Accentuating looks

Interview

Zahra Shaheen is a qualified dentist originally, and has recently made a shift to follow her passion as a professional makeup artist. She has received training from two maestros of the makeup world: Samer Khouzami and Anastasia Soare (of Anastasia Beverly Hills). 

She absolutely enjoys making women looking their best. “The shift from being a dentist to become a makeup artist is something that confuses people. Given both my mom and dad are doctors, spending five years of my life studying and training to become a dentist is something I knew I was supposed to do. However, I have always had this spark and desire in me to do something more creative. This may sound cliche, but my story is about following a passion that always existed within me,” explains Zahra. According to her, makeup is beyond being finicky about eye shadow palettes, contour or highlight. “It is about what looks overall accentuates a woman’s best features,” says Zahra who has recently opened her makeup studio in Lahore. In a candid interview with You! Zahra shares her thoughts on her passion i.e makeup and everything related to it...

You! What’s latest in makeup this season?

Zahra Shaheen: It’s more about natural, dewy makeup looks. Coloured eye shadows/ eyeliners like blue, green, purple are trending!

You! What makeup trends are totally over?

ZS: Heavy and cakey make up.

You! What kind of hairstyles are in this season?

ZS: Floral buns, half-up waves and a good blow dry never goes out of fashion.

You! It is Shaadi/wedding season too, what kind of looks are in among brides-to-be?

ZS: Kohl filled eyes with nude glossy lips.

You! Do you emphasis on using foundation during winters? If so why?

ZS: My emphasis is always on using a good hydrating moisturiser in winters as the skin becomes dry. If you have a lot of pigmentation you can use a foundation for an even look. If not, a tinted moisturiser is good enough.

You! What beauty regimen should women adopt to take care of their skin in winters?

ZS: I strongly recommend women to keep their skin hydrated. Use of moisturiser and sun block is a must. For women over 25, start using an anti-aging regime in winters.

You! The must-have beauty product for the winter season, the product every girl and every woman should always bring in her purse is...

ZS: A good lip colour, be it summer or winter season.

You! What are your three favourite makeup products?

ZS: My three favourite products right now are Mac studio fix face powder in NC25; NARS Orgasm multiple sticks and Huda Beauty Demi matte lip colour in Mogul.

You! Your favourite brands in cosmetics?

ZS: I like different products from different brands like such as Huda beauty’s lip colours, Nars blushes, and Kat Von D’s foundations.

You! Are women in Pakistan becoming more experimental when it comes to makeup?

ZS: Of course! Women in Pakistan have finally taken a fresh take on makeup. They have started to understand what it’s really about - which is wearing your skin with more confidence.

You! What are some common beauty mistakes that women make?

ZS: A few common mistakes are sharp lines in eye makeup with no blending, over contouring and using foundation lighter than their skin tones.

You! What are some of the challenges make-up artists face?

ZS: I have to be 100 percent sure of what sort of makeup would suit a face structure before I start with makeup, especially on brides, as we can’t go wrong on their big day! Apart from that, sometimes it’s really difficult to figure out what the client wants. Some clients have an exact image in their minds but I need to understand that image whether it goes with their face cut and then advice them accordingly.

You! What are some of the colours a woman of regular Eastern skin tone should never try?

ZS: Bright yellow eye shades.

You! Any makeup tip would you like to share with your readers?

ZS: Use sunblock in summers and winters both! Blend in your foundation, eyeshades, and blush well.

You! What is your signature style?

ZS: Glowy and dewy makeup.

You! What do you love most about your job?

ZS: I love trying new trends in makeup like adding coloured eyeshades and giving the client that confidence to carry it. Usually, women don’t experiment and go with typical looks. My aim is to create different looks.

You! Since we are reaching the end of 2019, what are your predictions in hair and makeup for the next year?

ZS: More towards no-makeup and glowy makeup look rather than heavy foundations and over contouring.

You! Have you done celebrities’ ‘makeup? Do you wish to do the makeup of any international celebrity?

ZS: Not yet but I plan on doing one soon. One of my wishes is to do Olivia Palermo’s make up.

You! Do you think social media and Insta are good tools to popularise your work, especially for upcoming beauticians?

ZS: Yes of course! Social media reaches out to a lot of people and we get a lot of queries and bookings through Instagram.

You! What are you currently working on or preoccupied with?

ZS: Creating different makeup looks.

You! What are your future endeavours or plans?

ZS: I plan on taking celebrity makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic’s class!