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The Curation by Nour Hassan
The Curation, formerly Radical Contemporary, is a Digital Curator and Podcast based between Cairo, Dubai & Jeddah. We curate everything from art, fashion, and design, to culture, wellness and tech to present you with only the best brands, founders, products and pioneers.
The Curation by Nour Hassan
Aya Abdelhamid: I Grew Up Around Fame
Join me, Nour Hassan, for a conversation with the incredibly talented Aya Abdelhamid, an Egyptian renowned makeup artist and beauty influencer who shares her inspiring journey in the beauty industry. From her unique upbringing in Cairo, where she was surrounded by actors and celebrities, to her rise as a respected figure in the makeup and winner of Charlotte Tilbury Arabia MUA of the Year Award, Abdelhamid opens up about her aspirations to create a lasting legacy for her family name. Her story is built on a foundation of family inspiration and a deep passion for exploration and growth. Discover the intricate balance between simplicity and ambition that defines her personality as she forges her own path in the industry.
• Discusses contrasting morning routines for shoot days and relaxed days
• Reflects on growing up as the daughter of make up legend Mohamed Abdelhamid
• Explores the impact of social media on the makeup industry
• Shares experiences working with celebrities and fashion events
• Discusses challenges of mental health and social anxiety
• Provides advice for aspiring makeup artists and the importance of practice
• Hints at exciting upcoming projects and goals for the future
Check out Aya's instagram where she shares all of her work and behind the scenes glamming talents at some of the world's top shows and events @ayaabdelhamid.
Action. Welcome to the Curation, a show for the culturally curious. This is your host, noor Hassan. Each week, I'll guide you through a curated edit of the finest in art, fashion, design, culture, luxury, wellness, tech and more. This is your go-to space for discovering trailblazing ideas, untold stories and meaningful conversations with innovators and creators who are shaping our world. There's no gatekeeping here, so sit back, tune in and let's discover only the best together. Some of the celebrities you've worked with Hind Sabri, asmaa, ghalil Yus, yusra, mona Zaki, farah Mir, ruby, eliana and many, many more.
Speaker 2:I'll try to be a little diplomatic. Four in the morning, two in the morning I'm not going to be in normal times at all. A person who's not expensive. I think the makeup artist was not an influencer until recently, Until recently, To connect her name and her family's name to a place that has never been touched before in our industry. I have a picture with Yusra and I'm a baby and I'm on her leg I remember.
Speaker 1:I don't know what's the name of the baby. I'm an OG. I know the OGs will know. Seriously.
Speaker 2:I've never been a homeboy. Okay, it goes through a lot emotionally.
Speaker 1:It's such an interesting point I've never thought about it.
Speaker 2:I get social anxiety all the time.
Speaker 1:No way, action Okay hey. Hi Hi, okay, I'm sitting with Abdelhamid. I don't think I should make a very strong introduction, honestly, but you're a makeup artist and, honestly, mashallah, one of the best. Thank you. I know you by a lot. We're friends. There's a background. But today I really wanted to do this episode with you, to get into more details, Like I want to know who I am. The background Disclaimer my Arabic is not the best.
Speaker 2:Please don't bother Noor, guys, in her Arabic. She's trying. I'm trying, guys, I'm trying. She's really trying. We're going to do our best. I'm not going to bully you, or am I you? I'm trying, I'm really trying. We're going to do our best.
Speaker 1:I'm not going to bully you, or I might. You already did, it's okay, you already did, okay. So my first question I always ask someone who is Abdul Hamid today? Okay, today, exactly Today, right now.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:If I had to ask you.
Speaker 2:Okay, initially, I'm very happy to be with you today. We've been friends for a long, long time. I've known you for a long time and, before I say anything, I'm really proud of you and everything that you're doing and I'm so honored to be here with you today. Thank you, just to get this part out of the way, okay. Okay, who is Abdelhamid? Okay, um, okay, a makeup artist, a simple girly, um, hardworking, goal-oriented girl. That is really. I mean, see, I told you I'm going to speak Arabic and then I spoke all English normally.
Speaker 1:No, we're in the podcast dynamics. People know there are subtitles for both.
Speaker 2:I know the trend of we listen, we don't judge, we don't judge. We listen, we don't judge, we don't judge, we don't judge A girl who has a big, strong ambition and she wants to To convey her name and her family's name and her family's legacy in a place that has never been touched before, في الاندستري بتاعتنا فده من ناحية الكارير, كآية من ناحية personal. A very, very simple woman, مش يعني شخص مش متكلف, اعتقد. Very simple woman um, um, um, um, um, um, um, um, um, um, um, um, um, um, um, um, um, um, um, um, um, um, um, um, um, um, um, um, um, um, um, um, um, um, um, um, um, um, um, um, um and what else? What else I don't know. I mean, I've never asked myself this question who am I? Who am I? I mean, I'm still discovering, by the way, I'm still discovering myself. Every day I'm discovering something new, so I can never answer this question fully to be honest, but I love your answer.
Speaker 1:I mean, hassan, you, you gave us an idea about who you are and I want to ask you a question, because I feel like this question knows me, but basically 90% of what I need to know about Adam, which is what is your morning routine. I want to know the details. What do you do when you're not awake? Look, it depends on what day I have.
