THE BUSINESS OF BEAUTY MONA KATTAN

Huda Beauty is a coveted beauty brand that includes an array of must haves from makeup, skincare, fragrances and tools. Co-Founded by Iraqi American sisters Huda Kattan, Alya Kattan and Mona Kattan, they created an ever growing billion dollar beauty empire that is one of the fastest growing brands. With an assortment of over 213 products that are sold at Sephora, Harrods in London and on its own site, we caught up with Mona Kattan, Co-Founder and President of Huda Beauty and their fragrance brand KAYALI, from her home in Dubai, the brand's headquarters to talk about her role in the company, new launches, how she is navigating COVID-19 and how KAYALI's fragrances transport you to your favorite destinations.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Tell us about the brand Huda Beauty. How did it come about and how did you and your two sisters come together to be a part of the company?

MONA KATTAN: Huda Beauty began in 2013. Huda was beauty blogging and working as a makeup artist and I had launched a network of salons in Dubai. She started playing around with creating her own false eyelashes and they were unlike anything on the market. My sister, Alya and I encouraged her to start selling them and everything started to take off from there. To this day we continue to focus on innovation and unique products for our Huda Beauty community!

AM: What is your role at the company and how would you describe your day to day activity?

MK: As Global President I lay the groundwork for our future. We have grown very fast so have had to think long and hard about how to regionalize, where to open new offices, communications and marketing and hiring. As of recent, Covid has also changed many aspects of consumer behavior and it’s my role to help navigate and adapt as needed. We are fortunate that we are small enough that we can pivot easier than most.

I am also the founder and face of our fragrance brand, KAYALI. I’ve learned how hard being the face of a line is - you wear so many hats. From setting the vision, discussing formulas, shooting campaigns, working on expansion and development! It’s exciting and a lot of work. I absolutely love fragrance though so this is a role I’ve passionately embraced over the last few years.

AM: What are the roles of your sisters at the company?

MK: Huda is of course Founder, CEO and Face of the Huda Beauty brand! She primarily focuses on product development and content while keeping the company running from a financial perspective. Alya is officially our Chief Instagram Officer but oversees all social channels including YouTube, Facebook and Tik Tok! If you are a fan of Huda Beauty, you know this is a huge job because we are very active on social and it’s core to our business. This is just the tip of the iceberg for them though, because as a small company no job is ever too small for one of us to tackle!

AM: Huda Beauty is available at Sephora. What was it like when you first heard that it would be carried in this store?

MK: We were beyond ecstatic! We walked into our meeting with Sephora with one set of false eyelashes - that’s it. They took a leap of faith with us and we were determined not to fail - which was enough to drive us harder than we had ever worked before.

AM: We like that Huda Beauty is inclusive in its assortment as it pertains to its range of foundations and concealers. How important is that to you as a brand and what is the developing process like when it comes to making sure that you are shade accessible?

MK: Inclusion is core to our brand. Having grown up in the southern part of the US, I looked different than those around me but this difference taught me the importance of having role models you can relate to. We want everyone to be able to relate to us and to feel welcomed within our brand family, so having few shades just wasn’t an option. Having a wide variety of shades means it takes us longer to finalize each product, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.

AM: As we are all at home during COVID-19, how important is it to still incorporate your beauty routine whether it’s using skincare, applying makeup or utilizing fragrances in order to keep sanity in a time where so many things are unknown?

MK: Continuing with some sort of beauty routine gives me a sense of sanity and brings normalcy to my day! It also makes me feel put together even if I’m not leaving my house. Skincare is important all the time, but during this time it has also been a nice distraction and indulgence. Fragrance is one thing I simply can’t live without no matter what; it has such a way with impacting my mood and during quarantine it’s been really impactful!

AM: How are you passing your days personally as well as running a business that is still working on new assortments and staying in touch with your customers and fans?

MK: Right before COVID, I launched my YouTube page so I have spent a lot of time creating new content from the comfort of my home! YouTube has also been a great way to connect with people all over the world during a difficult time. I also enjoy reading - I love a good motivational or self help book - also perfect for staying positive now!

AM: Fragrances are the perfect way to showcase a feeling as well as to transport you. Can you walk us through these fragrances and how you can feel like you’re doing a bit of wanderlust to your favorite destination – even though we’re all in our own bubbles at the moment?

MK: I love how fragrance can take you back to a specific memory and uplift your mood. This summer, as travel is looking different than it did in summer's past it has been fun to play around with fragrance and memory! For example, want to travel to Bora Bora after your bath? Spritz some KAYALI Vanilla or Soleil Blanc from Tom Ford which have hints of vanilla, coconut, orchid and jasmine notes that can take you there! Or want to relive or imagine you’re waking up in Provence - layer a fragrance with lavender, rose de mai, basil, rosemary or sage such as the KAYALI Elixir | 11 or Rose 31 - Le Labo! It may seem a bit silly, but I truly enjoy experimenting with scent.

AM: What are your favorite fragrances?

MK: My all time favorite fragrance is KAYALI Deja Vu | White Flower 57! Creating this juice has been a labor of love and passion. It took me 56 different attempts in the lab to get it right and the comfort and happiness I find when I spritz myself with the perfume is hard to beat!

I also love Baccarat Rouge 540 by Maison Francis Kurkdjan! He is a genius when it comes to perfume and I absolutely love him. Baccarat Rouge 540 is one of the most beautiful perfumes; it’s filled with notes of Jasmine blossoms and musks; it’s amazing!

AM: What are your go to 3 must have products from Huda Beauty?

MK: WISHFUL Yo Glow Enzyme Scrub - This has been life changing for me. The pineapple and papaya enzymes mixed with the AHAs and BHAs gives me super bright and glowing, even-toned skin!

