Huda Kattan: “Forty Was The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me”
In an interview with Bazaar Arabia, the beauty icon opens up about the momentous experience of turning 40…
As the founder of Huda Beauty, with a 54 million strong following encompassing women of all ages, Huda Kattan is acutely aware of the constant dialogue around the beauty industry and ageing. In an exclusive interview with Harper’s Bazaar Arabia for the July/August 2024 issue, Kattan revealed that turning 40 was the best thing that ever happened to her. The beauty mogul shared how this milestone helped her find her voice and redefine her journey both personally and professionally.
“Finding my voice again has been part of my journey as a brand founder, and my personal journey too,” Kattan explained. “I think it’s come from a combination of turning 40 and facing your fears of losing everything and being okay with it – there’s something really liberating about that. I really stopped caring what people think at that point, but you don’t want to ever listen to yourself too much, or totally stop listening to others.”
Kattan’s path to self-discovery hasn’t been without its challenges. After parting ways with her CEO, she had to navigate a completely new leadership team and learn how to be a leader herself. “You really do have to trust yourself. Women, especially,” she noted.
As someone who has built her name in the full-glam makeup industry and has been open about her cosmetic procedures and struggles with body confidence, Kattan’s approach to ageing is refreshingly honest. “Turning 40 was a big milestone for me. I feel like every decade gets better and better, and our 40s is a time where we don’t have to care whether people accept us or not. Forty was literally the best thing that ever happened to me, but there’s always pressure.”
Despite these pressures, Kattan remains committed to taking care of herself in a holistic way. “I love taking care of myself, whether it’s taking a bubble bath, doing my makeup, or listening to an audiobook. I wake up early in the morning and I pray – that is my meditation. I am Muslim and I definitely consider myself a religious person – I always start my day with prayer and water.”
Kattan also emphasised the importance of mental health and cognitive well-being. “The thing that I take the most care of is my brain – even more than my skin. Our brain is like 70 per cent water, we need to prioritise sleep and I do take supplements for my brain that have helped a lot. I have a huge regimen of things that I’ve done for my cognitive abilities and what’s really weird is the more I take care of my brain, the better I look actually.”
Kattan is keenly aware of the pressures from social media and beauty culture. “I’m looking at ridiculously beautiful people who are filtered and it affects me – I struggle with confidence sometimes. I definitely don’t spend as much time on the internet as I did and try to make sure my algorithm is not just serving me people like that. I’m one of the OG beauty influencers that’s been around for 14 years, so there is always pressure to look a certain way. Most of the days of the week, I don’t wear makeup, and I don’t feel like I should have to wear makeup just because I’m ‘Huda’. But I had to do a lot of work to feel that way, so I’m proud of that.”
Kattan’s journey has also been shaped by her role as a mother to her daughter, Nour. “It becomes even more challenging when you’re a parent, and a parent to a young girl. I read so many parenting books and the rate of depression is much higher for young girls than it is for boys. I see she struggles sometimes with her confidence and she’s a beautiful girl.”
As Huda Beauty embarks on a new chapter, Kattan is excited to head up new product development once again. “We’re getting rid of about 50 per cent of our products. I just don’t want them anymore, I don’t want to be overstimulated. I think the brands that are overwhelming consumers with too much product are going to lose their consumers and there’s so much damage that happens to the environment. We have some measures, but I want to do more with sustainability going forward.”
This new chapter is undeniably about owning her accomplishments, both at work and personally. “I’ve started to really listen to myself and accept that I need to take a chance sometimes. I might get it wrong, but I need to try and learn. The thing I’m most proud of is my personal development. Not necessarily anything specific, more so the journey itself, and that hasn’t been easy on me at all.”
As Kattan continues to explore the worlds of business, social media, and motherhood, she stands as a beacon of inspiration, proving that it’s never too late to find your voice and embrace extraordinary transformations.
Lead image credits: Right hand, middle finger: Tiffany Lock Ring in Rose Gold with Diamonds; Ring finger from top: Elsa Peretti Snake Ring in Yellow Gold; Schlumberger Sixteen Stone Ring in Rose Gold with Diamonds; Tiffany Lock Ring in White Gold with Diamonds; Left hand from top: Double Row Ring in White Gold with Diamonds; Tiffany Hardwear Small Link Ring in Yellow Gold with Diamonds; Tiffany Knot Ring in White Gold with Diamonds; Double Row Hinged Bangle in White Gold with Diamonds; Double Row Hinged Bangle in Yellow Gold, POA, all Tiffany & Co. Dress, Dhs5,310, Courrèges
Editor-in-Chief: Olivia Phillips. Photography By Desiree Mattsson. Styling By Nour Bou Ezz. Art Director: Paul Solomons. Senior Producer: Steff Hawker. Make-Up: Shirin Nabati. Hair: Dom Seeley. Styling Assistant: Purna Bansal. Post Production: Ruben Kristiansen. Photographer’s Producer: Luke Miley for LMC Worldwide. Special thanks to HU Management, and Bickiboss Studio
From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s July/August 2024 Cover