Vv Magazine Associate Editor Azra Hirji will be the first to tell you that, as a woman of colour working in a predominantly ‘white’ industry where having strong beauty game garners you some serious brownie points, it’s often difficult to find a little beauty inspiration that suits her skin tone. Azra decided to take her woes to the streets of Toronto for inspiration and answers, resulting in Vv Magazine’s Ethnic Beauty Guide — beauty advice and tips from some of the most influential (and beautiful) ethnic women in Toronto. From overcoming their beauty struggles to letting us in on their must-have makeup products, Ethnic Beauty Guide profiles a new face every week, with the woman behind the gorgeous features divulging her best-kept beauty secrets, tips, issues, and advice.
This week on Vv Magazine’s Ethnic Beauty Guide, we chat with the stunning Halla Rafati, the ever-so-charming PR Director of the Four Seasons Hotel. Rafati enlightens us on the best way to get rid of dark under-eye circles and inspires us with the beauty advice she will one day give her children.
Name: Halla Rafati
Ethnicity: Middle Eastern (Jordanian & Lebanese)
Your biggest beauty struggle?
Under-eye dark circles.
How you’ve overcome said beauty struggle?
Dark circles is a combination of genetics and lifestyle. There is nothing I can do about it but the Estee Lauder Ultimate Lift Age Correcting Eye Cream has been the most effective in neutralising the darkness and puffiness after a long night.
What is something you’ve grown to love about yourself?
Me.
If you were to have a daughter, what is one thing you’d teach her about beauty, the way she looks, etc.?
That beauty truly does shine from the inside out. Be a good person and don’t ever cake on the make up. It wipes off onto people’s clothes when you hug them and that’s never a good thing.
A beauty tip you swear by:
Always keep your skin moisturised from head to toe. My foot cream is different from my body cream which is also different from my face and eye cream. Every moisturizer serves a purpose, and maintenance is key to aging gracefully.
A beauty product you can’t live without:
Vaseline. It’s my back up for almost everything, from a lip gloss to a moisturiser.
Favourite nude + red lipstick:
Red: Guerlain Rouge Kiss – it’s simply the perfect shade of red.
Nude: Tom Ford Nude Vanille + NARS Striptease gloss = epic combo.
Favourite beauty brand for women of colour:
Glo Minerals for make-up and Elizabeth Grant for skin care – I can’t live without their Vitamin C line.
Body hair removal preference:
Laser even though it took me almost two years to finish the entire process. Waxing should be illegal.
Brows, how do you like ’em and how do you groom ’em?:
I like them a bit grown out and perfectly-shaped and groomed. My brow queen is Olga Onulov. Find her and see her. She will change your face for the better. Guaranteed.
Celebrity icons:
Jennifer Lopez because she somehow defies the consequences of aging and Beyonce because she’s pretty damn awesome.
If you have any beauty tips, secrets and makeup must-haves that you’d like to add to our Ethnic Beauty Guide, be sure to chime in on the comments section below or tweet us your thoughts on this week’s “Ethnic Beauty Guide: Halla Rafati” on Twitter @ViewTheVibe.
