Interview with the phenomenal

Makeup Artist, Elena Khaliullin

VESSEL: Could you provide our readers with a brief biography?

Elena: I was born in Russia and moved to the United States in 2006. My future husband and I attended the same university. When he decided to move to Chicago to study further, I followed. I was curious and chose to drop my career for an adventure. Even though I have my bachelor's degree in Math and Economy, I have never worked a day in this field. The money talk, analytics, and number crunching weren't for me. I am drawn to art in all of its forms: I loved to draw since I was a child and my dream was to study at architectural college. Unfortunately, I didn't get the opportunity, so I explored and learned what I could on my own and after getting my degree, I joined an advertisement agency as a video editor. Being surrounded by creatives pushed me to study and practice graphic design. That helped me to start volunteering as a graphic designer in the US after the big move. After spending five years in Chicago, we moved to sunny San Diego. Due to my curiosity, I kept drawing and took various courses for self-improvement. Fast forward to two months after having my second baby, when we moved to Salt Lake City in 2019. The following wild year of COVID-19 in 2020 changed my life course entirely.

VESSEL: At what point did you realize you wanted to pursue a career as a makeup artist?

E: In 2020, I was a stay-at-home mom. Everyone was a stay-at-home something. We had a lot of time to think about where we were going in our lives. At this point, I was craving human interaction. I wanted to be in a creative field, but I knew I wouldn't be happy returning to spend hours looking at a computer monitor. It gets lonely and it is a solitary job. I wanted to be on my feet, moving, creating, and meeting interesting and talented people. Where else could I apply my visual artistry knowledge other than graphic design? I reminisced about the time when my older sister brought a massive eyeshadow palette from Hungary and how much fun we had with it. I sketched some crazy makeup looks with those eyeshadows! I remembered how my university friends laughed when I used hairspray to fix my eyebrows. The idea of exploring makeup artistry came naturally to me. So I went and got my Makeup Artist certification in 2021 from Cameo College.

VESSEL: What were you engaged in before entering the beauty industry?
E: As I mentioned before, I worked as a graphic designer. I have done my share in this field: from catchy, funky flyers for stand-up comedians, to official yearly reports or huge murals at the Naval Museum, to the user interface app for start-up companies. It taught me precision and how to be extremely detail-oriented. So if you need to hang a picture, call me: I'll be your laser level! I also read a gazillion books with my little daughter, which led me to study Children's Books Illustrations at the University of California San Diego. This was an incredible experience in learning different drawing and painting techniques! This allowed me to be so happy about what I did. All of this combined experience allows me to approach every makeup application as a design or drawing project. I am very involved and I care about the outcome.

VESSEL: What does it mean to you to create looks for others or enhance someone’s appearance?

E: It's essential to me. I take every project very seriously and personally. I tend to analyze everything and like to make a plan. I want the person to feel comfortable in their skin and feel confident after the makeup is done. I approach the process from an artist's standpoint: prepare the canvas with love and care, take your time laying brush strokes (although we're often on a time limit), mix in a dose of passion but don't overindulge, and keep it light and let it breathe. Sometimes, less is more, but of course, it depends on the project. Ultimately, the end goal is always the same: to make the person in my chair smile.

VESSEL: Can you recall the most memorable look you’ve ever created? What was the occasion?

E: That was the look I did for Marisa Cannon in March 2022. The photoshoot theme was “1920s,” with designer dresses in a studio, organized by the fashion photographer Tawny Horton. This photoshoot was the first time that I was able to get brave in my makeup application. Marisa wore a golden-yellow outfit and I am absolutely in love with that look!

VESSEL: What essential makeup tools do you bring to every job?

E: There are a lot of essentials! It is hard to name only a few since the list is long! From skin preparation products to makeup palettes, everything is important. I cannot go without clean brushes and skincare products. I also have a compact universal cream foundation palette from MAC Cosmetics stashed in the deep pocket of my makeup bag. It's a secret tool reserved for that impossible-to-happen time when I forget my foundation set.

VESSEL: What were some of the challenges you encountered when you first started in the beauty industry?

E: A big challenge was finding projects in order to practice: finding people that are kind and understanding enough to give you a chance to practice. It was challenging to keep going and pushing forward when the competition was high. The Salt Lake creative community is amazing: I am so lucky to have met talented, wonderful people who are down for anything and let you use their faces as a canvas. People who say, "Don't worry, you're good" are so important when you are starting. I still consider myself new to this and am sure I will face more challenges along the way, but I am prepared because of those people.

VESSEL: If you could offer advice to your younger self, what would it be?

E: Value your time. In my opinion, there is nothing more devastating than wasted time. We have so little of it, even when it seems otherwise. So please make use of it while enjoying what you do. Do not be afraid to grab the opportunity that looks exciting and might be scary. It could lead you to great things, no matter how little they seem in the beginning.

VESSEL: Transitioning to a different topic, could you describe a typical day for you outside of work?

E: I am not a morning person, so waking up at 7:30AM is a daily struggle. My husband and I prepare the kids for school by 8:30AM and after that we have our breakfast. In winter, I try to go snowboarding a few times a week in the morning and early afternoon. I might have a booking closer to the evening. Otherwise, I work on my photography skills at home or practice outside. On some days, you might find me in the Spotlight Studios downtown, learning lighting techniques with one of the resident photographers, or organizing the space and making plans for improvements. A couple of times a week, I go to the gym in the evening to lift heavy weights and empty my head. All of that, of course, revolves around raising my two wonderful daughters. If I have a chance, I sneak in a few minutes to draw or read a book in the evening. I try to keep up with fashion and makeup updates. I do not have enough hours in a day to do everything I'd like to do!

VESSEL: Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

E: Thank you so much for having me here! I truly appreciate it. I want to give a huge shoutout to all of those who supported me and to the creative community in Salt Lake. This city is truly amazing and I love it. 

Makeup Artist: Elena Khaliullin

@el.khalin_makeup

Photographer: Issa Alkhuwaiter

@imnkphotography

Model: Emma Lamb

@emmaelamby