Lil Nas X’s Makeup Artist Raoúl Alejandre Shares His Top Beauty Tips

Raoúl Alejandre is having the 12 months many make-up artists dream of—he was lately introduced as Valentino Beauty’s Global Makeup Ambassador, bringing his signature model to the enduring trend home’s new foray into luxurious magnificence. Citing Serge Lutens, Richard Avedon, and previous Hollywood glamour as his influences, he takes a multidisciplinary strategy to make-up, pulling parts of artwork and design into his usually intricate appears to be like, whether or not it’s gothic liner on Willow Smith for the quilt of V, understated glam on Lil Nas X on the BBMAs, or a MAC marketing campaign with Alexa Demie.Despite the stress of a world magnificence partnership, Alejandre maintains a simple and open demeanor—one which belies the magnitude of his work. Calling in from his hometown of Los Angeles, he defined, “crucial factor I’ve skilled by means of this course of as a ‘skilled make-up artist,’ quote-unquote, is at all times staying true to your self and giving your self constructive affirmations—residing authentically, on the finish of the day. Because in case you’re making issues and expressing your self in a manner that makes you content, you’re at all times going to see a constructive reflection.” In this installment of Beauty Notes, Alejandre discusses collaborating with different queer artists, his must-have merchandise, and why it’s vital to maintain a little bit of your internal youngster alive.What drew you to work with Valentino Beauty?Valentino’s focus has at all times been on inclusivity. They work with individuals and convey individuals on their groups which have completely different concepts. I’ve seen them work with artists that categorical themselves in a visible kind, however there are additionally artists who know how one can create a imaginative and prescient with phrases. They don’t care in regards to the particular person’s following or their notoriety. They see them as true artists and creators, and that’s tremendous uncommon on this business. Do you’ve got any highlights from engaged on that marketing campaign?This marketing campaign jogged my memory of how expansive I might be as an artist. I used to be so used to doing my work in a curated, lovely manner, however Valentino jogged my memory that much less might be extra. Everything with Valentino is in regards to the small particulars and the luxurious touches that spotlight the pure magnificence already present in individuals. For me, this expertise was much less about make-up and extra about honoring the particular person’s true self, their true nature. Since that have, I’ve been making an attempt to include that in all facets of my artistry. It helped me faucet into my internal youngster, which I do at any time when I work creatively. I’m exploring it, amplifying it, and dealing in a real, natural manner.You work with a number of celebrities like Alexa Demie, Lil Nas X, and Willow. Walk me by means of a number of the favourite appears to be like you’ve accomplished for them, and others.Honestly, each job I’ve accomplished has been a favourite of mine. Working with Lil Nas X, one other queer particular person of colour on this business, was inspirational for me, as a result of he’s somebody who was saying one thing, who wasn’t afraid to be themselves and never all the pieces needed to have a really particular that means. Some of it was simply enjoyable. It simply felt pure. And a number of what you do if you’re a artistic is feeling pure. With individuals like Alexa—who’s a good friend of mine, and our work felt very natural—we may simply go classic buying and discover, I don’t know, a hat, and I may create a world based mostly on it.What’s the perfect little bit of magnificence recommendation you’ve ever obtained and who was it from?When I received into this business, I used to be going to high school for enterprise, and my dad and mom didn’t wish to assist me financially; they had been like, you must fend for your self. Loads of my buddies at the moment had been doing make-up professionally they usually had been already well-established within the Los Angeles celeb scene. So I took a really small make-up course once I was beginning out, and in that course, I heard these phrases that I nonetheless maintain dearly: who cares? It’s make-up. You make it up as you go. I’ve utilized that to so many alternative facets of my life.Especially within the magnificence business, it’s straightforward to neglect that make-up ought to be enjoyable, on the finish of the day.It’s an expression, an ever-evolving language. We give it its that means. And we don’t notice how a lot energy we have now after we perceive that.Who are your magnificence icons?My magnificence icons are the contributors, these serving to the artists convey their message. And for me, an individual who was ready to do this is Serge Lutens. He was a photographer, he was a make-up artist, he was a hairstylist. He was a designer. This is somebody who tapped into all of those completely different mediums and expressed themselves authentically. When you begin wanting by means of his photographs, there’s a consistency—and I’m so impressed by that. Plus, he labored with different icons that I like, Richard Avedon and Irving Penn.What are your favourite make-up merchandise proper now?I’m type of old-fashioned in that, if one thing works for me, I keep on with it. Loads of the formulation I work with, I’ve made myself. I wish to take eye shadows which can be purely pigment and blend them with blushes, after which perhaps throw some cream in there. But the one factor that actually stood out to me was Valentino’s Eye2Cheek method, as a result of it has that good steadiness the place it’s creamy, nevertheless it’s additionally a powder. So you are actually in a position to construct up the consistency, construct up the pigment.Also, I like eyeliner. Eyeliners are my factor. Eyeliners, forehead pens—I take advantage of them to sketch. I used to be working with Revlon for a second and I like their eyeliners. If anybody’s in search of a product that’s cheap, I like the variation of shapes that Revlon has supplied. I