HUDA BEAUTY Legit Lashes Double-Ended Mascara - I am lucky to have nice lashes, but this mascara really amplifies them. I love that the wand is double sided.

HUDA BEAUTY Silk Balm Hydrating Lip Balm - This is our newest liquid lip balm that feels like a balm but looks like a gloss! It’s packed full of hyaluronic spheres for an ultra-hydrating treatment that works into your lips throughout the day. It comes in 1 universal shade that is absolutely stunning on everyone.

AM: We know that you’re in Dubai, when things are open again – can you tell us where we can find you dining, shopping and working out?

MK: My favorite restaurant is definitely Il Borro at the Jumeirah Al Naseem hotel! They have incredible food and the service is always amazing. I workout at home actually, so, nothing will really change there. If I go shopping, it’s normally to Dubai Mall. They have absolutely everything I need!

IG @MonaKattan

@HudaBeauty

PHOTOS COURTESY | Mona Kattan

Read the July Issue #55 of Athleisure Mag and see The Business of Beauty Mona Kattan in mag.

THE PICK ME UP

Read the July Issue of Athleisure Mag and see The Pick Me Up in mag.

EGGPLANT BEAUTY

Read the July Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Eggplant Beauty in mag.

ATHLEISURE MAG | #55 JUL 2020

This month’s cover and back cover is 3 X Team USA Swimming Gold Medalist, Ryan Murphy. Our cover shoot editorial – Always Topping with Ryan Murphy, talks about Ryan’s career, how he got into swimming and his love of the backstroke, his success in the Summer Games in Rio in 2016, his approach to the upcoming games, how he is furthering the sport of swimming as well as encouraging others to embrace water sports. This interview will also be in an upcoming #TRIBEGOALS podcast episode. We also have an interview with Celebrity Fitness Trainer Harley Pasternak as we talk about working out from home, how he advises his clients in terms of what they needed on hand, his thoughts on gym and studio openings, a correlation between sugar and COVID-19 and how he has been passing his time for the past few months. We check in with Team Canada Pole Vaulter Ashlyn Newman who recently participated in The World’s Greatest in Greenville, South Carolina, this year’s first USA sanctioned Track & Field event. She talks about how she got into the sport, her training focus and what she looks forward to for the upcoming Olympic Games. Her interview will also be on an upcoming podcast of Bungalow SK. We check in with one of the Co-Founders of Huda Beauty, Mona Kattan. She talks about her role with the brand, their product assortment, KAYALI fragrance which is a part of this beauty empire, the power of fragrance and how she is spending her time in Dubai. We also talk to Head Winemaker of Cupcake Vineyard, Jessica Tomei. She talks about how she got into her career, harvest season, their newest line Cupcake Light Hearted and the importance of keeping it delicious. This episode will also be an upcoming podcast episode of Bungalow SK. In this month’s The Art of the Snack, we talk with James Beard Award winner, Food & Wine winner and runner up on BRAVO’s Top Chef Season 11 and Fan Favorite, Nina Compton. She talks about her culinary journey, her two restaurants, how she has navigated COVID-19 and signature dishes and cocktails that can be enjoyed there.

Read the July Issue #55 of Athleisure Mag here.

WE'RE HEADING TO MANI BOOTCAMP AND YOU CAN TOO!

Pre COVID-19, our team always enjoyed having our mani dates at Paintbox where we would catch up with our industry and agency friends as well as to enjoy a bit of bubbly. We have always been big believers in having a kit at home for travel etc as you always need a backup plan! For avid readers of Athleisure Mag, we have included Olive & June’s The Studio Box as it’s definitely a great one to have on hand!

When COVID-19 meant that we would not only remain indoors but no longer have access to our nail salon for our gel manicures, we headed to Amazon and a number of our favorite brands to get LED driers, gel polishes and more. We were pleased that we had salon level gear but then we realized that our skills in terms of creating the perfect mani have a lot to be desired! Thankfully, Olive & June’s got our back! Back by popular demand, they are offering their Mani Bootcamp where you will be able to learn in a week all the techniques that are necessary to have an IG worthy manicure! Starting today (July 26th), make sure to head to Olive and June’s IG Live at 3pm PST/6pm EST in order to get all the tips! We’re penciling this in for every day over the next week as we have quite a bit to learn!

If you happen to miss it live, you can go to Olive & June’s site and catch up on their link, Olive University.

DAY 1 | SUNDAY 7/26

Mani 101: Let's start with the manicure.
Watch the full tutorial here.

3PM PDT: IG LIVE

What you'll learn: How to shape, prep, cuticle work, and intro to the Poppy and painting. You'll practice with Top Coat first.

DAY 2 | MONDAY 7/27

Painting with your beginner shade (BEB)

3PM PDT: IG LIVE

What you'll learn: Getting the hang of it! Today we'll introduce a beginner sheer shade and build on the shaping, prep, and painting concepts from Day 1.

DAY 3 | TUESDAY 7/28

Painting with your beginner intermediate shade (Honest & True)

3PM PDT: IG LIVE

What you'll learn: It's time for opaques! Now that you've got the hang of the manicure portion, it's time to get into painting with solid shades.

DAY 4 | WEDNESDAY 7/29

Painting with your intermediate shade (Grateful & Kind)

3PM PDT: IG LIVE

What you'll learn: Hey, painting pro. Today we're continuing to move up the skill list. Don't worry—you got this.

DAY 5 | THURSDAY 7/30

Painting with your advanced intermediate shade (CS)

3PM PDT: IG LIVE

What you'll learn: Moving on up! Now that you've mastered intermediate opaques, it's time to introduce more challenging shades.

DAY 6 | FRIDAY 7/31

Painting with your advanced shade (BI)

3PM PDT: IG LIVE

What you'll learn: Pastel party of 2 - you and BI. Today you'll begin painting with our trickier pastel polishes. You'll learn how to master thin coats for nailfie-ready results.

