A thing of beauty

interview

Young and talented, Sairah Yahya has been in the beauty business for almost 10 years now. She is a trained beautician and has done hair and makeup courses from prestigious institutes like Pivot Point International, and have been trained by reputed makeup artists like Alessandra Alcantara (a Lebanese makeup artist), Natasha Lakhani and Farwa Nayyer.

Sairah was attracted towards makeup since her teen years. “Makeup has always been my passion. I used to do my own makeup. Encouraged by my family and friends, I decided to turn my passion into profession and now I have my own salon,” says Sairah. “My gorgeous mother has been my biggest inspiration,” adds Sairah. This week You! talks to this talented beautician who is all set to make her name in the list of renowned artists in the coming years…

You! Tell us about two makeup trends you find interesting in 2022?

Sairah Yahya: Nude, clean and fresh looks are in with bold graphic liners. Secondly the minimalistic looks for brides with glowing skin and nude/ bold lips are also trending in 2022.

You! How one can get the perfect glow using a few makeup products?

SY: Use moisturisers like Clinique and Neutrogena and hydrating sprays or mists like Avene Thermal Spring Water in order to get a fresh glow on your skin.

You! What is the easiest way to do smokey eyes for evenings?

SY: Apply gel liner on the lash line and start smudging it with the brush towards the centre and outer corner, blend well as you go. Once done, use the same colour eyeshadow and darken the inner eye moving upwards. Lastly just make the corners neatly with fine brush and you are all ready to go.

You! What haircuts are popular in 2022?

SY: Bob cut and mid-length layers.

You! Can you suggest a makeup product that covers one’s under-eye circles?

SY: Mostly not all under-eye circles can be concealed perfectly but yes one of my favourite products for this would be the Age Rewind Concealer by Maybelline.

You! Are bangs coming back into style?

SY: No.

You! Is short hair trending in 2022?

SY: Yes.

You! What type of look you suggest for brides-to-be this season?

SY: This season brides should focus more on glowing and clean skin with natural base and minimum makeup. However, they can go for bold eyeliners, or nude eyes with bold lips which complement each other.

You! Describe your makeup style in three words?

SY: Modern, Easy, Sophisticated.

You! What are your favourite brands in cosmetics?

SY: I love Huda Beauty, Nars, Makeup by Mario, Maybelline and Color Studio cosmetics.

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

S.Y: Skin routine both for summers and winters is almost the same like cleanse, exfoliate, tone and moisturise but in winters just be extra careful to moisturise more to keep your skin radiant and wrinkle free.

You! Can you tell us some good makeup products/inventions by renowned brands recently?

SY: Recently Makeup by Mario has introduced his sculpt stick which is really nice. Secondly I love Pat McGrath eyeshadow palettes which have amazing pigmented glitter shades that give the perfect glow to the brides.

You! Scalp scrubs and masks are everywhere. Do they really work?

SY: This is tricky, because honestly this all depends and varies from one person to the other. At times they work and at times they don’t.

You! Do you think ordering makeup online is a good idea?

SY: I think two things one should never buy online are clothes and makeup. Reason you should always see the makeup products you need to buy the first time, check their quality, packing and the authenticity of the brand. Rest, yes, if you know the exact shades or products then at times you can and only from credible sites and pages.

You! Imagine a client asks you for a makeup style that is unsuitable for her. How do you handle it?

SY: By politely explaining to her the pros and cons and then suggesting her the look that suits her the best. However, if still she insists, then I will go for it.

You! Who are your favourite international makeup artists?

SY: Alessandra Alcantara , Mario and Natasha Denona.

You! Who is your biggest inspiration among local makeup artists?

SY: Bina Khan, Kiran Khan and Qirat Baber.

You! Recall a time you had to face a frustrated customer who wasn’t satisfied with the hair or makeup services you provided. How did you handle it?

SY: Once a client was not satisfied with her hair colour, so we offered her complimentary services at our salon.

You! What advice do you want to give to our readers?

SY: Always use products that suit your skin tone and type, do not run after brands as even a local product can make you look fabulous.

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

SY: You’re only supposed to keep mascara for three months, because beyond that point, it can collect bacteria and lead to eye infections. However, if your mascara dries up within those three months; revive it with a couple drops of saline solution.

You! What do you love most about your job?

SY: When my clients are happy after a cut or a makeover, and that’s what I love about my job.

You! Do you think social media and Instagram are good tools to popularise your work?

SY: Yes, if used rightly. But at times your work speaks for itself.

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

SY: Recently, I have re-launched my salon with a new look and am trying to establish a mark for myself in this beauty industry.

You! What are your future endeavours?

SY: Well, I have this dream to do makeup of poor brides for free as they cannot afford to go to salons. I have plans to work in collaboration with different NGOs in future. 

I also plan to open numerous branches of my makeup studio and create a learning institute for inspiring beauticians from all backgrounds who want to work and achieve a name for themselves in this field.