“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 college and on the weekends. We acquired all the 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’ll see. That’s the place it began for me; I might examine the magazines and daydream—with none concept of the best way to get into the enterprise.
CAREER
Once I moved to Los Angeles and began engaged on shoots, there was an entire revolution taking place in digital pictures. One of the simplest ways that I can describe it’s that it was nearly 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 kind of magnificence. I didn’t relate to it, and I form of rebelled. You would possibly take a look at my work and assume, ‘Properly, 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 return 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 Could 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 vital 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 style world in the best way that she desires to be seen was actually particular.
Beginning my very own model, Fara Homidi Magnificence, was at all times 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 straightforward to grasp and boundary-pushing with textures, which is vital as a result of that makes merchandise user-friendly. I really like merchandise that you may 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 dwell your life, it’ll get crackly and crusty. ‘Clear’ merchandise are additionally vital 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 usually are not 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 huge. After that, I swear by the Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing eye cream. I’m 43 years previous, and I’ve been utilizing it since a minimum of 2008, if not earlier. It’s tremendous emollient. I actually douse my whole eye space with it, nevertheless it 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 could possibly 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 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 really been utilizing it for the final six months, and he mentioned to me the opposite evening, ‘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 mentioned.
SPF is tough, at all times. 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 seashore 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 unimaginable lymphatic cheek therapeutic massage, and by the tip of it, I felt like my cheekbones had been proper below my eyes. The raise was loopy. Previous to that, I’d been a Bliss Spa woman. It’s no frills, nevertheless it will get the job carried out.
I’ve carried out Ultherapy, a tightening therapy, thrice 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 go and I used to be dying. She was like, ‘We have now 158 passes to go,’ or one thing like that. It was gnarly. Finally, I appreciated it—the ache was price it.
Then again, 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 feel we’re beginning to come down from that. As an alternative, I strive my greatest to make use of units just like the NuFace. If I exploit it typically sufficient, I actually do see a distinction with it. Really, I love to do one aspect 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 terms of make-up. If 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 old, the more energizing I look. That’s at all times the objective. I at all times 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 Gentle 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’d like, however then it’s buildable, so you will get full protection with it, too, so you may choose and select completely different areas the place you wish to construct protection or the place you wish to preserve it sheer. The opposite half is the Shine Baume, which is that this champagne, sheen-like product. Should you’re on the drier aspect, you may lay that down first on the areas that you simply’re going to place the Clean Veil Gentle Matte over to offer you a bit extra cushion and oomph. If you’re on the oilier aspect 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 a bit 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 provides you construction with none crispiness. One of the best half is that you may preserve 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 repeatedly with none flakes. Then I actually love the Lancôme Le 8 Hypnôse mascara. It’s actually gentle 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 form of seals all the pieces.
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, nevertheless it’s fairly moist, so that you don’t want quite a bit. You should utilize 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 excellent. I exploit 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 a bit bit drier, nevertheless it doesn’t bleed all through the evening, and I feel the black and brown combo is extra putting 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 shade. It has an orange undertone, nevertheless it’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 in the event you’re going out to have drinks with the women or one thing. You can even put on it in your cheeks or your eyes. It’s fairly common.
HAIR + NAILS
I’ve a variety of hair, nevertheless it’s very advantageous. 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 form of locked into it as a result of that’s how folks acknowledged me; if you’re doing one thing like make-up, I feel signatures are vital 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 pink, so you need to have the experience of understanding how lengthy to maintain the bleach on with out killing it but in addition be sure to get previous that pink section. It is an entire factor. Ideally, I’d go to her each two months, however I really in all probability see her each 4. In the meantime, David Zughbaba, additionally at Eva Scrivo, cuts my hair. It’s at all times 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 had been all form of the identical, however I seen that I’ve the very best hair days once I use the RŌZ Basis shampoo and conditioner. It acquired to the purpose the place I used to be rationing the merchandise. I’d say to myself, ‘Is as we speak an vital day? If it’s not, I’m not going to make use of my RŌZ.’ The shampoo lathers up rather 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 gentle. In February, my pal, hairstylist James Pecis, launched his personal hair care model known as Blu and Inexperienced. I want a bit 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 gentle. I additionally use his Weekly Restore Masks, nicely, weekly. Since I bleach my hair, it wants all the assist it will possibly get, and I actually do really feel like my locks are stunning and bouncy after I exploit the masks.
I really like the Bumble and Bumble Tonic Lotion on day two, when my hair is form of OK however wants a bit refresh. I spray it throughout and blow dry it once more to get my sheen again. It smells so good, like tea tree. I preserve the Brilliantine styling cream round, too. It provides 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 a bit of it on my roots for quantity.
You realize the philosophy, ‘It doesn’t matter a lot what you put on, so long as you’ve 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 pink, at all times and ceaselessly.”
—As advised to Daise Bedolla
Photographed by Alexandra Genova in New York on Could 1, 2024
