She’s the head makeup artist for Cosmetix SA, responsible for creating Cindy Nell’s face beat and a spray-tan therapist. La’eeqa shares all.
Glamour: What lessons have you learnt about achieving your goals?
La’eeqa Yunus: Never give up, always persevere and know that it’s okay to fail as long as you carry on.
Glamour: The beauty product you’d never skip?
LY: Eye cream. It reduces dark circles, puffiness and wrinkles.
Glamour: Which part of your body do you love the most and why?
LY: My eyes because they’re almond-shaped, so there’s more space to apply eyeshadow.
Glamour: What’s the greatest fear you had to overcome to get where you are today?
LY: I changed my career completely when I was 30 after I’d had two children. I went from working at a bank in the corporate field to becoming a full-time makeup artist. I was worried about making this change so late in life, leaving a nine-to-five job with a regular income to start freelancing. But I got to where I am today because I took risks.
Glamour: What was the best advice you ever received? And who was it from?
LY: My husband always says, you make money while there’s money to be made. I’m always grateful for the jobs I get as a freelance makeup artist because you never know when you’re going to have a slow month.
Glamour: The makeup products on your shopping list?
LY: I’m crushing on Catrice Ten!sational 10-in-1 Primer. It minimises pores, has an SPF, moisturises the skin, gives it a natural glow and so much more.
Glamour: How often do you go for beauty treatments, and what do you have done?
LY: I’m a beauty treatment fanatic. I have my lashes and eyebrows done every two weeks. I go for hydration facials now and then and also have derma pen done every six months. I love to have a tan, so I get a professional spray tan done by Caribbeantan at least twice a month.
Glamour: The beauty advice everyone should follow?
LY: Never go to bed with makeup on. It clogs your pores and causes long-lasting damage to your skin.
Glamour: Why do you believe in the brand?
LY: We have a social responsibility to be good to the environment and ourselves. The Cosmetix SA brands have never tested on animals, have no micro-plastics and 80% of their offering is vegan.
Glamour: Which beauty products are currently in your bathroom?
LY: Optiphi Facial Cleanser (R780), Caribbeantan Exfoliator (R69.95) and Body Butter (R79.95), and Catrice Micellar Water (R69.95) to remove my makeup.
Glamour: Do you believe that you can eat yourself beautiful?
LY: What you put inside your body shows on the surface. Drinking lots of water hydrates your skin, and good fats, such as avocado and lentils, result in having shiny hair. In the same breath, I’d also like to mention that beauty isn’t what’s on the surface, but rather it comes from within. Your values and the way you treat people reflect who you truly are.
