NO FILTER

CHELSEA FREEMAN

VESSEL: Hello Chelsea, and thank you for joining us for this interview. Could you please start by introducing yourself to our audience?

Chelsea: Thank you for having me. I’m Chelsea Freeman, originally from Rexburg, Idaho—small-town roots that led me through the big city. I came to Salt Lake first, then moved to LA and went back to school.

I’m a master esthetician and professional makeup artist based in Salt Lake City. I’m the founder of No Filter by Chelsea, and I specialize in luxury beauty services that include makeup, skincare, hairstyling, spray tanning, brow and lash treatments, and full-body waxing. I also offer special effects and prosthetic makeup, which adds a creative edge to my work. Whether I’m prepping a bride for her big day or working on set, my goal is always to deliver a personalized, elevated experience that leaves each client feeling confident and cared for.

VESSEL: What initially sparked your interest in skincare and beauty?

Chelsea: Honestly, I’ve been playing with makeup and beauty stuff my whole life—since I was a little girl. I was lucky enough to grow up in an environment where I had the freedom to express myself that way, and I really believe that shaped me into the artist I am today.

I’ve always been fascinated by how beauty can change the way people feel about themselves. At first, it was the creativity that drew me in—I loved playing with color, texture, and the overall transformation. As I got older, I realized how deeply beauty is connected to confidence and self-care, and I think that’s what really solidified my passion. Helping people feel seen and empowered through skincare, makeup, and hair is what it’s all about for me.

VESSEL: Can you share your journey toward becoming a makeup artist?

Chelsea: I would say my path into makeup artistry has been a mix of passion, timing, and, honestly, bold decisions. It really started back in 2014 when I went to esthetics school. I graduated that same year from the NIMA Institute in South Jordan. After that, I quickly immersed myself in the industry.

Around that time, I also started working at Sephora in Fashion Place Mall in Murray, which ended up being a crucial part of my growth. Some people might say, “Oh, retail,” but Sephora actually provides a lot of education. You kind of just get thrown into it, and that gave me daily, hands-on experience with different skin tones, textures, products, ingredients, and client needs. It really helped me build confidence in color matching and artistry overall.

At the end of 2017, I felt a strong pull to go deeper, so I made the leap and moved to LA to fully commit to my career in makeup. I enrolled at Make-Up Designory—also known as MUD—in downtown Burbank, California, and started their Master Makeup Artistry program in March of 2018. It was super intense—40 hours a week for months. I just never left. It was all hands-on. I was even a model, getting chemicals all over my face—fully submerged—and it was awesome.

We covered everything from beauty and bridal to special effects. I even took a lab class to learn how to make prosthetic pieces, which was really interesting. So, between that and my esthetics background, plus the advanced courses I took at NIMA, that whole experience gave me the skill and creative range I rely on every day in this industry.

VESSEL: What are some of the challenges you’ve encountered in your career as a makeup artist?

Chelsea: I would say balancing motherhood has been a big one for me. I’ve been a single mom for 10 years—juggling that with career goals and everyday life has definitely been a journey. I’ve worn a lot of hats over the years: single mom, business owner, side hustler—and each role has taught me something about resilience, grit, and grace.

There were times when I felt stretched thin, but I just kept showing up. I kept working. I kept believing in what I was building. The challenges haven’t broken me—they’ve shaped me. They’ve made me more grounded, more focused, and more connected to the kind of person and artist I want to be.

VESSEL: What are the educational or certification requirements for becoming a licensed esthetician?

Chelsea: It does vary by state, but here in Utah, I completed the Master Esthetics program. The Master Esthetics license requires 1,200 hours of accredited training. The curriculum covers everything from advanced facials and chemical peels to hair removal, product ingredients, chemistry, and more.

For me, it was really important to go beyond the basics. They offered a number of additional courses at an extra cost—and I pretty much signed up for all of them. That deeper knowledge has truly helped me provide customized treatments and results-driven care for my clients.

The field of esthetics is huge—the umbrella is very large—and there are so many directions you can go. But for me, I didn’t feel like I had to choose just one. Over the years, I’ve added services, and each year I’m like, “Oh, I love this… I love that.” I’ve gone through so many eras of esthetics over the past 11 years.

I took a Permanent Cosmetics course, I did microblading, and even taught my own microblading course. I’ve specialized in Brazilian waxing for the past seven years and got really good at it—I even became a trainer. All of that has helped me provide my clients with elevated, next-level experiences.

So that’s been my education in esthetics. And in terms of certification, you have to complete your clinical hours. Once you’ve finished your book work and hands-on training, then you’re officially done.

VESSEL: What do you enjoy most about working as both a makeup artist and an esthetician—and why?

Chelsea: So far, I think the best part of what I do is seeing my clients light up when they feel like the best versions of themselves. As an esthetician, I get to work with skin in a way that’s healing and long-term. And as a makeup artist, I get to bring out someone’s confidence in the moment.

These roles allow me to approach beauty from both a clinical and creative lens, which means I’m not just covering things up—I’m enhancing what’s already there. My whole thing is about elevating someone’s natural beauty. I’m not trying to change them. I want people to feel beautiful in their own skin. That’s what I believe in—hence the name of my company, No Filter.

