In an exclusive interview with MEGA, the artist also unveiled what it’s really like to work with her celebrity muse, and the best beauty lesson she learned from her
There’s something quite special about the friendship between a makeup artist and their muse. Once trust is established, the beauty department often transforms into a safe space to collaborate on a vision, share personal stories, and showcase one’s authentic self—and Mikka Marcaida would agree. In fact, her proficiency and overall personality made her Yassi Pressman’s most trusted makeup artist for the past seven years.
“Yassi has a great sense of self-awareness and knows how to emphasize her features very well,” notes Mikka when asked to describe how it is working with her. “Despite that, she gives me full freedom for her makeup look every time. She loves to collaborate but also respects my artistry, and that’s what I love about her.” Her revelation comes as no surprise. Besides, the star’s affinity for creative collaborations translates well in her recent photoshoot.
Seeing double
Yassi Pressman broke the Internet with her fashion editorial inspired by her show, Kurdapya. In a three-part showcase, the star effectively cloned herself in identical makeup and matching wardrobes. Behind the cameras were photographer BJ Pascual, videographer Stephanie Joy Cea, and creative director Sef Loseo. Alongside were her trusted glam and wardrobe team composed of Mikka Marcaida, Antonio Papa, and Joanna Garcia.
On the other end of the spectrum, the muse did not miss to credit the team behind her shoot. “I called in an amazing team of creatives to build and create this series,” she wrote in her caption. “Shoutout to all these talented people who shared their ideas and skills in order to make this happen. You guys are amazing.”
On perfecting the angelic makeup
It’s a given that the first part of the series embraced an angelic approach to beauty. The secret to her flawless and luminous complexion? Skin preparation. “I started by preparing Yassi’s skin with a makeup prep to plump up and nourish the skin,” Mikka shared. “Then, I applied a lightweight, illuminating base to even out the skin’s texture and create a radiant look.” As luck would have it, the celebrity makeup artist shared her key product to achieve the look. “I love using Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter.”
The right products are the main players in achieving the look. “I opted for a foundation with a dewy finish as it helps to enhance the skin’s natural radiance,” she added. “For the eyes, I like to stick to shimmered eyeshadows in a light, neutral tone—nothing too heavy. I finished off the look by applying light lashes from my own brand, Faboulash.” The artist also shared the beauty detail that completed her angelic appeal. “I highlighted her cheekbones and the bridge of the nose for an extra glow to give that wet effect on the skin.”
On achieving the smoky-eye look
The beauty direction for the second part of the series took a creative turn with smoky eye makeup. Surprisingly, it was the perfect complement to its artistic floral motif. “For this look, we had to build the color to make the eyes the main focus,” Mikka revealed. “It took a constant kohl liner building and blending then setting it with a powder afterwards. I opted for a blended liner rather than a sharp one to still bring softness to the bold look.”
On coming up with the bleached brow look
The last part of the series focuses on the star’s alluring beauty. Only this time, there was a twist. “We’ve never done anything like this before,” the artist expressed. “Yassi’s focal look will always be her brows, so making it seem like we bleached it gave the biggest effect for the last look.” Mikka also shared that the decision was made on the spot. “We were supposed to go all out dark and dramatic, but changed it up at the last minute. Because her hair [was] pulled back and tucked, I wanted her features to stand out in the simplest but most impactful way. ”
Photography BJ PASCUAL
Creative Direction SEF LOSEO
Styling JOANNA GARCIA
Makeup MIKKA MARCAIDA, assisted by VIEL NAVARRO
Hair ANTONIO PAPA
Nails PAINT AND STYLE
Videography STEPHANIE JOY CEA
Production Design GINGER GADDI
Producer ELLA TAGACA
Pieces by RICA SIENA, ARHON MACARAIG, and AJ JAVIER