Hello! It's been a while hasn't it?
Since I've last posted here, I have left my job and have started working in a completely different industry. I thought I'd write a brutally honest post on what it's actually like to work in the beauty industry. Here's a little break down of some of the less known aspects of the job.
1. People will ask stupid questions.
Approximately 3 times a week someone would stand in front of me with a red lipstick in their hand and say
"Is this lipstick red?".
I would have to stop myself sarcastically replying with
"No, it's blue."
However, after doing the job for such a long time I realise that what the customers wants is reassurance and/or a confidence boost. Whether they realise it or not, they're actually asking
"Can I pull off red lipstick?"
and sometimes you just have to read between the lines, and tell them what they want to hear.
2. Instagram makes for high expectations.
Someone will present a photo they've pulled off Instagram, not realising that the face in question has been shot under professional lighting with a SLR camera. Aswell as going through Photoshop or 4 different editing apps and one final Insta filter.
I wish I could remind people that it's hard to look like Amrezy in the toilets of Lloyds with your iPhone, it doesn't mean that the make up doesn't look good it just means that you're not a professional Instagrammer!
3. You are a sales person before you are an artist.
A beauty counter is business before anything else. Sure, we all get trained on how to create beautiful faces. But you know what else we get trained on? How to make money! You can go to college and have a handful of qualifications in make-up, media make-up, theatrical make-up, beauty therapy etc etc. But if you don't have the skill of persuading someone to put their hands in their pockets and buy products, then you are no use to anyone! Having the ability to feel comfortable to talk to the public, and confident to talk them into buying is something you simply cannot teach. You either got it, or ya don't!
4. It's worth sussing out who you're going to work for.
Ok, I didn't think I'd ever slander a brand on here. But it's my blog and I'll write what I want!
I will say this straight up right now... Benefit suck to work for, I did it for 2 years and I have no idea why I stuck it out for so long. Their turnover of staff is high, for a reason. Benefit's training is minimal, followed by unachievable expectations after so little training, the perks are the worst available across all the brands. The way Benefit staff get paid makes no sense and the promotion structure is ridiculous. If you'd like me to expand on this, I can give specific examples. Feel free to tweet or message me, I'm happy to talk about my experience. I don't mean to offend anyone who does work for Benefit, let the record state I am talking from my own personal experience and what I have witnessed close friends experience. But srsly, don't waste ya time.
Most brand are owned either by the Lauder group (Mac, Clinique, Bobbi Brown + others) or L'oreal Luxe (Lancome, The Body Shop, YSL, Armani + others). I briefly worked for Urban Decay as they were being taken over by L'oreal, but not really enough to comment.
I worked for Bare Minerals for just over year, I lusted after Bare Minerals for a long time. I can honestly say they were so brilliant to work for, I always felt that the management valued, praised and looked after me. The perks were generous, the pay is fair and the training is fun and thorough. I would 100% recommend Bare Minerals as an employer, again if you'd like to talk more about this feel free to get in contact, it's something I'll happily chat about!
5. It will be assumed that you are stupid.
I pride myself on knowing pretty much every ingredient in almost every Bare Minerals product, as well as what the ingredient does, and how. I enjoy the science! I was told I delved too far into the details, and that no customer would ever need to know. Which is 99% true, but when that 1 in 100 customer was to ask a really detailed question, I loved being able to share my knowledge and explain the science of the skin. (Which again, helps to nail the sale!)
People hear 'beauty girl' and think 'idiot', it's ridiculous. Occasionally, I would have people talk to me like I'd just been born.
6. There is no one type of customer.
You may have noticed I've not referred to the customers as 'women'. This is because it's unfair to generalise cosmetics customers as women. I have put make up on everyone from a girl of 8, to a woman of 92 and everything in between. I've helped drag queens, cross dressers and transgender women. I've foundation matched people with chronic acne, painful eczema and perfect skin. Men buy concealer just the same as women do. You can't expect one type of person to need your help. It's really important to give each one of them the same standard of service, without asking a single question about who they are or why they've come to you, unless they do so first. Diversity within beauty was one of my favourite aspects of the job.
I hope that's helped anyone who is considering a job in the industry. I think I might follow this up with a more positive side of the job, I did it for 3 years and more so it can't be all bad, hey?!
Any questions please do tweet me or email me.
Ashton xx
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