Beauty consultants demonstrate and sell a range of beauty products such as make-up, fragrances, skincare lotions, moisturisers and haircare products. They help their customers choose the most suitable beauty products for their skin type and tone.

The Work

You could be:

• discussing with the customer which products will be most suitable for their skin type and tone and their face shape
• recommending products to suit your customer’s age and lifestyle
• doing a presentation of products to a small group of customers
• giving customers a facial or applying make-up
• increasing sales and meeting sales targets
• keeping up to date with new products and arranging counter displays to promote them
• ordering products from the manufacturer when stock runs low
• keeping records of sales and regular customers
• wrapping purchases and taking cash or credit and debit card payments.

Pay

The figures below are only a guide. Actual salaries may vary, depending on:

• where you work
• the size of the company or organisation you work for
• the demand for the job.

Beauty consultants can earn between £10.00 and £14.00 an hour. You may also be paid commission on sales and performance related bonuses.

Department supervisors or managers can earn around £20,000 and £28,000 a year.

Conditions

• You may work in a department store, sometimes working as part of a sales team.
• You would spend most of the day dealing with customers face-to-face.
• You usually have to wear a uniform.
• You may work shifts, including weekends and evenings.
• You could get part time and temporary work.
• You may get a staff discount on what you buy.
• You may get an allowance for make-up.
• If you are self-employed you may host a demonstration in a customer's home.

Getting In

No formal entry qualifications are required, but a good general education is useful.

• Experience in retail or customer service is helpful.
• Some employers may prefer entrants to have qualifications or previous training in beauty therapy.
• There are a range of qualifications you can study in beauty therapy at college, such as NC or NQ (SCQF Levels 2-6), SVQ (SCQF Levels 5-11), HNC (SCQF Level 7) and HND (SCQF Level 8).
• Entry requirements vary for NC, NQ and SVQ courses, from no formal entry requirements to some subjects at National 4 or 5. Entry to HNC and HND courses range from a group of subjects at National 4 or 5 to 1-2 Highers.
• Most beauty consultants work directly for the companies whose products they sell.
• Some department stores recruit staff to promote different brands.
• You could start with temporary work at a busy period such as Christmas and move into a permanent job later.
• There are also job opportunities in hotels, in residential health establishments, at airports and on cruise ships.

Job Outlook Scotland

Job Outlook Scotland and UK

  Scotland

2022

5163

1.7 %

RISE

2027

5253

  United Kingdom

2022

54828

0.5 %

RISE

2027

55097

LMI data powered by EMSI UK

What Does it Take?

You need to have:

• an interest in beauty and cosmetics
• excellent communication skills
• a friendly and helpful approach to customers
• a good understanding of the range of products you are selling
• a good eye for visual effects
• good selling skills
• a smart appearance.

You need to be:

• skilled at applying cosmetics
• self-confident and outgoing
• tactful and patient
• able to explain and demonstrate the features of different products
• highly motivated, to meet sales targets.

Training

• You would combine on the job training with attending training courses.
• You may attend short courses at a company training centre. You would learn basic skills and gain knowledge of the products you would be selling.
• You would also attend further company training courses to learn about new products when they are brought out.
• You may be able to work towards SVQs at SCQF Levels 5 and 6 in relevant subjects such as Beauty Therapy.

Getting On

• Some consultants work on a freelance basis selling or demonstrating products at customers' homes.
• Larger cosmetic companies have a few supervisory or management posts.

Contacts

The following organisations may be able to provide further information.