Read the APR ISSUE #76 of Athleisure Mag and see Athleisure Beauty in mag.
Read the FEB ISSUE #74 of Athleisure Mag and see Athleisure Beauty in mag.
Huda Beauty is a coveted beauty brand that includes an array of must haves from makeup, skincare, fragrances and tools. Co-Founded by Iraqi American sisters Huda Kattan, Alya Kattan and Mona Kattan, they created an ever growing billion dollar beauty empire that is one of the fastest growing brands. With an assortment of over 213 products that are sold at Sephora, Harrods in London and on its own site, we caught up with Mona Kattan, Co-Founder and President of Huda Beauty and their fragrance brand KAYALI, from her home in Dubai, the brand's headquarters to talk about her role in the company, new launches, how she is navigating COVID-19 and how KAYALI's fragrances transport you to your favorite destinations.
ATHLEISURE MAG: Tell us about the brand Huda Beauty. How did it come about and how did you and your two sisters come together to be a part of the company?
MONA KATTAN: Huda Beauty began in 2013. Huda was beauty blogging and working as a makeup artist and I had launched a network of salons in Dubai. She started playing around with creating her own false eyelashes and they were unlike anything on the market. My sister, Alya and I encouraged her to start selling them and everything started to take off from there. To this day we continue to focus on innovation and unique products for our Huda Beauty community!
AM: What is your role at the company and how would you describe your day to day activity?
MK: As Global President I lay the groundwork for our future. We have grown very fast so have had to think long and hard about how to regionalize, where to open new offices, communications and marketing and hiring. As of recent, Covid has also changed many aspects of consumer behavior and it’s my role to help navigate and adapt as needed. We are fortunate that we are small enough that we can pivot easier than most.
I am also the founder and face of our fragrance brand, KAYALI. I’ve learned how hard being the face of a line is - you wear so many hats. From setting the vision, discussing formulas, shooting campaigns, working on expansion and development! It’s exciting and a lot of work. I absolutely love fragrance though so this is a role I’ve passionately embraced over the last few years.
AM: What are the roles of your sisters at the company?
MK: Huda is of course Founder, CEO and Face of the Huda Beauty brand! She primarily focuses on product development and content while keeping the company running from a financial perspective. Alya is officially our Chief Instagram Officer but oversees all social channels including YouTube, Facebook and Tik Tok! If you are a fan of Huda Beauty, you know this is a huge job because we are very active on social and it’s core to our business. This is just the tip of the iceberg for them though, because as a small company no job is ever too small for one of us to tackle!
AM: Huda Beauty is available at Sephora. What was it like when you first heard that it would be carried in this store?
MK: We were beyond ecstatic! We walked into our meeting with Sephora with one set of false eyelashes - that’s it. They took a leap of faith with us and we were determined not to fail - which was enough to drive us harder than we had ever worked before.
AM: We like that Huda Beauty is inclusive in its assortment as it pertains to its range of foundations and concealers. How important is that to you as a brand and what is the developing process like when it comes to making sure that you are shade accessible?
MK: Inclusion is core to our brand. Having grown up in the southern part of the US, I looked different than those around me but this difference taught me the importance of having role models you can relate to. We want everyone to be able to relate to us and to feel welcomed within our brand family, so having few shades just wasn’t an option. Having a wide variety of shades means it takes us longer to finalize each product, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.
AM: As we are all at home during COVID-19, how important is it to still incorporate your beauty routine whether it’s using skincare, applying makeup or utilizing fragrances in order to keep sanity in a time where so many things are unknown?
MK: Continuing with some sort of beauty routine gives me a sense of sanity and brings normalcy to my day! It also makes me feel put together even if I’m not leaving my house. Skincare is important all the time, but during this time it has also been a nice distraction and indulgence. Fragrance is one thing I simply can’t live without no matter what; it has such a way with impacting my mood and during quarantine it’s been really impactful!
AM: How are you passing your days personally as well as running a business that is still working on new assortments and staying in touch with your customers and fans?
