Celebrity makeup artist Bassam Fattouh reveals his secrets to timeless beauty

DUBAI: Lebanese celebrity makeup artist Bassam Fattouh, founder of his namesake cosmetics brand, shared his expert tips during a Dubai masterclass at Beautyworld Middle East, the region’s leading international trade fair for beauty, hair, fragrance, and wellbeing, which took place this week.

The session provided a glimpse into his signature soft, glowing approach that has made him one of the Arab world’s most trusted beauty figures.

Fattouh began by revealing that he usually starts any look with eye drops to remove redness and prevent tearing. “Tearing is a nightmare for us makeup artists,” he said, adding that eye drops also help hydrate the eyes, keeping them bright and refreshed.

When the model came on stage, she already had basic base makeup and lashes applied, allowing him to focus on the artistry and refinement of his techniques. He started with the eyes, applying a thin line of kohl along the lash line before gently smudging it for a natural, diffused finish. 

“Blend, blend — it’s your best friend,” he reminded the audience, emphasizing that perfect blending can transform any look. He also applies very little product on the brush to achieve a smooth, even blend.

On contouring, his trick is to brush over the entire nose, then highlight only the bridge — a simple method he recommends if you find nose contouring tricky or hard to perfect.

During the masterclass, Fattouh teased the launch of a new foundation early next year and a nano brush mascara designed for precise definition. 

He concluded by unveiling his latest innovation — a “see-through” highlighter with almost no pigment, designed, he said, to give the skin a natural, long-lasting glass-like glow.