Q&A
Tasneem Valley, aesthetician and makeup artist, talks beauty rituals and what inspires her to feel confident.
Glamour: You say that “beauty should be enhanced, not created” on your For Beautiful Life site – tell us more about this ethos.
Tasneem Valley: Every being is beautiful, we all possess a striking feature that stands out. As a beauty aesthetician and makeup artist, I believe that it’s my duty to enhance these features as opposed to creating some false illusion of what society portrays beauty to be. I continuously remind my clients that most of the posts they see on social media are airbrushed or edited. Whilst I continue distancing myself from the negatives, my preference has always been helping others discover their best feature and establishing it as their focal point.
Glamour: How do you feel about how beauty is currently represented in the media?
TV: It was only after my most recent trip to London, partnering with Dove, I discovered how we all have been brainwashed into believing what true beauty is. Social media has indoctrinated our minds into making us believe that a face that’s perfectly sculpted, symmetrical and defined with no flaws, is the manifestation of true beauty, and this is so far from any truth! I spend every effort to be as real and as authentic as I possibly can, not only to the women that follow and look up to me but also to my three daughters who see me as a role model.
Glamour: What are you doing in your personal capacity to add to how beauty is represented?
TV: Dove’s #ShowUs campaign resonated so deeply with me. I grew up with such a low self-esteem and a feeling of inferiority, especially when I looked at the ‘perfect’ faces and bodies portrayed in the media. Now, together with Dove, I hope I can reach out and make a difference to young girls and women who are going
through the same feelings as I did.
Glamour: What beauty tips do you have for women to help them feel more confident in their skin and embrace their unique form of beauty?
TV: Growing up, the condition that my skin was in was always a continuous struggle for me. I was hairy with an oily face, and I had lots of enlarged pores and blackheads. From my late teens, my allowance went straight into spending on good skincare. Looking back, I can confidently say that this was a wellpaid investment, as I’m now a ritual skincare guru. I always cleanse twice a day and never go to sleep with makeup on. I apply serums suited for my specific skin concerns. Moisturise daily and always apply a strong sunscreen.
Glamour: What does your own self-care routine involve?
TV: Your skin is the largest organ, so I refrain from applying just any ordinary soap to my body, instead, I love using Dove Deeply Nourishing Body Wash (R39), as it doesn’t strip away the moisture from my skin like other soaps do.
I also love the Heliocare Advanced Spray SPF50 (R400), which is nongreasy and leaves no residue on my face.
I swear by iS Clinical Active Serum (R1 115), which targets uneven skintone, early signs of aging and breakouts.
Glamour: What would you tell 18-year-old Tasneem about loving the skin she’s in?
TV: You are the epitome of beauty. The hands of the Almighty moulded you, and you are a reflection of perfection. So love yourself more and believe in you.