DAY 7 | SATURDAY 8/01

Painting with your advanced shade (GH)

3PM PDT: IG LIVE

What you'll learn: You did it! Welcome to the final day of Mani Bootcamp. Today you'll learn how to paint with GH, our most popular and most challenging shade.

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

AUTHENTICALLY MATT BARNES

This month, we caught up with retired NBA Champion Matt Barnes who played 14 seasons in the league. His ability to bring his energy and focus to the court was seen on a number of teams from the LA Lakers, Golden State Warriors and the Sacramento Kings just to name a few. His unapologetic honesty and loyalty to himself as well as who he works with shined through on the court and continues to be seen through his philanthropy, his skincare brand HUE For Every Man, the cannabis industry, as well as his focus on social justice. With the confluence of COVID-19 and the movement of #BlackLivesMatter, he continues to be at the forefront of ensuring that voices are heard and that people understand the importance of voting at the local, state and national level for changes to be made. He has lent his voice to rally's in his hometown of Sacramento for George Floyd as well as Stephon Clark. We talk about this as well as his successful podcast All the Smoke on SHOWTIME, his enterprises and the upcoming NBA season and playoffs and the importance of sports as we navigate challenging times.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We just wanted to kick it off that we’re excited to be talking with you about your basketball career, your skincare brand as well as the current state of things that are taking place right now. We’ve always enjoyed seeing you and have been following your career since you got into the league and how unapoligetically authentic that you are as a team player and someone that plays hard and how you use your platform to benefit others and to just bring awareness to the forefront.

MATT BARNES: I appreciate that very much. I try and I enjoy it so thank you.

AM: Of course! When did you fall in love with the game of basketball and what was the moment that you realized that you wanted to play in the NBA?

MB: I’d probably say that I fell in love with the game of basketball – hmm. I actually grew up as a football fan. Football was the sport that I was better in and naturally more gifted in. But I continued to grow so basketball, I kind of picked it up and started taking it more seriously probably around 7th grade. That’s when I started really playing a lot more. But back then, we just played, it wasn’t so much working out. It was just another sport that I took seriously. It kind of took me to being lucky enough to make it to the NBA.

AM: You played on a number of teams with amazing athletes. What do you feel your legacy is in terms of the sport?

MB: Just a real guy that was a great teammate. I played as absolutely hard as I could and I never took a play off, never took a game off and I left it all on the court.

AM: In your opinion, when a player is going on in their career, what is the process like when you realize that you’re going to retire and that you’re about to transition to that next phase of life and did you find that hard?

MB: My retirement was kind of subtle. I had just signed a new contract for 3 years at the beginning of the season. I had actually just retired and it was actually just a perfect storm of winning a championship although it didn’t really pan out the way that I had planned it but, winning a championship and missing my kids – I mean, I was going through a divorce at the time when I wasn’t able to see my twin sons as much as I wanted to. I figured that I had gotten 14 years in the NBA and I wasn’t supposed to be there. I figured it was time to transition and to see what was next. I was actually excited about my transition so I ended up retiring at 37.

But I started to think about business and what was next. I mean, the average NBA career is only 3 years and I beat that. At about year 8 or 9 when I was in the NBA, I started thinking about what’s next. So I started investing in things that I kind of enjoyed, that I liked, that I could use and that I could promote. Most people think that kind of stuff happens fast – they don’t realize how long the process is until if the company actually makes it and until you start making some real money off of it. A few business decisions that I had made 4 or 5 years prior with me being in my final season when I had made the championship started coming into fruition and showing a little bit of money, so that’s when I said that now was the time to retire. My transition has been smooth for me, luckily. I’ve been able to transition into media, then social justice and all the things that I am passionate about along with first and foremost, being a single father of 3 kids. I coach my kids, and I am a very hands on dad with my 18 month old son, so retirement has been amazing and I feel like, I’m going to be able to have an impact on the world post-career than during my playing career.

AM: We love seeing you as an analyst on ESPN for The Jump (we recently had Rachel Nichols as our cover for issue #51 earlier this year) and Get Up. What do you like about sports broadcasting?

MB: What I like to do and why I got into the space, is to give them the other side from a players point of view. From what we’re thinking with 2 mins to go in the fourth quarter of a big game or overtime of a big game. How we deal with injuries or how we deal with family and travel. Like, you can be a great reporter, but would never be able to give that kind of insight or detail because you’ve never played. I think as a player, it’s our duty to give the raw and real integral details of what makes our job so unique and so special. I see these days that so often so many people that have never played the sport, want to disrespect people and talk crazy about people and kind of don’t appreciate how hard it is for us to be in that position in the first place. You know what I mean – to be a professional that’s like 1%. You have a better chance of being struck by lightening than being in the NBA. To give a clear cut understanding of what it’s like to walk in those shoes and then to be able to also talk about it for the first time – well not for the first time, it’s slowly but surely becoming more popular to have African American men that are able to get our point across. They don’t have to tell our stories anymore. You know, there are so many guys that have their platforms now that have a voice and they can tell our own stories now and sports is just part of it.

AM: What led you to being a part of HUE For Every Man which is a natural, multi-cultural brand. What stars aligned to do this and why was it so important that you wanted to be attached to this?

MB: I was always known during my career for having the best haircuts and cleanest hairline.

AM: This is true.

MB: I mean my hair, when I was approached by HUE and I found out first and foremost that it was a great product line, but then Jessica Estrada (CEO of HUE For Every Man), she has been amazing. She pours her heart and soul into this company. She’s a blue collar worker and that’s what I was in the NBA, so part of me really wanted to help her to fulfill her dream and to get this off the ground. I wanted to see what we could really do with it. On the multi-cultural side, I’m Italian and Black. Now more than ever, we’ve been divided and so many things are targeted for either a white audience or a Black audience. There’s no real in between and there are a lot of people who are in between these days. There are a lot of biracial people out there. So really, the message for every man is that at the end of the day, we’re all men, we’re all human and it kind of speaks to more of an understanding of what this country needs right now.