MK: Right before COVID, I launched my YouTube page so I have spent a lot of time creating new content from the comfort of my home! YouTube has also been a great way to connect with people all over the world during a difficult time. I also enjoy reading - I love a good motivational or self help book - also perfect for staying positive now!
AM: Fragrances are the perfect way to showcase a feeling as well as to transport you. Can you walk us through these fragrances and how you can feel like you’re doing a bit of wanderlust to your favorite destination – even though we’re all in our own bubbles at the moment?
MK: I love how fragrance can take you back to a specific memory and uplift your mood. This summer, as travel is looking different than it did in summer's past it has been fun to play around with fragrance and memory! For example, want to travel to Bora Bora after your bath? Spritz some KAYALI Vanilla or Soleil Blanc from Tom Ford which have hints of vanilla, coconut, orchid and jasmine notes that can take you there! Or want to relive or imagine you’re waking up in Provence - layer a fragrance with lavender, rose de mai, basil, rosemary or sage such as the KAYALI Elixir | 11 or Rose 31 - Le Labo! It may seem a bit silly, but I truly enjoy experimenting with scent.
AM: What are your favorite fragrances?
MK: My all time favorite fragrance is KAYALI Deja Vu | White Flower 57! Creating this juice has been a labor of love and passion. It took me 56 different attempts in the lab to get it right and the comfort and happiness I find when I spritz myself with the perfume is hard to beat!
I also love Baccarat Rouge 540 by Maison Francis Kurkdjan! He is a genius when it comes to perfume and I absolutely love him. Baccarat Rouge 540 is one of the most beautiful perfumes; it’s filled with notes of Jasmine blossoms and musks; it’s amazing!
AM: What are your go to 3 must have products from Huda Beauty?
MK: WISHFUL Yo Glow Enzyme Scrub - This has been life changing for me. The pineapple and papaya enzymes mixed with the AHAs and BHAs gives me super bright and glowing, even-toned skin!
HUDA BEAUTY Legit Lashes Double-Ended Mascara - I am lucky to have nice lashes, but this mascara really amplifies them. I love that the wand is double sided.
HUDA BEAUTY Silk Balm Hydrating Lip Balm - This is our newest liquid lip balm that feels like a balm but looks like a gloss! It’s packed full of hyaluronic spheres for an ultra-hydrating treatment that works into your lips throughout the day. It comes in 1 universal shade that is absolutely stunning on everyone.
AM: We know that you’re in Dubai, when things are open again – can you tell us where we can find you dining, shopping and working out?
MK: My favorite restaurant is definitely Il Borro at the Jumeirah Al Naseem hotel! They have incredible food and the service is always amazing. I workout at home actually, so, nothing will really change there. If I go shopping, it’s normally to Dubai Mall. They have absolutely everything I need!
IG @MonaKattan
PHOTOS COURTESY | Mona Kattan
Read the July Issue #55 of Athleisure Mag and see The Business of Beauty Mona Kattan in mag.
Earlier this year, we found ourselves at the launch of new scents by Hope Fragrances at BG Restaurant at Bergdorf Goodman. We had the opportunity to find out about this brand, how they use their platform to also educate and raise funds for depression and the power of scent. We took a few moments to chat with its founder of Hope Fragrances as well as founder of Hope for Depression Research Foundation, Audrey Gruss.
ATHLEISURE MAG: Prior to launching your own firm Hope Fragrance, can you tell us how you got into the perfume industry, where you worked and what fragrances you created?
AUDREY GRUSS: I was Director of Advertising and Creatives Services Worldwide at Elizabeth Arden in its hay day when they launched the Chloe fragrance. I learned so much about the details of a fragrance launch at that time. Handling advertising for the other Elizabeth Arden fragrances was a challenge when you have to adapt basic creatives for 55 countries and all their specific needs. It was a virtual job in diplomacy.
AM: What is it about working in this portion of the beauty industry that you enjoy working in?
