10 Women Behind Middle Eastern Beauty Brands

These entrepreneurs are the region's top female founders behind beauty and make-up businesses based on the scope and success of their brands in 2024.

- ELENA HAYEK

Huda Kattan

Brand: Huda Beauty

Establishment: 2013

Nationality: Iraqi-American

Headquarters: U.A.E.

Kattan started her makeup brand, Huda Beauty, with her two sisters Mona and Alya in 2013. She launched her skincare brand WISHFUL and a line of makeup GloWish in 2020 and 2021 respectively. In 2020, Kattan stepped down as CEO of the brand, and in 2021 she became co-CEO with her husband, then in February 2024 she returned as CEO of Huda Beauty and announced her plans to do a rebranding with a new logo, and new packaging later this year. In March 2024, the brand launched its first-ever lip gloss named “FAUX FILLER Extra Shine”, which is also one of the first products that the brand dropped since Kattan took charge as head of the product development team.

Hind Sebti

Brand: whind

Establishment: 2021

Nationality: Moroccan

Headquarters: U.K.

Sebti is the founder of the beauty and skincare brand whind, the first brand to be launched as part of the Waldencast, a Nasdaqlisted holding company and investment fund that incubates and accelerates early-stage beauty and wellness brands. Sebti is also the cofounder and chief growth officer of Waldencast PLC, which had a market cap of over $542.5 million as of June 11, 2024, and recorded $68.3 million in net revenues in Q1 2024. whind has over 129,000 followers on Instagram as of June 2024. Its products are PETA-certified, cruelty-free, and vegan, it also uses 100% recyclable bottles and jars.

Mouna Abbassy

Brand: izil Beauty

Establishment: 2012

Nationality: Moroccan

Headquarters: U.A.E.