What *Really* Happens on Set
Our lead makeup artist stays cool, calm, and caffeinated
Cynthia Di Meo is Rare’s Director of Global Artistry, so she’s responsible for a lot of the makeup looks you see in our campaigns. I ran into her on set when we were shooting something for fall (it’s incredible, but I’m very unauthorized to share any details yet—stay tuned).
Cynthia always looks so cool and calm when she’s at work, which got me wondering how she does it. In search of clues, I asked her to walk me through her day. For someone so level-headed, there’s a surprising amount of caffeine involved.
5:00AM
I wake up and make coffee. Nothing’s happening unless there’s espresso involved. It’s still dark out, but it’s calm and quiet. This is the only time I can squeeze in a moment to myself.
6:00AM
My 8-year-old son comes into bed for what he calls our “morning snuggles” and we read a book together. If he knows I have to be on set early, he’ll ask me to set my alarm even earlier than usual so we don’t skip our routine. I’ve heard he won’t even want hugs from me soon—I'm trying to enjoy every single minute together.
6:30AM
I double check that my makeup kit is in order because I usually pack everything up the night before. I was that kid in school who left a project to the last minute. That's still me. I’ll overpack if I overthink it. I look over the mood boards for the shoot one last time and check the call sheet, which lists out everyone who’s going to be on set, from the producer to the photographer to the hairstylists. It’s good to understand the flow of the day and who’s going to be there. And then, more coffee.
7:00AM
When you asked me what I listen to on the drive over to the studio, I know you pictured me singing along to something. But I listen to podcasts. Financial literacy podcasts. It makes me feel in control of my personal life. Is that weird? Wait, I also listen to the news so I know what’s going on in the world... and how it will impact the stock market [laughing].
7:30AM
I’m always one of the first on set, and I introduce myself to anyone who’s not a familiar face. It’s important to know who’s who, and who I need to go to if I need anything.
7:45AM
I take a few minutes to set up my makeup station. The key makeup artist always selects the space they want to work in first, and then they figure out the layout of the rest of the glam team. The flow is important. You don’t want people bumping into each other while they’re trying to get the models ready. Sometimes we’ll request extra tables or set up our own lights—I keep some in my bag. The person overseeing lighting for the shoot doesn’t always think about how important it is for applying makeup. Fortunately, it’s not an issue today and the lighting is just right.
8:30AM
I go over the mood board and schedule (again). I flag anything to the team that might cause delays. For example, it’s really difficult to do a bare-faced look after shooting a model in full glam. It’s easier to build on a makeup look than start from scratch with each photo. If that’s the way it’s been mapped out by the producer, we might suggest changing the order. We all work together to make sure the day goes by without a hitch—and that we all leave at a reasonable hour.
9:00AM
Models arrive and we begin prepping their skin, taking test shots, applying makeup, and finally, shooting the images. The music is loud and the space is buzzing with energy. There’s a lot of running around so I’m on my feet most of the day. I usually wear Vans with a comfortable skirt. It’s kind of like a mullet: business on top, party on the bottom. Professional but comfortable. So many brands ask makeup artists to wear all black on set. It always looks cool, but I love that we don't do that at Rare. Everyone just ends up looking the same. We’re all about making everyone feel welcome, just as they are.
LUNCH
Whenever I have a free moment, I’m on my phone taking content for people who want to follow along on social (you can find me @cynth_pop). I get inspiration from everywhere—art, movies, fashion—but especially social media, so I like to contribute when I can. Right now, I’m really into what Val Garland, Inge Grognard, and Kabuki are doing. The way they each play with color, texture, dimension... you can’t help but feel inspired.
7:00PM
Once the models leave, I pack up and then sit in traffic forever (it’s LA, after all). I won’t open my kit again that day. It’s like when you get home from traveling, the last thing you want to do is unpack. I’ll drink some water when I get home because I’ve had too much coffee. Then, I’ll typically undo all that hydration with a glass of wine.
8:00PM
Being on set is one of the best parts of my job. But today was busy, and I’m tired. I'm ok with getting in bed early. There’s just enough time to squeeze in another snuggle session with my son. I can't think of a better way to end the day.
We’ll be back next week with more behind-the-scenes access—see you then!
Queen Cynthia!! 💗👑
The Queen Cynthia 🥹🙂↕️🤍✨🫶🏻