“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 received all the magazines like Vogue, W, Elle, and Harper’s Bazaar. At the moment, there have been perhaps 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 thought of the best way to get into the enterprise.
CAREER
After I moved to Los Angeles and began engaged on shoots, there was a complete revolution occurring in digital images. One of the simplest ways that I can describe it’s that it was virtually like the image that was shot and the image that you simply noticed in {a magazine} had been fully completely different—it was an over-the-top, perfected, unattainable sort of magnificence. I didn’t relate to it, and I sort of rebelled. You may take a look at my work and assume, ‘Nicely, it does look excellent,’ however there’s that feeling that somebody utilized it and that it’s not airbrushed.
I’ve been fortunate sufficient to come back full circle as a make-up artist. I did the November 2020 British Vogue cowl with Serena Williams. Final 12 months, to have fun 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. Not too long ago, I did a Vogue Italia cowl with Bella Hadid that’s actually vital to me. Bella’s actually embracing what she feels is her true self. She’s taking a step again in a method 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 one of the best software 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 vital 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 lovely it doesn’t matter what stage they’re at. For instance, a ‘24-hour put on’ lip method will look good perhaps within the first 5 to 10 minutes, however as you eat or drink and dwell your life, it’ll get crackly and crusty. ‘Clear’ merchandise are additionally vital to me. Make-up artists will usually say, ‘That is one of the best concealer. That is one of the best basis. That is one of the best powder.’ They’re tried-and-true merchandise, however often, they’re not ‘clear.’ My merchandise are usually not solely ‘clear’ however best-in-class, too.
SKINCARE
The Dr. Barbara Sturm foaming cleanser is the one cleanser I’m utilizing for the time being. It’s mild 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 at the least 2008, if not earlier. It’s tremendous emollient. I actually douse my complete 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 would put on it by itself throughout 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 offers me numerous 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 evening, ‘That is the primary time that I haven’t had a significant 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 difficult, all the time. I haven’t discovered my excellent 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 solid 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 top of it, I felt like my cheekbones had been proper below my eyes. The carry was loopy. Previous to that, I’d been a Bliss Spa woman. It’s no frills, but it surely will get the job carried out.
I’ve carried out 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 bear in mind she did one cross 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 value it.
Alternatively, 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 evening. 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 folks went nuts with Botox and fillers, and I believe we’re beginning to come down from that. As a substitute, I attempt my finest to make use of units just like the NuFace. If I exploit it usually 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 on the subject of make-up. Whenever you’re youthful, it doesn’t matter how a lot make-up you placed on since you nonetheless look recent. However the extra strategic I’m about concealing and highlighting as I become older, the brisker I look. That’s all the time the aim. I all the time begin off with my Important Face Compact. I exploit 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. Basically, the Clean Veil Smooth Matte, which is the complexion a part of the compact, acts as a basis and concealer in a single. You may put on it virtually like a tinted moisturizer, if you’d like, however then it’s buildable, so you will get full protection with it, too, so you possibly can decide and select completely different areas the place you wish to construct protection or the place you wish to hold it sheer. The opposite half is the Shine Baume, which is that this champagne, sheen-like product. When you’re on the drier facet, you possibly can lay that down first on the areas that you simply’re going to place the Clean Veil Smooth Matte over to offer you slightly 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 spotlight small areas.
I plucked my eyebrows into oblivion within the ‘90s. I principally embrace them now, however I nonetheless pencil them in slightly 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 means of my brows as I mix them out. I really like the Anastasia Beverly Hills clear forehead gel as a result of it offers you construction with none crispiness. The very best half is which you can hold placing it on all through the day. Let’s say your brows transfer since you’ve been working, you possibly can return hours later and reapply it time and again with none flakes. Then I actually love the Lancôme Le 8 Hypnôse mascara. It’s actually comfortable and buildable, and it offers you a pleasant kitten lash. I wish to prime it off with the Chanel Le Quantity Révolution mascara for extra quantity. It additionally separates my lashes and sort of seals the whole lot.
Typically, 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 quite a bit. You need to use a brush to govern the form that you really want. Then I wish to go in with the Surratt Auto-Graphique liner. It’s one of the best liquid liner within the enterprise. It virtually has a skinny hair applicator, which is very easy to make use of, and it has a veil-like end. It’s excellent. I exploit Chat Noir. I usually begin with a brown liner as a result of it has an attractive smokiness and subtleness to it, and if I do, I like Dior’s On Stage waterproof liner in Brown. It’s slightly bit drier, but it surely doesn’t bleed all through the evening, and I believe the black and brown combo is extra hanging than black on black more often than not.
I actually love all the shades of my Smudge & Contour lip pencils, however Pink 1 and Nude 2 are my Important Lip Compact favorites. Pink 1 is such a particular colour. 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 may put on it by itself, or you possibly can combine it with the balm and also you look so put collectively. You may construct it up so it’s extra full-bodied if you happen to’re going out to have drinks with the ladies or one thing. You too can put on it in your cheeks or your eyes. It’s fairly common.
HAIR + NAILS
I’ve numerous hair, but it surely’s very nice. 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 folks acknowledged me; if you’re doing one thing like make-up, I believe signatures are vital as a result of they actually embody who you’re. Eva Scrivo paints my hair. She’s such an artist, and I believe, 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 you must have the experience of understanding 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 in all probability see her each 4. In the meantime, David Zughbaba, additionally at Eva Scrivo, cuts my hair. It’s all the time very primary, 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 had been all sort of the identical, however I observed that I’ve one of the best hair days once I use the RŌZ Basis shampoo and conditioner. It received to the purpose the place I used to be rationing the merchandise. I’d say to myself, ‘Is immediately an vital 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 comfortable. In February, my pal, hairstylist James Pecis, launched his personal hair care model known as Blu and Inexperienced. I would like slightly 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 offers me that weight and management however retains my hair comfortable. I additionally use his Weekly Restore Masks, nicely, weekly. Since I bleach my hair, it wants all the assist it could actually get, and I actually do really feel like my locks are lovely and bouncy after I exploit the masks.
I really like the Bumble and Bumble Tonic Lotion on day two, when my hair is sort of OK however wants slightly refresh. I spray it throughout and blow dry it once more to get my sheen again. It smells so good, like tea tree. I hold the Brilliantine styling cream round, too. It offers you this slept-in vibe. After which I exploit 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 slightly of it on my roots for quantity.
You recognize the philosophy, ‘It doesn’t matter a lot what you put on, so long as you have got good footwear 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’m going to Jin Quickly, and I get shellac on my arms and common polish on my toes, which stay purple, all the time and without end.”
—As informed to Daise Bedolla
Photographed by Alexandra Genova in New York on Might 1, 2024