Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Ann Saunders.
Stephanie Ann, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up doing musical theater in New Hampshire, so I learned how to do stage makeup at an early age. We were all self taught back then! I still have my original Kevin Aucoin ‘Making Faces’ makeup book from 1996! I went to college in San Diego to study public relations, but I spent all my time in the theater department and ultimately graduated with a degree in theater. I did a lot of shows in San Diego, and during one rehearsal one of my castmates noticed I was good at makeup and asked if I wanted a job at a makeup counter in a department store. I thought that sounded more fun than waitressing in Old Town at a Mexican resturaunt, so I applied and got hired by Dior. That was my first time working in the beauty and it was a great fit. I loved learning about skincare and technique and from there I was poached by Lancome a year later. I had a great freelance business during college and then went to grad school in San Francisco at American Conservatory Theater and makeup training was part of the curriculum. When I moved to Los Angeles, I learned how to do makeup for film and tv and also got certified at Cinema Secrets. During my time in LA, I worked for celebrity hair salons and learned tons about styling and caring for hair. When I moved back to Boston, I worked for NARS and trained with them in NYC, and now I work for all beauty brands as a Beauty Stylist for Nordstrom. Basically, I am a personal shopper for cosmetics and I help clients create bespoke vibes from head to toe!
Has it been a smooth road?
Just know there will certainly be struggles. Someone wise said it’s not the bumps but how you bounce back! Also, you don’t connect the dots until later in life, so trust that work begets work and jobs beget jobs so do your best each day and keep your eyes out for the next opportunity to keep moving forward. And if you’re not happy, change something!
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Beauty Stylist at Nordstrom in Burlington story. Tell us more about the business.
I listen. That is one of the most important things you can do in any field! One of the things that set me apart is my ability to teach clients how to use the products or master techniques. Or to educate them why a certain product or routine may work best for them. My clients always say they wished they could take me home so, after years of repeating myself, I finally made some makeup tutorials! You can check them out @workinggirlbeauty and on my website. If the client can recreate the look at home or know what order to use the products, I know I have done my job and then we can build from there. I like to see my clients at least four times a year for seasonal updates and to build upon the last session. Success is also in the follow-up! It all makes sense when the client is in the chair, but making sure they are using the products correctly and consistently gives us a better dialog for future beauty adventures!
For good reason, society often focuses more on the problems rather than the opportunities that exist, because the problems need to be solved. However, we’d probably also benefit from looking for and recognizing the opportunities that women are better positioned to capitalize on. Have you discovered such opportunities?
Opportunity is only half of it. You have to be prepared for the opportunities as well! That’s what they call “luck”. So, if you want to get “lucky”, know that you have to put in the work well before the opportunity comes knocking. Challenge is part of life no matter what sex you are, but I know our Moms’ generation created more opportunities for women like us, and I know we are currently creating more opportunities for the next generation of women. But with more progress comes more challenges as well, so best to focus on being prepared than worrying about the challenges because they will always be another hurdle to jump!
Contact Info:
- Address: Nordstrom
75 Middlesex Turnpike
Burlington, MA 01803 - Website: www.StephanieAnnSaunders.com
- Phone: 781-345-7800
- Email: stephanie.saunders@nordstrom.com
- Instagram: @thestephanieannsaunders
- Other: @workinggirlbeauty
Image Credit:
Stephanie Ann Saunders
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