stick comes with its own built-in blending brush, so you can swipe and buff with one product, no extra tools needed. It melts straight into skin for that just-came-back-from-vacation flush, buildable and dewy without ever going patchy. Maryam said it “sinks into ur skin and gives you an insane sun-kissed glow,” and honestly, earthy pink might be the perfect shade for that look. Safe to say, it’s already in our carts.
Shop at makeupbymario.com.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Microstroke Brow Pen in Ebony
Brows that survive a beach day without turning into a smudgy mess? Groundbreaking. This pen has an ultra-fine 0.1mm tip designed to mimic individual hair strokes, and the water-resistant formula is designed to last up to 24 hours. Maryam said it looks so “natural” you’d think it was actual brow hairs, and it somehow stays “alllll day even after a messy beach day,” come sweat, sand, and everything else summer throws at it. If your brows need to stay put, this is the one doing the work.
Shop at sephora.me.
YSL All Hours Concealer
Some concealers feel heavy by hour three; this one just doesn’t. It’s built on an 85 per cent skincare base with caffeine extract and jasmine petals, so it’s comfortable for a solid 24 hours without settling into lines or creasing. Maryam called it “lightweight” and “magical,” and brightening without the cakey trade-off is exactly the summer skin dream. Under-eyes, blemishes, whatever, it keeps everything looking fresh instead of flat.
Shop at yslbeauty.ae.
Shu Uemura Botanicoil Indulging Cleansing Foam
“The one cleanser that cleanses from within without stripping away the natural oils,” is how Maryam puts it, and once you try it, you get why. It’s an amino acid-based foam, originally designed with sensitive skin in mind, so it clears out buildup without messing with your skin’s pH. The non-soap formula means you get that fresh, awake skin without the tight, stripped feeling after. She called it “an essential,” and for a cleanser that’s the highest praise you can give!
Shop at shuuemura-usa.com.
K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask
If your hair has been through it this summer between the heat and the humidity, this is the one to reach for. Powered by K18’s peptide technology, it’s small enough to get inside the hair shaft and reconnect broken keratin chains from colour, bleach, or heat damage. Maryam said it “protects my hair from the summer heat and helps with Dubai humidity,” and four minutes in with no rinse required, it’s doing real repair.
Shop at sephora.me.
Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion+â„¢
This one has been around for ages for a reason. It’s built with pure glycerin, urea, and hyaluronic acid to boost hydration fast, and it works on strengthening your actual skin barrier rather than just sitting on top feeling heavy. Maryam said it’s “extremely hydrating without making your face greasy. The perfect formula for the summer heat,” and that’s truly the whole point of a good summer moisturiser, hydration without the weight.
Shop at sephora.me.
Kérastase Elixir Ultime Oil
A blend of four oils – wild camellia, argan, marula, and maize – gives this product that lightweight, fast-absorbing feel without any greasy weight. According to Maryam, it “smells heavenly, prevents that summer frizz & has an insaaaane shine,” and she’s not exaggerating. A hair oil that smells that good while actually taming frizz in the summer season is rare. It works as a finishing touch on dry hair or even before you blow-dry for some heat protection!
Shop at kerastase.ae.
Guerlain Aqua Allegoria: Flora Bloom Forte – Eau de Parfum
“The most stunning summer perfume. It’s an addiction,” said Maryam. It’s easy to see why. It’s warm and floral without being overly sweet; there’s a hint of mango and coconut up top that gives it that vacation-y feel, then it settles into something softer with rose and violet as the day goes on. It’s the kind of scent that feels effortless but still turns heads and works just as well for a beach day as it does for dinner after.
Shop at sephora.me.
Initio Musk Therapy Body Cream
This one’s a whole world in a jar. It’s got that soft musk-and-sandalwood scent Initio’s known for, layered into a cream that’s actually hydrating, not just there to smell good. Maryam summed it up best: “No words. Smells like luxury, lightweight and hydrating. Irresistible.” Basically, it’s your body cream doing double duty as your new signature scent.
Shop at ae.initioparfums.com.
Next, check out the only blush guide you’ll need this summer.