Speaker 2:Okay, I mean the day I have a shoot. I'm completely different from the day I'm tired of. So which answer do you want? I really want both.
Speaker 1:Both. I think people are interested in my shoot day and I'm interested in the other one. Okay, I'll tell, want both, both. I think people are more interested in the day of filming.
Speaker 2:Okay, and I'm more interested in the day of the other. Okay, I'll tell you both. If I have a day of filming, usually the filming schedule is not known. It's 4am, 2am, 6am. It's not at all my usual schedule, but usually my morning routine. I stay Woke up Fast. When I get up, I wash my face, I don't know I put something. I walk With a small makeup bag so I don't get caught Give us the details.
Speaker 1:You wash your face. Is it like a full Skincare routine or on the day of the shoot?
Speaker 2:There's no skin care routine. There's a sunblock, that's it. You want the details of?
Speaker 1:my morning routine. No, no, I want details. Okay, we like details from the podcast Basha. No, no.
Speaker 2:Basha, no, basha, I wash my face. I'm prepared to wear anything from the day before. Okay, so I wear quickly, I put a sunblock and usually I grab my things and I leave because I don't have time to, because I don't have enough sleep, so I don't have time to wake up to my luxurious morning routine so you can understand, and you're, mashaallah, you're on your own.
Speaker 1:I filmed with a lot of people and you're at 11, 10, 58, 59. You're on the phone with me. I'm down, I'm like, oh okay, no, this is not. I mean culturally, this is not Egyptian at all, by the way, but I guess it's because of your job, exactly Time management is very important in my job, and something that annoys me is that some people are jealous of the dates.
Speaker 2:For me, that's.
Speaker 1:Okay, so today's video is run, run, run, Exactly. I go home, I take my stuff, I run, that's it Exactly Okay, and there's nothing else Coffee where I don't drink.
Speaker 2:'m a woman and, honestly, saad, honestly, khaled Gozi will prepare a lunch box to take it with me. Saad no, of course honestly, that's so cute it's delicious because I forget to eat.
Speaker 1:Oh my god, okay, so many lunch box run and coffee when he comes? No, here.
Speaker 2:I'll go in the picture and see what they have. Yeah, what they have, and that's it.
Speaker 1:And today he'll run away from you Exactly. Because you're in the day running. That's the day. There's a picture.
Speaker 2:Okay, today it's chill, like chill area. I'm waiting in the absence of patience. Okay, the relaxed morning routine Usually. Honestly. Honestly, because I'm not lying, I first wake up. I scroll on my phone.
Speaker 1:Oh.
Speaker 2:So I open the phone, I check social media, I sit and watch TikTok, I mean, I sit on the phone for a while and then I wake up, I take a shower, which is where everything you do is done Everything shower, everything shower exactly From the side of the scrub, from the side of scrub, from the side of extra moisturizing, double condition, I don't know what hair mask, all these things, all of them. Then I go out, I moisturize my body, I do my skincare routine. There's toner, serums, moisturizer, sunblock. I put some makeup, I put my hair serums I smell good sunblock. I put on some makeup. I put on my hair serums I smell good. My perfume is amazing.
Speaker 1:By the way, what perfume were you wearing today?
Speaker 2:You'll see it in my bag.
Speaker 1:Oh okay, Guys, wait what's in your bag?
Speaker 2:I'll show you.
Speaker 1:Usually I mix, by the way, because it's very nice Thank you, I work at Paolo Santo, okay, thank you. I work at Paolo.
Speaker 2:Santo. At home, I work with music Before I go to the shower. I work with music. I work with jazz. I love jazz. I love FKJ, I love the style of music. The second thing I choose the outfit that I will wear today. I don't know where I will go um, so that the day goes well.
Speaker 1:What is your typical breakfast?
Speaker 2:I like something with scrambled eggs, avocado, salmon.
Speaker 1:The ones that are over-cooked. The ones that are over-cooked, like, for example, you go down for brunch, yes, exactly, and what is your coffee?
Speaker 2:order Coconut milk always. Wow, I put sugar-free vanilla syrup and I use the coffee of Davidoff. Very bougie, bougie is strong.
Speaker 1:I'm saying this to myself Strong in the world and there's no normal milk, it's just coconut. No, you're a coconut milk girl, I'll tell you something.
Speaker 2:Because I didn't like the taste of the milk, I felt like it was blowing me. Because I don't?
Speaker 1:I feel like it's blowing me away. It's so true. I think coconut milk is the best, exactly.
Speaker 2:And that's it.
Speaker 1:And then you start your day with your morning. Exactly, no rushing.
Speaker 2:No rushing. This is the best thing in the world, amazing, thank.
Speaker 1:God. Okay. So there's two versions of the AS morning routine. We got both. Okay, I want to go back to your background a little bit because babaki is the iconic I don't know how to say the word iconic how other than iconic makeup artist muhammad abdulhamid. And we all know him honestly I mean obviously my mom knows him very well, all her friends, everyone. Of course they're my boys On this episode. I think he made a big difference in the makeup artist industry and generally he was a pioneer in many things, especially the special effects and the very specific things in makeup. At the time, I think there were very few experts on this subject. So I want to know what was your experience when you were a child? I want to know in great detail. For example, your dad's a makeup artist. There are always celebrities around him, there's always this beauty mood. Could you explain to me?