additionally beloved the Valentino eyeliners as a result of they arrive with two, which I appreciated once I first began entering into make-up. I couldn’t afford a number of merchandise, so working with the road that has created a number of makes use of for every product makes my internal youngster very blissful. Because the primary luxurious product I owned was make-up.With all the pieces beginning to open up once more, what’s your go-to search for an evening out?Eyes at all times converse to me and lots of different individuals—particularly those that nonetheless wish to put on a masks proper now. I consider smoky, smoldering eyes as my look. If you’re in areas like New York, the place it’s most likely somewhat bit extra humid and also you don’t need your eyeliner to soften—take a small brush or a flat prime brush and go over your eyeliner with black powder shadow. You may also apply somewhat little bit of a basis powder or a translucent powder on the perimeter of your eye to create an extra barrier. If you wish to create further depth, as an alternative of utilizing the translucent powder, use a black eyeshadow. Apply it on the perimeters of your eye after which use your pinky finger to rub out the surplus. It’s my favourite factor for summer time—I like having a tan and a smoky eye.What are a few of your must-have skincare merchandise?I like this model referred to as Le Mieux’s ISO-Cell Recovery Solution, which is formulated in L.A. The ISO-Cells are a restoration resolution that helps with any redness. It additionally creates a priming impact earlier than I apply basis. Another product I like from them is the Eye Regal Corrector. I wish to apply it to the eyelid, in addition to below the eyes. It fills in any advantageous traces and helps go well with any sort of dry, redness.Would you say that’s the road you advocate for taking off make-up, or do you’ve got one other cleanser you want to make use of?I like the Farmacy cleaning balm. That is my go-to in relation to taking off make-up, it melts all the pieces off; you apply it dry and work it into the pores and skin along with your fingers. You may give your self somewhat little bit of a therapeutic massage, and when you rinse it off, it would not go away that movie. And following that, I like utilizing micellar water. Bioderma is at all times my go-to, particularly for delicate pores and skin. I don’t like utilizing something that’s too fragranced. I don’t need my skincare to odor fairly. If it doesn’t odor like something or if it smells unhealthy, then which means it’s good for me.What was the primary piece of make-up you ever purchased?The very first thing I ever bought was a MAC compact, as a result of once I was in highschool, MAC was such a factor. I had simply bought this actually cute bag for myself and my dad and mom had been lastly letting me discover and experiment with my look. I keep in mind being in entrance of my mirror and posing with my Studiofix compact and my purse. It was such a gratifying feeling, as a result of I lastly felt like myself. To have lastly reached some extent in my life the place I bought make-up for myself and it wasn’t me stealing one thing from my mother’s make-up bag was superb.What’s one make-up product you assume everybody ought to personal?Definitely basis—that’s at all times on the core of lovely make-up.Are there any merchandise you want to make use of as a base or a primer below make-up?Massaging your pores and skin, actually working in your moisturizer, is the perfect primer. Because you’re beginning to construct the blood movement into the face—that’s if you begin getting that plumping. That’s how fashions look so recent—massaging. I’m seeing so many traits on TikTookay proper now that my aesthetician does on my face. I additionally love utilizing sure primers for sure elements of the face. If it’s a mattifying primer and you’ve got oily pores and skin, I at all times like to make use of it across the T-zone to create a luminosity on the outer perimeters of the face—one thing extra luminous on the excessive factors of the cheek, beneath the forehead bone, and perhaps above the lip.I additionally love utilizing Papaw—it’s an ointment for burns and scars. I apply it to chapped lips, however I additionally like to make use of somewhat little bit of it on the excessive factors of my cheeks; it provides me that stunning, hydrating, plumping impact.You talked about that you simply go to an aesthetician. What’s your go-to service?I do a number of reiki facials. My aesthetician makes use of pure stones, which she locations on my chest, and round me. She performs music—generally it’s simply singing bowls—and thru this whole course of, she’s giving me this superb facial. And she’s additionally an individual of colour, so at any time when we get to speaking and connecting, we align. We’re working by means of traumas in addition to speaking about issues that we actually are grateful for.Also, inside this course of, I’ve reduce down on espresso. I’ve began to drink much more water. I used to be giving myself affirmations earlier than I used to be consuming meals that I knew weren’t at all times the healthiest, and I used to be telling myself, that is what I’m consuming now. Giving your self these psychological constructive affirmations is vital in relation to taking good care of your pores and skin and the best way you look bodily.Would you say these facials are your greatest skincare splurge?The facials have been considered one of my greatest splurges. Because pores and skin is such an emotional a part of our lives, I additionally really feel like remedy has additionally been a splurge in relation to my skincare, as a result of I’ve now been in a position to speak about issues I usually wouldn’t speak about with anybody. It helps handle my stress ranges and that has an impact on the best way I’m wanting bodily.What’s your favourite type of self-care?I backyard: giving again to earth, giving again to individuals are vital in relation to self-care and being conscious. We share this world with so many alternative crops, so many alternative beings. They all have a life and we ought to be taking them into consideration.