AM: What are your 3 must haves that are go to products within HUE For Every Man?

MB: I use the pomade but my favorite product is the awakening mist. Because, I’m a cannabis user and I smoke throughout the day and the awakening mist is always something that refreshes me. Obviously, it helps my skin and I really enjoy it and I give it to all my friends and they really appreciate it so those are my 2 favorites along with the shampoo and the conditioner. The conditioner has a really special smell to it that I really like. Most people, when you get a celebrity or an athlete, they attach their name to it and it may not even be a product that they use everyday. I’m such a person that has always been real and true and I speak my truth. This is something that I really believe in and something that I really use and I want to make it work.

AM: Are there new products that are about to launch that you can tell us about?

MB: I’m also going to get into the CBD skincare line. I’m an advocate of cannabis and realizing how amazing CBD is and educating people on the plant as a whole, I thought that this would be the perfect opportunity to jump into the space. I’ve been told that I have nice skin, so it just made sense and I also realized that there are not too many people in this space that talk to my demographic. Skincare is something that we care about, but it’s not really spoken on. So if I make it with the movement to make it cool to care about what your appearance is as many people think of it as something that only women do. Men care just as much about their appearance as women do. So, if we can do something for lines and get people on a cleansing routine, moisturizing and realizing how important moisturizing is for your skin. It’s on a personal level, but it’s also on an educating level. We need to let guys know that this is the only face that we have. You have to take care of your skin and your appearance.

AM: We recently started listening to your podcast All the Smoke with you and Stephen Jackson, it’s such a clever show. How did you come about creating the concept, the two of you deciding to work together and what’s your process like in terms of booking the people that come on your show?

MB: We were former teammates and he’s one of my closest friends. We were both respectfully working with ESPN and FOX Sports. We would always get people on social media asking if we would do something together, but we were working for our networks. One day I said that we had to do something together. With me being with ESPN/Disney and FOX – we need to kind of walk the line, but I know that the podcast – even though I didn’t really know what it was, I knew that people felt it would really speak to them. He and I would be good at. We tried it and SHOWTIME took a chance on us not really knowing what we were capable of and we struck gold! We wanted to come in as a sports podcast because obviously, that’s what we’re known as. We also wanted to shift more towards culture as a whole.

We wanted to humanize our guests and let them know the other side of their favorite celebrity, athlete, musician or whoever it may be. Everyone already knows what we’re known for. I play basketball, I rap or I play football – you know that, but what are they really like off of the court? What are they in to, what are their day to day lives like – so humanizing people was something that I wanted to do. Through our long careers, we’ve been able to make a lot of friends and connections. The majority of our guests – all of them, we have booked them ourselves based off of personal relationships as well as our ability to being real. A lot of our guests will somewhat let their walls down and really freely and comfortably speak to us. It’s worked.

AM: Well 2020 has been an interesting year between us quarantining with COVID-19, #BlackLivesMatter, tackling social justice issues and the 2020 election that is around the corner. In looking at your Instagram, you’re out there on the forefront. How important is it for you to use your platform, to push for changes and to get other people to raise awareness regardless of people’s skin tones to ensure that this movement keeps progressing?

MB: I think it’s important. I experienced a lot of racism growing up and it culminated in high school where my school was vandalized and the building was nearly burnt by the KKK. I faced racism growing up and I have always been really sensitive to the subject. Just to see the current state of America, we have never been more divided. Things have continued to happen and it’s almost normalized to where you think that this is normal – Black people being killed now. It’s unfortunate but it has been happening so much. I think what happened with George Floyd obviously boiled not only our country but the whole world to say that we have had enough. We’re upon a big change and as someone who has always been vocal, I am speaking on different matters and this is just something that I am very passionate about. I feel like that this is the first time in over 400 years that the world hears us and particularly the United States. So now, we have to have a plan and me using my platform, showing people what I am doing and trying to educate people. I think that we have to have a plan of intelligence. Now that they are listening, we have to know what we want and the only way to get what we want is to vote. It’s not just about voting for the president, it’s about your local level. People don’t know that most laws are made and passed on the local and the state level. Just continuing to educate people, trying to do my part and getting my friends to help and really understand the power of our community and when we come together that we can change the world.

AM: Being able to see how people have come together and to know that we have to follow through to continue to make our voices heard by making our votes is essential. In addition to this taking place, with the absence of sports, I’m sure you like the rest of us were riveted to ESPN’s The Last Dance as we get ready for the NBA basketball season to resume. What do you think about the format that will take place to complete the season and to head to the playoffs?

MB: I think it was great you know? Normally, when the world is having a crisis, sports is something that we can always turn to. It’s been a hell of 2020 like you mentioned, and 2020 took away sports. So for the NBA to be coming back, it’s slowly but surely becoming America’s past time. I love that they were able to come to some sort of solution or understanding to get back on the court and to really help start the world to heal. We obviously have so far to go, but sports has always been that one time that people can come together. I think that now, more than ever, that’s what we really need. I’m every excited about it and it wouldn’t seem right if we didn’t have a champion this year and now we’re going to be able to get a chance to get that.

AM: We couldn’t agree more. We’re sure that you have a number of projects going on, whether you’re talking about in front of the camera or behind it, are there things that we should be looking forward to in order to keep our eye out for it?