Speaker 2:His studio was in the same building that we were living in. So every house I went to with celebrities was an entrance and an exit. And I was entering I mean, I don't know how to say it I was brushing my teeth in a nice way, honestly, but I was brushing my teeth on them and I was, they were playing with me and the fun fact is that there are a lot of them. I mean, I have pictures with them when I was a baby. I'm doing their makeup right now. So this, for me, is something.
Speaker 1:This is a great thing.
Speaker 2:I mean a full circle. So this was my experience in this area. Honestly, I really liked to watch him. I really liked when he gave me courses that I could tell him. Please explain to me anything he wants to understand. But as for the celebrities, no, he was always with people because he was also doing the test for, for example, the makeup of a film or something, so people would come to his studio. So I was always trying to attend without embarrassing him, so that he doesn't become his own daughter.
Speaker 1:What's the most celebrity you saw when you were young and you felt like what's the biggest deal in the industry?
Speaker 2:When I was young I didn't know much about celebrities big deal in the industry. In my age I wasn't able to appreciate it. I still look at the picture. I posted it on my social media.
Speaker 1:I know it's so cute.
Speaker 2:This is a small example from this place.
Speaker 1:Did you always feel interested in fashion and beauty, or were you a tomb fashion and beauty? Or were you a tomboy when you were young and then you started to be a tomboy and you wanted to do your hair and makeup and all that? I was never a tomboy oh okay, I was never a tomboy.
Speaker 2:Actually, maybe lately, when I grew up, I became more of a tomboy.
Speaker 1:I think all of us are tomboy now Exactly.
Speaker 2:No, but when I was young, I loved everything that had anything to do with girls. Even when I was a baby, I loved babies and to feed them. Actually, they have all these fake things in their food. I love Barbie dolls. I cut their hair and put makeup on them.
Speaker 1:I'm basically a beauty queen all my life a beauty queen beauty, enthusiast, everything. Tell me now, honestly you grew up in Cairo, all your life in Cairo, in Egypt. When did you feel you grew up in Cairo, right? Yes, all your life in Cairo, in Egypt. When did you feel that you wanted to, as they say, walk in your father's footsteps and take your father's career, which is makeup artistry, seriously?
Speaker 2:Okay, Initially. I mean, I've been here for eight years and I know.
Speaker 1:I want to be a makeup artist and I want to tell you something he didn't make me grow up on this and he didn't tell me that you're going to do this.
Speaker 2:I mean, usually the father tells his children that you're going to grow up like me, you're going to take over my job. You don't need to work at all. I came from inside. I've been working for 8 years, wow. And I started working when I was in school. I was trying to train and if someone wanted to do free makeup, they would come to the studio. I was offering people Training. Yes, I've been here for 14 years. I was offering people Training yes, wow, since I was, I think, 14 years old and I was even. I was attending when they were doing Fashion shows. I was attending and working with them. And from the social media, for example Okay, I tried to make you laugh, no, please. I took my Social media seriously Since, for example, since 2015. I took my social media seriously, for example, since 2015.
Speaker 1:But yeah, I wanted to ask you this question. At first you were just Practicing and training, but now Social media is a story. Because Abdelhamid on social media Is a legend? Because not only Is your content engaging, this is a story, honestly, because Aya Abdulhamid on social media is a talk. Why? Because not only is your content engaging, it's exciting, it's informative. The Tuesday tip really it's nice.
Speaker 2:It's nice.
Speaker 1:No, I mean, the people of Aya's channel wait for it every Tuesday and talk about it with my friends. Have you seen Aya's Tuesday tip? Really? No, really, my sister, everyone, I mean. Hassan, you created, as you say, a system for yourself on social media and it grew organically. Yes, but at the same time, as a makeup artist, it wasn't. Very honestly, makeup artists weren't on social media very much. I mean, yes, they were put their work photos behind the scenes, but the makeup artist was not an influencer until recently. So you can tell me more? Where did you start with social media when you felt like you were going for it.
Speaker 2:Okay. Social media started, I think, in 2015. Okay, I'm trying to remember, because I remember that I was creating an account and my first name was Makeup by Aya Makeup, yes, do you remember?
Speaker 1:I remember, I don't know why I didn't call him. I know the OGs will know Makeup by Aya, but it was very chic, but it was hard.
Speaker 2:Babe, I don't speak French. Why did you call it maquillage by A? I have no idea. We all have our faces. I'm like because it was A, I don't know if it was taken or something, so I'm like maquillage by A. It wasn't clean, so I'm like ma. So that was the first thing and I started to upload photos of the makeup that I do. Okay, and I used to do. Tuesday. Tips started really early on, but I used to do it. I didn't. I used to give tips already. I put photos, examples, and I give tips If someone has a problem with something.
Speaker 1:You write the tips Exactly.
Speaker 2:I write them I write them and I put photos as a reference, but I haven't made the videos yet. After that I don't remember.
Speaker 1:I think I started Tuesday Tips With I think two or three years, no more, I think more. Okay, I think.
Speaker 2:For five years. Okay, approximately Five years. Three years, no more, no, I think more. Okay, I think for five years. Okay, okay, approximately five years, four years. Yeah, four and a half years. I remember, with my marriage I connect it with when I moved the house for the shoot. I try to remember the shooting. It was the setting.