AG: Creating a fragrance from scratch is one of the most interesting things anyone in the artistic arena can do! It was a joy to work with one of the top “noses” at Firmenich, Honorine Blanc, to create the Hope Fragrances. My vision and hers totally coincided and it was a dream process. There is nothing like working with a consummate professional and getting the results you want. I also find it fascinating to work with the retail executives at BG because they have so much knowledge of the industry at their fingertips and their guidance is so important.
AM: What was the moment when you decided that you wanted to create your own brand?
AG: I created the Hope for Depression Research Foundation (HDRF) in 2006 and about 12 years into the neuroscience research process, I wanted to have a tool to reach more consumer by raising awareness about depression. The research process is extremely long and detailed and the scientific papers do not get much consumer visibility. I thought that creating a fragrance brand would get us consumer visibility on a fast-track. My mother Hope loved fragrance and always surrounded herself with white flowers and white floral fragrances and so I used that as an inspiration to create the Hope Fragrance Collection.
AM: We loved hearing you talk about your brand and some of the thought behind it. For our readers, can you tell us about how you came up with the name for the brand?
AG: The brand is named after my mother Hope who was one of the most creative people I knew. Was inspiration. She also struggled with depression and that is why we give 100% of the profits from Hope Fragrance sales directly to depression research.
AM: Where are your fragrances currently available?
AG: Bergdorf Goodman NYC and HopeFragrances.com
AM: Are there other scents that we should keep an eye out for that you may be launching this year?
AG: We are so excited that we will be launching in May 2020 at Bergdorf Goodman a new Hope Night Parfum, a warm, sensuous and romantic perfume that will be in a magnificent crystal bottle designed by packaging designer Marc Rosen.
AM: What are 3 go-to ingredients that you enjoy including in a number of your fragrances?
AG: All 3 fragrances have a base of white flowers, which were so beloved by my mother Hope. The pure essences are so beautiful that they have an uplifting feeling. The original Hope is a magnificent fusion of the 4 white essences. Hope Sport has a base of tuberose and lily of the valley, and green citrus note. Hope Night has some beautiful oriental notes on a bed of white flowers.
AM: As someone who I’m sure travels frequently, what are 3 items in your carry on that you enjoy traveling with in order to make the experience more enjoyable?
AG: There are 3 things I can think of. I always carry a small portable umbrella and found one at Burberry that is just the right size. I carry a clip-on ponytail that creates the fun easy hairdo in the worst weather anywhere and everywhere. I wouldn’t travel anywhere without my Hope purse spray. At 0.05 ounces I can carry in my purse on a plane, or put into an evening bag, and I always have my favorite fragrance to give me that uplifting feeling.
Read the March Issue of Athleisure Mag and see When Hope Bridges Beauty and Mental Health in mag.
We've officially entered the holiday season when you're bag is filled with gifts for your co-workers, friends, ladies who brunch and more. We have a great list of items that are small but powerful that you can have at the ready and shows that you know what your friends and family will enjoy.
| CHARGEHUB X3 USB Charger | TRESTIQUE Shimmering Nudes Holiday Set | FEED PROJECTS Metallic Beaded Kenya Bag | TOZAI Snow Maiden Sake | LVX Caviar and Truffle Nail Polish Holiday Set | MARC JACOBS Decadence Gift Set |
Read more from the Nov Issue and see IN OUR BAG | Gifting Season Begins in mag.
Rose Gold is having a major moment from accessories, office supplies and event accenting your bathroom. Why stop there? We have a few beauty products that are within this theme that are a must for your vanity.
| TWEEZERMAN Sparkle and Shine Gift Set | TOM FORD Orchid Soleil | HELLO Sensitivity Relief Fluoride Toothpaste in Soothing Mint with Coconut Oil | NUME Stealth Hair Dryer |
Read more from the Sep Issue and see Athleisure Beauty | Rose Gold in mag.
