Making a go at make-up

Nabila & Musarrat Misbah talk about why they felt they should create cosmetic lines

KARACHI:

With a wide variety of international make-up brands having already made their mark in the local market, many Pakistani make-up artists perhaps didn’t feel the need to create a cosmetics line. Most of these make-up pros use products by cosmetic giants but not many seem to have shown the will to broaden their horizons and create exclusive make-up for their clientele.

As make-up magicians Nabila and Musarrat Misbah take up the challenge by recently launching their cosmetic range, The Express Tribune explores why they felt the need to create make-up and what makes their offerings stand out.

Nabila of N-Pro introduced the No Makeup range a month ago. “Going into retail for solving appearance issues is the best way forward for the Nabila brand,” she says. On why she decided to create make-up, Musarrat states, “As a make-up artist, I have come across products that are not suited for our skin tone, type and climate. Our unique selling point is the fact that the entire MM Makeup colour range has been developed for Asian skin tone and climate. I felt the need to create a product that is customised to the needs of a Pakistani woman.”

Nabila shares that she felt she should go beyond the “service side of things” when she has so much more to offer. “We at Nabila are image-makers and our forte is to come up with image-related solutions, whether its hair, make-up, nails or barbering.” She adds, “Why should I limit myself to the service side of things when I have the brand name, experience and intelligence to do a lot more?”

Musarrat, founder of Depilex Salon & Beauty Clinic and the Smile Again Foundation, has opted for manufacturing a halal range titled MM Makeup. On why she felt she should come up with a halal range of products, she states, “The halal make-up industry is well-established in Europe and South-east Asia and we felt that its time that Pakistan, one of the biggest Muslim countries in the world, had its own halal makeup line with MM Makeup.” She further says, “Our main aim in getting MM Makeup certified as halal was to focus on using no harmful chemicals in our products, follow ethical and cruelty-free practices and, most importantly, have a range that is plant-based.”



Given that multiple international brands offer great results, it may be difficult for the two make-up artists to penetrate their massive clientele. Unfettered by the challenge, Nabila assuredly says, “Our clients come to us for our talent, skill and service. The amazing response to Magicurls [hair-curler she launched last year) and No Makeup is proof of the faith they show in us. I hope to keep raising the bar.” For Misbah, her clients trust in her products for specific reasons. “Since halal make-up also means ethical beauty products that are free of parabens and animal testing, MM Makeup is a brand that aims to connect with the socially-responsible woman of our society.”

As to whether Nabila’s make-up range is suitable for Asian skin, she clarifies, “One of the reasons for launching No Makeup is that there’s rarely anything available that aptly addresses olive skin problems. Even if they promise so, no brand provides solutions for our skin tone and its unique requirements.” Nabila adds, “Hands-on experience of 30 years in this area has given me the ability to come up with a miraculous solution. My product is made in one of the finest labs in Europe and can cater to brunettes and olive-skinned people across the world, not just in Asia.”

Nabila claims her range can work wonders in a short span of time. She says, “The face-perfect palette gives flawless results in less than a minute. I know it’s the perfect solution for the modern, image-conscious woman on-the-go.” According to Musarrat, her range “enhances a woman’s natural beauty and helps her gain the inner confidence she desires.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 30^th, 2015.

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