Daring and beautiful Beenish Parvez is a force to reckon with. The leading makeup and hair expert ventured into the beauty business for the sheer passion of the profession. With her bold and endearing attitude, she has carved a niche for herself. Her clientele includes big names in the showbiz industry including Mansha Pasha, Hira Mani, Ayesha Omar, Rabya Kulsoom, Hajra Khan, and Navin Waqar. She is a staple at morning shows where she often talks about the latest hair and beauty trends. She has transformed the lives of thousands of beauty enthusiasts through her master classes all across the country. In an exclusive interview with MAG, the dynamic beauty expert talked about her amazing journey, how the digital era helps her get due credit for work, and also shared tips and tricks to look radiant during the festive season. Excerpts:

You have had an incredible career. What have been the highlights of it?

With the advent of digitalization, my career took a complete 180-degree turn. It not only gives makeup artists due recognition but we don’t need celebrity endorsements anymore. Back in the day, departments and structures were not fully developed. A makeup artist used to do everything from celebrity styling to make-up and hair but never got acknowledgment for it. We used to work behind the camera, and most of the time, someone else claimed credit for our work, but we couldn't prove it. I once styled a Tarang TV commercial, but during the awards ceremony, someone else took the trophy. I was sitting at the event, watching someone else take credit for my work. That day, I vowed to myself that I would fight for my rights. Thanks to digitalization, nobody could ever do this to me today. My fans know my face and they know what projects I am associated with. Today, the accountability process has become easier, it just takes a few minutes to name and defame anybody with a status update or viral video message.

What has been your biggest challenge since starting as a make-up artist?

I began when I was very young. I entered this field when I was only 16 years old. At the time, the market was dominated by four makeup giants, who never allowed junior artists to flourish and grow. When I entered into makeup industry I instantly got fame and it was hard for all those people to digest it. I became a threat to them because I was educated and had full command of my skill. Even today when I work from the small studio I am a threat to them because I have my clientele and people know that I can fix their makeup and hair woes with my magical art.

Do you remember the first celebrity you worked with, and how was your experience?

Sadia Imam was the first celebrity I ever worked with. While introducing Wella products in Pakistan, I put on a one-of-a-kind hair show. Such a show had never been done in Pakistan before, so I became a sensation and received widespread acclaim for my efforts. Meanwhile, Sadia Imam was filming a soap opera for Geo Television, and her hair had gotten burnt due to an unfortunate event, so she called to see if I could fix it. I purchased some button extensions for my hair from Malaysia. I gave her those, and her look became an instant hit. The director was impressed and called me to do the styling of the entire cast of the drama.

Later I was hired by Karolyn and I did several master classes with them all across the country. One day, Amber called me and asked me to do a special segment on her morning show Sola Singhar. She knew that I was eager to transfer my skills to a younger lot to make them financially independent. It was my first TV show where I talked about makeup and hair trends.

You also did hair and makeup for television dramas. Please tell us about your experience.

It didn’t go well. I quit doing dramas almost six years ago because working for that medium limits my creativity. I felt I got trapped in curls, choti, and jora. My payments were delayed, and the cheque got rejected. Many production companies owe me money even today. Television is an excellent medium for young makeup artists to hone their skills while working on dramas.

So what are you doing these days?

I run my salon while also doing freelance work for short films and movies. I recently completed the film Javed Iqbal by Abu Aleeha. It was challenging to make Ayesha Omar look tanned. When they contacted me about doing Ayesha's makeover for the film, I told them her character demanded to look tanned. Ayesha is a fashion icon, and convincing her to let go of her glamorous image was difficult, but we succeeded.

So, how do you handle her tantrum?

It was extremely difficult to deal with, but we remained calm and patient. My director and I were very clear about how we wanted our characters to look and behave in the film, so we stuck to our plan. Our poor ADs had to deal with her the majority of the time, but they also maintained their cool. It was a difficult decision to choose an art project over a commercial film, but I did so for the sake of creativity. I knew from the start that the budget would be tight and that we would have to shoot in challenging conditions. A true artist never considers such things to be obstacles; we are hungry for quality work and will go to any length to obtain it.

What is the one product that you would never work with?

I tried to avoid products that have Parabens in them. I've stopped doing Extenso and other straightening treatments for a long time because they contain chemicals that harm hair. Let me tell you a very basic fact makeup is a temporary thing if you don’t like it, you can easily wipe it off. However, hair treatments involved chemicals so one needs to have complete knowledge about them. So not everyone can become a hair expert.

What are some makeup mistakes made by women in their 30s?

We have seen that after their 30s, women begin to apply a lot of foundation in the desperate hope that it will conceal their skin problems. However, in reality, it only aggravates them. Always use fewer products and choose ingredients from certified laboratories. Age gracefully, and if you need dermatologist assistance, make sure the dermatologist is certified and has expertise in that area.

Summers are already here and it is hard to carry makeup in the scorching heat. Any tip would you like to give to our readers?

For daytime, apply bb cream that gives good coverage and seal it with a compact of any good brand. Apply lip tint on cheeks as blush, and apply mascara and eye linear for a well-defined look.

Eid is just around the corner. Would you give us some tips to achieve a flawless glow during the festive season?

Invest in a good foundation, loose setting powder, primer, kajal or eyeliner, blush, an eyeshadow palette, lip liner, lipstick, and lip gloss for a radiant festive look. It is always better to invest in a good makeup kit because quality products not only last longer but also provide a better finish to your makeup.

What are the upcoming hair trends that we can expect to see soon?

Curtain bangs are very popular these days. It gives you a well-groomed appearance and softens your hairline. There is a common misconception that layers harm your hair. It is untrue because it adds volume and manageability to your hair.

Do you have any advice for aspiring hair stylists?

Avoid using heating tools because they can damage your hair. Concentrate on having a healthy diet. Remember that makeup only gives you a temporary glow, whereas eating a healthy diet will make you look radiant all the time.