When I first started investing in beauty products regardless skin care or make up, I can’t help but to wonder what is it like working in a beauty industry. Must be nice. I think most of us would went gaga a bit when we meet the brand person in event or beauty workshop (especially when we’re new). I can’t help to think “wow she must have all the beauty products she can get”. Well. That was when I’m new in the beauty world.

I thought it’s a good idea to do a special feature on this topic with the help of a few friends from top brands in Malaysia. And of course their identity will be kept anonymous. Hope this answer your curiosity too! Enjoy.

Contributor 1 – PR Manager
What makes you wanted to be in the beauty industry?
The challenge of making people feel beautiful inside out. It’s all science and psychology in one beautiful jar.

What is the qualification or skill in your personal opinion that most brand is looking for when hiring someone to be in their Marketing, PR team or Business Development?
Passion, commitment and a lot of love for the finer details. For an individual to really make a mark, it’s not just all about pushing products to the target audience but it’s a lot of human element that goes into it too like being caring, being down to earth and also accessible to people. With today’s competitiveness market nobody will want to spend even RM1 on a brand that they could not relate to or even trust. It is OK to be tactful and truthful to your customers even though you know for a fact that you know your product will not work on him/her due to several reasons. Great marketing campaigns always meet the needs and the demands of the consumers not the other way round. That’s for the marketing fundamentals.

For anyone who wants to be in a beauty industry, having a passionate drive to be beautiful firstly (looking healthy good is a must!),
good communication skills and pleasant personality is a bonus. You don’t need to have supermodel looks. If you are always well groomed
with a smile, that my friend will put you ahead of the rest!

I think most people will think that working in the beauty industry means you get the access to unlimited free products. Is it true?
Not really. It depends on the company’s perks. Some beauty companies provide really great staff discounts for product purchases, grooming allowance and even shoes allowance. It depends.

Do you get to try all new products before it’s brought in or launch?
Yes. You must trust your own products first.

What do you do with all the products that are given to you to try after the trying period?
I usually have products that are suitable for my skin type (sensitive & dehydrated) for sampling. Skincare or body care that is not suited for my skin type will head straight to my friends and family members that will benefit from them.

Do you get to try other brand beside the brands that are listed under your company for comparison?
Being a beauty lover, yes yes! Always try, criticize and even admire our competitors. Most times, I will spend my own money to try out the latest in the market.

Of course other than all the perks and glamours, what is the downside of being in the industry?
No major downside I can think of but just this, it’s very competitive. Everyday, a new product will be launched with new found technology, new ingredients etc, if you do not keep yourself abreast, your brand will just be forgotten. There are also unscrupulous people who are peddling fake products with fake claims that will endanger the consumers. We as consumers must always be careful. Sometimes, something that’s very cheap on the internet may not be genuine or if someone telling you that the product now is 50%-70% off, please check the expiration date! We as consumers have every right to question what we are paying for be it service or even items. Scrutinize the ingredients listing and go to the extent of even asking the sales rep whether she had tried the product before herself.

As you know I’m in publishing advertising sales so asking for ads is a part of my job. What is the funniest excuse that you ever give to a media owner for not advertising in their platform?
Your magazine has a lot of booze & club ads!

Last but not least, I think we all wanted to know if the job really is as glamourous as we think it is.
The notion of glamour is all about how you carry yourself. Like Joan Collins said, if you wear flip flops and jeans daily, how on earth can you feel glamourous? It takes a lot of effort BUT anyone can be gorgeous! You needn’t need to be in a beauty industry to be glamourous. I see people breaking boundaries each day with fashion, beauty and even music. It’s how you express yourself. That’s real power to me. Go ahead and walk out with your chin high. Confidence is the key then followed by great skin and smile =)

Contributor 2 – Sales Development Manager
What makes you wanted to be in the beauty industry?
When I was young, I like to be pretty all the time. When I look at my oldest sister, she always present herself well and professional. After joining this industry for so many year, is great to have free product to use..haha

What is the qualification or skill in your personal opinion that most brand is looking for when hiring someone to be in their Marketing, PR team or Business Development?
1. I think must have presentable outlook.
2. Experience.

I think most people will think that working in the beauty industry means you get the access to unlimited free products. Is it true?
Yes, its true.

Do you get to try all new products before it’s brought in or launch?
Yes. For sure only we can present to the market.

What do you do with all the products that are given to you to try after the trying period?
Of course to continue using it.

Do you get to try other brand beside the brands that are listed under your company for comparison?
Yes. All the time.

Of course other than all the perks and glamours, what is the downside of being in the industry?
I think is tiring, especially when launching new product. A lot of planning and preparing for press, bloggers and our own staff. But of course it’s enjoying and fun.

As you know I’m in publishing advertising sales so asking for ads is a part of my job. What is the funniest excuse that you ever give to a media owner for not advertising in their platform? – If related to your job scope
Maybe the product is not suitable???
Or I not suitable.

Last but not least, I think we all wanted to know if the job really is as glamourous as we think it is.
Yes I think so.

Contributor 3 – Trainer
What makes you wanted to be in the beauty industry?
Considering my first job, and it is through family connection. To me why not- just give it a try and I like the opportunity of meeting glamorous people.

