1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’m a plastic surgeon(@dr.mairostom), born in Egypt but I’ve lived most of my life outside of Egypt. I did my medical school in Cairo and then went to the UK to do my higher surgical training. My husband and I moved to Dubai about a year ago where we’re both practicing medicine. I think I’m a little unconventional as a plastic surgeon because I actively try and get my patients, especially the women, to see themselves as beautiful without the need for surgery or interventions.
2. Can you share a pivotal moment in your life where you defied traditional societal norms and challenged the status quo? What are the values and beliefs you were representing at this moment?
I think most of my life I’ve been a rebel, whether it was because of the hobbies I chose to pursue and especially when I decided to be a surgeon. It meant that I had to leave home as a single woman coming from an Arab background which was frowned upon by our patriarchal society. I went into a field that is still heavily male dominated, and I had to fight for every opportunity, as a woman, as a “foreigner” and as an Arab. The values I was representing were that people should be judged on their merit not on their looks, gender or any other label. By pursuing this career, I hope that I have inspired other women and men in similar situations to do the same and not to give up on their dreams and ambitions.
3. How do you define being a "rebel" in the context of your industry, and how does your business embody this?
I think there’s so much pressure on women to look a certain way nowadays that as a plastic surgeon in this field, the rebellious part of me is encouraging women to embrace their unique looks. I’m all for someone having surgery to correct something that’s bothering them, but I don’t necessarily agree with people who want to completely alter their appearance. Everyone ends up looking the same which I don’t think is a good thing. I see a lot of women who believe their value is directly associated with their beauty and I fundamentally disagree with that way of thinking.
Women are beautiful, smart, resourceful, creative and so much more and I think reducing women to just their looks is a huge disservice to them. I would prefer women invested their time in finding something they were passionate about because when they do that’s when their true beauty shines through.
4. As a busy professional, you probably spend a lot of time going from meeting to meeting and traveling. How do you maintain your skincare routine on the go and what are your go-to products?
When I travel, I have my very basic skin care routine of cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen. I don’t like to put too much on my skin because it gets clogged easily that’s why Clean Rebels products work well for me, they’re light and I don’t feel weighed down with chemicals.
5. What motivated you to adopt a clean beauty lifestyle, and what attracted you to Clean Rebel?
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become more and more aware of how the stuff we put in our bodies or on our bodies directly affects our health and so it made sense to transition away from harsh manufactured products to more natural ingredients. That’s what resonated most with me with Clean Rebel, I love that they value sustainability over profit margins and have sourced the cleanest ingredients to put on our body’s largest organ, the skin.
6. Can you share which Clean Rebel product is your favorite?
It’s a tie between the Essence Toner and the Essence Active Serum. I love how the toner smells of rose water and the serum is so hydrating and soft!
7. What is a myth about clean beauty that you would like to see busted?
That clean means less effective. There are times when you do need medicated products but most of the time you don’t, and you’ll still see great results with clean ingredients.
8. What advice would you give to others aspiring to make a real difference in their industry? And why do you believe that each one of us should express ourselves as the individuals that we are?
You can ask for advice, but you should also follow your gut. Your path is going to be unique and so no one will be able to tell you exactly what you should do. Especially if you’re going to be a little bit disruptive, which I actively encourage!
Because otherwise, what a boring world we’d live in!
9. Anything else you would like to add?
Eat good food, move your body and wear sunscreen!
