From the Gulf to Gen Z: Beauty's Next Moves

Author

Saba Bokhari
October 25, 2024

Creating a standout beauty brand takes more than just good ideas—it requires resilience, collaboration, and a distinct point of view.

This past Sunday, I flew to Boston (read: 6 AM flight and headed straight to Harvard) for the Harvard Business School Retail & Luxury Goods Conference, and it didn’t disappoint.

On the beauty reimagined panel, Kate Foster of The Outset emphasized curiosity, grit, and the power of strong co-founder relationships in building her hydration-focused skincare line, while Lach Hall, founder of Vacation, reimagined sunscreen with a playful, leisure-first approach.

Lach shared an insightful question that gets to the core of his brand’s development:

Mazdack Rassi of Milk Makeup shared how he and his co-founder (and wife), Zanna Roberts Rassi, transformed a photography studio into an inclusive beauty brand by acting fast, fostering community, and hiring top talent as an investment in future growth.

The takeaway? Authenticity, daring ideas, and strategic execution are essential to standing out—because as Rassi puts it, “Different is better than better.”

The day wrapped with a keynote from Patrick Ta, and yes, I just happened to have his Major Headlines Double-Take Crème & Powder Blush Duo on hand (highly recommend!). It was incredible to hear how he built his brand at Sephora, focusing on the glow he’s known for applying as a makeup artist on his celebrity clients.

In this week’s rundown, step inside the minds of more beauty innovators: Sephora’s CEO shares leadership lessons, Beachwaver’s founder masters TikTok live-selling, and It’s A 10’s CEO breaks down what it takes to build a haircare empire.

Plus, explore the Gulf’s evolving beauty scene, 2025’s trend forecast, and meet the new TikTok e-tailer serving limited-edition drops to trend-hungry Gen Z shoppers.

READING ROUNDUP - ARTICLES TO CHECK OUT

Dive into the Gulf’s evolving beauty habits, uncover 2025’s biggest trends from trend-forward founders, and meet the TikTok e-tailer shaking things up with limited-edition drops built to capture Gen Z’s attention—and dollars.

PRESS PLAY - PODCAST EPISODES TO NOTE

Get inspired by these female disruptors: Sephora CEO Artemis Patrick shares insights on navigating career growth and building innovative teams, Sarah Potempa of Beachwaver reveals how live-selling on TikTok reshaped her business, and Carolyn Aronson of It’s A 10 Haircare reflects on her leadership in transforming the industry.

PENCIL THIS IN - UPCOMING EVENTS

Catch up with beauty besties at these virtual and IRL moments.

JOB BOARD - EXCITING ROLES IN THE BEAUTY SPACE

Now hiring - check out these roles in the industry.

💌 Message me on LinkedIn if there’s anything else you’d like to see in future editions.

xx Saba Bokhari

Disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the author’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the author’s workplace.