Speaker 1:We were shooting at home. It's the thing.
Speaker 2:No, actually I was filming at home. More than five years Indeed. I've been doing Tuesday tips for more than 50 years. That's why I might have missed the last few days.
Speaker 1:No, but they're amazing, they're iconic your. Tuesday tips.
Speaker 2:But I think I mean, I've been doing it for a while and people loved it a lot. They loved the idea that I make their makeup look easier, exactly Because there are a lot of girls who are afraid of the idea of products and that there's a lot of variety and that I put what and do what. So I was trying to go out in a short video to explain to them how easy it is for you to do something that looks professional, but it's actually easier than you expect and generally, when did you feel that your social media is growing and people like it and followers are increasing.
Speaker 1:Is it more of a job?
Speaker 2:or not, definitely. Social media is a full-time job.
Speaker 1:I don't want to talk about this. I'll tell you something. Everyone thinks that she's posting content and she puts photos and videos and it's very easy. It takes hours, it's a lot of time but honestly it pays off. In hours you feel like you're a makeup artist, but you're also kind of an influencer right now, obviously, no-transcript.
Speaker 2:Obviously, obviously, time. It's really a full-time job. I mean, for example, in the past I used to go and do makeup and then I do my job. You take money from the job and you leave, but now, if you don't film your job and you post it, you don't work. I mean, a lot of people think that oh, she's a little bit lost from social media, but she's not working. She's not working as before.
Speaker 2:I'm traveling and I'm doing fashion week and I'm working and I'm trying to shoot content, but I don't have time to put it. So people are connecting your posting with Whether you're working or relevant. So that's the problem for me. That's the negative thing In social problem for me. This is the negative thing in social media for me that you have to constantly post and constantly be relatable and post things that people are interested in, to see you and your work and your clothes and your skin care and your personal life. Everything it's a blessing, but at the same time, your personal life it's a blessing, but At the same time it's not the easiest thing, because we're human. We go through a lot Emotionally and mentally. Maybe no one is ready To put, for example, I do everything by myself. I mean the editing, the photography.
Speaker 1:You don't have an assistant who does the editing specifically.
Speaker 2:No, I mean maybe in events, maybe in something, but for me the Tuesday tips, all my stuff, it's all me. So it gets hectic Because I'm, let's say, in a photo, I have 18 hours and I go out with a bride to do her makeup, and then I go back and I have to post. But I really get drained, but at the same time I feel guilty that I'm not posting enough, so people will feel that I'm not there. I mean, it plays with your head, very, very very.
Speaker 1:It's such an interesting point. I never thought you would say that and I really felt, wow, you're right, specifically in your field. If you didn't put it, people might feel I'm not posting and you might be, for example, most busy time and booked in your life and not posting.
Speaker 2:I'm just not posting about it.
Speaker 1:But I want to know what's the most negative or mentally difficult thing In social media, because it's a big part of your job and obviously you're a makeup artist, but, as you said, social media is a major, major, major tool. So what's the most difficult thing? Do you find any criticism, for example, negative comments, all of these things? How do you deal with it?
Speaker 2:Honestly, the hardest thing in social media Is consistency, To stay disciplined, to have a schedule To post this and this and make a list Of things I need to post. Consistency, especially with my work. If I'm't share it, it's hard, so it's tricky. Honestly, negative comments In my field there won't be hate comments In the way you imagine, because usually it can be For example, critique on makeup, but for me it's not hate comments.
Speaker 1:It could be, for example, a critique on makeup or something.
Speaker 2:But I think for me it's not hate comments, it's just a person who doesn't like this style and another person I feel honestly if you have an audience, they love you.
Speaker 1:I swear I'm not just saying that there are people who hate comments and there's negativity, but I think you have a positive community.
Speaker 2:Alhamdulillah.
Speaker 1:Alhamdulillah. Community it's really positive. They love you Girls. They're not really out to hate they don't want to put any negativity out there.
Speaker 1:Alhamdulillah, we love you. Yes, we love you. Okay, we want to go to the list. I have to read. Okay, so Aya has worked with. I'm going to list like a few we love you. Okay, we want to go into the list. I have to read the subtitles because I have to read. Okay, so Aya has worked with. I'm gonna list like a few, but there's a lot more, okay, okay. So, Hind Sabri, by the way, if you want to drink matcha, drink okay. So, some of the celebrities you've worked with, we don't have all day, so I'll just say a few Hind Sabri, Yasmeen Sabri, Asmaa Galil Yusra, obviously, Mona Zaki Toramed, Maya Deeb, Ruby Eliana and many, many more, Okay, many more.
Speaker 1:You glam them up for film festivals. You do makeup for, for example, fashion shows. You do makeup for fashion shows Paris Fashion Week, New York Fashion Week, things like that and I want to know what your process is. I mean, how do you prepare the most? I want to know because you, of course, you deal with big personalities. As people say, everyone has their own personality, everyone has their own mood, vibe and energy. And the makeup artist I feel like it's a very intimate role. You're close, close to the person sitting with me maybe an hour. So how do you prepare for this?
