Meet Nabila Khashoggi, Saudi entrepreneur, author, actor and so much more…we had the good fortune of talking with her as she shared her pathway to success as an international female entrepreneur, author and philanthropist.
Nabila has enjoyed a successful 20-year career in the entertainment industry as a stage, film, and television actress and producer. Following her acting career, Nabila launched Nabila K, an ethical cosmetics brand which focuses on luxury skin care products for both men and women, specializing in organic and ethical ingredients sourced from the organic world. With a creative brand that also produces candles, perfumes and lifestyle products, today Nabilla K is sold across the globe.
Bringing up her children led her to her next project, the launch of a series of illustrated children’s books which led to her developing an exciting graphic novel about the adventures of a group of children with a dog and an alien egg who travel to the Amazon rainforest. The series ‘Spartan and the Green Egg’ was published independently through Full Cycle Publications and saw Nabila return to the importance of ecology, a matter close to her heart.
Never one to stay still, she is constantly busy as she focuses on Children For Peace (ONLUS) the children’s charity where a proportion of the proceeds from her books and global luxury goods are donated. Philanthropy and the pursuit of learning have always been among Nabila’s core values and she now devotes her time to managing her family’s foundation and facilitating grants and funds to deserving children and families around the world.
Nabila, thank you for giving us some of your valuable time. Before we begin, our readers would love to learn a bit more about you. Your life is already like a saga, a beautiful woman who becomes a famous actress, before launching her skincare products. What inspired you to create the Nabilla K skincare range, and the importance of an organic lifestyle?
I traveled extensively as a child (and still do!), and I noticed that in many places the women looked healthier and their skin more luminous. It made me wonder what they were doing to make their skin look so amazing? The common thread I discovered was the use of products on their skin and as part of their skincare regimen that came from nature. There were little to no chemical additives at all! These women’s commitment to traditional treatments inspired me to bring their wisdom to other women worldwide.
Nabilla K products, including perfumes and candles, are well-known and loved for their use of natural and unique ingredients. What are organic skincare ingredients?
Depending on the product, organic skincare ingredients include extracts from the best fruits, vegetables, herbs, minerals, and other natural elements grown without synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. For example, aloe vera has been used by many cultures because of its restorative and soothing properties, so I often include it in our soaps and skin lotions and we make sure it is naturally derived.
How do you get your glow, internally and externally? Please tell us about your skincare philosophy?
My glow comes from many places, but one of the main sources of radiance is my two sons and the time I spend with them. I also find a great source of joy in being out in nature, meeting new people and learning new things. I am a lifelong learner and I love history. I believe that my drive for knowledge keeps my mind young and my zest for life at its highest levels. Externally, I focus significantly on the type of foods I eat because what you eat shows up readily and quickly in your skin, especially your face and hands. I drink a lot of water. Even when I’m exhausted from traveling, my skincare routine always includes cleansing my face with a good quality cleanser and moisturizing with a wonderfully creamy night cream. Two of my favorites are the. Nabila K Collagen Milk Cleanser and the Nabila K Night cream called I Am Here. So, I guess you could say that my skincare philosophy is to keep it simple and feed your body healthy good-for-your-skin foods.
Do you have a favorite product from your range?
I am a big fan of oil and use Nabila K Manuka Honey Renewal Face Oil daily. Manuka honey has anti-inflammatory properties and has been shown to help heal a variety of skin conditions. Also,I adore the body butter, which I use year-round instead of just in the winter. I love how soft and luxurious it feels against your skin and absorbs quickly, so you don’t have to wait before getting dressed. It’s hard to choose just one favorite product, however, because each one was developed from an experience I had, someone I met, or something I learned. And that makes each of them special to me.
We acknowledge that you have always been driven by the force of nature and natural products way before it became a trend. Do you have a mantra or motto you live by?
My motto is to love greatly, laugh freely, live naturally, do good when you can, and stay productive.
Regarding your children;s book series, can you give us feedback regarding the impact that the stories and illustrations had on the children?
When I was in school, I was always drawn to comic books…and now graphic novels. But, when my children were learning about science and social studies, I was struck by how their textbooks often presented the material in a very impersonal way. I’ve found that children learn best when there is a personal connection and when they understand on an emotional level as well as on an intellectual level. So, I developed the books around a very special boy, my son, Spartan, as a child. They are all focused on ecology, conservation, travel, and culture. The feedback and emails we’ve received from parents and children have been tremendous and encouraging. One of my favorite emails was from a parent who said her son disliked reading and that the Spartan and the Green Egg Series was the first thing he’d been able to sit and complete …and then wanted to re-read. Plus, the information he learned in the books about the Rainforest allowed him to continue his studies in class when he returned to school.
Why did you choose the Amazon Rainforest as a destination for your characters?
The Amazon Forest was the first book. I’ve had the great honor of visiting the Amazon and have served as the ambassador representing the charity The Children for Peace and we have gotten to know some of the indigenous people living there. When you get to know those who truly call the Rainforest their home, you are struck with the deep grief of a disappearing landscape, a landscape that has been on this planet since before humans were in it. It is tragic to think about it, so I wanted the next generation to understand why it is crucial to protect such ecosystems and how everything is connected.
We know that you were inspired by traveling, are your children also inspired to travel, and were they also influenced by the importance of nature?
My children both love being outdoors and are ardent conservationists in their own right. Compared to when we were children, I believe the new generation of children has grown up with more attention on recycling, renewable energy sources and making choices that protect the life on the planet…not just human beings.
Your books are very colorful and together with the story they are very enticing, did you ever think to develop a cartoon or film?
That is currently in the works! Stay tuned!
Finally, we learned that for many years you have been supporting, through donations from the proceeds of Nabila K, to “The Children for Peace’ which is an Italian NGO founded with the explicit purpose of assisting children all over the world who need fundamental support for survival. Please can you give us some information on about ‘The Children for Peace’?
Children for Peace has long been a favored organization because it focuses on helping children whose very ability to live from one day to the next is challenging. My father was a founding supporter and we champion their rights, provide medical and health intervention and support educational initiatives, including school supplies, tuition and transportation to get to school. As we say, “Every Child Has the Right to Dream.”
Text by Suna Ahmed