When it comes to fragrances, there are so many questions - do you have a signature scent, who creates these phenomenal smells, what are the inspirations behind them and more! We chatted with Elisabetta Perris who is the CEO of Perris Group, who has Houbigant Parfums Paris, a noted French fragrance house within their portfolio of brands. Of course, we also wanted to know how she takes time when she's not involved with fragrances.
ATHLEISURE MAG: Tell us about your background and how you came to the industry and being the founder of this brand?
ELISABETTA PERRIS: I’m not the founder of the brand, the brand was founded in 1775 by the Houbigant family. My parents have worked in this industry their whole lives, so as far as I can remember I have been living and breathing the world of fragrance at a young age. It was only natural for me to follow in their footsteps, as did my brother and my sister. You can say its a bit of a family tradition.
AM: Tell us about Quelques Fleurs?
EP: The first Quelques Fleurs was created in 1912 and it was the first multi-floral bouquet in the perfume world at that time. It was the most beautiful long lasting bouquet you can gift a woman. With Quelque Fleurs Jardin Secret, we wanted to stay within the tradition and capture the myth of a new generation. I wanted to create a fragrance that would appeal to my generation, to the young women of today. Women that are strong and elegant but also fierce and confident and know what they want in life.
AM: What inspires you to create fragrances?
EP: I draw inspiration from many things - sometimes the idea is inspired by the raw material that I fell in love with. With Houbigant, I am lucky to be able to draw inspiration from past archives, I have nearly 250 years of history to work with and sometimes I get to revive fragrances from the past such as Fougere Royale, it was originally created in 1882 and we relaunched with great success in 2010. It is an honor to keep the great tradition and to continue enriching the Houbigant brand with my designs.
AM: What is your favorite scent in your portfolio of fragrances?
EP: Iris des Champs, I love the iris as a raw material, it is made out of the root, not the flower itself and it is one of the most difficult to obtain, it takes 6 years and a lot of manual work to obtain this unbelievable raw material. The smell is soft, powdery, comforting and extremely elegant.
AM: What are your favorite ingredients that you enjoy working with when you are creating scents?
EP: All natural raw materials, especially flowers, they have so many different facets and can surprise you.
AM: When you're not creating or promoting your brand, how do you take time for yourself?
EP: My second passion besides perfumes is art. I design and decorate the limited editions every year.
I recently had a baby, he is 17 months - so recently, most of my time has been spent on him.
Read more from the April Issue and see Talking Scents with Elisabetta Perris in mag.
There's no excuse to stop working out or to change what you do due to equipment available in hotel gyms etc. Our Style Director, Kimmie Smith shared what she brings with her in her carryon to continue working out whether she's gone overnight OR for a few days! She appeared on The Jet Set with host Nikki Noya to share finds. Check your local station to see whether it's on CW, FOX etc in your area.
ON THE SEGMENT | TRX TRX Go Suspension Training | MANDUKA Yoga Travel Mat | W8FIT Wrist Weights | DYLN Alkaline Water Bottle | TOE SOX | SKLZ Jumprope + Gliders | MIEL Sport Bra + Underwear | AIR REPAIR SKINCARE Air Repair Kit | LO ROX Foam Travel Roller | SAJE Pocket Farmacy | VERA BRADLEY Packable Cube | HERSCHEL SUPPLY Bag | KARL LAGERFELD PARIS Sneakers |
WHAT KIMMIE'S WEARING | BELOFORTE Long Sleeve Shirt | FOREVER 21 X LA LAKERS Tank | 90 DEGREE BY REFLEX Rose Gold Leggings | ADIDAS Superstar | SHE'S KIMMIE Stacked Beaded Bracelets | MISFIT Ray | OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE COSMETICS Alt Girl Lip Tar | SALLY HANSEN Wine Stick in Miracle Gel |
This month, we attended the launch party for POLO RED which announced the new face, Luke Bracey, for the high selling cologne. We took a few moments to find out about the actor who has been in a number of movies including, the Point Break as well as Hacksaw Ridge, which is enjoying a lot of buzz during this awards season.
ATHLEISURE MAG: What was it like being selected for POLO RED?
