She creates magic

beauty interview

Shaista Marghoob, a renowned hair and makeup artist, has been in the beauty business since 17 years. She has always been inclined towards becoming a beautician and got her basic training from Rohana Iqbal.

Then she did professional makeup courses from Femina Beauty Institute, Lahore; Makeup Atelier Paris in Dubai; L’Oreal Academy and Kryolan international makeup institute. She got advance training from Pivot Point, Karachi.

She is also a certified Skin Therapist from IDI International School of Dermalogica. Recently, Shaista has launched her own salon in Karachi – SM - Makeup Studio & Salon.

In an exclusive interview with You! Shaista shares some of the latest hair and makeup trends with our readers…

You! What are the makeup trends right now?

Shaista Marghoob: Every type of makeup is a trend right now, whether it is smokey, glittery, or glamorous. It depends on one’s preference. I like the no-makeup look with feature enhancing and bronzy look.

You! What is the easiest way to do a dramatic smokey eye for a party?

SM: Smokey eye makeup is not a trend but a technique for eye makeup for creating depth or crease in an obvious way. It is the easiest technique to combine it with some dark colours and apply it to your lids in a very smudge way for creating a dramatic smokey eye.

You! What makeup trends are totally over?

SM: The look from the early ’90s or ’20s with a thick base, eyebrow glitter, and making a fair white complexion or wearing nath on valima are totally over.

You! What kind of hairstyles are in this season?

SM: For short hair: Textured Bob & Twisted Hairstyles. For long hair: Deep side parts, and middle parts. Moreover, updos & curls and wavy hairstyles are also in vogue right now.

You! It’s wedding season, what kind of look is in among brides-to-be?

SM: Today’s bride wants to enhance her features with a natural base, soft, glamorous and a flawless look.

You! While doing brides’ makeup what do you care most about?

SM: I don’t prefer to make my brides much fairer, but my main focus is to beautify their overall look and personality according to their dress and jewellery.

You! The must-have beauty products - every girl and every woman should have:

SM: Sun block, BB cream, foundation, blush, lipstick and mascara.

You! What cosmetic products do you use on a regular basis?

SM: Makeup Atelier, Anastasia; Beverly Hills, Bobbi Brown, Huda Beauty, MAC, Lorac, Urban Decay, as well as many other professional cosmetic brands. I am continuously updating and adding to my extensive makeup collection.

You! When and how do you clean your makeup tools?

SM: I clean my brushes and tools on a daily basis with professional antiseptic tool and wash beauty blender with the mixture of shampoo & anticipatory solutions. Because of Covid-19, I am more precise about hygiene and clean my every tool with medicated disinfecting spray.

You! Scalp scrubs and masks are everywhere; do they really work?

SM: Yes, they help in some sort. Like our skin, our scalp also needs exfoliation and soothing to avoid dull hair and flaky skin. It also helps in hair growth. It depends on what your hair requires the most and what type of hair you have.

You! Can you suggest a product to achieve a smooth, less bumpy face?

SM: You have to make your skin smooth and flawless for getting a makeover done. I prefer BB Cream daily, and for a makeover, a good primer and a good foundation help a lot in achieving a smooth and flawless canvas for makeup.

You! What are some common beauty mistakes that women make?

SM: Over-washing the face, applying makeup on dry skin, applying too much foundation and sleeping with makeup on.

You! When a customer asks you for a makeup style or hair cut that is unsuitable for them. How do you handle it?

SM: I sit with them and tell them about the picture they bring and compare it with their hair or face details. In the end, mostly, they are convinced with the details I tell them, and they end up leaving their hair or makeup to us.

You! What are the biggest challenges makeup artists face?

SM: To meet clients’ requirements and satisfy them is always the biggest challenge. Secondly, for makeup, your skin should be smooth and flawless, and women need to take care of their skin because we makeup artists are not performing surgeries to make them look flawless but doing makeup to enhance their features.

You! Any makeup tip you would like to share with your readers?

SM: Matching your lip colour with your cheeks creates a lovely, coordinated, and natural appearance. To achieve the look without a dual-purpose product, you can quickly turn your favourite lip crayon into a cream blush. Just apply some to the back of your hand before using your finger to blend it across your cheeks that give you a subtle look.

You! How do you handle irritable clients?

SM: You have to deal with every client with patience. Sometimes clients don’t listen or not agree with us, but I prefer to consult with them and get them to agree on something.

You! What fascinates you about this line of work?

SM: My work is my passion, whether it is about makeup, hair, or skin. What fascinates me the most is to link up and make a good affiliation with the people in the beauty industry and to work with them is like soul healing.

You! Do you think social media are good tools to popularise your work?

SM: Yes, social media is the easiest, convenient, and more reliable way to reach out to the broader audience and make them come to you. We get a lot of queries and bookings through Facebook & Instagram.

You! What are your future endeavours?

SM: I dream of creating a beauty hub consisting of aesthetic beauty treatments, makeup, skin, laser treatments with complete health and beauty treatments, and a complete grooming setup under one roof.