HOLR is chatting with lifestyle creator, Aysha Harun!
Los Angeles-based beauty and lifestyle creator, Aysha Harun, is sitting down to chat with HOLR about everything from go-to skincare tips to mocktail recipes and more. As a ‘skincare guru’ and an expert in ‘modest curvy fashion,’ Aysha also acts as a voice for a largely underrepresented audience of women by not only being a hijabi but also a woman of color.
Keep reading to learn about how Aysha, who is originally from Toronto, got her start, where her content inspiration comes from, and what she’s most excited about this year!
How did you get your start on social media?
My story began in 2011 when I was only 16 years old. I was obsessed with watching beauty tutorials on YouTube and was inclined to try it out for myself. At the time, there was no one on YouTube that looked like me – a Black Muslim, hijab-wearing girl. So motivated by my boredom, I took my dad’s camcorder and filmed my first YouTube video – Get Ready with Me. After a year or so of posting, I started to gain a small community of girls who looked just like me and I had unknowingly become the representation I so desperately craved to see. By 2017 just as I graduated university with my bachelor’s in business administration, I reached 100,000 subscribers on YouTube and decided to go full-time and see where the journey would take me. It was the best decision I ever made!
Where does your content creation inspiration come from?
My content creation inspiration comes from my life. I am a beauty and fashion-obsessed woman who loves food, loves to travel and I love sharing that with my community. So, if I’m trying out a new beauty product and feel inclined to share it, it inspires a beauty tutorial or review. Or if I’m traveling somewhere new and exciting, I create beautiful travel vlogs and fashion content themed around that trip. My inspiration also comes from the thousands of insanely talented creators out there. Every day as I scroll through my social media, I’m inspired to try new editing styles or try out a new fashion trend, or a new recipe. But through all of that, I try to make it my own and add my unique touch.
You’re known by your audience as a ‘skincare guru.’ What are some of your go-to skincare tips and product recommendations?
I used to be a maximalist when it came to my skincare. I had a 10-step skincare routine filled with a ton of activities, several steps, and lots of products. However, my best tip is honestly to keep it simple. Stick to a few ingredients your skin enjoys and don’t change them too often. For myself, I love a good Vitamin C serum in the morning like the Herbivore Botanicals Nova 15% Vitamin C + Turmeric serum, followed by SPF. The best SPF I’d recommend is the one that gets you to wear it every single day. So, whether that’s a mineral or chemical sunscreen, just wear it. My favorite is Supergoop! Every. Single. Face SPF 50, Biore UV Aqua Rich SPF 50 and Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream SPF 30. At night I love a hydrating serum like the Clarins Double Serum paired with a Lactic Acid serum a couple times a week. My favorite is the Biossance Squalane + Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum – it keeps my skin baby-smooth!
You also love sharing delicious mocktails and cooking recipes on your social media channels. What are some of your favorite things to make?
Yes! I’ve been loving sharing more of my cooking journey online. My favorite things to make are my mother’s Chicken Vegetable Soup, Honey Glazed Salmon in the air fryer and I’m obsessed with making chocolate-covered “Snickers” dates! As for mocktails, I love starting out with a Poppi soda flavor and building on that. Their Raspberry Rose soda is one of my favorites and it makes a delicious raspberry sour mocktail with just crushed raspberries and lime.
Your followers also love your sense of style! As we move into Spring, what are some of your must-try modest curvy fashion tips?
Maxi Skirt! They’re my favorite piece of clothing for the Spring as they’re incredibly chic but can be dressed up or down. They’ve been very popular even outside of the modest fashion world and I love that because it makes shopping for good maxi skirts so much easier. My favorite way to style a maxi skirt is with a cute cardigan and leaving the last couple of buttons undone to flatter my curves a bit more. Pair that with some Chanel-inspired flats or heels for the chicest modest look!
What are you excited about in 2024?
We’re about to enter Ramadan so I’m excited to tap into my faith a bit more this month and share more delicious recipes with my community. I also just released a beautiful Ramadan collection with California-based Islamic decor brand Modern Eid which is so exciting. I can’t share much about this just yet, but I also have an exciting collaboration coming out this Fall that is going to be such a monumental moment for my career, so you’ll have to stay tuned!
Published by HOLR Magazine.