 |
| Photo: Getty Images |
Working in the beauty industry is no easy job- sure, you may gets lots of perks like discounts, samples, and product previews, but there are a few pieces of advice I wish I had gotten before working in a small retail beauty shop. If you're a shop girl or a professional make up artist, I've complied a few tips that may just make your work days a tad bit easier.
Know Your Client
I'll walk you through what a typical consultation may be like. Whether your shop consists of cosmetics, skin care, hair care, or even a combination of these and more, it's always important to understand what your client is looking for, and then start from there. Getting to know them is the first step in making them feel beautiful, and making the sale!
Don't Assume
This is a very easy mistake when recommending skin care products. We've already asked the client what their needs are, so be careful not to assume that just because his/her forehead is shiny that they need oil-control- lots of people can take this the wrong way. If you really think your client can benefit from using a particular product, just tell them the positives about said item, and let them make the judgement.
Word Choice
If being an Anthropology major has taught me anything, it's that everyone is different and that's great! Watching what you say is just one of the ways you can have that culturally sensitive attitude, and can be applied even at work. For instance, when trying to match someone's complexion to a foundation, use words like "deeper" as opposed to "darker", "medium" instead of "normal", and "fair" instead of "pale" (everyone isn't just a variant of beige!).
Applying the Product
Now that we've found exactly what the client is looking for, it's time for you to touch some faces- yeah! A general rule is to always use an extremely light hand- about 100x lighter than when you apply products onto your own skin. Try to use anything besides your hands as often as possible- sterile brushes, cotton pads, makeup sponges, apply creams with a plastic stick or cotton swab; the goal is to be as sanitary as you can. However, in the absence of tools, using your fingers will work just fine.
There you have it, some of the best advice I can give you before embarking on your days as a beauty makeup diva extraordinaire. Do you have any tips you'd like to share?
Word Choice
If being an Anthropology major has taught me anything, it's that everyone is different and that's great! Watching what you say is just one of the ways you can have that culturally sensitive attitude, and can be applied even at work. For instance, when trying to match someone's complexion to a foundation, use words like "deeper" as opposed to "darker", "medium" instead of "normal", and "fair" instead of "pale" (everyone isn't just a variant of beige!).
Applying the Product
Now that we've found exactly what the client is looking for, it's time for you to touch some faces- yeah! A general rule is to always use an extremely light hand- about 100x lighter than when you apply products onto your own skin. Try to use anything besides your hands as often as possible- sterile brushes, cotton pads, makeup sponges, apply creams with a plastic stick or cotton swab; the goal is to be as sanitary as you can. However, in the absence of tools, using your fingers will work just fine.
There you have it, some of the best advice I can give you before embarking on your days as a beauty makeup diva extraordinaire. Do you have any tips you'd like to share?
Beautiful Chelsee! I needed this information for sure. <3 Perhaps I'll post up my own tips and tricks once I get a hang of my new beauty position. c:
ReplyDelete