“My household moved to California from Afghanistan within the ‘80s, and once I was round 1 or 2, my mother opened a magnificence provide salon. I labored there after faculty and on the weekends. We bought the entire magazines like Vogue, W, Elle, and Harper’s Bazaar. At the moment, there have been possibly 10 make-up artists and hairstylists, like Kevyn Aucoin, Pat McGrath, Bobbi Brown, and Guido Palau, whose names you’d see. That’s the place it began for me; I might research the magazines and daydream—with none concept of the way to get into the enterprise.
CAREER
Once I moved to Los Angeles and began engaged on shoots, there was a complete revolution occurring in digital images. One of the best ways that I can describe it’s that it was nearly like the image that was shot and the image that you just noticed in {a magazine} have been fully completely different—it was an over-the-top, perfected, unattainable kind of magnificence. I didn’t relate to it, and I sort of rebelled. You would possibly have a look at my work and assume, ‘Properly, it does look good,’ however there’s that feeling that somebody utilized it and that it’s not airbrushed.
I’ve been fortunate sufficient to return full circle as a make-up artist. I did the November 2020 British Vogue cowl with Serena Williams. Final yr, to have a good time Karl Lagerfeld, I did the Might 2023 cowl of Vogue with Annie Leibowitz, who shot ten supermodels in Paris. Gigi Hadid, Natalia Vodianova, Naomi Campbell, Devon Aoki… That was a pivotal second in my profession. Lately, I did a Vogue Italia cowl with Bella Hadid that’s actually necessary to me. Bella’s actually embracing what she feels is her true self. She’s taking a step again in a manner and actually solely taking jobs that she desires to do, and so being part of her ‘comeback’ within the trend world in the way in which that she desires to be seen was actually particular.
Beginning my very own model, Fara Homidi Magnificence, was all the time a dream of mine. As a make-up artist, I perceive what the steps are for the very best utility of sure merchandise, however I felt like nobody had made a system that was each simple to know and boundary-pushing with textures, which is necessary as a result of that makes merchandise user-friendly. I really like merchandise which you can smudge and manipulate together with your fingers as a result of they put on higher and look stunning it doesn’t matter what stage they’re at. For instance, a ‘24-hour put on’ lip system will look good possibly within the first 5 to 10 minutes, however as you eat or drink and stay your life, it’ll get crackly and crusty. ‘Clear’ merchandise are additionally necessary to me. Make-up artists will typically say, ‘That is the very best concealer. That is the very best basis. That is the very best powder.’ They’re tried-and-true merchandise, however often, they’re not ‘clear.’ My merchandise will not be solely ‘clear’ however best-in-class, too.
SKINCARE
The Dr. Barbara Sturm foaming cleanser is the one cleanser I’m utilizing in the mean time. It’s light however nonetheless will get all my make-up off. I’m acne-prone, and it doesn’t break me out both. That’s massive. After that, I swear by the Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing eye cream. I’m 43 years previous, and I’ve been utilizing it since not less than 2008, if not earlier. It’s tremendous emollient. I actually douse my whole eye space with it, but it surely by no means messes with my eye make-up. And for my lips, I really like the Biossance Squalane + Rose balm. It feels tremendous nourishing, and it lasts in a single day. It’s additionally considerably shiny, so you might put on it by itself through the day.
I’ve been utilizing The Cream from Augustinus Bader not too long ago, and my pores and skin appears to be like smoother. It feels luxurious with out feeling heavy or oily. If I don’t have The Cream round, I’ll use the Weleda Wild Rose day cream. It provides me a variety of the identical qualities because the Augutinus Bader, however I don’t see as a lot readability with it. It smells nice although. It’s additionally nice below make-up. I apply it to set religiously, actually on each single mannequin as a result of it doesn’t irritate their pores and skin. My husband has truly been utilizing it for the final six months, and he stated to me the opposite night time, ‘That is the primary time that I haven’t had a serious breakout in years.’ However take it with a grain of salt: That’s not a declare of Weleda’s; I’m simply telling you what my husband stated.
