Halloween season inspires Rivera to focus on special fx make-up, gaining thousands of followers in-demand of make-up tutorials and inspiration.
Halloween season inspires Rivera to focus on special fx make-up, gaining thousands of followers in-demand of make-up tutorials and inspiration.
Alex Rivera is born at Mercy Hospital in Chicago: 10 pounds 1 ounce.
Alex Rivera is born at Mercy Hospital in Chicago: 10 pounds 1 ounce.
Halloween season inspires Rivera to focus on special fx make-up, gaining thousands of followers in-demand of make-up tutorials and inspiration.
Halloween season inspires Rivera to focus on special fx make-up, gaining thousands of followers in-demand of make-up tutorials and inspiration.
Halloween season inspires Rivera to focus on special fx make-up, gaining thousands of followers in-demand of make-up tutorials and inspiration.
Halloween season inspires Rivera to focus on special fx make-up, gaining thousands of followers in-demand of make-up tutorials and inspiration.
Gets his first hair cut at local barber shop.
Gets his first hair cut at local barber shop.
After getting noticed through social media, Fromm Beauty invites Rivera to platform at America’s Beauty Show, demoing shears, cutting techniques and hair tools.
After getting noticed through social media, Fromm Beauty invites Rivera to platform at America’s Beauty Show, demoing shears, cutting techniques and hair tools.
Graduates from cosmetology school and becomes an assistant at Bloomingdale’s Pink Hair Salon.
Caption: As luck would have it, Rivera and First Chair editor Alison Alhamed were in the same graduating class at Pivot Point International.
Graduates from cosmetology school and becomes an assistant at Bloomingdale’s Pink Hair Salon. Caption: As luck would have it, Rivera and First Chair editor Alison Alhamed were in the same graduating class at Pivot Point International.
Enrolls in cosmetology school at Pivot Point International in Bloomingdale Illinois. Enters first beauty competition at the Illinois Association of Cosmetology Schools Statewide Student Competition.
Enrolls in cosmetology school at Pivot Point International in Bloomingdale Illinois. Enters first beauty competition at the Illinois Association of Cosmetology Schools Statewide Student Competition.
Rivera participates in a study abroad trip to London with his beauty school, discovering a love for travel and advanced education.
Rivera participates in a study abroad trip to London with his beauty school, discovering a love for travel and advanced education.
Launches Instagram and YouTube accounts under the name @alexfaction, beginning a career as a social media make-up artist.
Launches Instagram and YouTube accounts under the name @alexfaction, beginning a career as a social media make-up artist.
Begins freelance career specializing in bridal parties.
Begins freelance career specializing in bridal parties.
Rivera and classmates have their first experience with professional make-up application. “This is where Alexfaction is born!” he says.
Rivera and classmates have their first experience with professional make-up application. “This is where Alexfaction is born!” he says.
Riveras social media platform opens the doors for vast opportunities to share his makeup tips and tricks. Attends Make-Up Designory (MUD) academy at Pivot Point Evanston to become a MUD educator.
Riveras social media platform opens the doors for vast opportunities to share his makeup tips and tricks. Attends Make-Up Designory (MUD) academy at Pivot Point Evanston to become a MUD educator.
Applies to the NYX Face Awards make-up competition and places in the Top 30 finalists. Pictured here: An Adam Lambert impersonation created by Rivera for the NYX Face Awards.
Applies to the NYX Face Awards make-up competition and places in the Top 30 finalists. Pictured here: An Adam Lambert impersonation created by Rivera for the NYX Face Awards.
1/17
 
View all
1/17
 
Slider
Halloween season inspires Rivera to focus on special fx make-up, gaining thousands of followers in-demand of make-up tutorials and inspiration.
2/17
 
Slider
Halloween season inspires Rivera to focus on special fx make-up, gaining thousands of followers in-demand of make-up tutorials and inspiration.
Alex Rivera is born at Mercy Hospital in Chicago: 10 pounds 1 ounce.
3/17
 
Slider
Alex Rivera is born at Mercy Hospital in Chicago: 10 pounds 1 ounce.
Halloween season inspires Rivera to focus on special fx make-up, gaining thousands of followers in-demand of make-up tutorials and inspiration.
4/17
 
