Freshly washed face. The sun hidden. Bright vanity lights shine amidst the night. Many would decide to snuggle up after a long day, but she’d much rather express her artistic abilities through makeup. Beauty blender, foundation, brush, blush: these are just a few things that junior Alivia Cocchiola uses to do her makeup. While Robinson is diverse and has many artistic students, Cocchiola’s medium is just slightly out of the ordinary.

Since adolescence, Cocchiola has found inspiration through drag shows, performances, SFX makeup and magazines. While self-taught, she does watch influencers to help her improve, one of her favorites being linsmakeuplooks. She also tests different products and looks on her skin to see what works for her and her routine.

“Seeing people with beautiful works of art on their faces mesmerized me,” Cocchiola said. “This influenced me to want to learn how to re-create that art on myself. I’m mostly self-taught, but if I need help, I will watch tutorials.”

Makeup is something that can always be improved, and Cocchiola is always willing to learn and get better. Currently, she wants to practice on smaller, more detailed pieces, and eventually wishes to widen the playing field and begin using other faces to practice her makeup.

“I’ve perfected learning what products work for me and my skin, and what materials, like brushes, I can use well with any product given to me,” Cocchiola said. “I wish to improve working with smaller pieces, as my hand tends to shake and can make it hard to work on a small area.”

Makeup is a very tedious process and Cocchiola described that a normal routine for her begins with skin prep.

“Skin prep is always first. If your skin is clean, so will your makeup. Next, a primer and base consisting of foundation and concealer. Then, set that all in with powder, [follow that with] contouring and bronzing the face to bring in some color,” Cocchiola said. “Then, adding color in the cheeks with blush and as well on the eyelids with eyeshadow. [Finally], finish it with mascara, eyebrow gel and lipstick/gloss with setting spray to keep it from falling over time.”

While Cocchiola loves perfecting her craft, she has to manage school and extracurriculars, including swimming and flag football. She only participates in makeup activities when she has free time as she prioritizes school first. Though this is a heavy load to maintain, Cocchiola expressed that her family and friends are very supportive of her as they see it as art as well.

Katie Aguilar (‘25) is a long-time friend of Cocchiola’s and has been there for her for over two years now. Over those few years, Aguilar confidently expressed that Cocchiola has a talent for makeup and she’s witnessed the progression.

“Alivia is a very positive and energetic person. She’s always doing something and learning new things, and makeup is one of those things she has picked up. I believe she has a talent for it,” Aguilar said. “I’ve seen progression very quickly. She has a certain style that she’s found now that suits her, such as her winged eyeliner and colorful eyeshadow. I believe she is capable of extending her makeup passion further, I definitely see her doing makeup for others in the future.”

While Cocchiola isn’t sure she’ll be able to pursue makeup in the future, she has been keeping up with it and the possibilities.

“I definitely want to pursue this in the future, cosmetology school is something I have been looking into and researching,” she said. “If not that, this [makeup] will be an exciting activity I can do on the side in the future.”

This story was originally published on RHS Today on November 16, 2023.