LUKE BRACEY: The process of becoming the face of POLO RED has been so enjoyable and fun. I’m so honored to be the new face of POLO RED – being part of such an iconic brand is truly a privilege. Having the opportunity to work with Bruce Weber was also a great experience. He's a beautiful man and is so talented.
AM: What are your duties as the face of POLO RED?
LB: As the face of POLO RED I truly live and breathe the fragrance – I focus on bringing the speed, adrenaline, power of the POLO RED EXTREME lifestyle to men everywhere. Next I'll be joining the Ralph Lauren Fragrances team in Madrid to help kick off the global launch of the fragrance.
AM: Say 3 words describing POLO RED.
LB: Endurance, adrenaline, boundary-pushing.
AM: You're a busy man as you were in the remake of Point Break, you were in Hacksaw Ridge which had a lot of buzz this awards season, what movie will we see you in next?
LB: I’ve got a couple of movies in the pipeline, but being the face of POLO RED is the role that I’m really focusing on right now.
AM: You're in great shape, besides surfing what workouts do you do?
LB: I’m very no-nonsense when it comes to fitness. I do 100 push-ups and 100 sit-ups every day. When I get to the gym, I like to keep it pretty basic and my routine tends to vary. Sometimes I go through periods where I go to the gym 5 days a week, and then take a few weeks off and before getting back into it. It’s all about balance.
AM: How do you give time to yourself?
LB: One of my favorite things to do is read. Right now I’m reading a great book called "Prisoners of Geography" by Tim Marshall. It’s a captivating book about how geography still plays a pivotal role in politics today. Even though it's 2017, geography is still the biggest factor. In addition to reading, I like to be in the water as much as possible. I try to go surfing and swim as much as I can.
AM: What's your personal style?
LB: My style is pretty relaxed - I'm a tee shirt and jeans guy most of the time. I love my Blundstone boots, they’re definitely a staple in my personal style. When I’m hanging out with friends I’m usually in board shorts and flip flops.
We have some great suggestions to gift your honey this year!
VALENTINE'S DAY GIFT GUIDE: FOR HER | STERLING FOREVER Gold Solid X Layered Ring | ISOLA Rose & Vanilla Cream Perfume Body Oil Set | RALPH LAUREN FRAGRANCE GIFT SET Ralph Lauren Romance Fragrance + Dylan's Chocolate Gift | DEEPA BY DEEPA GURNANI Chantel | LATIGO Kick | COLDWATER CREEK Scarf |
VALENTINE'S DAY GIFT GUIDE: FOR HIM | LULU DHARMA Argyle Weekender | HUCKLEBERRY 18K Satin Brushed Yellow Gold Black Diamond "Lucky You" Horseshoe Ring | THE BODY SHOP Maca Root Rescue Kit | DOLLAR SHAVE CLUB Subscription Kit |
Read more from the Jan Issue here.
There's still plenty of summer left but that doesn't mean that you shouldn't make the most of it while you still have the chance. Whether you're playing hooky, sitting on the stoop or enjoying a Summer Friday - we have essentials that you must have handy to stay out for as long as the day takes you!
| Infusion de Rose Nourishing Lip Balm l LAURA MERCIER | Warren Backpack MONICA BOTKIER | Flip Flops FLEEPS | Dream White Tea & Honeysuckle Perfumed Shower Gel LOLLIA | Jasmine DEMETER | Chroma Card Case Yellow, Alligator STEWART STAND | Spiral Hair Bands INVISIBOBBLE |
| Yoga Straps NAMATTSTAYZ | High Top Sneakers CONVERSE | Win (Women in Need) Reversible Tote VERA BRADLEY | Dara Clutch ALEXANDRA CLANCY | Born Original Fragrance ADIDAS |
| Flagship Collection DAY DESIGNER | Cherry Blossom Handmade Leather Books JENNIBICK | Saddle Bag with Storypatch + Monogram COACH | Dawn DELMAN | Sapphire MOVADO |
Read more from the April Issue
