Casablanca – A Rabat-based pharmacist, a biology resident, a skincare and haircare expert, and a content creator. At first glance, Dr. Rim Zairi’s career might seem divided between different worlds, but for her, these paths are not in conflict, they are all rooted in the same curiosity that has guided her from the start.
A passion that turned into a career
Rim’s journey with cosmetics started long before she ever imagined building a career around it. Since childhood, she was drawn to skincare, haircare, and makeup in a way that went beyond just using them.
“Since I was young,” she told MWN Lifestyle, “I really loved discovering cosmetic products, whether it was skincare or haircare or even makeup. I enjoyed not only using them but also reading about their benefits.”
It was not just about applying products, but about understanding them. That mix of curiosity and passion quietly built the foundation for what would later become her career.
Even when she pursued pharmacy, that interest never faded. If anything, it found its place within her studies.
“I was really grateful because I think that pharmacy is a field that touches a lot of things, not only medicine but also cosmetics,” she said.
Her favorite subject? Galenic. It focuses on the formulation of drugs and cosmetics, and felt like the perfect meeting point between science and everything she had always loved.
Now, she is stepping into a different path as a biology resident. Even if it does not directly connect to cosmetics, it is a field she chose out of genuine interest, just like everything else she has pursued.
From entrepreneurship to employment
After graduating as a pharmacist, Rim stepped into entrepreneurship by opening her own pharmacy. In a time where being your own boss is often seen as the ultimate goal, it felt like the right move.
But, the experience turned out to be more challenging than expected. While she does not see it as a failure, she believes entrepreneurship requires careful planning and a deep understanding of the project before taking the leap.
The journey taught her a lot, but it also helped her understand what truly suits her. Over time, she realized that this path was not aligned with her personality.
“I’m someone who likes stability, that’s why I liked this switch,” she told MWN.
She eventually chose to move into the public sector, a decision that goes against the dominant narrative online. Today, the age of entrepreneurism and social media, success is often framed as leaving a stable job behind, but her experience tells a different story.
Rim’s experience is proof that success is not one fixed definition. It is personal, and it depends on what each individual values most.
From practice to social media
Through the different phases, from working as an assistant pharmacist to running her own pharmacy, and now continuing as a biology resident, Rim added to her expertise.
During her time in the field, she was able to practice her skincare and haircare knowledge directly with clients. Today, that practice has shifted mainly to her online platforms.
On social media, she shares information, recommendations, and insights with a wider audience. It became a natural extension of her background rather than a separate path.
Her audience is mostly women, but she sends a strong message that men should also be concerned with self care.
“I think that skincare/haircare are not specific to women, there are some male clients for sure, not a lot though. But I think there should be more because taking care of ourselves is not related to gender,” she said.
She also collaborates with brands, working with established international names such as CeraVe, Vichy, and La Roche-Posay, as well as Revox, while also engaging with Moroccan brands like Odarym and discovering new ones along the way.
Working with brands without losing integrity
Rim shared how she approaches the products she recommends, making sure they are actually worth it before presenting them to her audience. Testing, for her, is an important part of the process.
Before recommending a product she is partnered with, she usually takes the time to try it herself and form a personal opinion.
“I’ll give it one to three months to try, and while using the products I try to see everything, the textures, the application, and the efficiency,” she says.
Still, she admits that testing every product is not always possible. This is where her scientific background steps in.
“It’s not always possible to do so, so that’s why studying these and knowing the ingredients helps give personalized skincare or haircare advice,” she told MWN.
Since skincare and haircare results take time, her knowledge allows her to assess products beyond immediate effects. It gives her a reliable way to guide her audience, even when full testing is limited.
What does an expert’s beauty routine actually look like?
Rim keeps her skincare routine simple and consistent. For her, the essentials are cleansing, hydration, and daily sun protection.
At night, she adjusts her routine based on her skin’s needs.
“In the night I alternate between brightening serums and retinoids for acne, and last I add products to help the skin barrier heal as retinoids can be hard on the skin,” she explained.
As she is currently dealing with acne breakouts, she describes salicylic acid and retinoids as her “best friends.”
For her hair, she sticks to a good shampoo and conditioner, with extra care every two weeks. She uses an exfoliant occasionally, followed by a repairing serum after showering.
Skincare advice for a glow-up
Rim insists that there is no one routine that works for everyone. Each skin has different needs, so recommendations should stay flexible.
Her general approach starts with proper cleansing, and sometimes gentle exfoliation to remove dead skin cells.
Hydration and sunscreen remain essential steps in any routine. For that glow, she highlights Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid as two of her favorite ingredients.
DIY beauty treatments or ready-made products?
When it comes to beauty, Rim has tried both approaches over the years.
She used to enjoy DIY treatments, especially for her hair, and found them effective. But with time constraints, she now mostly relies on ready-made products.
However, this is not the case for her skin. For skincare, her position is clearer. She prefers formulated products, as the skin is more sensitive and DIY solutions can sometimes do more harm than good.
What’s next?
As Rim was focusing on her first year of residency, her presence on social media naturally slowed down. But now, she is back to thinking of what comes next
“I’m planning a new era for my content, as the core stays the same, I hope to present the content in a way that’s more ME, not only Rim the pharmacist, still don’t have the exact idea, but working on it.”
