Inspired By You: Rachelle Facelo

Tell us a bit about yourself

I was born and raised in Sydney, Australia with a Filipino heritage from both sides of my family. I work full-time as a professional freelance hair & makeup artist working across the fashion, beauty, TV and bridal industry and absolutely love what I do.

How did you get into the world of makeup and fashion and tell us about your journey to where you are today?

It all started as a hobby in my first year of uni, I began as a self-taught makeup artist after following and watching celebrity makeup artists and beauty influencers on YouTube. I decided to defer my degree to study Makeup & Special Effects at a private college in Sydney in 2016. From there I landed my first show at Fashion Week and fell in love with the industry and the newfound opportunity of working full-time as a freelancer - I decided I was going to defer uni for another year in hopes to pursue a career in makeup full-time.

I started emailing Sydney's top makeup artists and hairstylists in the industry to become their assistants and hopefully forge a career for myself. I would set goals each year to land my first paid photoshoot with a brand, then to land my first campaign, to direct my first show, to be signed by an agency, and slowly but surely worked my way into the fashion industry. There have been plenty of hurdles, but I'm very lucky to say that I've managed to achieve more than I ever wanted out of this career and I couldn't be more grateful for every opportunity I've been given.

How would you describe your signature look and what is it about your style that sets you apart from other makeup artists?

I would say my signature look is 'soft, fresh-faced glam'. My style has definitely changed over the years - as I transitioned from working on private events and bridal clients to working in the fashion industry I found a new love for minimal, natural skin. I love the contrast of a soft smokey, defined eye paired with fresh, light-weight products on the skin, diffused blush and soft contour only where needed - I find this balance of 'natural glam' is what makes my work unique to me as it draws my favourites elements from all of the different parts of the industry that I work in.

Where do you find your core inspiration?

I find inspiration from being surrounded by other like-minded creatives - they don't necessarily need to be a makeup artist, even just talking to someone who loves what they do gets me excited as I definitely feed off of their positive energy.

As a makeup artist, you don't often work with other artists on a daily basis, so I love working on things like Fashion Week and TV productions like The Voice where I'm constantly working alongside other artists, learning from them, seeing what new techniques are around, seeing how their minds work when planning a look, what new products they love and how they use them. Everyone has their own style and way of doing things so it definitely inspires me to be around others, especially those who have been in the industry for much longer - they've got a wealth of knowledge to share and I love picking their brains! It pushes me to be a better artist and gets my creative juices flowing!

How does your personal style reflect your personality?

On the daily, you'll find me wearing comfortable, casual clothes to work (jeans & an oversized tee), but when I get the chance to get dressed up I'd say that's when my style truly reflects my personality. I'm definitely a girly girl, love layering loads of gold jewellery to dress up a pair of wide legs pants with heels or if I'm wearing a dress or top I always gravitate towards something fun like a balloon sleeve. Putting the effort into doing my hair & makeup and throwing on a good outfit definitely brings out the confidence in me!

Do you have any advice for others who want to go into the field of professional makeup?

Reach out to artists who inspire you and offer to be their assistant, it's the best way to get your foot in the door and truly see what the industry is like whilst being able to learn from them one-on-one.

How do you practice sustainability in your everyday life?

I've had a shift in mindset when it comes to clothing, I'm learning to invest in good quality, staple pieces for my wardrobe versus shopping fast fashion and have a newfound appreciation for locally designed and made clothing. I'm happy to pay the premium if it means supporting small businesses and sustainable companies.