Speaker 2:Okay, From the perspective of festivals with celebrities, usually the preparations are before the conversation with the stylist, for example, to know what she will wear, what the stylist's vision is, and I also have my input to send references. And I also have my own input that I send references Because I worked with these artists, so I know what I should wear and what I shouldn't wear. So I send my own input and the references I need For the makeup look of the festival that I went to. And there are a lot of times Very fun fact that they don't know what they're going to do and when we do the makeup they're even know what they're going to do. When we do the makeup they're still unsure if they're going to wear this or that. I mean, they still don't know.
Speaker 1:But that's amazing. You get into the situation, but this happens a lot, noor, really, that they don't have options.
Speaker 2:They still don't know. Oh, so you're styling on the spot, exactly, oh, okay, exactly. And there are many times when you have to do makeup that matches anything you wear, okay, but at the same time, it looks nice on camera in real life.
Speaker 1:So you change for example, there are more looks.
Speaker 2:Yes, or she still doesn't know what she's going to wear. This happens a lot. You do makeup and you're not going for a certain style. You're working on how to complete it and how to match it to what you're wearing. So that's the most tricky thing in the whole thing, but it's so fun.
Speaker 1:That is so fun. Okay, so I want to know what was your favorite show or festival or moment in your career.
Speaker 2:I feel like it really a big thing there are a lot of moments, to be honest. I'll tell you a few things. It's not one thing. It was a film festival for me. Huge Paris fashion week, new York fashion week for me. Definitely Huge Paris Fashion Week, new York Fashion Week For me too.
Speaker 1:You were doing, for example because he's a designer.
Speaker 2:Pat Bow Parabell Co. Nina Richie Anthony.
Speaker 1:Insane, yeah, and the energy is really like Running.
Speaker 2:Running, you run, but you don't understand the adrenaline that you feel it's dangerous.
Speaker 1:You don't need to eat, you don't need to drink no, no, there's no such thing as eating and drinking.
Speaker 2:There's no such thing, no no these are things I saw a few stories.
Speaker 1:The most funny stories are, for example, 5am on a flight and then 2 minutes glamming New York Fashion Week. I'm like wow how do you have any preparation rituals for yourself, for yourself as a makeup artist, to prepare for makeup?
Speaker 2:honestly, with time and experience you get used to a certain routine. You get everything ready to make sure you have everything you need in the kit, because you're not sure what you can do, as I said. So you have to be ready for any surprise. You have to be ready to have all the products that you might need. Not that I'll take the things that she usually does. No, I'll take more things.
Speaker 1:I'll take everything that I need.
Speaker 2:So that I'm ready for any surprises.
Speaker 1:Okay, this is a hard question, I know. But, for example, what is the most look you did once? I mean you felt that not only you liked it, but your audience liked it. I mean you posted it and everyone said, wow, it's amazing. One look Give me, for example. Actually not one look, because you have a lot of stuff. Give me, for example, two or three. Two or three, oh on, like different people, I mean I think Maya Diab in the opening was a film festival.
Speaker 2:It was insane.
Speaker 1:I think that was, and her look in general.
Speaker 2:Because it was different from what she was doing and at the same time, it really showed her beauty. So people really liked it.
Speaker 1:Um, um, um, um um um, um, um, um, um um um, um, um inside out.
Speaker 2:So that's why what else can we talk about? Eliana was in Guna Film Festival. Her performance, I think it was so angelic and very soft and similar. I mean I really liked that look.
Speaker 1:Eliana. Honestly, I think when I saw you doing makeup for Eliana, I was like wow, not just because she's at the time and she still is like an incredible artist. She's an artist by God, but the look was amazing. The look was so really just perfect for her. And how was it actually doing her makeup look was so fallen, just perfect for her. And how was it us on doing her makeup.
Speaker 2:It was so fun. Personality to the stage, but she's actually. She's so quiet and sweet and, yeah, she's very cute honestly, I enjoyed working with her.
Speaker 1:I think that was an amazing moment, especially at the Guna Film Festival at the time. Is there any other looks that you can think of? She looks a lot. Give me one more.
Speaker 2:One more that you can think of one more, maybe the one that One more that you can think of. One more maybe, what people liked a lot? Maybe the episode of Asmaa Galal with Mona Shazly? Yes, that's right, I remember that well? Yes, that was what people liked a lot, a lot, a lot actually.
Speaker 1:Okay. So I want to know the behind the scenes of the life of a makeup artist. People often remember it as a glam life, and it is. It is there's a lot of glam and we will get into this honestly, but what are the things that people don't know about being a makeup artist?
Speaker 2:generally look, it also depends on you. The makeup artistry generally is a really broad field. There are many sections. Do you work in TV and film, in theater, in fashion week, in bridal, as you see, for example, I work in theater, in ads, in TV and film. I work in runway in fashion week, in festivals. I work in the theater, I work in ads, tv and film. I work in the runway in the fashion week, in the festivals. I work in the shows, I work in the special effects, all of these things.
Speaker 2:So the dates are the things that I can tell you are not glamouries at all. The schedule, the unknown schedule that you always Get into, is the most Tired thing. Okay, the idea that you don't have A fixed schedule Is a tiring thing. The idea that you work On holidays and on weekends Is also something that's not the best thing For your personal life, right, but this is the part part I can tell you about. And you have a big responsibility For the bride. You should make her the best makeup in her life, because this is the only day Pressure, if you don't have experience.
