Regan Rabanal’s Backstage Beauty Grind

During New York fashion week, makeup artist Regan Rabanal is part of a squad of about 200 brave soldiers who assist star makeup artists and execute their visions for the runway. Though the week is a grind—this season, Rabanal did 15 shows in eight days, often starting at 8 a.m. and finishing 12 hours later—it’s a job he clearly relishes. His energy hardly ever flags. “I feel amazing,” said a giddy Rabanal, after receiving feedback on the look from lead artist Tom Pecheux at Altuzarra. “It gives me validation when I can mimic the artist’s work.” When he’s not backstage, Rabanal is a senior makeup artist for MAC, educating the brand’s in-store makeup artists with trends and techniques they can bring to shoppers. “[Backstage and in-store] are completely different environments,” says Rabanal. “I look forward to fashion week because my artistry skill set is challenged and developed backstage. [But] I love that I get to take what I’ve learned into the MAC stores.”