MB: Obviously, you can catch All the Smoke on SHOWTIME right now although we’re in negotiations for a new deal so hopefully, that happens! Also, I’m continuing to produce and create content that I’ll start really getting out there on different networks and platforms as it’s taken over my love of sports – just being able to create content and being able to share true stories, real stories and do inspirational stories. I’m starting to that and I just signed with ICM to help me build my goal and that will be cool. I’m doing a lot in the cannabis space right now trying to educate people on that. Continue to follow that. Last but not least, educating people in a fun way on politics and teaching them on how meaningful it is. Not so much about not being passionate overall in voting for the president or whatever, but finding causes that you’re passionate about and building on those. That’s a small step to getting people first and foremost to register, getting them interested and hopefully getting them all the way interested in being able to understand how powerful their voices are to this country.

AM: We always like to end our interviews asking our changemakers who you clearly are – who are you inspired by. Who are three people who have inspired you to be at the point that you are at now?

MB: Nipsey Hussle RIP. Kobe RIP. These guys because of their focus and dedication on their craft and their obsessive nature – like their beautiful mind to be great. I think that both of those guys were great in their own way and they would have only become greater before their lives were cut short. Someone else that I look up to which is a big thing – I look up to someone like Michael Strahan. Someone who is able to be a formal athlete, able to speak on sports, crossover to mainstream media as well which is something that I would like to do.

IG @Matt_Barnes9

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 16 - 25 Matt Barnes + Editorial Design by Athleisure Mag | PG 27 + 33 Ray Chavez | PG 28 - 31 SHOWTIME |

Read the June Issue #54 of Athleisure Mag and see Authentically Matt Barnes in mag.

DARLING ON THE RISE WITH SOFIA TILBURY

We have been fans of Charlotte Tilbury for a number of years as we love her approach to creating inclusive products, ensuring that these items truly work as well as including innovations within her assortment of makeup and skincare. You also know that she's just as passionate at making her celebs and red carpet beauties look fantastic as well as her fans. Her niece, Sofia Tilbury has this same passion and works with her aunt to continue her initiatives. We find out more about the brand, her makeup journey and more.

ATHLEISURE MAG: What is it about the beauty industry that inspired you to work in this field?

SOFIA TILBURY: Growing up in Ibiza, makeup, fashion, art and beauty were always around, so it’s hard to remember when I first became inspired by the creative world, but I always looked up to my aunt Charlotte in her career as a makeup artist. Photography and art were my favourite subjects at school, so my first real experience with makeup was looking at fashion magazines and trying to recreate Charlotte’s cover looks on my friends so we could take photographs!

When I started to get into beauty, Charlotte’s biggest blessing was to let me come and work for her. She said the most important thing for a career in beauty was assisting someone, so you can watch and learn first-hand, and she was SO right. Working with Charlotte is the best makeup training you could ever get!

AM: A number of people dream of working with as well as being mentored by a visionary in their field. How is it to work so closely to an industry icon as a makeup artist as well as to learn the business from your aunt?

ST: When your aunt is Charlotte Tilbury and you want to be a makeup artist, there’s a huge pressure to be incredible, and you definitely feel like you have a lot to prove, but Charlotte is all about confidence and she empowered me every step of the way! I had to start where any other makeup artist would, and I had to work my way up, but it was the best way to learn. Charlotte is the most incredible mentor, so I feel super lucky to have been able to follow her and learn how she works her magic!

AM: What has been the best beauty tip that Charlotte has shared with you?

ST: One of the best makeup tricks I ever discovered through Charlotte was the power of a feline flick! It’s something she taught me from a young age. Your eyes are the most mesmerising part of your face, and when you use a gorgeous, creamy liner (like the Pillow Talk eyeliner) to elongate their shape and make them look more feline, it transforms your whole look! It works on everyone!

AM: Can you tell us about the positions that you have held at Charlotte Tilbury and what you do currently at Charlotte Tilbury, what is your role like and what areas do you cover for the brand?

ST: When I was 18, I worked full-time at the Charlotte Tilbury counter as an artist for two years and I learned so much. Retail is hard work. I was surrounded by all these incredibly talented and experienced makeup artists and I had to learn fast! I loved it. Then, behind the scenes, Charlotte started asking me questions about what was selling well, which products customers were asking for and what was missing from the range. That was how I started working closely with Charlotte on product development and the brand side of things.

I’m currently a Brand Ambassador and Product & Content Creator at Charlotte Tilbury Beauty. No two days are ever the same! One day I could be part of a campaign, the next I’m testing colours with the product development team or dashing to do a VIP’s makeup for an event like the Golden Globes or the Oscars. I particularly love the opportunity I have to create content for Instagram. It's always amazing and inspiring to see my followers trying a look I’ve created and feeling like a more beautiful, confident version of themselves as a result. Charlotte has always talked about the power of makeup to transform your energy, and in those moments, you do feel incredibly humbled by it.

AM: As a Celebrity Makeup Artist, what have been some of your favorite projects or people that you have worked on?

ST: I’m fortunate enough to work with some of the world’s most inspirational, beautiful women—from Sienna Miller to Irina Shayk; Romee Strijd to Candice Swanepoel—and at events like the Met Gala, the Golden Globes and the Oscars, so it is impossible to choose a favourite!

One of the highlights of my career was my first ever time as the Lead Makeup Artist at London Fashion Week in September 2019. I created the makeup looks for Agent Provocateur, Temperley London and Olivia Rubin shows. It is incredibly fast paced and exciting backstage and working with the designers to create looks that complemented their vision and artistry—from the prints and fabrics to the cuts of the dresses—was an absolute dream come true!

AM: What are your 3 must have products in the line that are your essentials?

ST: This is always SUCH a hard question!! I can’t live without any of our products! I’m a lip liner girl so my first pick would have to be a Lip Cheat. I never apply lipstick without liner! My favourites are Hot Gossip—a peachy nude—and Supersize Me—the perfect rosy-pink shade that resizes and reshapes the appearance of your lips instantly!

