Rae Morris on Beauty, Mistakes and the Happy Accident That Changed Her Life

Long one of the most globally recognisable names in makeup artistry, and renowned for her exquisitely refined eye for detail, it would be easy to presume perfection was Rae Morris’ entire way of life. Not so. Rae gets honest and frank with us about her simple tomboy childhood, her physical and mental health challenges, and the sparkling career that she insists happened quite by accident — a glamorous one involving none other than Naomi Campbell.

Following mentorship by David Bowie’s makeup artist, a healthy dose of innate creativity and talent was unleashed.
Three decades on, her no-nonsense yet warm approach makes it clear why A-listers insist she be wielding the brush.

Her exacting taste and balance are part of the reason one of the world’s oldest brush makers (180 years and counting) chose her for their only collaboration. Her willingness to make mistakes and work through them, whether on set or in life, explains why she remains a stalwart in the fickle world of fashion.

On Growing Up, Dyslexia, and Early Inspiration

“My childhood was quite simple, and I was very much a tomboy.

My younger brother and I grew up on acreage in Brisbane with typical working parents. School wasn’t easy for me – I struggled academically, partly because of dyslexia and partly because of my health, and eventually failed.

Looking back though, I’m grateful to have grown up in the ‘80s, because that era was filled with such bold influences in hair, makeup, and fashion. Being exposed to icons like Boy George, Duran Duran, and Kiss really planted the seed for what would become my lifelong passion for those worlds.”

Physical and Mental Health Challenges

“I’ve had a few really tough chapters in my life of physical and mental health struggles.

As a kid and teenager I had a rare neuropathy that affected my peripheral nerves. It meant having many surgeries, and I spent a lot of high school in hospital because of that.

In my early twenties, I struggled with depression so severely that I was hospitalized. The turning point for me in finding my way through that was meeting the right therapist. I had tried medication, seen many doctors, and struggled for years, but eventually I found someone who really understood the severity of my depression.”

Postnatal Depression and Finding Support

“The hardest time of all came after the birth of my beautiful daughter. When I became pregnant with her, my therapist helped to prepare me for what may come next. I wasn’t truly ready for what followed, but I can see therapy did help guide me through it all. I went through extreme postnatal depression; I had never imagined things could feel so dark. I think what made it even harder was the social expectation that this was supposed to be the happiest time of my life.

Thankfully, I reached out for help and received this amazing therapy, which pulled me through. Now, when I reflect back on that period, I can see it was absolutely the darkest time of my life, but also one that gave me the resilience and empathy that I carry with me today.

I also learned that I shouldn’t have suffered in silence. Shame kept me from reaching out to the people around me, but when I finally opened up, I discovered so many other women had been through the same thing. Now, whenever I meet a new mum, the first thing I ask her is, “are you okay?” I was never asked that, and I think it could have made a big difference.

I think it’s also important we know that support doesn’t have to be a big grand gesture. It can be something as simple as dropping off food, doing the washing, or letting a mum sleep. Those small acts can make a world of difference.”

The Accidental Career Break

“My career as a makeup artist really happened by accident. I often say it was two seconds of Naomi Campbell’s life that completely changed mine.

At the time I was working as a hairdresser backstage in Istanbul, and Naomi needed her makeup touched up. I popped some lipgloss on her, and that moment happened to be photographed.

From then on I was suddenly booked as an international makeup artist, even though I had no formal makeup training at the time. I think because of my background in doing hair, makeup felt like a natural extension.

Fate played a hand in my development again when I met the late Richard Sharah, David Bowie’s makeup artist, who mentored me. That chance encounter and early guidance truly set me on the path to what I do today.”

The Reality of Life Behind the Scenes

“I absolutely love the spontaneity of my work; no one day is ever the same as the next. I’m surrounded by incredibly creative people – actors, singers, photographers, fashion designers, artists – and I feel lucky to be a part of a community where creativity is encouraged and celebrated.

What comes along with the spontaneity is the instability of my schedule, which can be hard. I rarely know when I’ll start or finish a job, which makes it challenging to plan holidays and family events.

Another tricky element to deal with in this world are the egos. I’ve come to realise over the years that the bigger their ego, the more insecure the person usually is, and the more love they actually need.”

Rae’s Beauty Philosophy

“My favourite makeup trick is what I call ‘paint it on, clean it up after’.

You can draw the messiest eyeliner ever, then refine it with a brush. You can smudge brows with powder, then clean up the shape with foundation or micellar water. I even do it with lips.

Makeup isn’t about creating a perfect shape in one go. It’s about knowing how to fix mistakes and create something that works for you.

While I do get excited about beauty products, it’s the brushes, the instruments, and the precision tools which I treasure the most.

Japanese-made tweezers and eyelash curlers are favourites, and of course, my own makeup brushes.

There’s something so special about holding beautifully handcrafted tools. I feel genuinely proud each time I use my own brushes.”

Daily Routine

I don’t have a set daily routine as every day is so different. I will always make sure my daughter is happy and ready for school, though, and knowing that is sorted helps me feel prepared for whatever my own day has in store.

