Exactly two minutes had passed since I clicked on the send button on the email to Bassam Fattouh’s PR when my phone rang. “I just received your email; you won’t believe it! Bassam is in town for today only to do a photo shoot and then he’s going back to Beirut. Can you come to the studio this afternoon?” It really was an uncanny stroke of luck.
Later that day, I entered the light and airy studio where Bassam was doing the makeup for an exclusive bridal feature. To my right, a model was having her long dark locks styled into a voluminous up do and straight ahead was another girl in full bridal regalia having her makeup re-touched by Bassam. He waved at me from afar signaling that I wait for him on the sofa. A few minutes later he walked over wearing his signature white overcoat, smiling, his sea green eyes glinting. “It’s great to see you again, thanks for coming by.” As always his cheery disposition brought a smile to my face as we began the interview.
Bassam this isn’t the first time we’ve spoken but perhaps you can take me back to the beginning. When did you discover you had a talent for makeup?
I’ve always had a love for the arts ever since I was a little boy but I can’t pin point an exact moment because I’ve always loved makeup and beauty in general. I was really young maybe six or seven when I first put makeup on my mother’s face.
So you used to watch your mother apply makeup?
No not at all! My mother never used to wear makeup; I remember the day she was going to a wedding and I said, “You can’t go like that!” and I took some eye shadow and put it on her eyelid. For a long time after that moment makeup wasn’t a part of my life. I worked really hard at school and was very academic up until the end of high school when I decided that the arts were my passion and I was torn between going on to study interior design or esthetic cosmetology. Eventually I decided to go to Paris to do esthetic cosmetology and that’s where it all began.
Considering the traditional Arab mentality, did anyone around you object to this choice?
No, not really. They didn’t object to it but they weren’t exactly welcoming of it either. A male going to actually study beauty was an unfamiliar concept to those around me.
Did being in Paris change your views on beauty?
It was a turning point in my life, I was always confident of my talent but the academy taught me the ethics of the beauty industry, it refined my technique and allowed me to discover my own philosophy on beauty. To me, you have to feel beautiful in order to look beautiful; what’s inside really reflects on the outside. Beauty is a harmony, there’s no stereotype.
This boom in plastic surgery is sad to me, I truly believe that we have to embrace our imperfections because when you look too good to be true, it’s just strange. These small imperfections are what make a woman beautiful and unique.
You’ve worked with so many celebrities in the Middle East. Who’s your favorite face?
Let me get straight to the point. I adore Haifa Wehbe, she’s my muse. I know every pore on her face. Her beauty inspires me and she always has a unique place in my heart. However, having said that, whoever I work with—in the moment that I am working on her face—she is the most special. At that moment I have no preference; I give her my all, heart and soul.
I was just looking at your makeup line; it’s quite a range. What pushed you to develop your own products?
Every single day I would receive tens of emails, women would stop me to ask which mascara do you use? Which is the best lipstick? This is what pushed me to take the step forward to realize my dream of having my own products and to become an international brand name.
They really are special because they have been developed to address a need, I’m sharing my secrets with all women; it is my touch on their faces. I have an edited range so as not to confuse, for example I only have one true red shade of lipstick that’s guaranteed to suit everyone. I really wasn’t expecting the booming success of the line in such a short space of time. It led to a shortage of stock.
What inspires you to create a product?
Essentially it’s finding an effective way to address a need: a color, texture, and a way of application that’s unique. Fashion inspires me, fabrics, styles, and shoes. It’s about creating a fantasy.
I love the illustrations on the packaging. Who drew those?
They’re by a lady called Lisolette Watkins. She’s done illustrations for Prada, Yves Saint Laurent, and Miu Miu. I love it; it’s so feminine.
With all these exciting developments happening at the moment, looking back, what would you say has been a defining moment in your career?
There have been so many beautiful moments but perhaps one of the most prominent is when I opened my first beauty institute in Beirut. It was a dream that came true in such a short space of time and it led to me opening other branches in Riyadh, Doha, and now I’m opening a branch in Kuwait too.
So what’s next for Bassam Fattouh?
I’ll be developing the brand further and working on going global. It’s going to be a busy year.
Click on the gallery for more images from Bassam’s life.