What is the qualification or skill in your personal opinion that most brand is looking for when hiring someone to be in their Marketing, PR team or Business Development?
Qualification definitely. Looks help. Good looks added advantage not necessary Miss Malaysia, but maybe runners up. Hahahahaha
Pleasant personality.
Good communication skills

I think most people will think that working in the beauty industry means you get the access to unlimited free products. Is it true?
Yes, we will be first few to try the products, esp product prototype. We are the guine pig. Good or bad we are the first to experience it. Lucky, most of the time it turn out well.

Do you get to try all new products before it’s brought in or launch?
Yes only then we can or able to share our personal experience to the consumer and frontlines. And it is compulsory for me to try.

What do you do with all the products that are given to you to try after the trying period?
Usually we take turn to try, everybody will have a chance to try it, I will pass around to other department.

Do you get to try other brand beside the brands that are listed under your company for comparison?
Not all, only key one. As to compare and get a feel of how competitors position theirs.

Of course other than all the perks and glamours, what is the downside of being in the industry?
The job comes with long hours and many times weekends.

Last but not least, I think we all wanted to know if the job really is as glamourous as we think it is
Whilst it look glamorous, the work is hard. You need to put up a front when promoting or talking to press about your products.

Contributor 4 – Makeup Artist
What makes you wanted to be in the beauty industry?
a) I studied learned makeup professionally in 2007 and it all started from there. Have been a freelance makeup artist ever since
b) Always wanted to be in the beauty industry because of my great interest in beauty and I think it’s where I know the most as of now as I have only been working for 2 years
c) Was very exposed to allot of makeup and cosmetics in Australia where I studied. Finding customers service and consumer behaviour both interesting in class and outside of class.

What is the qualification or skill in your personal opinion that most brand is looking for when hiring someone to be in their Marketing or PR team?
a) Interestingly enough I find that marketing in general has people that are quite good looking or well presented regardless of industry, I think it is slowly developed and possibly the more good looking or presented people are more noticed?
b) I have always been good at PR skills, not being able to shut up but a business mind is also extremely important, as I have learned. Slowly being able to grasp numbers is what I’m working on and I think is quite crucial as knowledge and creativity can only go so far.
c) I think a good expose to the industry is quite important especially while the market is strong and competitive; many are not looking to hire fresh graduates, which is quite sad and understandable at the same time.
d) Ultimately, the one thing one must have is passion, you may get the job based on the qualifications you have at the start or experience but in the end if you personally have no passion, it will be a living hell. Everyone thinks girls love to work with cosmetics and fragrances, I myself have seen someone who has absolutely no interest in cosmetics working under a particularly interesting brand with strong support for the principle but is extremely miserable.
e) If you have no passion, it shows very very obviously.

I think most people will think that working in the beauty industry means you get the access to unlimited free products. Is it true?
a) Free products is a given, quantity depends on what brand you work for but unlimited definitely not.
b) Honestly, even if I was given everything I would not use most of it and will give it away.
c) The perks are there that’s for sure but each brand has its own strength and every brand person will know the weaknesses in his/her brand and would not want to use the product or even recommend it sometimes.

Do you get to try all new products before it’s brought in or launch?
a) Yes we get to try the products months in advance; we get sent what is called a lab sample. Sometimes just the products without the packaging or actual packaging to decide if your country can accept the products and in result how much you would order or if you would order at all.
b) There are some things that we do not order if possible when we know that our target market will have no interest in it what so ever.

What do you do with all the products that are given to you to try after the trying period?
a) Give back if necessary
b) Keep if possible as I’m a makeup artist
c) Give away too to people who do not mind used products

Do you get to try other brand beside the brands that are listed under your company for comparison?
a) Depending on what your relationship is with the other brand managers and the cost of the products
b) Sometimes a simple can I try please? Works
c) I do know of some cosmetics companies that hold many brands but where brand people do not interact with other brands at all and sometimes have no interest in the other brands. It’s all about company culture.

Of course other than all the perks and glamours, what is the downside of being in the industry?
a) Coming up with new ideas all the time is not easy, especially after you have been taking care of a brand for awhile
b) When your principle does not give you much to work with its very hard (eg long wait for press releases or information of products)
c) Having to visit your counters often and to take care of the counter staff
d) Ensuring that sales figures are high
e) Fortunately no one has asked for free products
f) Having breakouts really is a bother especially when people look at your face first before anything when they know you are handling a particular brand as you are the 1st example and result in everyone’s mind as they think you use everything from the brand

As you know I’m in publishing advertising sales so asking for ads is a part of my job. What is the funniest excuse that you ever give to a media owner for not advertising in their platform?
No budget, which is really true 🙂

Last but not least, I think we all wanted to know if the job really is as glamourous as we think it is
I think it all depends on how it’s compared, if you compare to accounts yes it looks more exciting and colourful. It is glamorous to a certain extent but ultimately it’s a normal job and nothing to go crazy about. It’s just fun to be ahead in knowing what will be coming out or what something smells like before others know. All in all people always over think glamour.

There you have it. Top 4 main person in Malaysia’s beauty industry chipping in their views. Hope this feature is useful to those who is thinking to join the industry and to those who has been wondering … what is it like working in a beauty industry!