Slider
Halloween season inspires Rivera to focus on special fx make-up, gaining thousands of followers in-demand of make-up tutorials and inspiration.
Halloween season inspires Rivera to focus on special fx make-up, gaining thousands of followers in-demand of make-up tutorials and inspiration.
5/17
 
Slider
Halloween season inspires Rivera to focus on special fx make-up, gaining thousands of followers in-demand of make-up tutorials and inspiration.
Gets his first hair cut at local barber shop.
6/17
 
Slider
Gets his first hair cut at local barber shop.
After getting noticed through social media, Fromm Beauty invites Rivera to platform at America’s Beauty Show, demoing shears, cutting techniques and hair tools.
7/17
 
Slider
After getting noticed through social media, Fromm Beauty invites Rivera to platform at America’s Beauty Show, demoing shears, cutting techniques and hair tools.
Graduates from cosmetology school and becomes an assistant at Bloomingdale’s Pink Hair Salon.
Caption: As luck would have it, Rivera and First Chair editor Alison Alhamed were in the same graduating class at Pivot Point International.
8/17
 
Slider
Graduates from cosmetology school and becomes an assistant at Bloomingdale’s Pink Hair Salon. Caption: As luck would have it, Rivera and First Chair editor Alison Alhamed were in the same graduating class at Pivot Point International.
Enrolls in cosmetology school at Pivot Point International in Bloomingdale Illinois. Enters first beauty competition at the Illinois Association of Cosmetology Schools Statewide Student Competition.
9/17
 
Slider
Enrolls in cosmetology school at Pivot Point International in Bloomingdale Illinois. Enters first beauty competition at the Illinois Association of Cosmetology Schools Statewide Student Competition.
Rivera participates in a study abroad trip to London with his beauty school, discovering a love for travel and advanced education.
10/17
 
Slider
Rivera participates in a study abroad trip to London with his beauty school, discovering a love for travel and advanced education.
Launches Instagram and YouTube accounts under the name @alexfaction, beginning a career as a social media make-up artist.
11/17
 
Slider
Launches Instagram and YouTube accounts under the name @alexfaction, beginning a career as a social media make-up artist.
Begins freelance career specializing in bridal parties.
12/17
 
Slider
Begins freelance career specializing in bridal parties.
13/17
 
Slider
Rivera and classmates have their first experience with professional make-up application. “This is where Alexfaction is born!” he says.
14/17
 
Slider
Rivera and classmates have their first experience with professional make-up application. “This is where Alexfaction is born!” he says.
Riveras social media platform opens the doors for vast opportunities to share his makeup tips and tricks. Attends Make-Up Designory (MUD) academy at Pivot Point Evanston to become a MUD educator.
15/17
 
Slider
Riveras social media platform opens the doors for vast opportunities to share his makeup tips and tricks. Attends Make-Up Designory (MUD) academy at Pivot Point Evanston to become a MUD educator.
Applies to the NYX Face Awards make-up competition and places in the Top 30 finalists. Pictured here: An Adam Lambert impersonation created by Rivera for the NYX Face Awards.
16/17
 
Slider
Applies to the NYX Face Awards make-up competition and places in the Top 30 finalists. Pictured here: An Adam Lambert impersonation created by Rivera for the NYX Face Awards.
17/17
 
Slider

  Alex Rivera, Chicago-born cosmetologist, make-up educator and Platform Artist for Fromm Beauty uncovered a talent and passion for beauty after enrolling in Pivot Point International Academy in Bloomingdale, Illinois.

After graduating, he started a freelance career, specializing in bridal hair and make-up, falling in love with the power of transformation. Wanting to expand his make-up artistry skills, he became a certified Make-Up Designory (MUD) educator and began connecting with make-up artists of social media fame.

Because of his location and lack of model access, Rivera was forced to use himself as a model to practice the tutorials and techniques he was learning and creating. He launched a YouTube channel and Instagram account, @alexfaction, where he rapidly gained a following of nearly 40,000 inspired followers hungry for his tutorials. You can find Rivera on platforms around the country for Fromm Beauty, on YouTube demoing special fx make-up or on Instagram by following @alexfaction.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, Click here.