Speaker 2:It's a high pressure and, from the celebrities' point of view, they'll be on the red carpet and people will zoom in until they understand. Go their soul Go, their literal soul.
Speaker 1:I feel that you're right. Scheduling is not glamorous at all, but, in general, sharing things on social media, of course it is a glamorous life. There's is a glamorous life. It has a very glamorous aspect, of course, of course. But I want to know what is something you've never shared on social media, something you don't know at all about me, that you can tell us about you. That's a personality trait, I mean behind the scenes, which is the persona versus me, okay. Okay, something people don't know about you. You, you never share this part on social media.
Speaker 2:Okay, there are a lot of people maybe only my friends who I know or people who are close to me, even if they're not all my friends. Okay, I get social anxiety normally. No way, I swear. No, I mean when I attend events or something. No, of course I swear, I panic. I'll tell you something. People think I'm a tinker when I attend an event, I'm sorry. But I'm your friend, but I don't know what social anxiety is, I'll explain it to you and I'll explain it to everyone.
Speaker 1:Because of this topic. No guys In events Like nose up, Like phone, chest back Girl. I have a bad eyesight.
Speaker 2:At night, so I really can't see. If anyone knows me In the event at night. Please come say hi, because I'm not a good listener. I'm really not a good listener. I understand what you mean, especially if I'm alone. At any event, I get social anxiety almost from the time of Corona.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes, yes, we all have a high level of anxiety.
Speaker 2:So I'm convinced that I don't know how to deal with it. Unless someone starts talking to me, then I'll be fine, but before that I'll be in a bubble and I'll be upset and people feel that this is a disaster.
Speaker 1:Exactly.
Speaker 2:It's not a disaster. I don't see it as a disaster. I'm afraid of death. I feel A lot of tension Between A lot of people.
Speaker 1:So Okay, but I think that's a really interesting fact, because I myself Don't know.
Speaker 2:And.
Speaker 1:I see you at events and I see you In everything. But I'm fine.
Speaker 1:I just come say hi, exactly, if I know you, but I think I can feel why people Think that, because sometimes you can be a bit intimidating in the sense of like, oh Lua, I don't see you, I don't see you, I don't see you, who, sorry? So you won the Charlotte Tilbury Makeup Artist of the Year Arabia Award. This is huge. I feel like at the beginning of Charlotte Tilbury, we're all obsessed, obviously, and she recently opened in the Middle East and there are stores in Dubai and everywhere else. Her makeup is amazing. We all know this and you met her, obviously Like she's your bestie and she's an amazing, amazing woman. But can you tell me how this happened? You won the Makeup Artist of the Year?
Speaker 2:This was last year, woman, but can you tell me how this happened? You won the makeup artist of the year. Congratulations again, thank you. Congratulations again, thank you. She's as bubbly as she looks on camera.
Speaker 1:The energy starts coming out of the screen. It's insane.
Speaker 2:And it's like that in fact, it's dangerous and you remember details. For example, I saw it in an event from 5 months after that. You see me, you remember the things we talked about and you talk to me about it. It's I think we have a mutual love. That's so nice and this is something when I think it's a very nice thing and this is something that, when I think about it, I feel like Because I used to watch her YouTube videos.
Speaker 2:Her brand was still just starting, so I used to watch her YouTube tutorials and I used to watch her dad and introduce her to him. So the idea that last year she gave me this title was a big thing for me and we did a lot of things together. For example, the film festival was with Charlotte Tilbury. Nina Ritchie was with Charlotte Tilbury. I represented her in a lot of looks with a lot of celebrities. So we did Disney the shoot of Disney together in London. It was an amazing experience and I still cherish the things we did together and the experience and I got to know her and I got to know her and she got to know me. It was an amazing experience.
Speaker 1:It was honestly a dangerous experience. You felt like winning that. You won the award of Charlotte Tilbury Makeup Artist of the Year in Arabia. It opened up doors for you in the MENA region in the GCC. You were doing makeup all over Because makeup artists travel. They go to, for example, if you have a bride outside, etc. But did it change anything in your career?
Speaker 2:Definitely, definitely. I think it increased the GCC area Because I used to travel and do a lot of master classes Of Charlotte In Riyadh and in Jeddah and in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, so the people who see me or attend my classes. This increases my followers and increases the people who know me career-wise in the GCC area.
Speaker 1:What advice would you give to a makeup artist right now, anyone who wants to become a makeup artist, because, of course, the situation right now is you can't just be like you said, you can't to be a makeup artist, because, of course, the situation right now is that you can't just be a makeup artist. You need to have a social media presence, you need to have documentation of your work. Of course, there are many things and there are many skills. I think, much more than before, you need to have them to be a makeup artist today. So what advice can you give to be with them to be a makeup artist today? So what advice would you give to young makeup artists?
Speaker 2:there's no one advice. But the most important thing is if you really love this job because a lot of people work on it just to be relevant not the idea that I love this job, because a lot of people work there just to be relevant, not the idea that you love this job but if you're passionate about it, take as many courses as you can from different people. This will increase your skill. Work as much as you can in people you know and train a lot of people before you actually enter skill. Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh uh. They are in a hurry to reach the celebrity they want content.
Speaker 1:Exactly so they are.