SPF is tough, all the time. I haven’t discovered my good one, however I really like Dr. Loretta’s Common Glow Mineral SPF 40. It has a peach sheen to it, it’s light-weight, and it leaves you so glowy. I really feel just like the second I put it on my pores and skin appears to be like more healthy. If I’m on the seaside or on set within the solar all day, I like Chanel’s UV Essentiel SPF 50. It has extra of a white forged than Dr. Loretta’s, however I by no means burn once I put on it.
I not too long ago went to Ställe Studios for a facial. They did this unbelievable lymphatic cheek therapeutic massage, and by the tip of it, I felt like my cheekbones have been proper below my eyes. The elevate was loopy. Previous to that, I’d been a Bliss Spa woman. It’s no frills, but it surely will get the job completed.
I’ve completed Ultherapy, a tightening remedy, 3 times in my life. It’s actually hardcore and painful. The final time I did it, the technician gave me Professional-Nox for the ache, however I keep in mind she did one move and I used to be dying. She was like, ‘We’ve got 158 passes to go,’ or one thing like that. It was gnarly. Finally, I appreciated it—the ache was price it.
However, I did Botox on my brow and I actually disliked it. It did one thing bizarre to my eyebrows. I’ve additionally gotten Botox in my massaters as a result of I clench my jaw at night time. That labored a few instances, however I additionally don’t like feeling depending on something, so I haven’t been again. There was a time the place individuals went nuts with Botox and fillers, and I feel we’re beginning to come down from that. As a substitute, I attempt my finest to make use of gadgets just like the NuFace. If I take advantage of it typically sufficient, I actually do see a distinction with it. Truly, I love to do one facet of my face first simply to show to myself that it really works, and the distinction is so stark.
MAKEUP
As I’ve aged, I’ve realized that much less is extra in relation to make-up. Once you’re youthful, it doesn’t matter how a lot make-up you placed on since you nonetheless look contemporary. However the extra strategic I’m about concealing and highlighting as I become older, the brisker I look. That’s all the time the objective. I all the time begin off with my Important Face Compact. I take advantage of Ochre within the winter and Midi in the summertime.In some methods, it’s a customizable complexion product that hasn’t actually existed till now. Primarily, the Easy Veil Comfortable Matte, which is the complexion a part of the compact, acts as a basis and concealer in a single. You possibly can put on it nearly like a tinted moisturizer, if you need, however then it’s buildable, so you will get full protection with it, too, so you may decide and select completely different areas the place you need to construct protection or the place you need to maintain it sheer. The opposite half is the Shine Baume, which is that this champagne, sheen-like product. In the event you’re on the drier facet, you may lay that down first on the areas that you just’re going to place the Easy Veil Comfortable Matte over to present you just a little extra cushion and oomph. If you’re on the oilier facet and don’t need shine throughout your face—like me—you should use it to focus on small areas.
I plucked my eyebrows into oblivion within the ‘90s. I largely embrace them now, however I nonetheless pencil them in just a little bit with the L’Oréal Paris Forehead Stylist Definer in Darkish Brunette. It’s simply waxy and powdery sufficient, and I really like the spoolie on the opposite finish of the pencil. It’s very skinny and grippy, so it actually strikes the product by way of my brows as I mix them out. I really like the Anastasia Beverly Hills clear forehead gel as a result of it provides you construction with none crispiness. One of the best half is which you can maintain placing it on all through the day. Let’s say your brows transfer since you’ve been working, you may return hours later and reapply it many times with none flakes. Then I actually love the Lancôme Le 8 Hypnôse mascara. It’s actually delicate and buildable, and it provides you a pleasant kitten lash. I wish to high it off with the Chanel Le Quantity Révolution mascara for extra quantity. It additionally separates my lashes and sort of seals every part.
Usually, I wish to sketch out my eyeliner with a pencil first. Victoria Beckham’s Satin Kajal liner in Black is nice. It’s not liquid, but it surely’s fairly moist, so that you don’t want lots. You should use a brush to control the form that you really want. Then I wish to go in with the Surratt Auto-Graphique liner. It’s the very best liquid liner within the enterprise. It nearly has a skinny hair applicator, which is very easy to make use of, and it has a veil-like end. It’s good. I take advantage of Chat Noir. I typically begin with a brown liner as a result of it has a lovely smokiness and subtleness to it, and if I do, I like Dior’s On Stage waterproof liner in Brown. It’s just a little bit drier, but it surely doesn’t bleed all through the night time, and I feel the black and brown combo is extra hanging than black on black more often than not.
