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How to turn your beauty obsession into a side hustle

Ways to use makeup to make $$$. - by Alexandra M
  • 26 Mar 2019
How to turn your beauty obsession into a side hustle
Getty Images

If you’ve got makeup on the mind (who doesn’t!?) and you’re the official beauty guru of your group, there’s a million ways to turn your passion into a side hustle so you can start earning those dolla dolla bills! We chatted to beauty influencer Stephanie Bailey to see how this self-taught makeup wiz did it.

1. Let YouTube be your teacher

You don’t need to shell out on formal makeup training, you’ve just gotta log some hours practising and watching videos. “My early makeup education pretty much came from a series of trial and error,” says Stephanie. “I learnt the ropes by reading magazines and practising on my friends. When I was around 19, I discovered Lauren Curtis. You could call me 50 per cent self-taught and 50 per cent YouTube-taught. My game wouldn’t be half as strong today if it wasn’t for Lauren, Chloe Morello and Tanya Burr.”

2. Build your kit

There’s no need to own every beauty product, but there are a few products that are worth it. Invest in items like quality eyeshadow or good highlighters, and save on concealers and mascaras you’ll use up quickly. “My first ever ‘good-quality’ eyeshadow palette was the original Urban Decay Naked Palette and it is still the one I recommend,” Steph says. “My biggest tip is to choose one with as many wearable colours as possible. If you have your nudes, golds, browns and blacks covered, then you have 
a keeper!”

stephaniemaii_x View Profile
253 likes - View Post on Instagram
I'm talking all my current fave beauty bits for the party season over on the YouTubes!! 😘😘 You should watch.... xxx (ALSO - in other news I lost the footage of me raving about this @marcbeauty Shameless foundation! I'm OBSESSED with it lately! But.... it's not in the video! Just thought you should know.. it's THE BEST! 💁🏼) xxx

3. Keep it profesh

While you might only be starting out in your beauty hustle, it’s still important to approach this like a total boss. Maintain your beauty products like a legit artist and give your brushes a clean. Always listen to what your client wants, and have your kit fully stocked with wipes and cotton buds in case of emergency. “My favourite product to clean my brushes is the Sigma SigMagic Brush Shampoo, along with one of their cleaning mats,” says Steph. “Although, a good LUSH shower gel does the trick!”

4. Build a client base

A super-easy way to gain clients is through word of mouth, so offer to do your friends’ makeup for the formal or for a birthday to show off your work. Also, start a social media account for your biz. 
“I started my channel as a sort of work portfolio,” Stephanie says. 
“I did some follow-me-around videos, some incredibly embarrassing challenges and then finally decided to try my hand at a makeup tutorial. I guess people must have liked it because suddenly my channel started to gain traction. I started my channel to help me 
get a job and instead it ended up becoming my job!”

stephaniemaii_x View Profile
330 likes - View Post on Instagram
Makeup playtime with some old & new @NARSissist favourites! 🙌🏻 The Sheer Glow Foundation has become a staple in my collection over the past couple of weeks now that I have found my perfect shade (Copenhagen). A great combination of natural coverage and radiance. ✨✨ @meccamaxima #ComeToLight #NARSissist #ad

5. Start a YT channel

While starting a YouTube channel won’t initially bring in much coin, it’s 
a fun way to turn your love of 
beauty into a side gig. Focus on beauty looks you love personally 
and talk about topics that inspire you, rather than trying to copy 
what’s already trending. “Remember to always be your authentic true self on camera and it will all fall into place,” says Stephanie.

6. Get a job in the industry

Another way to get lots of experience is through a casual job at your favourite makeup store. If you’re not old enough yet, you can approach makeup artists, beauticians or smaller companies about gaining unpaid work experience. There’s no better way to learn the tricks!

Sephora
Sephora is makeup heaven and a killer place to work. Not only would you be surrounded by makeup brands like Fenty Beauty, Benefit and Kat Von D Beauty, but word on the street is that the discount at Sephora is 20 per cent off branded products and 40 per cent off Sephora products. Where do we sign up?!

MECCA
Much like Sephora, MECCA is makeup heaven. Here you’ll be playing with products from Smashbox, Too Faced 
and Urban Decay.

LUSH
For all things skincare and natural makeup, head to LUSH. While all applicants must be over 18, LUSH is 
a great place to explore the world 
of green beauty. Plus, it always smells 
hella good!

stephaniemaii_x View Profile
183 likes - View Post on Instagram
Celebrating 10 years of @nudebynature with a full face of mineral makeup goodness! 🥳🎂🎉🙌🏻 I still remember when Nude by Nature first came out, I was obsessed! The Natural Mineral Cover & makeup brushes were both staples in teenage Steph's beauty bag & I still love them just as much to this day! 😍 ALSO shoutout to the most comfortable lip gloss there ever was: Moisture Infusion Lipgloss in 03 Coral Blush. 💋💋 #TenYearsOfNaturalBeauty #NudeByNature #goodforyou #mineralmakeup #crueltyfree

Beauty Kit Essentials

Stock your kit with Steph's fave products for a failproof future in the biz...

1. Brow babe

“Firstly, I cannot live without eyebrow products! I have super sparse brows so can’t go anywhere without my Benefit Goof Proof Pencil in my handbag."

Benefit

Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil, $43, @ Sephora

2. Pimple helper

"Second, I would say a good pimple cream! 
I have really bad acne and my skin would go to town without it."

Mario

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion, $26, @ MECCA

3. Holy grail hair

"Dry shampoo is what lazy gal dreams are 
made of! Who has 
time to wash their hair every day?!"

Klorane

Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk, $14.99, @ Priceline

Alexandra M

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