Speaker 2:They are depending on the work that can reach them, and I see a lot of examples From this side that they feel that they are older than they trained, for example, than they go down as assistants To people who are already old. All of these things help you to develop the experience and skill to reach what you want in the end, and so you will reach it if you strive. I strongly believe in this point that you strive in the work that you want to achieve, whatever it is, and do what you have to do and really put in the effort and really God makes it easy and helps a lot To reach the goal that you want. So a lot of exercise it's very important. Your hand always has to stay active, because it's a muscle memory too. Like people who draw, you have to constantly draw Because after a while your hand can forget, your muscle memory gets weak, so you need to exercise. So constantly keep your. I think this is my biggest advice Do the work, put in the effort.
Speaker 1:I love your advice honestly and I think to be humble in your work is really important because I feel like you're one of the most people who, on social media, you have over 700,000 followers, I think something like that and a lot of people, even if the perception you're glam and the perception of the other one that now we cracked it, guys, but you have a really nice thing that and the perception of the other one that now we cracked it social anxiety, we cracked it guys. But there's something really nice about you that you are such a kind person, very kind, very comfortable, really. I remember one time when I got my makeup and I was stressed they gave me. They gave me. They were like it's okay, we'll do it on time, and it was amazing.
Speaker 1:So I think this part is a big part of your success. You're like it's okay, we'll do it on time, and it was amazing. So I think this part is a big part of your success as a character. You have to be simple and, at the end of the day, I think you deal with a lot of situations that are very big and very glam. I think the last thing I want to ask you honestly is what's next for Aya? What's next in?
Speaker 2:the pipeline. There's something, but honestly I'll leave it to myself for now.
Speaker 1:I don't want to jinx anything okay, fair, I was just talking about that, but I'll tell you later, but inshallah, inshallah.
Speaker 2:I was just talking about that. Yeah, but I'll tell you later.
Speaker 1:But hopefully. Hopefully Is there a teaser tip.
Speaker 2:There's a little bit you can ask me honestly.
Speaker 1:Okay, I'll do it at this point. It's an exclusive. I think your real followers can guess. I think so too. Yeah, okay, amazing. Okay, hanam and Maki. Two questions Okay, we're not really strangers. Okay, we're not really strangers. This is one of my favorite games. Okay, I'll choose one. Okay, okay, if you play a character in a movie, okay, who will you be? The villain or the good girl?
Speaker 2:if I play seriously. I would love to play a villain, because it will be the opposite of my personality. So I would like to discover this part, since some people saw me, so let's see this part together in the film.
Speaker 1:You feel like I might play Cinderella, but imagine Maleficent yes. I feel that too, I agree with you. Okay, a second question. Um, let's see, I guess I know how to say splurge on. If you have a budget to buy something, what else can you splurge on Except makeup, I know?
Speaker 2:you're going to say makeup. You saw it in my eyes.
Speaker 1:You're like makeup For me. There's money.
Speaker 2:I think oh, it's tricky.
Speaker 1:Like one thing, oh splurge. Like one thing, Spludge. Maybe a split Because you're into shoes, do you?
Speaker 2:have a shoe collection? Yeah, I started.
Speaker 1:I started this recently.
Speaker 2:I didn't have any interest in this shoe at all, but I started to feel like I like you.
Speaker 1:I like you, I like you, so it's basically a pair of shoes.
Speaker 2:Heels or sneakers. Sneakers and heels Maybe something in them, but I think shoes Okay cool.
Speaker 1:Okay. So Before I ask for your curation, I want to know what are your go-to or must-have makeup products. What are some of your go-to or must-have makeup products?
Speaker 2:A lip tint, a lip balm, anything that has to do with lips, a lip liner?
Speaker 1:Lip liner. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:Everything. Lip products generally are something I can't get rid of. Okay, I can't, and I use them everywhere, like on my cheeks, on my eye.
Speaker 1:What's your lipstick today? Oh, it's a mix.
Speaker 2:Oh, my God. Makeup artist answer it's a mix. I never put on one color.
Speaker 1:Okay, if I show you For example, there's like three mixed together Like four mixed together, alright, and our last question is our signature question on the podcast, which is what is your curation as Abdelhamid? So, basically, what is your curation if there is, for example, a couple of things that you can say that really elevate your life, you feel like they really matter in your life. You can write anything, for example, a certain food, a certain habit, a certain book, okay, so what's your edit? And you can think about it?
Speaker 2:I think it's exercise, okay, any form of it, but even in dance classes pilates, pilates, boxing, anything that's a big difference in my day Must do for you in a week Music. Okay, music like this, music makes a big difference in my mood. Okay.
Speaker 1:Mm-hmm. I want to know. I want to know a detail like, for example, is there like a certain flask that you can't live without? Or like, for example, in my life I have my hydro flask that I?
Speaker 2:can't live without. For example, look at you, emo, look at my loved ones a certain flask.
Speaker 1:No, no, no, I swear. I want to go into details. Like give them things that are like super random, but very a aloe socks. I swear. It's such an a thing. I'm not kidding. See, that's what I mean. This is what I mean. It's like a hack my good luck, okay, so her al. My good luck. Sock Okay, so her aloe socks. I swear, every time Aya comes to Pilates guys, she's in aloe socks. It's a thing. It's a thing, okay, we're going to do what's in your bag with Aya.
