Achelle Dunaway, Creative Director at e.l.f Cosmetics

What is your role?
I've been in this position for the past decade, so I've had the opportunity to dabble in a little bit of everything. Primarily, my focus has been on innovation in new product development and brand expansion. On the product front, this includes strategic review of our current assortment, trend forecasting, and conceptualizing a product from soup to nuts with formulation, color, componentry, copy and secondary packaging. For branding, this entails social engagement through videos, and building relationships with retailers and beauty editors.

What was your first job/break in the industry?
I moved to New York from California with no job, no apartment, no contacts and not much money. I started working in a children's clothing store when I first moved to New York. One of the employees was the niece of the founder of e.l.f. Cosmetics and she suggested I interview for a job there. Though I was only interested in fashion at the time, I thought it couldn't hurt to interview. I'm so glad I did! I segued from fashion to beauty, and in the beginning I did a lot -- product development, customer service, email marketing, PR and affiliate marketing. It was a start-up, so we all wore a lot of hats!

What is your best advice for someone seeking a similar position?
Be genuine and driven; that is a dynamic duo in the industry. Start networking and finding opportunities to gain experience, and be enthusiastically willing to work your way up in a company. Communicate in your interview about your commitment to grow long-term and set goals with your employer to help you achieve them.

What's the best part of your day?
"Choose a job you love, and you'll never work a day in your life" has really been my motto. It's so fun to get to be creative and literally play with makeup as a career.

What has been the highlight of your career?
I'm very grateful for all the opportunities and an environment with colleagues that make our office feel like a family. I think the biggest highlight would be that I have a portfolio of products that I helped launch at e.l.f. that directly contributed to the growth and success of the company. I'm also an inventor with a pending patent -- pretty rad!

What are some common misconceptions people have about your job or working in beauty?
People think everyone is straight out of a scene from "The Devil Wears Prada." Granted, I'm all about wearing a little (secondhand!) Prada, but everyone is very personable and down to earth.

Joanna Vargas, Celebrity Aesthetician

What is your role?
I always tell clients that my job is to figure out a fix for their skin in spite of their busy schedule. I ask any new client "What inspired you to come in?" because I find that women always have a goal. I try and meet expectations in the first visit and give advice on how to get the best results from their skin.

What was your first job/break in the industry?
My first job as an aesthetician was at a day spa in Manhattan. The rest of the staff were old-school European aestheticians who did classic facials with glycolics and masks that would harden on the face.

What is your best advice for someone seeking a similar position?
I get contacted by girls in beauty school and first-time business owners all of the time. My best advice is to do as many facials as you possibly can. Nothing can replace experience, and the more faces you touch, the better you will be. Second, always listen to the client. They will always tell you what they are looking for -- all you have to do is deliver! It's the best way to build a client base.

What's the best part of your day?
I love so many things about my job, but at the end of the day, I love knowing that I made a client feel confident.


 What has been the highlight of your career?
The most rewarding part of the job by far is when I develop a trusting relationship with a client. I love that people turn to me for advice and trust my opinions on decisions. It's truly an honor.

What are some common misconceptions people have about your job or working in beauty?
I think a lot of people think I come to work every morning and get treatments all day. Nothing could be further from the truth. I do get treatments, but I spend most of my day giving them.

Tom Bachik, Global Nail Designer for L'Oreal Paris

What is your role?
I have a couple different roles that keep my job new and inspiring every day. Though I don't work in a salon, I do have personal clients. I travel to them; sometimes in various locations, such as a salon or at an office, but most times it's at their home. I have an agent who books my jobs for photo shoots, TV and film. Lastly, I am the Global Nail Designer for L'Oreal Paris. I work closely with L'Oreal Paris' creative teams to develop new trends, colors, collections and looks, as well as creating techniques for women to easily recreate these looks at home.


 What was your first job/break in the industry?
I was creating some avant-garde runway looks for a photo shoot when the makeup artist on set said she loved my work and asked who my agent was. I asked, "Agent? You can get an agent as a nail tech?" I thought it was way too L.A.! That makeup artist was Francesca Talot (who has done everyone from Beyonce to Cindy Crawford). She insisted I get an agent and set me up with her agency ... and the rest is history.

What is your best advice for someone seeking a similar position?
Work hard and don't worry about the competition -- only worry about being the best you can be, and you'll never go wrong.