Magic Cream is always in my handbag. I have a tiny little travel sized pot that I use whenever my skin is dry—whether it is for priming my skin for a makeup tutorial or hydrating my arms and legs before a night out! I also love to use Charlotte’s new Magic Cream Light—which is a lightweight, supercharged version of Magic Cream. It’s perfect for combination skin going through an oilier phase, or for humid summer weather! It just leaves your skin looking glowing and hydrated with a satin-matte finish.

And third, Magic Away Concealer is my ultimate skin saviour. I wear it every day. It has incredible stretch and coverage so when I’m tired or my skin is not looking so great, it just blurs out all the imperfections and lifts your confidence straight away. You could event wear it on its own without foundation if you wanted to!

AM: You do several tutorials for the brand with a focus on an array of looks, how important is it to have that content and education?

ST: On social media, people are constantly asking me for tips and tricks on how to recreate my celebrity makeup looks from red carpet events, how to get the perfect smokey eye, how to cheat the perfect lip shape—so it’s super important to me that I’m constantly creating content to answer those questions and decodify those makeup secrets!

While I’ve been in isolation, I have spent my time creating content that hopefully will uplift and empower people through the magic of makeup, whether it’s how to make your eyes look bigger and brighter with the Pillow Talk Luxury Palette or how to use your night-time skincare routine to carve out a little selfcare. Makeup and skincare are incredibly powerful, so I love to share that knowledge with everyone!

AM: With a number of us doing a lot more video calls, what is the best way to get a healthy glow to our skin as well as adding a pop of color?

ST: I think the key to looking good on video calls is having gorgeous, glowing skin so you look happy, healthy and radiant!

For the past few months I’ve been using Charlotte’s new Magic Serum Crystal Elixir and the way my skin looks and feels is AMAZING! It has never been so hydrated, smooth and poreless—and that really is the key if you’re going to be in front of a camera all day! It has a magic matrix of supercharged ingredients, including Polyglutamic Acid—which is four times more hydrating than Hyaluronic Acid—so it creates a beautiful, hydrating filter effect on the skin and it makes makeup application so much easier too!

I layer Magic Cream over the top to intensely hydrate my skin and give it a dewy look, and then I glide Hollywood Flawless Filter over my cheekbones to really give my complexion a boost. There is nothing like glow for transforming your mood!

When you look tired, you feel tired, so my next tip would be Magic Away concealer. It has incredible stretch and coverage so you can use it on its own as a base if you’re being called into a last-minute Zoom and want to look fresh and bright-eyed! I always like to use a lighter shade under my eyes to bounce the light and counteract any darkness, and then I use a shade that matches my complexion to conceal any redness or imperfections.

To lock that in, I use Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder—this is the best powder EVER. I don’t know a single makeup artist or celebrity who doesn’t swear by this! It is so finely milled, it glides on like silk and blurs out pores and fine lines in an instant. It’s like a filter for your skin!

For a glowing pop of colour, I like to swish and pop the Pillow Talk Cheek to Chic Blush over the apples of my cheeks. I love that it has a highlighter shade in the middle for the perfect kiss of glow!

AM: We’re fans of Instant Eye Palette in Pillow Talk and loved seeing it throughout the red carpets during Awards Season. In April, the brand dropped Charlotte’s New Magic Serum Crystal Elixir. Can you tell us about this new launch and feel free to share any other products that we should know about?

ST: The Magic Serum launch was incredible! We launched it with the first ever virtual press day for the brand and beauty industry, and it created a huge buzz, so it was super exciting to be a part of that. It had a huge 10k waitlist, which is just incredible!

So many people are obsessed with how this serum has transformed the look of their skin—myself included! It’s a high-performance, potent yet comforting formula and it’s great for sensitive skin too.

It has Golden Vitamin C in it, which is a non-irritating alternative for anyone who has ever struggled with traditional Vitamin C serums like I have. It helps even and brighten your complexion without causing breakouts or redness. The Magic Serum also contains Niacinamide, which is like a bootcamp for your pores.

Another thing I love about this serum is that it actually has CRYSTALS such as Rose Quartz, Moonstone and Amethyst in it! I’m from Ibiza, so I grew up around crystals and a bohemian way of life. I wear crystals every day; I really do believe in the mood-boosting, holistic healing aura of crystals, so this feels extra special and powerful right now.

I like to use 4-6 drops on cleansed skin, really taking the time to warm it between my fingertips and massage upwards and outwards over my face.

We’ve also just launched the most incredible new smoothing, pore-blurring Airbrush Bronzer that literally makes you look airbrushed! I like to apply it to my cheekbones, temples and across my nose using the new Air-Brush bronzing brush— creating broad strokes wherever the sun naturally hits you. It smoothes, blurs and enhances the look of your facial architecture. It also contains Hyaluronic Acid, so it actually hydrates the skin while you wear—it never looks dry or cakey like some bronzers! It mimics the look of a sun-kissed tan!

AM: As someone who has a number of makeup tips, how can we find a nude lipstick that works for our skin tone?

ST: For fair skin, I find cool blue-pink nude lipsticks like Charlotte’s award-winning Pillow Talk and Matte Revolution Lipstick in Very Victoria look fantastic. Glossy textures like the Lip Lustre in Pillow Talk can also help create that plump, kissable look that is amazing for a day look.

With medium skin tones, you’ve really got the option of going cool or warm. For a more cool or neutral nude, opt for a shade like Penelope Pink or Nude Kate and use a lip liner in a slightly peachy shade, such as Hot Gossip, to help it blend into your natural lip shade. My skin is a little warmer, so I love tawny-nude shades like Superstar Lips in Glow Kiss or Hot Lips 2 in Glowing Jen. They give a really beachy, sun-kissed nude that looks amazing on olive skin too!

