Dawn Images

If there’s one thing Naimal Khawar is known for — apart from her art and acting — it’s her signature blush. Look at any picture of her and what stands out most is the pink shade on her cheeks. Her lipstick colour comes in at a close second. She’s clearly aware of the public’s fascination, given that she’s launching a cream blush and liquid lip balm in those signature shades.

Her brand, called Sunkissed, is launching soon, so we decided to speak to her about it.

“I’m very particular when it comes to my beauty products. I love a natural glowy look and have always searched for products that help me achieve that look,” she explained. “But I also want them to be lightweight, with nourishing ingredients and something I can use on a daily basis. Hence, I decided to curate my own beauty line with my sisters.”

Sun-kissed is a term we’ve used to describe Khawar’s blush and lipstick in the past too — and it’s definitely one that best describes her look. In fact, that everyone recognises that look as her signature is something that played into her decision to launch these products.

“For the longest time, I’ve had people ask me about my lip and cheek tints. And I love that because I’m so specific about the shades and textures of my lip and cheek products. By curating my own line, I have been able to achieve just the right colour and texture that I like instead of having to mix a bunch of different products to get the look. I feel like most girls are simply looking for one product which is just the right shade and texture for an everyday natural look,” she explained.

“And I hope my products do that. They definitely do that for me. From the beginning, it was really important for me that I love and use these products myself on a daily basis, which I’m very happy to have achieved. So I hope others like it too!”

The brand is starting off with two basic products — a blush and a lip balm that Khawar says can give a “quick, glowy, sun-kissed look”. “Each product comes in one shade and it’s like an everyday kit. However, we plan to introduce more shades and textures in these products very soon, InshAllah. Small beginnings!”

For now, the brand is starting small. “I think I will take one step at a time. Feedback of customers is extremely important to us so we will wait to hear from them what is it that they would like to see. I would personally love to introduce more shades in these products and also launch more types of lip products. Matte, glossy, and liquid — something for everyone. But fingers crossed for now!” Khawar said.

The artist is joining a host of Pakistani women opening makeup and skincare businesses in the country. We’ve seen brands mushroom over the past couple of years, with Pakistani women given more choice than ever before. Part of that is fuelled by a renewed desire to shop local.

“I think it is primarily because of economic factors. Importing products from abroad has become increasingly expensive and fluctuations in currency have also made people less inclined towards buying western products,” she explained. “Local businesses have also been producing great products lately, especially post-Covid. There are so many unique small businesses producing such great quality products. So I do think there has been a gradual shift in people towards local products and I think that’s great! As long as local products are of quality and easily accessible, why would anyone buy from abroad?”

Why, indeed? Shopping local has become all the rage recently — we’ve got a whole section dedicated to it! — and people are getting more creative by the day.

What else is new?

But while Khawar has been spending quite a bit of time developing Sunkissed, she has had other stuff going on in her life as well. “I displayed my art at an exhibition earlier this year and have plans for displaying it at my own solo show. Being a mom also keeps me super busy so I’m always trying to find the quiet hours where I can work on my business and art,” she told us.

Speaking of art — her work is rather diverse. We’ve seen stallions, abstracts and more in her work, which led us to wonder about her what inspires her. “My inspiration comes from a blend of life experiences, emotions, and the world around me. I’m often drawn to themes that explore the human experience, such as love, freedom, and the process of letting go. Whether it’s the fluidity of abstracts, the strength and beauty of stallions, or the more recent pieces displayed at Muse Galleries, each artwork is a reflection of different moments and feelings that have resonated with me. I believe art is a journey, and I’m always inspired by the idea of expressing this journey in diverse and meaningful ways.”

For Khawar, there isn’t just one artist she can pick as her favourite. “There are many artists whose work I admire, and it’s hard to single out just one. Iqbal Hussain’s portrayal of everyday life and the human spirit is something I find particularly inspiring. However, I believe that inspiration can be drawn from a multitude of artists, both Pakistani and international, each bringing their own unique perspective and storytelling to the canvas.”

Right now, she’s focusing on her new brand and some new artwork. “It’s still in the early stages, but I’m excited to share it soon. I’m looking forward to seeing how this one unfolds.”