I begin my mornings with lots of water, then coffee, and I will start the day’s eating around 10am.

If I have an early start, I’ll get organised the night before – hair washed, clothes ready, car packed. In the mornings I’m very last-minute and will stay in bed as long as I can!

When it comes to my own appearance, I keep my hair and makeup minimal for work. I want the focus to be entirely on the person I’m working with.

Style

“My work is so messy and most of the time I’m covered in makeup. As a result a lot of my wardrobe is black! I gravitate toward minimalist, androgynous looks with subtle Japanese influences.

I get a lot of inspiration in Japan, especially in Shibuya. Dover Street Market is my favourite store. Designers I admire include Celine, Saint Laurent, Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto, Comme des Garçons, and Rick Owens.

Japanese street style is what I’m always drawn to. Comfort is key. I only wear pieces I can actually live in, regardless of the price and designer.”

Hair, Skin, and Self-Care

“My hair has become a bit of a living nightmare!

It was always thick and wavy, but after having my daughter I lost about 60% of it. Now, about half of it is grey, which means the texture of those sections has also changed to become wiry and curly.

To try to combat the hair loss, I’ve been getting treatments at the ODE Clinic with Dr Shammi Theason and am pleased to say I am noticing new growth.

Product-wise, I love Japanese shampoos and conditioners, which always leave my hair softer. I try to avoid too much heat styling, letting it air-dry whenever possible. I also like to get keratin straightening treatments, which are a game changer (especially in humidity). Owing to my hairdressing background, I am able to colour it myself at home every two weeks.”

On Hair and Skin Care

My skincare is fairly simple. I rotate between a few brands because I find my skin does best when I mix things up.

I love Bespoke Skin Technology by Dr Katherine Armour, which helps with pigmentation. I’m also obsessed with Allies of Skin, especially their sunscreen, and I’ve recently rediscovered SkinCeuticals, and am particularly enamoured of a product of theirs called P.T.I.O.X. Together, those three ranges keep my skin in balance.

When working on models, I keep products very gentle. For skincare applied just before makeup, it’s never about active treatments, but about ensuring the skin is balanced and prepped for the colour products to come.

For facials, I go to Sofia Amirova at Amirova Cosmetic Clinic in Neutral Bay. The results she provides are instant – she even takes before-and-after photos so you can see the difference. I’ve sent many clients of my own to her, including LeAnn Rimes.

For a massage treat, I go to Venustus in Paddington for their Tokyo treatment, where two therapists massage you at once.

For clinical skin treatments like Botox, peels, or exosome therapy, I go to plastic surgeon Dr. Steven Liew and skin therapist Nicky Lurie at Shape Clinic in Darlinghurst. Nicky knows more about skin than anyone I’ve ever met.

I love science-backed skincare and the future we’re moving into with elements like exosomes, stem cells, and regenerative treatments.

What I loathe is the opposite: the false claims, the scams, the so-called miracle products which do nothing but prey on vulnerable people, which is almost all of us.

I also dislike the oversupply of products and the ensuing waste, especially with plastic packaging. Even so-called sustainable brands often ship in plastic. The industry can do better, and while some progress has been made, we still have a long way to go. I’m glad I have the agency with my own brand to approach that side of things differently. My brushes are designed to buy once and last a lifetime. We all have to rethink our approach to our beauty consumption – we simply don’t need endless new palettes or disposable, replaceable kits.

ME TIME

Podcasts are my go-to for switching off. I also find inspiration scrolling Pinterest, TikTok, and Instagram – not just mindless scrolling, but following creatives who inspire me.

I love stand-up comedy, and music is always in the background, usually R&B. When it comes to Netflix, it’s either comedy or true crime, nothing in-between.

I’m very yin and yang with food. Sometimes I’m really healthy, other times I eat whatever’s in front of me. I don’t like seafood, and I do try not to eat too late, but otherwise I’m not obsessive at all.

I love wine and coffee. I take supplements including magnesium and fish oils. My favourite cuisine is anything Asian, because it’s full of vegetables but also has incredible flavour.

On Ageing and Staying Well

I have a really positive attitude towards ageing. At 55, I feel blessed to see getting older as being about the importance of staying as well and healthy as possible, rather than being too concerned about external changes.

My mum is a big influence. She’s in her mid-eighties and still incredibly active – still going to the gym, still running. Seeing her as compared to so many other people her age has made me focus on caring for my body now, hoping it will see me in as good a stead as hers is when I am at that stage myself. I haven’t always taken care of my body as well as I should. I’ve only recently joined a gym. Pilates was hard for me to stay motivated with, but I’ve found I like going for a walk, or doing a light workout with loud music to keep me going. I’m not waking up at 5am to run, but I’m making progress, and for me it’s about consistency, not perfection. For the first time in my life, I’m exercising regularly and listening to my body.

In terms of how the skin changes as we age, I prefer to focus on good skin health rather than covering up damage with a lot of makeup. I’ll do treatments like Botox or peels, but always with the aim of making my skin look and feel great, rather than wanting to change how my face looks.”