For deeper skin, the key really is the lip liner. I love to use the Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk Intense or Foxy Brown to really give the lips a perfected, rich brown colour that helps any lip shade blend beautifully without washing out the skin! The shades Stoned Rose, Angel Alessandra and Superstar Lips in Everlasting Kiss look stunning as nude lipsticks on deep skin tones. They give you an instant goddess pout!

AM: What is your go to skincare products to prep your skin prior to makeup as well as after washing it off?

ST: The first thing I do when prepping my skin or removing makeup is double cleansing with the Goddess Cleansing Ritual. I begin with the Citrus Oil Radiance Cleanse, which is a coconut-oil based, citrus-oil blend that melts your makeup away. I then follow this with the second ritual, which is a purifying charcoal cleanse. It draws out impurities and tackles deeper-rooted environmental dirt, helping to unblock pores and eliminate excess online, which I love.

Next, I’ll use my Instant Magic Facial Dry Sheet Mask or my Goddess Skin Clay Mask. When we were working on the dry sheet mask, Charlotte was super inspired by Korean beauty, so we worked with some amazing labs to create this formula of genius ingredients–including vitamin B3, crocus bulb extract, peptides, oils and butters–to penetrate deep into the skin using a biomimetic vector delivery system. If my skin is a little oily or congested, I’ll use the clay mask—which is rich with almond oil and Spanish Clay. It doesn’t crack or dry like other clay masks do! Every time I use this on myself or one of my clients, I’m blown away by the way it makes the skin look baby smooth!

Another one of my favourite tricks I learned from Charlotte is facial massage— her celebrity clients call this the “Tilbury Tap!” When prepping a client’s complexion before makeup, I pinch along the jawline and cheekbones, tap my fingers around the eye area and massage Charlotte’s Magic Serum and Magic Cream up and out with sweeping, open palms to help stimulate lymphatic drainage and micro- circulation.

IG @ctilburymakeup

@sofiaschwarzkopftilbury

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Sofia Tilbury

Read the June Issue #54 of Athleisure Mag and see Darling on the Rise with Sofia Tilbury in mag.

9LIST STORI3S | LAURA DERN

Read the June Issue #54 of Athleisure Mag and see 9LIST STORI3S | Laura Dern in mag.

ATHLEISURE BEAUTY

Read the Jun Issue #54 of Athleisure Mag and see Athleisure Beauty in mag.

S2. E5. | #TRIBEGOALS WITH NBA CHAMPION, ENTREPRENEUR, PHILANTHROPIST, CANNABIS EDUCATOR & SOCIAL JUSTICE ACTIVIST MATT BARNES

On today's episode of #TRIBEGOALS, we talk with Athleisure Mag's June cover for issue #54 veteran NBA Champion Matt Barnes who played 14 seasons in the league. His ability to bring his energy and focus to the court was seen on a number of teams from the LA Lakers, Golden State Warriors and the Sacramento Kings just to name a few. His unapologetic honesty and loyalty to himself as well as who he works with shined through on the court and continues to be seen through his philanthropy, his skincare brand HUE For Every Man, the cannabis industry, as well as his focus on social justice. With the confluence of COVID-19 and the movement of #BlackLivesMatter, he continues to be at the forefront of ensuring that voices are heard and that people understand the importance of voting at the local, state and national level for changes to be made. He has lent his voice to rallies in his hometown of Sacramento for George Floyd as well as Stephon Clark. We talk about this as well as his successful podcast All the Smoke on SHOWTIME, his enterprises and the upcoming NBA season and playoffs and the importance of sports as we navigate challenging times.

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

COCONUT BEAUTY

Read the June Issue #54 of Athleisure Mag and see Coconut Beauty in mag.

IN OUR BAG | FOR A HOLIDAY WEEKEND

Read the June Issue #54 of Athleisure Mag and see In Our Bag | For a Holiday Weekend in mag.

9LIST

Read the June Issue of Athleisure Mag and see 9LIST in mag.

ATHLEISURE BEAUTY

Read the May Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Athleisure Beauty in mag.

PAPAYA BEAUTY

Read the May Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Papaya Beauty in mag.

THE PICK ME UP

The April Issue of Athleisure Mag and see The Pick Me Up in mag.

CHARCOAL BEAUTY

Read the April Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Charcoal Beauty in mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | BARBA MEN'S GROOMING BOUTIQUE QUARANCUTS

Barba Men's Grooming Boutique Quarancuts' Virtual Hair School emerged as a way to challenge the issue of grooming that have been caused by COVID-19 due to NYC salons being closed to the public. With many being selected as amateur barbers, the need to teach them to do a proper cut was clear to Barba's Owner and Master Stylist, Xavier Cruz. He guides interested "stylists" through the techniques of men's haircuts online via Zoom. Simply DM Barba on Instagram and Quarancuts sessions air simultaneously on IGTV so that all those that are interested can learn how to maintain their hair.

The first amateur stylist to attend Quarancuts was Grammy-winning singer, Tony-winning actor and renowned style icon Billy Porter, who was enlisted to cut his husband Adam Smith's hair.

With 30 years in the industry, Xavier's work has appeared in an array of magazines, styled Broadway shows including Hairspray, The Boy from Oz, The Vagina Monologues and Metamorphosis. He is known for designing the "Coop", a hairstyle that was popularized by CNN's Anderson Cooper and created the army of Eminem lookalikes for the MTV Video Music Awards.

In opening his salon, he continued to evolve the industry by being the first in the nation to offer scalp micropigmentation (SMP), the fastest growing and least invasive answer to baldness.

