Out Of Office: Beauty Content Creator & Makeup Artist Unbiden
Out Of Office is a new series that follows Singaporeans who’ve logged off the standard career script to chase their own versions of success – consider this a study of work, ambition and life beyond the default settings. Next up: content creator Xu Mei Cheng (@unbiden), who ditched her full-time job to pursue her dreams of being a makeup artist in Shanghai.
WHO: Xu Mei Cheng, 26, makeup-artist-in-training and content creator.
Although, you might know her better as the GRWM master @unbiden on TikTok. With more than 6 million likes on the app, Xu’s GRWM-on-the-go videos started going viral in 2023. After all, being able to do a full face of makeup flawlessly while riding a bicycle and during your morning commute is pretty impressive.
WHAT SHE DOES: While most know her as a beauty content creator, she has currently re-adopted the title of ‘student’ as makeup-artist-in-training in Shanghai.
In September 2025, Xu landed in China to attend a five-month makeup arts training course at Maogeping School, founded by an expert makeup artist. Xu has spent the past few months honing her makeup skills, trying out products, and learning as much as she can to earn her certification to be a professional makeup artist.
Xu (on the left) out on a night out with friends in Shanghai.
WHY KNOW HER: If you had to choose between a financially stable career that you’re not very passionate about, or taking a huge risk to chase after your dream job, what would you do? For Xu, her choice required two years of saving up and even more years before that to find the courage to chase her dreams.
In 2023, after graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Photography and Digital Imaging at Nanyang Technological University, Xu got a job as a digital producer at the National Arts Council. While she was comfortable, she wasn’t exactly excited by it. “I was always interested in makeup, but I wasn’t brave enough to pursue it,” she shared during a call. Two years later, she finally hands in her resignation letter to get on a Shanghai-bound plane to attend a training academy to become a makeup artist. Her only regret: that she hadn’t taken the leap sooner.
Xu settling in to her apartment in Shanghai.
Hey Mei! First thing’s first: how did your interest in makeup start?
Xu Mei Cheng (MC): “I’ve always been interested in makeup. Since young, I would follow my mom to her makeup courses in China — she is my first and biggest inspiration. As I got older and started using makeup, my on-the-go makeup application videos surprisingly took off and I had a platform to share my makeup tips. As someone who graduated with a degree in visual art, I see makeup as just as another way of expressing colours and texture on skin.”
Before moving to Shanghai to pursue a makeup certification, you already had a full-time job at the National Arts Council while also being a pretty well-known beauty content creator. What inspired you to choose your current path?
MC: “A certification adds credibility. Even though I was already learning makeup on my own, I often felt as though I was merely scratching the surface of the skill. Attending a prestigious makeup academy like Maogeping exposed me to a variety of styles that are highly sought after in the global market. I truly believe that to master any craft, the only path forward is to immerse oneself fully.
And so, I did the necessary research, I saved up for around one and a half years to afford to move to Shanghai to attend this training programme, and of course, mustered up a whole lot of courage.”
Xu in action.
Before your move to Shanghai, you shared that you saved up S$50,000. How did you manage to do that?
MC: “I had to make sure that I could support myself financially for the next 5 months without a stable source of income. I was setting aside at least 50% of my monthly income, and categorised my spending between business and personal spending. My advice is: create a budget, and stick to it. Track your spending — and it is always good to have multiple streams of income.”
How much do you earn on average per month these days?
MC: “It really depends on the season. Some months I earn nothing, on others I can earn up to S$6,000.”
How much do you spend on average per month in Shanghai? Give us a rough breakdown of your monthly expenditure pie.
MC: “I spend around S$4,000 a month. Most of it goes to rent, which costs S$1,500. The amount I spend on transport is S$100, food and entertainment is S$200, and cosmetics and additional courses (if needed) are S$500. The rest go into my savings.”
Xu doing what she does best: getting ready on public transport.
You’ve now been in Shanghai for four months, how’s it going so far?
MC: “Over the past few months, I’ve been practicing doing makeup every day, and it has now become second nature. I also met some Singaporeans visiting Shanghai and offered to do their makeup, leading to some wonderful new friendships!”
What was the preparation process like?
MC: “I made a short trip to Shanghai to visit the academy, contacted a housing agent online, and took care of various essentials, such as setting up a bank account and getting a phone number — both of which are crucial in China.”
Any cultural differences you’ve noticed between Shanghai and Singapore?
MC: “Work culture and punctuality are highly valued here. I’ve also found that mobile payments have made life so much easier, once I got the hang of them.”
You also shared about your ‘Doing 100 People’s Make Up’ challenge – how’s that going so far?
MC: “As a personal goal, I’m aiming to complete 100 makeovers for strangers in Shanghai. So far, I’ve only posted about four, but I’m the actual number is higher. If you’re in Shanghai and interested, feel free to reach out!”
What are some important lessons you’ve learnt from choosing this career path?
MC: “Set realistic goals and have monthly check-ins to keep track of your progress. Motivation comes from action, so always do and plan at the same time. Don’t waste time avoiding mistakes because that is the only way to learn.”
What do you wish you’d known before doing what you’re doing now?
MC: “After seeing how competitive the industry is, especially in the Chinese market, one thing I wish I did was to be more firm on my goals and started earlier.”
How do you stay motivated when things feel slow, uncertain, or uninspiring?
MC: “Keep yourself around like-minded people with the same goals and work ethics. They make tough times more bearable and keeps you on track and focused on the important things. Progress requires discomfort, but having a good environment makes it a little easier.”
What advice would you give to someone who feels drawn to a similar path but is hesitant to start?
MC: “Weigh your pros and cons, take calculated risks. And remember: don’t be afraid to start and fail, the earlier the better.”