Katrina Kaif On Launching Her Cosmetics Brand Kay Beauty in The UAE
The star shares how she went on to start the beauty brand and her aspirations for the line
Drawing from her experiences as a model and actress, Katrina Kaif’s passion for make-up and its formulation shines through in her brand, Kay Beauty.
In a recent interview with Bazaar Arabia, the Bollywood sensation delved into her journey from childhood fascination with beauty to co-founding the range, which is now making its debut in the UAE.
Katrina emphasised inclusivity and the importance of listening to consumer feedback, expressing her excitement for the line’s favourites. Additionally, she offered a rare glimpse into her own beauty routine, which has undoubtedly made her a style icon in the process.
Harper’s Bazaar Arabia (HBA): Were you someone who liked make-up growing up?
Katrina Kaif (KK): Absolutely. I think you just hit the nail right on the head with how and where the inception of Kay Beauty came from. When we all think back on our childhood, what are the things that we loved? For me, it was make-up.
HBA: How did your career help you get into the beauty sphere?
KK: I still have such vivid memories of sitting on those highchairs, getting my make-up done by the best artists in the country [India], and asking, “Why are you using this product? What do you like about this brand?”… learning from the best artists like your Mickey Contractors and Subhash Vagals. I picked up all these little tips and tricks, which I then started applying to myself. I ended up doing a lot of my own make-up for a lot of films and songs.
I did my look for well-known songs like Chikni Chameli and Sheila Ki Jawani and also for the movie Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara.
HBA: Can you share a little bit about what goes behind creating a product?
KK: I’ve always been very passionate about formulations, about make-up that really delivers. One of my big pet peeves is when I see a lipstick and the texture is not right when it goes on your lips. It was a dream of mine to launch a brand that was extremely high performance, which delivered on its formulations and consistency, and its products, which were right for a hot and humid climate as well.
HBA: You talked about inclusivity. How is that reflected in your brand?
KK: I wanted to create a space where everyone could see themselves represented and that’s done through our communications. I wanted to create make-up products that stay on your face and don’t slip and slide, as well as being right for our skin tones and for skin tones across the board.
HBA: What made you want to introduce the brand in the UAE?
KK: I see a huge amount of similarity between the UAE and India. Our strengths that are in things in India are going to be the same strengths in the UAE and we might even discover some new ones. Whether it’s the formulations, whether it’s the shade ranges, whether it’s the choice of product, I think the UAE beauty consumers amongst the most discerning in the world.
HBA: Can you share with us your everyday routine?
KK: It’s completely dependent on what I’m doing that day. If I am not going to be facing the camera, a little bit of concealer would be crucial, and mascara. I also use a little bit of one of the gel kajal pencils that I smoke out and smudge along my lash line. I’m also really into using our cream blush and mixing it with our liquid highlighter to get a beautiful shine.
For those looking to get their hands on the Kay Beauty range, which was brought to the country by Indian e-commerce company Nykaa, it’s sold at Nysaa Beauty stores in the UAE.
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