Through her artistry in beauty, Carissa Cielo Medved paints her longtime muse Janella Salvador into different women who love women and womanhood
The art of makeup has a lot to do with transformation. While its effect is evident on one’s face—a pop of color through blush here, or a chic persona through a smokey eye there—there is also a change that ensues deep within the transformed individual when they see themselves in the mirror. It is not just about painting the face; it is also about expressing oneself and channeling creativity. Through a swipe of a lipstick or the swish of an eyeliner, it can make us embody different personas, taking on roles besides our real selves that we can use to empower ourselves and other people.
So this Halloween aside from embracing all things spooky, MEGA celebrates the power of transformation and the makers and muses that embody this is in the beauty landscape. First on our list is makeup artist Carissa Cielo Medved and her muse Janella Salvador who invites us to spark our sense of wonder, to dress up as characters we love, and even step out as a different version of ourselves that we might be too scared to show on a normal day.
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The Portrait of Ladies on Fire
Putting on makeup is often attributed to painting on a blank canvas; and for the makeup artist, the connection of the two is quite literal. “When I was younger, super love ko magdraw, magpaint, so growing up, ‘di ko naman alam na magagamit ko siya and make it into my career,” she shares. “Natutuwa ako every time tuwing nagmemakeup ako on anyone, it’s a form of art.”
“I consider a woman’s face my canvas. I love that I am able to create art, to create a masterpiece.”
– Carissa Cielo Medved on her female muses and makeup artisty
In the span of her 17-year career, Carissa knows that it takes more than her skill to thrive in her chosen path. There must also be a willing muse who can meet her halfway; Janella is that, collaborating with Medved in every look. Case in point: During the shoot, the task was to transform Janella into Héloïse from Portrait of a Lady on Fire. Carissa took inspiration from 18th-century women and created a romantic and dreamy look with soft-focus skin, flushed cheeks, and doll-like eyes. Afterward, Janella went into character and portrayed vulnerability and hopefulness the moment she stepped in front of the camera. The result? An evocative image of beauty and womanhood.
Talking about her working relationship with Salvador, “Magaling din si Janella magmakeup sa self niya, kaya alam niya ‘pag okay talaga ang makeup. Like what I said earlier, it’s a collaborative effort for us. Nagugulat ako na same kami ng pitch for the look. Nakasave sa Pinterest ko ‘yung nakasave din sa kanya. We’re in sync.”
The Glamour That Never Gets Old
The resurgence of the old Hollywood glamour testifies to its timelessness. A classic and classy touch to the visage, Medved plays by its rules—shaped but not overdone brows, a seamless blend of the contour and blush, a bold red lip, and dramatic and expressive eyes. This same approach to the eye look is actually a foundation of Carissa and Janella’s trademark glam, which all began just when she was about to step into the role of Valentina in the 2022 adaptation of Darna.
The makeup artist recalled, “Kaya super intricate na mga eyes ang ginagawa namin sa kanya. It has to be smokey and alive, we were super inspired by her role. We wanted to take advantage of her villain era and portray a strong, empowered, and independent woman.”
As much as some looks don’t lose their appeal, so does Carissa’s learning mindset as an artist. Much like in fashion where trends come and go, there is always something new to learn and discover in the realm of beauty. For Medved, she is still constantly in the state of growing her craft. “Every day is a learning experience; there is something more to learn every day,” she says. “It really is a process, especially now. Ang daming mga magagaling na bagong makeup artists.”
The Age of Transformation
Think of the artistry of Carissa Cielo Medved like a child of sorts that she conceived in 2007, beginning in the pageantry world. While the number keeps growing—17 as of this year—this age is a mere figure. Think of Carissa’s curated glam looks like the protagonist of Age of Adaline—the allure, charm, and beauty will never get old. This timelessness is like the makeup artist who is in it for the long haul, excited to birth more personas from Janella and her muses; and eager to experiment with every element of the face—be it the shape of the brows, the shades of the lids, the contour of the face, or the finish of the lips.
Her advice to the new breed of artists entering the industry? “Lagi ko ‘tong sinasabi sa mga bagets; I call them anak-anakan,” she explains. “Take things easy, ‘wag magmadali. Don’t be in a rush, ‘wag gigil. Pwedeng mang-gigil, pero wag ‘yung super uhaw na uhaw, na gigil na gigil.”
“In the words of Fantasia Barrino, ‘There’s a time for every star to shine.’ Each and every one of us has our time to shine.”
– Carissa Cielo Medved’s message to aspiring makeup artists
As Carissa’s muse, Janella echoes the same mindset of always growing and evolving. Stepping outside the portraits of her characters as an actress, she is free. She is herself. Janella, now more than ever, is ready to take on the world as she sees fit. A huge part of her staying true to her identity is speaking up on her advocacies such as shedding light on the narratives of the LGBTQIA+ community. When asked why she does it, “Why should we not speak up on things we believe in? Our country is still not as open as we like it to be, although there has been a big improvement and progression on how the community is being slowly accepted.”
With a gritty mindset much like her past roles, Janella adds, “What I’m fighting for is something that is important. I will always be a supporter of the community regardless.”
“To those who are still afraid to speak up, that’s okay. But I really hope for a better and safer community for all of you, and hopefully better days when you’re not afraid to be yourself, and the world is safer for everyone.”
– Janella Salvador on being an ally to the sapphic community
Photographed by MJ SUAYAN. Creative Direction by GALLAHAN EAST. Makeup by CARISSA CIELO MEDVED. Hair by FLORENZ TORRONTEGUI. Styled by PERRY TABORA, assisted by KRIS DELEON. Shoot Coordination by JOANA FERNANDO. Sittings Editor MIA CASTRO
Special thanks to ELIZABETH DELOS REYES RIVERA and STAR MAGIC