Over time, hairstyling has naturally become an extension of what I do. I learned the fundamentals in school—bridal hair, blowouts, vintage styles during makeup school—but I think it was motherhood that really pushed me to go deeper. I’m a mom to a biracial child, so I took it upon myself to learn proper care and braiding techniques for textured hair, and that knowledge has become such a valuable part of my work.

I may not cut or color hair, but I love styling it—far more than I ever thought I would. It’s so much fun and adds another layer of artistry that helps me deliver a more complete and cohesive experience for every client.

VESSEL: What would you consider your most significant achievement(s) so far?

Chelsea: One of my greatest achievements is building No Filter from the ground up while wearing so many hats. Being a mom, entrepreneur, artist, and everything in between—it’s taken a lot of late nights, side jobs, and personal growth to get here. But every step has been worth it.

What means the most to me is showing my daughter—through action—that she can build something beautiful with hard work and belief in herself.

Professionally, I’m proud of how far my work has taken me—from being featured in publications like Harper’s Bazaarand VESSEL, to working on large-scale campaigns, seeing my work on magazine covers and even on billboards. I’ve worked with celebrities, but honestly, what I value just as much are the connections I’ve made along the way.

I’ve collaborated with incredible creatives and been trusted for everything from intimate weddings to major projects. Each experience has helped shape who I am as an artist and as a businesswoman.

So yes, I appreciate all those accomplishments people often strive for, and I am proud of them—but it’s the growth and the genuine connections that mean the most to me.

VESSEL: If you had the opportunity to start over, what would you do differently? And what advice would you give your younger self?

Chelsea: That’s a good question. I’d say, “Start sooner and trust myself more.” I think I spent a lot of time second-guessing whether I was ready, but the truth is—growth happens through experience. Looking back, every challenge—from side jobs to long days on set—helped build the confidence, connections, and clarity I have today.

I’d also remind myself not to wait for the perfect moment to start, because perfection is a trap.

And I would’ve focused earlier on business education—things like branding, marketing, pricing, and setting boundaries.

To my younger self, I’d probably just say: trust your gut, protect your peace, and don’t downplay your talent.

VESSEL: What advice would you offer to someone aspiring to become a makeup artist?

Chelsea: I would say—you don’t have to go to school to start learning. First of all, just start, and keep learning. Practice on all kinds of skin tones, textures, and face shapes—and then don’t stop.

Don’t rush the process. Take the time to understand skin, lighting, and different techniques. Invest in good education. And don’t be afraid to ask questions or seek out mentorship. That’s been a huge part of my journey. I’ve had multiple mentors over the years who made a world of difference in my career.

Most of all, stay connected to your passion, and stay current with the trends—they’re constantly evolving, month by month, year by year. That’s played a big role in my journey, and I truly believe staying passionate and informed is what will sustain you in the long run.

If you lose that passion, it starts to feel like just another job. But I’m so passionate about what I do—I always want to keep learning. That mindset has helped me get to where I am today. So overall, my advice would be: Don’t wait. Just start.

Post your work. We’re in the social media era—put it out there. You never know who’s watching. YouTube is a great resource, too. Watch tutorials, learn what you can—but at the end of the day, hands-on practice is key. Call your friends, your mom, whoever—ask for practice models. Even post online saying, “Hey, I’m looking for someone to practice on.” People will show up for you.

I think for me, my ego got in the way a bit at first. I didn’t want to do anyone’s makeup until I felt it was perfect. That held me back—not just with makeup, but in other areas too. I avoided practicing things like lash extensions because I thought, “It’s not perfect yet.” But the truth is, it’s not going to be perfect right away. It takes time.

That’s what I would say: Just start. Yeah.

VESSEL: How do you personally define the concept of “beauty”?

Chelsea: The concept of beauty, to me, is about authenticity. It’s a reflection of how someone feels about themselves. It’s not about fitting into a mold or meeting a standard—it’s about confidence, comfort, and self-expression.

Real beauty shows up when someone embraces who they are and lets that shine through, whether that’s in a full glam moment or bare-faced and grounded.

Makeup and skincare, for me, aren’t about hiding flaws—they’re about enhancing what’s already uniquely yours. That’s what I believe in, and what I always try to bring to my work. I’m known for my natural glam and for enhancing what’s already there.

VESSEL: If you had to choose one, which TV or movie character best represents who you are right now—and why?

Chelsea: I love that question. I went back and forth on it. I’ll admit, I haven’t been watching much TV lately—I just haven’t had the time. But the character that immediately came to mind was Beth Pearson from the TV show This Is Us.

The reason I chose her is because she’s strong, smart, emotionally intuitive, and deeply committed to her family. She’s had to pivot, reinvent herself, and hold it all together through difficult seasons, which really resonates with me. She carries herself with quiet confidence and grace, and I think that’s something I strive for every day—both as a mom and a business owner.

VESSEL: Thank you so much for spending time with us today.

MUA/Esthetician: Chelsea Freeman

@nofilterbychelsea

Photographer: Tommy Butler

Studio: 43 Studios