There’s no business like it

jennifer ng

Working for a cosmetic line doesn’t always mean being behind a counter. Melanie Hutchinson from Toronto, Ontario and National Trainer for Benefit Cosmetics shares how she got where she is today.

GLOSS : How did you get started?
MH : By starting at the bottom! I started out as a part-time beauty artist on the counter and worked my way up to full-time, then to manager, then to sales coordinator and now I'm going into a training coordinator position!

GLOSS : Favorite thing about your job?
MH : Favourite thing about my job...I get to combine my three favourite things: makeup, teaching others and travel!

GLOSS : What’s the biggest challenge of the job?
MH : TIME! It seems even with prioritizing my day, there is never enough time.

GLOSS : When did you know you wanted to work in makeup?
MH : From the days when I used to put makeup on my dolls! It wasn't actually until after high school that I discovered the option of makeup school.  Back then, I thought that beauty school was only in the movie Grease !

GLOSS : Favorite story on the job?
MH : I was working my Benefit magic on a very sweet customer during her makeup appointment and when I was done, I let her see her finished look in the mirror. Next thing I know, tears started running down her face! I'm thinking, "She doesn't like it!"  She was crying because she never thought she could look that good.  I wanted to cry with her! Goes to show that makeup can change how you feel on the inside as well, as the outside!

GLOSS : Favorite makeup trick/tip/secret?
MH : 1. Always prep your skin with moisturizer before your makeup!
2.  For a perfect lip line...squeeze your lip-pencil tip in between your thumb and index finger, mold until its flat. Apply, look how perfect that lip liner is!
3. Apply your mascara by wiggling the wand back-and-forth from root to tip! It catches those pesky little in-between lashes.
4. Secret: HOLLYWOOD GLO!!!! By Benefit! You'll search no more!