It's not surprising that as we stay at home to flatten the curve that Barba found a way to maintain grooming needs. "Without a doubt, these are hard times, but not all is lost. Quarancuts puts us closer together. We created this program to not only make us feel great over our appearance, but to also have fun. We will certainly have some good laughs during our sessions." Graduates of this program, will receive a virtual diploma from the Quarancuts Virtual Hair School.

Digital and social content for the Quarancuts Virtual Hair School will be broadcast across social media on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, as well as on Barba’s website.

BARBA

235 West 19th Street

NY, NY 10011 212.675. 2010

www.barbamgb.com

IG @barbamgb

Read the April Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Athleisure List | Barba Men’s Grooming Boutique Quarancuts in mag.

AS WE WFH, TREAMENTS THAT WILL LEAVE SKIN HEALTHY AND GLOWING

As we all continue to naviagate working from home and staying in to continue to #flattenthecurve, we need to make sure that we have a number of spa days as we certainly deserve it. We’re sharing some great tips from mother daughter duo Kariné and Mariam Kazarian, estheticians and co-founders of Kariné Kazarian Luxury Skincare in New York City, share their tips for the most sublime at-home treatment that will leave skin healthy and glowing.

Karine’s Pro Tip #1: Think Twice About Using Hot Water

As the temperature outside is still brisk, you might want to slip into a hot shower. But, never use hot water on your face! In fact, I don’t wash my face in the shower. Heat destroys the natural protective barrier of the epidermis, removes natural oils on the skin’s surface, and strips skin of its moisture. It can even damage eyelash extensions. Instead, I recommend cleansing the face with Biologique Recherche Lait VIP O2. Emulsify with small circular movements and rinse off with tepid water to prevent drying out skin.

Mariam’s Pro Tip #2: Invigorate and Awaken with Cold Therapy   

To elevate your at-home treatment, glide Biologique Recherche’s Cryo Sticks on the face, cheekbones, under the chin, under the ears, under and over the eyes, and in the neck area. The sticks promote lymphatic drainage, which moves built-up fluids, toxins, and other stagnant waste into the body’s drainage system. Alternate between upward motions and static pulses on pressure points. It is really important not to crease the skin downwards or tug, which can lead to fine lines.

Place your Cryo Sticks in an ice bath for at least 30 minutes before use or keep in the refrigerator (which I always do.) This allows for the sticks to stock maximum thermal energy. The burst of cold not only feels amazing and immediately lowers skin’s temperature, it causes a “goose bump” phenomenon which stimulates the nerve cells and has a firming, sculpting, and lifting effect.

Another way to take your treatment to the next level is to use the Cryo Sticks with a sheet mask or eye patches, like the Biologique Recherche Patchs Défatigants. The cold components of the mask and sticks calm the skin while the increased blood flow helps achieve a gorgeous glow. If you do not have the Cryo Sticks, I recommend simply using ice wrapped in gauze over the Patchs Défatigants.

Remember – don’t let any product go to waste! If there’s still moisture on the sheet mask, rub it on your hands or body.

Karine’s Pro Tip #3: Don’t Forget About Your Lips

Lips need extra attention as the skin is much thinner and does not retain as much moisture as the rest of your body. Prevent chapped, dry, and flaky lips with Biologique Recherche BioKiss, which is rich in sunflower, raspberry seed oil extract, and vitamin E. This rich formula works to nourish and repair the sensitive skin on the lips, and is a super luxurious finishing touch to any at-home facial.

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

HOW TO REMOVE GEL NAIL POLISH WITHOUT STRIPPING YOUR NAILS

PHOTO CREDIT | Buudkaanaa

As we all figure out what week and day it is, we have all been thinking about some of our routines that we have not been able to enjoy such as getting our hair done, manicures and brows! Prior to COVID-19, we made and kept our appointments and many of us moved from having polish manicures to gel to ensure that our tips were always on point. We all have our different gel flows whether you go every 2 weeks or 3 weeks. As we all navigate COVID-19, many of us started seeing our gels taking a turn for the worst and we had to tackle removing it and upkeeping our nails. Somehow, we’ve all realized that the removal process isn’t the easiest and we’re missing enjoying a glass of bubble while at Paintbox while this is getting done.

We have some tips on how you remove gel nail polish without stripping your nails! First off, even when the polish begins to peel, don’t continue to pull it back. When you peel it, you’re actually stripping your nail bed of the upper layer and encouraging the nail to break. Instead, you’ll need some simple tools that include: acetone, cotton, aluminum foil, an orange wood stick, nail file, buffer and cuticle oil. Start with taking your file and swipe it over your topcoat which also includes the gel color. If it starts to hurt you, then you need to stop as you don’t want to over file. You want to make sure that you are beginning to open up the polish a bit.

Apply cuticle oil to each nail to make sure that your nails still have moisture on them as you continue each of the steps. When you’re ready to remove the gel, you need to soak the cotton in the acetone and place it over your nail. Wrap the aluminum foil over your tip so that the acetone doesn’t dry. If you feel that your foil may not stay closed, we suggest gel nail polish remover clips that will keep it firmly around you nail. You should keep this on for 10-15 minutes. When you remove the aluminum you will see that the gel will start to loosen. We suggest doing it one nail at a time. If you open one and see that the gel hasn’t start to flake or move back, put the aluminum back on.

If the nail is ready, take the orange wood and gently push the gel off in the same direction the gel was applied. Don’t take the stick and push it into your nail bed as you will dig into it and ruin your nail. Make sure that you buff your nails to remove any polish that might not have come off from just the acetone. When your nails are done, moisturize your hands as acetone can be very drying. This part of the removal can take 30-40 mins so we suggest having a refreshing drink of your choice nearby especially if it is your first time.

If you feel that your nails are a little weaker or not as fabulous as you’re used to seeing them, apply a nail hardener and then apply coconut oil, jojoba or cuticle oil into cuticles.

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.