I actually love the entire shades of my Smudge & Contour lip pencils, however Purple 1 and Nude 2 are my Important Lip Compact favorites. Purple 1 is such a particular coloration. It has an orange undertone, but it surely’s additionally pomegranate-y. It actually brightens your face. Each time I put it on, I’m like, ‘Whoa.’ Nude 2 is so scrumptious. It’s a cooler ‘90s brown with blue-pink undertones. You possibly can put on it by itself, or you may combine it with the balm and also you look so put collectively. You possibly can construct it up so it’s extra full-bodied when you’re going out to have drinks with the women or one thing. You may as well put on it in your cheeks or your eyes. It’s fairly common.
HAIR + NAILS
I’ve a variety of hair, but it surely’s very fantastic. I began dyeing it blonde in 2012. I simply wished a change, and I didn’t assume I used to be going to maintain it. However I actually liked it, and at a sure level, it turned a signature and I used to be sort of locked into it as a result of that’s how individuals acknowledged me; once you’re doing one thing like make-up, I feel signatures are necessary as a result of they actually embody who you might be. Eva Scrivo paints my hair. She’s such an artist, and I feel, the one one who can do it with out frying it as a result of my hair is a nightmare. It pulls very purple, so it’s a must to have the experience of figuring out how lengthy to maintain the bleach on with out killing it but in addition be sure you get previous that purple section. It is a complete factor. Ideally, I’d go to her each two months, however I truly most likely see her each 4. In the meantime, David Zughbaba, additionally at Eva Scrivo, cuts my hair. It’s all the time very fundamental, only a straight chop on the backside with some layers within the entrance to border my face.
I used to assume that shampoos and conditioners have been all sort of the identical, however I observed that I’ve the very best hair days once I use the RŌZ Basis shampoo and conditioner. It bought to the purpose the place I used to be rationing the merchandise. I’d say to myself, ‘Is immediately an necessary day? If it’s not, I’m not going to make use of my RŌZ.’ The shampoo lathers up very well and it doesn’t strip my scalp. The conditioner feels tremendous lush—however not oily or waxy—and it washes out actually properly.
I’ve been utilizing the Shu Uemura Essence Absolue hair oil for 20 billion years. I add it to the ends when it’s damp, and it makes my hair child delicate. In February, my pal, hairstylist James Pecis, launched his personal hair care model known as Blu and Inexperienced. I want just a little little bit of weight in my hair so I can tame it, however I don’t like merchandise that make it crunchy. The Blu and Inexperienced Stable Oil provides me that weight and management however retains my hair delicate. I additionally use his Weekly Restore Masks, properly, weekly. Since I bleach my hair, it wants the entire assist it might probably get, and I actually do really feel like my locks are stunning and bouncy after I take advantage of the masks.
I really like the Bumble and Bumble Tonic Lotion on day two, when my hair is sort of OK however wants just a little refresh. I spray it throughout and blow dry it once more to get my sheen again. It smells so good, like tea tree. I maintain the Brilliantine styling cream round, too. It provides you this slept-in vibe. After which I take advantage of the Klorane Oat Milk dry shampoo religiously. It’s a unfastened powder, not an aerosol. I really feel like aerosol dry shampoos make my hair gunky. It’s gross. After I blow dry my hair, I spray just a little of it on my roots for quantity.
the philosophy, ‘It doesn’t matter a lot what you put on, so long as you’ve got good sneakers and a pleasant bag?’ They’re speaking about equipment, and if I give it some thought as a human, my ‘equipment’ are my hair and nails. For nails I am going to Jin Quickly, and I get shellac on my fingers and common polish on my toes, which stay purple, all the time and ceaselessly.”
—As advised to Daise Bedolla
Photographed by Alexandra Genova in New York on Might 1, 2024