Speaker 2:Let's see, that's a big bag. It's a big bag. I'll tell you something honestly Tell me At the outfit that I can't wear a big bag. So I have a small bag that I can take out, but there's one in the car.
Speaker 1:That's so funny, first of all when I'm talking about the same thing, but I love it. Is it like vintage Dior?
Speaker 2:it is Dior. Yes, beautiful. Okay, let's go okay guys, we, this is a bag with a product. Okay, let's start with the back pocket there's a phone iPhone, of course with the sticky Exactly.
Speaker 1:content creator.
Speaker 2:Content creator. The sign of a content creator. Exactly the case of my sunglasses Love it poppy, they're always amazing. Okay, let's open it and see what's inside. Let's go First of all. No, there's a it and see what's inside. Let's go First of all this bag. I'm just afraid of your mic. It's messed up here. You can keep it like this Bag. This will be like this with me, so I can take any bag, even if it's a small bag. This will be like this Because it has my makeup.
Speaker 1:I have so many. Okay, so it's a couple of products.
Speaker 2:Okay, so the girls are dying to see a couple of products. Okay, so I have the collagen lip bath, which I really love, love, um, um. Nora's lipstick I love their lipsticks. A concealer from house labs.
Speaker 1:I tried it.
Speaker 2:That's nice a powder puff, oh my god. With no powder, just a, just a puff. Yeah, a lip tattoo situation okay blush no, I have. I have. I have a few CDs, so I understand.
Speaker 1:I understand where the blush.
Speaker 2:Is this right situation?
Speaker 1:okay, blush no, I have.
Speaker 2:Yes, I love it okay um lip balm and kosas nice, uh, what else?
Speaker 1:What else? The last product Okay, I got excited.
Speaker 2:Hindash lipstick. An eyeliner I said I want a few. I want to show you everything Eyeliner.
Speaker 1:Please, I think, honestly, I think girls are going to make a list of this and like go literally A skin tint Okay. A skin tint A Anastasia no, this is Charlotte Tilbury. Charlotte Tilbury skin tint Okay, A skin tint, Anastasia no, this is Charlotte Tilbury.
Speaker 2:Charlotte Tilbury skin tint. Okay, amazing, what else? Eyeliners I have lip oil, wow.
Speaker 1:So the look you have today, your lips today, are a mix of AirPods.
Speaker 2:AirPods, with the makeup, I love it. It's so random. Okay, okay, the lip combo I have today. I With the makeup, I love it. It's so random. Okay, the okay, the, the, the, the lip combo today.
Speaker 1:Oh, today, of course, I have it with me?
Speaker 2:Okay, so I have on my lips.
Speaker 1:Okay, guys can we seriously?
Speaker 2:I have on my lips just six or seven things yeah exactly, and I and I the lip, just six or seven things, yeah, exactly, and a lip, a lip combo is huge, okay, yeah, I mean, oh, there we go, okay, okay. So this is oh, wait, wait, one more product, that's your lip combo. This is what I have. Oh, my god, exactly, okay, lip line.
Speaker 2:This is the eyeliner, the lip liner, the eyeliner, the eyeliner because, I line my lips with it and then I smooth the lip liner with another lip liner Okay. And then I put the lip tattoo inside Okay, and then just dab from Nars lipstick and over it just to mute everything. I use the Hindash lipstick in Call Me Peaches, okay, and then Okay, and I put that on the side. Everything I use, the hindash lipstick in call me peaches, okay, all right um my wallet. Love it gorgeous, thank you lv.
Speaker 1:Oh, use the wire.
Speaker 2:I use wires, yeah I do, I do, but these are safer.
Speaker 1:They are safer. I think I should go back and then my perfume, today's perfume. What is it?
Speaker 2:Louis Vuitton Attrape Rêve.
Speaker 1:I hope I'm saying it right, it's so good, the minute you walked in I gave you a hug. I'm like beautiful, love it, it's actually so good. It is, guys, I gave it a hug. I'm like beautiful, love it, love it, it's actually so good.
Speaker 2:It is and it's fresh. Do you want to see the most important thing about your bag? Okay, let's go.
Speaker 1:Power bank Of course, I mean needed.
Speaker 2:This is a lifesaver Just a hair clip, just a clip.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I love it, and so this is like a big bag for you or normal, no, no, this is a big bag.
Speaker 2:This is a big bag this is everything I need honestly amazing guys list.
Speaker 1:I think I'm going to have to put captions. Yeah, what's an A bag? Okay, thank you so much because this was so much fun. I loved having you on the podcast and I feel like this episode really, and I feel like this episode will inspire you, as a girl, to be a makeup artist. Thank you. That's a wrap, guys. Thank you, cut, we're done. How was the episode for you?
Speaker 1:It was amazing, it was so fun, but at first, I didn't feel like it was the right time. You felt like it was casual. I felt like it was the right time. It was crazy, I don't know.
Speaker 2:Time Did you feel it was casual. I felt the time was coming. It was crazy. What did we do? I don't know.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean literally like 40 minutes, which is crazy. But can you imagine? Wow, that's insane, like I swear. I thought it was 20 minutes.
Speaker 2:But I'm happy you enjoyed it. But, it was so delicious your answers were so cute.
Speaker 1:I love them and we do the double subs, but so thank you, ayyush, let's take a picture.