Makeup artist Bassam Fattouh was born in Beirut in 1978. He counts among his clients Haifa Wehbe, Elissa and Najwa Karam. After studying cosmetology at France’s CARITA, he set up his beauty institute in 1997 and launched his own makeup line in 2011.
Q: Describe a typical day.
A: Well my typical day is a mixture between working on my Bassam Fattouh Cosmetics line – new launches, marketing campaigns, etc. – and interaction with my daily institute clients who seek the BF institute as their beauty haven.
Q: What was the last thing you bought?
A: iPhone 5.
Q: Who was the last person you spoke to?
A: My personal assistant, Mounir Akhal, who I can’t pass the day without.
Q: Describe Lebanon in five words.
A: Well I think I need more than five words to describe it, but I’ll do my best. Lebanon is fun, showoff, trendy, cultural, service oriented, beautiful in its four seasons, messy but easily adaptable.
Q: If you could change one thing about Lebanon, what would it be?
A: Its political scene.
Q: What’s your earliest memory?
A: A wonderful trip to Capri Island in Italy.
Q: What did you want to be as a child?
A:Well as most children are influenced by their peers to become one of the famed categories (doctor, engineer, lawyer), I wanted to be a doctor.
Q: Were you a good student?
A: I had no choice but to be a good one!
Q: What advice would you give your younger self?
A: I would tell my younger self to let go and be less anxious.
Q: What is the most valuable thing your parents or grandparents taught you?
A: To always have faith.
Q: How do you think people describe you?
A: I would say an artist.
Q: If you could be anywhere right now, where would you be?
A: Paris.
Q: What’s the best item of clothing you’ve ever owned?
A: A Tom Ford suit.
Q: Do you read your star sign?
A: Sometimes, for the fun of it.
Q:What’s your favorite word?
A: Thank you. I like saying this word to anyone who deserves it. Feels good to appreciate people in their acts.
Q: What’s the scariest thing you’ve ever done?
A: Skydiving.
Q: If you could do any other job for a day, what would it be?
A: I would be an interior designer.
Q: Which historical figure would you choose to go for coffee with?
A: Pablo Picasso. I would ask him how he managed to change the conformity and introduce modern art.
Q: How do you sleep?
A: I have my sleeping rituals, but I generally suffer due to my constant traveling.
Q: How often do you laugh?
A: Very often. In every passing minute there is an opportunity to smile and laugh.
Q: What’s your party trick?
A: A glass of Champagne.
Q: Skiing or swimming?
A: Definitely swimming.
Q: What do you look forward to?
A: Taking my BF cosmetics line into the global markets.
Q: Happiness is ...
A: Satisfaction.