HUDA KHATTAN: THE BEAUTY MOGUL

“You only really shine when you are confident”

- AGNES HOFMAN

Huda Kattan (37) is one of the largest beauty entrepreneurs in the world. With her new line, GloWish, she wants women to embrace their natural beauty more. Ahead, Huda opens up to Grazia about entrepreneurship, cosmetic procedures, and learning to love yourself.

GRAZIA: Congratulations on GloWish; What inspired you to start this all-new multitasking beauty line?

HUDA KHATTAN: We live in interesting times. Until recently, everyone wanted to have a “certain look” to a point where we all started looking like photocopies. Take me for example – for years, I opted for full glam, full coverage make-up. I live in Dubai, and there are lots like me there. My biggest inspiration came from RuPaul’s Drag Race. I picked up tips and tricks from there to add to my own make-up routine. I had quite a few blemishes and acne scars on my face too. Fortunately, my skin improved a lot with my own skincare line WISHFUL, and GloWish is designed to continue that. It is all about light and well-kept make-up; such as the MultiDew Skin Tint, a moisturiser made with natural ingredients. I use it on days when I don’t feel like wearing heavy make-up but still want a well-groomed look.

G: That’s almost breaking news: “Huda goes for natural glam”…

HK: (Laughs) That is true. On some days I don’t even feel like putting on eyelashes anymore. I had to learn that I can exist without covering my face with make-up. That I am beautiful even when I don’t try to use glam as a camouflage, rather as a way to emphasise my strengths. The campaign is designed such that the images are not Photoshopped; I’m still glamorous, but in a different way. And that makes me really happy.