Makeup by Yasmin Istanbouli
Yasmin Istanbouli
Yasmin Istanbouli
Splitting her time between Los Angeles and KSA, Yasmin Istanbouli has a youthfully modern approach to beauty, specializing in fresh-faced looks with bursts of vibrant color. After taking a course with Rihanna’s makeup artist, Priscilla Ono, Istanbouli dropped her marketing assistant role in LA to break out as a full-time makeup artist. “Looking at how makeup can elevate made me realize the power and range that exists within the art. It’s not only about the beautiful and the trendy,” explains the Saudi national. “My excitement lies in the in-between; where beauty and expression connect and create something unusual yet beautiful.” Working in a competitive industry, Instanbouli says her edge is always being open to new opportunities. “Since I’m still in the early stages of my career, I tell myself to never say no to an on-brand opportunity. I’ve done commercial shoots, music videos, editorials, independent creative shoots, and short films, working with talent like Salem Mitchell, Aweng Chuol, and singer Rainsford, along with Saudi singer Rotana,” she shares. However, her top moment so far was working on the cover for the Vogue Arabia 2021 Saudi Issue. “It was my first ever cover, and for Vogue Arabia, it felt meant to be. The shoot was also my first major work experience in Saudi and my first time working with other Saudi creatives. It was so rewarding and felt like a major achievement.”
Makeup by Yasmin Istanbouli
Istanbouli’s tip: “For winged eyeliner, draw on the wing with relaxed eyes, looking straight ahead – don’t pull or drag your eye since that will change the shape of the wing once you let go.”
Zeina Adel El Naggar
Zeina Adel El Naggar
Based in Cairo, Zeina Adel El Naggar first immersed herself in the art of cinematography makeup, before finding her niche as a celebrity and bridal artist. “Cinematography taught me a lot of basics of the art of makeup facial dimensions, expressions, and makeup dramatization,” she explains. Bringing her technical background to Egypt’s beauty scene, she says that the industry is buzzing with growth. “Our region is rich in culture and beauty, the people are a great mix of our ancestors, and we don’t lack in talent or creativity.” Her clients include stars like Mona Zaki, Jessica Kahawaty, Assala, Haifa Wehbe, and Radwa El Sherbini. Whether working on an A-lister walking the red carpet, or a bride on her big day, El Naggar takes the same approach: to elevate the true beauty of her client, without taking away her unique features. “I like to show more complexion, with lighter foundation coverage – they need to be themselves yet more glamorous and trendy. When they count on me and surrender to my fingertips, I feel responsible yet honored.”
Jessica Kahawaty with makeup by Zeina Adel El Naggar
El Naggar’s tip: “Always use clean and high-quality makeup brushes, and invest in your skincare products.”
Shariff Shaker Tanyous
Shariff Shaker Tanyous
After watching his girlfriends get glammed up for nights out, Shariff Shaker Tanyous knew that his destiny lay in beauty. After a crash course via YouTube tutorials, the Egyptian- Lebanese artist honed his craft at the Make Up For Ever Academy in Paris, before returning to the Middle East. “The beauty industry is growing very fast in the Middle East, where a new makeup artist appears every day,” he says. Specializing in elevated glam looks, Shaker Tanyous first tried to chase perfection in his looks, before realizing that highlighting his clients’ individuality was more important. He found success sharing his creative looks on social media, where his talents soon caught the attention of the Arab A-list, including Dorra Zarrouk, Hend Sabri, Nadine Njeim, Nour Al Ghandour, and Balqees. A highlight is working with Maya Diab, from her red carpet appearances, to concerts including her Istanbul showcase and Dubai’s Palazzo Versace New Year’s concert last month. “Traveling the world with Maya has been a life-changing experience that I’m forever grateful for – along with Yasmine Sabri, we have a lot in common and became friends through time and adventures.”
Balqees with makeup by Shariff Shaker Tanyous
Shaker Tanyous’s tip: “I love the return of pink blush – it’s feminine, youthful, and fun, and brings a freshness to makeup when used as a contour and on the apples of the cheeks.”
Hessa Alajaji
Hessa AlAjaji
Hessa AlAjaji’s pathway into beauty began with a passion for everything creative. “I discovered makeup when I was in high school and fell in love with it as it allowed me to express my art,” she smiles. Testing her looks on family and friends, she soon moved to working with both private clients and fashion and beauty editorials, sharing her concepts on social media. “I enjoy both makeup artistry and content creation, as they allow me to unleash my creativity, and to express my craft on my clients and to the world,” she adds. Her innate artistry has driven her work, naming vibrant South Korean DJ Peggy Gou as someone she’d love to collaborate with. AlAjaji’s latest milestone was the launch of her own beauty brand, Han, in November last year. Offering a tight curation of makeup brushes, AlAjaji says she saw a space for high-end beauty tools at affordable prices, kickstarting her idea in 2017. “Since then, I’ve been working on developing a brush set that meets all the makeup demand for all girls,” she explains. Up next is an expansion into cosmetics.
Makeup by Hessa Alajaji
Alajaji’s tip: “Take beauty one step at a time, and don’t overwhelm yourself with a million products. Less is more.”
Naïma Bremer
Naïma Bremer
Her interest in beauty started young, doing makeup for family and friends from when she was 13. But it was Naïma Bremer’s love of fashion that propelled her into editorial style makeup. “I love how fashion is used as creative expression and the versatility that it gives to my job,” explains the Paris-based makeup artist. “One day I might be doing a very natural look, and the next day I could be gluing crystals all over a face. My approach to beauty is all about transformation. I love transforming someone into either a completely different person or into the most beautiful version of themselves.” Bremer has contributed to several high fashion shoots, most notably working with Vogue Arabia on its galactic dystopia October 2021 covers with models Rawdah Mohamed (above), Aouatif Saadi, and Nadia Khaya. Her work has taken her to Paris Fashion Week, where she led as the key makeup artist for Casablanca and Botter Paris. Her dream gig would be to work with Schiaparelli. “I would love to create very high-end looking couture makeup in a way that it’s not seen as makeup but instead as art.”
Photo: Julien Vallon
Bremer’s tip: “Apply a balm or liquid highlighter on the high point of cheeks as the last step in your makeup routine to give you perfect looking skin and prevent a powdery look.”
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Originally published in the January 2022 issue of Vogue Arabia
