Huda Beauty didn’t start in a boardroom—it started with a blog post and a pair of false lashes. Since its launch in 2013, the brand has exploded into a global phenomenon carried by a founder who turned an eye for makeup into a business empire.

Founded: 2013 (Wikipedia) · Founder: Huda Kattan (Wikipedia) · Headquarters: Dubai, UAE (Wikipedia) · Net worth (2024 estimate): $560 million (HotNewHipHop) · Categories: Makeup, skincare, fragrance (Wikipedia) · Instagram followers: 54 million (Wikipedia)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Huda Kattan founded Huda Beauty in 2013 (Wikipedia)
  • Headquarters in Dubai, UAE (Wikipedia)
  • First product was false lashes sold through Sephora (Wikipedia)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact reasons for boycott—no official statement from Huda Beauty (Reddit discussion)
  • Full list of manufacturing locations (brand only says “global sourcing”) (Wikipedia)
  • Whether the brand has returned to full founder ownership after TSG partnership (Instagram post)
3Timeline signal
  • 2013: Brand launches with false lashes (Wikipedia)
  • 2017: The New Nude Palette becomes a global hit (Wikipedia)
  • 2023: Forbes estimates founder net worth at over $400 million (Wikipedia citing Forbes)
4What’s next
  • Global retail expansion, including Ireland (Boots.ie) (Boots Ireland)
  • Continued growth in fragrance (Kayali line) (Wikipedia)
  • Potential CEO transition or ownership change (Reddit)

Here’s a quick reference table of Huda Beauty’s key details.

Huda Beauty at a glance
Attribute Detail Source
Founder Huda Kattan Wikipedia
Founded year 2013 Wikipedia
HQ location Dubai, United Arab Emirates Wikipedia
Founder ethnicity Iraqi-American Wikipedia
Net worth (founder, 2024 estimate) $560 million HotNewHipHop
Key product The New Nude Palette, Life Liner Wikipedia
Best-sellers Eyeshadow palettes, lashes, foundation Wikipedia

Who is the owner of Huda Beauty?

Who founded Huda Beauty?

  • Huda Kattan founded the brand in 2013 (Wikipedia).
  • She started her beauty blog and YouTube channel in 2010, building an audience before launching product (Wikipedia).
  • The first product was a set of false lashes sold through Sephora (Wikipedia).

What is Huda Kattan’s background?

  • Born October 2, 1983, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States, to Iraqi parents (Wikipedia).
  • She studied finance in the U.S. before moving to Dubai to pursue makeup artistry (Wikipedia).
  • Kattan borrowed $6,000 from her sister Alya to buy inventory for her first lash line (Glamour video).

Bottom line: Huda Kattan is the sole owner of Huda Beauty, having built it from a blog side hustle into a multinational brand. For consumers who value founder-led authenticity, her personal story of Iraqi-American heritage and bootstrap beginnings is central to the brand.

Which country is Huda Beauty from?

Huda Beauty headquarters are in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The brand was founded in Dubai and is legally registered there (Wikipedia).

Is Huda Beauty based in Dubai?

  • Yes, the company’s official address is in Dubai, UAE (Wikipedia).
  • Huda Kattan lives and works in Dubai, though she was born in the U.S. (Wikipedia).

Where are Huda Beauty products manufactured?

  • The brand does not disclose all manufacturing facilities; it states “global sourcing” on its official site (Huda Beauty official site).
  • Some products are made in Italy, China, and the U.S., based on packaging labels, but no comprehensive list is public.
The brand’s supply chain is international, not just Dubai-based. For Irish shoppers, Huda Beauty is available at Boots.ie, not manufactured locally.

The implication: Huda Beauty’s origin story is firmly Dubai, but its manufacturing footprint spans multiple countries.

Is Huda Beauty a good makeup brand?

What do customers say about Huda Beauty quality?

  • Reviews across Sephora and Boots inevitably praise the brand’s high pigmentation and long-wear formulas (Boots Ireland).
  • The New Nude Palette earned cult status for its buttery textures and shade range (Wikipedia).
  • Life Liner is a consistent top seller in the liquid eyeliner category.

Pros and cons of Huda Beauty products

Upsides

  • Highly pigmented, blendable formulas
  • Wide shade selection (especially palettes)
  • Strong online community and tutorials
  • Available in major retailers including Sephora and Boots

Downsides

  • Price point higher than drugstore brands
  • Early shade range criticized for lack of deep skin tones
  • False advertising lawsuit (settled out of court, 2019) (Wikipedia)
  • Some consumers question ethical sourcing

The pattern: Huda Beauty delivers on performance and trendiness, but the premium price and past controversies mean it’s not for everyone. The trade-off is clear: you pay for quality and hype, not for transparency.

Why is Huda Beauty so famous?

What products made Huda Beauty popular?

  • The brand initially gained traction with faux mink lashes, then exploded with the 2017 launch of The New Nude Palette (Wikipedia).
  • Liquid matte lipsticks and the Life Liner eyeliner became best-sellers.

How did social media drive Huda Beauty’s fame?

  • Huda Kattan leveraged her own YouTube and Instagram following (54 million followers as of 2025) (Wikipedia).
  • She ranked #1 on the 2017 Instagram Rich List, earning up to $18,000 per sponsored post (Wikipedia).
  • Celebrity endorsements and influencer seeding multiplied reach.

According to MENAbytes, the brand was estimated to be worth $1 billion as of 2018 and on track for $300 million in annual revenue that year (MENAbytes). Why this matters: Huda Beauty’s fame is engineered through product innovation and a relentless social media strategy.

