Meet Nicole Fae

Luxury Bridal & Commercial Makeup Artist | Beauty Educator | President of The Annex Beauty Association

Camera-ready artistry trusted by brides, brands, and producers throughout the Twin Cities and beyond.

Nicole Fae is a Minnesota-based makeup artist with over 20 years of experience specializing in luxury bridal and commercial beauty. Serving Woodbury, Minneapolis, St. Paul, and surrounding areas, Nicole is known for her personalized approach and on-location services. She enhances each client’s natural features while ensuring long-lasting, camera-ready results. In addition to her client work, she is the founder and president of The Annex Beauty Association and a confidence coach with Dress for Success, empowering women both inside and outside the beauty chair.

Katrina Elizabeth Photography

THE NICOLE FAE EXPERIENCE

Every artist can apply makeup. What sets Nicole apart is the experience, intention, and performance behind every application.

Personalized Artistry — Never One-Size-Fits-All

Nicole customizes every look based on face shape, skin type, coloring, lighting conditions, wardrobe, and setting. No two clients receive the same “look”. The result is a look that enhances natural beauty while remaining timeless and elevated.

Camera-Ready, Long-Lasting Performance

From early-morning wedding timelines to full-day production shoots, Nicole uses high-performance, waterproof, and HD-tested products—including her own professional cosmetic line—to ensure makeup remains flawless from the first photo to the final moment.

Calm, Professional Energy

Weddings and productions can be high-stress environments. Nicole brings a grounded, organized, and confident presence that keeps timelines moving and clients feeling supported.

On-Location Convenience

Serving Woodbury, Minneapolis, St. Paul, and surrounding Twin Cities areas, Nicole travels to her clients, eliminating unnecessary stress and ensuring a seamless experience.

Bridal & Commercial Versatility

With experience in both luxury weddings and on-set commercial environments, Nicole understands the difference between soft bridal glam and high-definition production makeup—and delivers accordingly.

Product Integrity & Skin-Conscious Approach

As a cosmetic and skincare line creator, Nicole is deeply intentional about the ingredients she uses. Her formulations are developed in collaboration with a trusted Canadian manufacturer and designed to support both performance and skin integrity.

Beauty with Purpose


In a world where beauty is often defined by narrow standards, my journey as a makeup artist began with a life-changing moment that shifted how I saw myself and the power of beauty altogether. Growing up, I didn’t necessarily see myself as insecure—but I also didn’t recognize my own uniqueness or how I stood out. It wasn’t until a transformative pageant makeup experience that I realized the profound power beauty holds—not just in how we look, but in how we feel and carry ourselves.

That realization became the catalyst for everything that followed. I discovered that makeup and hair artistry were not simply about enhancement—they were tools for confidence, self-expression, and personal transformation. From that day forward, I committed my career to helping others see their beauty differently and step more boldly into the world.

With over 20 years of experience in the beauty industry, I now specialize in luxury bridal and commercial makeup artistry designed for life’s most photographed moments. Based in Woodbury, Minnesota, and serving the greater Minneapolis–St. Paul area and surrounding Twin Cities communities, I provide on-location beauty services that bring professionalism, calm energy, and camera-ready results directly to my clients.

My formal training began at the Aveda Institute of Minneapolis, followed by advanced education in beauty and character makeup at Makeup Designory in Burbank, California. I later spent twelve years owning and operating my own salon, which deepened my expertise not only in artistry but in client care, service experience, and the transformative impact beauty can have on confidence.

As my career evolved, I found my true calling in on-location bridal, editorial, and commercial work. Whether preparing a bride for her wedding day, supporting a brand campaign, or working behind the scenes on set, my approach remains deeply personalized. I focus on enhancing natural features while using high-performance, waterproof, and HD-ready products that ensure longevity from the first photo to the final moment of the day.

In 2008, I launched my own cosmetic line out of a desire to create products that performed exactly the way I needed them to in my professional kit—long-lasting, reliable, and camera-ready. Developed in collaboration with a trusted Canadian manufacturer known for maintaining rigorous formulation standards, the ingredients are thoughtfully selected and formulated with skin integrity in mind. I believe that beauty products should perform beautifully while respecting the skin they touch. Today, I incorporate my cosmetic and skincare line into my professional kit and make it available for purchase, allowing clients to recreate their professional results long after their appointment.

As my career continued to grow, so did my commitment to personal development—not just as an artist, but as a woman and leader. In 2020, during a time when much of the world slowed down and many stepped away from their routines, I chose to move inward instead of standing still.

While some stopped wearing makeup or investing in themselves, I focused on strengthening my own P.I.E.S.—my Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, and Spiritual growth. I used that season to deepen my mindset, expand my knowledge, invest in my wellness, and realign with the purpose behind the work I do.

Because of everything that season taught me, I now carry those lessons into the work I do every day—supporting my clients, mentoring women through Dress for Success, and empowering others through my She Owns It platform.

In addition to serving clients, I am honored to serve as the President of The Annex Beauty Association, where we provide continuing education, mentorship, and business resources for beauty professionals across the country. Through this work, I help artists build confidence, financial independence, and sustainable careers in the beauty industry.

To me, being a makeup artist is about far more than applying cosmetics. It is about connection, trust, and transformation. It is about helping women feel confident in their own skin—whether they are walking down the aisle, stepping in front of a camera, sitting in an interview, or stepping into a new chapter of their lives.

Every face tells a story—and it is both my privilege and my purpose to help bring that story to life through artistry that feels authentic, elevated, and empowering.

CREDENTIALS & EXPERIENCE