READY, SET, SHOP

Not only is ALBERT KURNIAWAN one of the leading, most soughtafter celebrity makeup artists in South East Asia, but he also founded award-winning makeup brand Teviant. And now, he’s bringing Teviant to the Middle East.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and what sparked your interest in beauty?

I was born and raised in Indonesia, so technically, I’m a fullblooded Indonesian and a celebrity makeup artist. I’ve been doing professional makeup services for Asian celebrities and top clienteles from Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Hong Kong as well as Italy and Spain.

I also work a lot with celebrities and influencers, and frequently attend fashion weeks such as Paris Fashion Week. I started to take an interest in makeup while growing up as I was surrounded with ladies – namely my grandma and my mom. They loved beauty so much, so seeing them getting dolled up every morning and not leaving their rooms without putting on makeup really started my love and adoration for makeup.

It is a rule in our family to never leave the house without properly dressing up or making yourself presentable. It has become a culture and tradition for us to never leave the room looking like we’ve just come out of bed. Everyone should look tidy, prim and proper. When I was a kid, my mom would always ask my opinion on her makeup. Then, the rest of the family would ask my advice and opinion on their makeup. I guess that’s where it all started.

What pushed you to create Teviant?

It’s been a dream for me to have my own makeup line. However, I never thought that it’s going to be a reality because I didn’t feel confident – I never had a degree in business management nor a retail background. I just loved doing makeup for my clients. It was my passion until I met someone who knew how to do makeup formulations and beauty products during one of my travels, and that triggered my interest in creating my own line. Of course, after consulting my family and industry friends, they were very supportive of the idea.

I also realised that by creating new makeup line, it will open a lot of doors and opportunities, not only for me, but also the whole beauty industry in Asia. I love supporting young talents who do not have the means to express their creativity due to a lack of support to make their dreams a reality. By bringing Teviant to life, I was able to train new makeup artists and give them products with good formulations as most of the international brands are expensive. One of my motivations in creating this line was to have a new makeup line with top quality at reasonable prices.

You’ve tended to the faces of everyone from real-life Crazy Rich Asian Heart Evangelista and Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach to members of royal families across Asia. How would you describe the Teviant woman in five words?

The Teviant woman is self-driven, motivated, inspirational, independent, and a risk-taker. These are women who are never afraid to express their emotions, and inspirational in their own little ways. They are survivors and know how to rise up to the challenges of life. They are independent and fearless – and that’s what our products stand for. We want our products to be tools that boost self-esteem and confidence among women.

We are so excited to have Teviant in the Middle East now! Which products should every woman have in her makeup case?

Everything! I would say everything. Bias aside, I can definitely say everything because I carefully create all of the products, and each of them has its own purpose. But if I were to strictly select one, I would say the eye shadow. I know it’s not really what you’d expect because people think wearing eye shadow is a bit too much, but for me, it’s a basic step in the makeup process. They should not be afraid to experiment as the eyes are one of the most important features of our faces and can be enhanced with the proper application of eye shadow.

What do you keep in mind when creating looks for celebrities?

Glamour. I always strive to create a glamorous look – striking eyes, shimmer, and shine. For my celebrity clients, I create looks for them depending on their personalities and, sometimes, the requirement of their work or project. But if I have the chance to take over, I always inject a touch of their personality into their makeup look as this will make their inner persona come out naturally.

What’s your ultimate beauty tip?

Be confident. The advice I give to my clients is to never doubt yourself and carry yourself with confidence. Makeup products are beauty enhancers; they highlight one’s beauty and create a look, but the wearer has to exude confidence to be able to have an inner ‘glow’ that will reflect to the outside. My beauty philosophy is actually to believe in your own beauty. Everyone’s beautiful in their own way. I know it’s kind of cliché and easy to say, but trust me, the moment a woman accepts her flaws is the time she truly becomes beautiful. The mind is a powerful part of our body that keeps a radiant glow in our faces, so maintain a positive mindset and enjoy life. Oh, and drink a lot of water!

For more information, go to www.teviantbeauty.me @teviant | @abtkurniawan