Meet Sydney Noel | Pro Makeup Artist and Content Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sydney Noel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sydney, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
I keep going when I know that—deep inside my soul—something is meant for me. Now, what’s meant for me won’t come without resistance, but resistance and roadblocks don’t deter me from finding an alternative path to what I want. I’ve hit many roadblocks with makeup artistry: not executing a look the way I envisioned, having a post I put a lot of effort into not perform well, being rejected by certain brands. However, I can always redo the look. I can always repost a video or photo at a later date for new exposure. I can always reach out to other brands who will give me the “yes” I’m looking for. I’m never down on my luck for long, nor am I going to wallow in self-misery for long.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My dermatologist diagnosed me with vitiligo (an autoimmune skin disorder where I lose patches of skin pigment) in early 2017, and that has definitely set the tone for my creative journey. As a result, I threw myself into long nights of learning and practicing advanced makeup techniques to conceal my disorder when I wanted to resemble my old self. Along the way, I discovered my love for avant-garde and editorial makeup styles. My journey hasn’t been the easiest, but that lack of ease has made it all the more rewarding because I genuinely love makeup artistry.

From July to August 2022, I planned, launched, and executed a large project on Instagram called LookFest. It featured collaborations between me and 22 amazing creators in the beauty community. Each day of LookFest featured a different theme that me and my collaborator agreed upon. LookFest not only allowed me to grow closer to creators in my community, but it also celebrated non-white, non-male, and queer creators across different disciplines of makeup artistry.

I put in a massive amount of work to make LookFest successful, having done all the outreach and coordination myself (in addition to doing 22 different makeup looks for 22 days straight), but it all worked out beautifully.

Through my artistry, I not only want to showcase the beauty in the avant-garde, but I also want to showcase beauty in Blackness, queerness, and otherness.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would take my best friend to every Smithsonian museum that DC has to offer! For lunch, we’d dine at Meiwah in Chevy Chase, MD; this spot boasts the best Chinese food in the DMV area. Afterwards, we’d go shopping in Bethesda Row. If my best friend and I want to do something high-energy to end our night, I’d take her to U Street in DC so we can go on a bar crawl and also get some Oohhs & Aahhs for dinner! They have the best mac and cheese compared to literally any restaurant.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to my Aunt Cathy. Despite being my aunt, she’s become a second mother to me. She’s the reason I became a professional makeup artist in the first place. Not only did we graduate from the same makeup academy together in October 2021, but she worked tirelessly and without complaint to pay for my tuition. She’s filled me with so much encouragement when I needed it the most. As a beauty professional herself—being a hairstylist for over 30 years—she’s dispensed invaluable advice that I’ll carry with me throughout my journey in the beauty industry. I’m forever grateful for her sacrifices and her love.

Website: sydneynoels.com

Instagram: instagram.com/sydneynoels

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydney-noel-8277b3252/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sydneynoels

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sydneynoelmashups/

Other: https://pinterest.com/sydneynoels

Image Credits
Juvon Sangster