Makeup artist Nicole Faulkner, aka Lipsticknick, made a name for herself (literally) as a beauty influencer with 725,000 Instagram followers, which she parlayed into a gig creating outrageously glam looks on Rupaul’s Drag Race. As the stigma around men wearing makeup gradually fades away, Faulkner is going all in on boy beauty. Earlier this week, her new “glam oasis” Pout Beauty Bar opened in North Hollywood.
Faulkner and business partner Esther Koop describe the new venture as a “first-of-its-kind, boundary-pushing beauty space,” geared toward both women and men (and non-binary people, of course), offering everything from “simple mens makeup” to “extreme drag looks.”
Pout’s bold mission pairs nicely with its bold interiors, where everything pops with fuchsia, graffiti, and glowing neon light sculptures. Services include human hair faux eyelash application, glitter application, special effects makeup, and body painting. The brands sold at the salon are all curated from Nicole’s own kit: L.A.-based beauty lines Jeffree Star Cosmetics, Lemonhead L.A., Miss Casanova, Morphe, the Crème Shop, and Togo Spa.
What got Lipsticknick into the boy beauty biz? We decided to find out.
https://www.instagram.com/p/By0Rd6xhic9/How did you get your start in beauty?
I’ve been doing makeup since I was 17. I did friends for dances—and suddenly there was a line at my house in Corona. Slowly, I began to dabble in drag and special effects. I’ve always loved Rupaul and Jeffree Star, and transformative makeup, changing the shape of the lips and eyes. It takes a very special set of skills. I also learned body and face painting, and did shows for Carnival Cruise lines. Through Instagram, I caught the attention of [Drag Race judge] Michelle Visage, and came on and did her makeup for seasons five and six. I’ve been doing it ever since. I get to hang with Ru on the set, who’s very complimentary. And of course, I’m inspired by the queens.
Where did you come up with your alias?
It was for Instagram, of course.
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByxoNn8hgbR/What was the impetus for opening Pout?
I moved into this building in North Hollywood a few months ago—in the Arts District. This leasing office called me one day and said, “We have a live-work space near Lankershim.” I called Esther and said, “I have this idea—do you think its crazy?” Clearly she didn’t.
“I’m a firm believer that all products are unisex. You can’t put a gender on products.”
What does Pout have that no other beauty bar has?
So many things! Lemonhead, an L.A. beauty brand, did these great glitters with jellies, to be a liner or a shadow. They created one specially for Pout: “The Pout Potion,” a rose gold with pops of pink and champagne. We sell Jeffree Star, Lauralee Los Angeles, and Miss Casanova, among others. And I’m a firm believer that all products are unisex. You can’t put a gender on products. We can do everyday makeup, but also very high-glam and fantasy [looks].
Pout, 11135 Weddington St., #129, North Hollywood.
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