Usually found behind the makeup chair, Sylvina Lopez, famously known as Slo the makeup artist, now takes her turn in front of it. Known for her creativity, she channels her artistry not just through brushes and pigments but also through the ink and piercings she wears.
Slo has two tattoos: one somewhat funny yet practical, one sentimental. “My funny one is like I have these dots here and they’re a ruler because I love to knit, so between each dot is an inch,” she says, laughing. “I’ve seen this tattoo on other people and I thought it was just really handy because like I don’t need to bring a ruler and I knit everywhere.”
Jerick Sanchez
Her other tattoo, a delicate cluster of her mother’s favorite flowers sits on her hip. “My mom’s favorite flowers are roses, sampaguita, and hydrangea. They look like three clusters on top of each other,” she describes.
Meanwhile, her piercings on her face have become souvenirs from her travels. “I’ve always been curious and I thought it would suit my face,” she says, and she was right.
Whether it’s a tattoo or a piercing, Slo takes comfort in knowing these arts are more than just for the aesthetics. “I’ve always liked self-expression and I think [tattoos or piercings] are one of the most fun and true forms of self-expression,” she shares. “And in a way, like I’m a sentimental person and there’s lots of sentimentality that happens with body modification in general.”
Art direction by Nicole Almero. Beauty direction by Leira Aquino. Makeup by Booya. Hair by Patty Inojales. Styling by Geno Espidol and Jermainne Lagura of Qurator. Nails by Extraordinail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Slo Lopez, full name Sylvina Lopez, is a Filipino makeup artist recognized for her creativity and distinct personal aesthetic. Beyond her professional work behind the makeup chair, she is known for her tattoos and facial piercings — each carrying specific personal significance tied to memory, craft, and travel.
Slo’s ruler tattoo consists of dots spaced one inch apart on her arm, functioning as an actual measuring tool for her knitting practice. She describes it as both practical and humorous — a piece she first saw on others and adopted because it eliminates the need to carry a separate ruler while knitting on the go.
The tattoo on Slo’s hip depicts three clusters of her mother’s favorite flowers — roses, sampaguita, and hydrangea. It is her more sentimental piece, worn as a permanent tribute to her mother and the emotional significance those specific flowers carry within their relationship.
Slo’s facial piercings were acquired during her travels, functioning as souvenirs from different places and periods in her life. She describes them as an extension of her curiosity about self-expression and body modification — chosen because she felt they suited her face and reflected her personal aesthetic.
Slo views tattoos and piercings as among the most genuine and personal forms of self-expression available. As someone she describes as deeply sentimental, she connects body modification to memory and meaning — treating each piece as a marker of something emotionally significant rather than a purely aesthetic choice.
