Edited & Revised by Ariana Meyers
Reem Alsanea – a Saudi fashion and beauty influencer raised in California – has been featured in Sephora’s new campaign for their BEST SKIN EVER collection. The collection – which consists of foundations and concealers – launched on March 1st, 2021 in the Middle East.
In February, Sephora Middle East announced on their Instagram that Alsanea would be joining as a Sephora Collection Crewmember:
“SURPRISE! Our new #SephoraCollectionCrew member is @reemalsanea from Saudi Arabia! Meet her TODAY on our Instagram LIVE at 4PM KSA time (5PM UAE time) & get ready to have some fun. Discover her most well-kept beauty secrets & much more!”
Alsanea first entered Instagram’s fashion and beauty scene in 2013 – with the influencer hoping to use the platform as a megaphone for Arab representation and self-confidence. Moreover, Alsanea’s experience growing up as a Saudi-identifying woman in California majorly influenced her approach to beauty and makeup content:
“I think it’s important to have representation. Spending most of my childhood in the States, I didn’t see women who looked like me in the media – with thick eyebrows, dark hair, and big lips. I used to dye my hair very light and I would do funny things like thin out my eyebrows and wear colored contact lenses. I’m glad girls can look up to women who represent them today. As I have gotten older, I have come to accept the look I was given. I not only want to create content that people like, but offer a strong vision of confidence, too”.
In short – Alsanea hopes that she can create content that highlights Arab women and their unique beauty in order for young Arab girls to have role models to look up to. With a strong passion for Arab representation in beauty – it is no surprise that Sephora has chosen Alsanea to be the face of its Middle Eastern campaigns.
Sephora is not the only brand that has picked up on Alsanea’s passion and influence: brands such as Yves Saint Laurent Beauty, Bobbi Brown, Tom Ford Beauty and OwnTheLook have collaborated with the young Arab influencer – captivated not only by her charisma but her impeccable taste and large Instagram audience of 915K.
The popularity of outspoken Arab Female Influencers on social media has pushed many brands such as Sephora to recruit women like Alsanea to be the face of their campaigns in order to build a strong influencer marketing strategy and to capitalize on the opportunity to reach a wide, niche audience.