What is Huda Kattan’s ethnicity?

Is Huda Kattan Iraqi?

  • Yes, Huda Kattan is of Iraqi descent. Her parents are Iraqi (Wikipedia).
  • She was born in Oklahoma, making her Iraqi-American (Wikipedia).

What is Huda Beauty’s cultural background?

  • The brand’s identity is rooted in Middle Eastern influence, from product names to the founder’s heritage (Wikipedia).
  • Kattan often credits her cultural background for her understanding of diverse skin tones and makeup preferences.

The catch: Ethnicity questions arise partly due to boycott campaigns that target brands perceived as connected to Middle Eastern politics. Huda Kattan’s Iraqi roots complicate those narratives.

Is Huda Kattan a millionaire?

What is Huda Kattan’s net worth?

  • Forbes listed Huda Kattan among its richest self-made women (Wikipedia citing Forbes).
  • Multiple outlets estimate her net worth at $560 million as of 2024 (HotNewHipHop)(Tuko).
  • Some headlines have called her a billionaire, but those are not confirmed by verified financial disclosures (Tuko, warning).

What this means: Huda Kattan is unquestionably a millionaire—reportedly in the half-billion range—but not a confirmed billionaire. The difference matters for consumers who consider billionaire status in their brand loyalty.

Which makeup brands should I boycott?

Why is Huda Beauty boycotted?

  • Boycott calls against Huda Beauty are linked to unverified claims about the founder’s political stances, often tied to the Israel-Palestine conflict (Reddit discussion).
  • Huda Beauty has not issued an official statement on political donations or positions (Wikipedia).
  • Other brands frequently boycotted include Estée Lauder, L’Oreal, and MAC (Tuko).
Boycott lists change often and are based on unverified social media claims. Before switching brands, check current campaigns on trusted consumer sites.

What alternatives exist to Huda Beauty?

  • Consumers looking for similar quality without boycott concerns consider brands like Fenty Beauty, NARS, or Charlotte Tilbury.
  • Independent Middle Eastern-owned brands such as Beauty Bakerz and Juvia’s Place are also alternatives.

The catch: Boycott lists change frequently and are often based on unverified social media claims. For Irish shoppers, checking current campaigns on trusted consumer sites is essential before switching.

Timeline

  • 2013: Huda Beauty launches with false lashes sold through Sephora (Wikipedia).
  • 2015: Brand expands to liquid matte lipsticks and eyeshadow palettes (Wikipedia).
  • 2017: The New Nude Palette goes viral; brand reportedly valued at over $1 billion (Glamour video)(MENAbytes).
  • 2019: Huda Beauty launches Wishful skincare line; settles false advertising lawsuit (Wikipedia).
  • 2022: Entry into fragrance with Kayali by Huda (Wikipedia).
  • 2023: Forbes estimates Kattan’s net worth at over $400 million (Wikipedia citing Forbes).

Clarity section

Confirmed facts

  • Huda Kattan founded the brand in 2013 (Wikipedia).
  • Headquarters are in Dubai, UAE (Wikipedia).
  • Huda Kattan is Iraqi-American (Wikipedia).
  • Forbes listed her among richest self-made women (Wikipedia citing Forbes).
  • The New Nude Palette was launched in 2017 (Wikipedia).

What’s unclear

  • Exact reasons for boycott campaigns against the brand.
  • Whether Huda Beauty has any political affiliations.
  • Complete manufacturing location details.
  • Current ownership structure after TSG partnership (unconfirmed reports of full founder buy-back).
  • Whether the brand valuation of $1 billion is confirmed (disputed).

Quotes

“I borrowed $6,000 from my sister to buy lashes for the business.”

— Huda Kattan, Glamour video (Glamour)

“Huda Beauty is a cosmetics line launched in 2013 by Huda Kattan.”

— Wikipedia (Wikipedia)

“BEAUTY IS SELF MADE.”

— Huda Kattan’s Instagram bio

Summary

Huda Beauty shows Huda Kattan’s entrepreneurial grit—from a borrowed $6,000 to a half-billion-dollar net worth—but the brand’s rapid rise has also attracted scrutiny over its political silence and manufacturing transparency. Irish beauty shoppers now have the facts they need to decide for themselves.

Related reading: **Is Thom Browne a Luxury Brand?** · **Chanel Bag Price 2025: Cost & Guide**

For readers interested in a deeper look at the brand’s origins and the controversies surrounding it, Huda Beautys boycott and origin story provides additional perspective.

Frequently asked questions

Who owns Huda Beauty?

Huda Kattan is the founder and owner of Huda Beauty (Wikipedia).

Where is Huda Beauty headquartered?

Dubai, United Arab Emirates (Wikipedia).

What is Huda Kattan’s net worth?

Estimated at $560 million by HotNewHipHop and Tuko in 2024 (HotNewHipHop)(Tuko).

Why is Huda Beauty boycotted?

Consumer boycotts are based on unverified claims about political stances; Huda Beauty has issued no official statement on the matter (Wikipedia).

What is Huda Beauty’s best-selling product?

The New Nude Palette and Life Liner are among the top sellers (Wikipedia).

Is Huda Beauty available in Ireland?

Yes, through Boots.ie and online at hudabeauty.com (Boots Ireland).

What ethnicity is Huda Kattan?

Iraqi-American (Wikipedia).

Does Huda Beauty test on animals?

Huda Beauty states it is cruelty-free and does not test on animals, but this is self-reported (Huda Beauty official site).