Getting a job at Clarins

I always think it helps to read posts on how interviews go and the process in getting a job especially in the cosmetics industry. I will soon be starting a job with Clarins so I thought I would let people know what to expect about the whole process etc. It took just over a month for my process to go through from the time they contacted me back but if I accepted the first job, it would have been much quicker.

I will do this post in a few sections and will do a later post about my first few weeks in the job and the training etc. 

This post will be split into 6 sections:

Applying for the job

Phone interview

Face to face interview

Time on counter

Store approval

Getting the job

Applying for the job

You can either do it online or with an application form. I chose to do mine online. It comes up with  all the jobs in your area and you chose which one you would like to apply for. It is quite a simple form and asks the kind of questions you would expect...your experience, why you want to work for Clarins etc. to be honest it took a long time for them to get back to me and I assumed that I was unsuccessful but I did get a phone call from the recruitment team for a phone interview.

Phone interview

I was pretty nervous for the phone interview to be honest but the lady Michelle that held it was really lovely and made me feel at ease. I did some preparation for it and had my notes with me which I'm glad I did! She asked me what I was doing at the moment, why I wanted to leave and why I wanted to work for Clarins. She then asked me what I knew about Clarins and what kind of hours I would want to work, where I would be willing to travel to etc. at the end of my interview, I was told it was successful and that she wanted to meet for a face to face interview the next week. 

Face to face interview

Again another thing I am always nervous about! Interviews are just really not my strong point, my mind goes blank and I turn into a complete div. When I got there, there was another girl being interviewed and in my head I immediately thought it was pointless. Again, it was with Michelle and she made me feel really comfortable, offered me a drink etc. it was similar questions to what was in the phone interview, what if knew about the brand, why I wanted to work for them the hours I was after. The job role was explained to me and then I was then asked explain a time when type of questions. It was standard things...how you deal with complaints, explain a time in your life when you have achieved something you are proud of, explain how you would increase sales. You then have to complete a little maths quiz which is just the weekly sales sheet with 2 questions about the atv and aus. You are given a calculator so it's pretty simple if you have worked with targets and sales sheets before. The last thing I had to do before I went was write what beauty product I would take with me if I was on a desert island and explain why I would take it and what benefits it has. She then told me that she would either call or email with a decision within the next 7-10 days. 

Time on counter 

I was rung and told that I had been successful and I had to go into store and spend some time on counter 'meeting and greeting' some customers. I was dreading this as I'm usually not very good at traffic stopping and I have been to beauty auditions before where you have to be very forceful and reach a certain amount of sales to pass but I was just on counter for about half an hour. I picked a fragrance that I liked from the counter and just had to stand at the front of the counter and interact with customers. The account manager said it was just to check how you engage with customers and to make sure you wouldn't just stand around doing nothing. She told me after. My time was up that she had other girls coming after me and that she would speak to the Michelle that evening about what she thought of me. 

Store approval

Within one week of spending time on counter, I was called in for store approval at Boots. The department manager took me into an office and began by asking me abit about myself. She then went on to too me a little bit about boots, what the policies are, what shifts I would be expected to work etc. I originally went for just one position and got offered maternity cover until November. The position I have no taken is a mobile position so I therefore had to have 4 store approvals. 

Because I already work in debenhams they already approved it but so people know what it's like, they basically just want to meet you...it's not formal, it's just so they see who is working in their shop. Mine with them when I started at ysl was about 10 minutes. 

The last one I had to go for was house of Fraser and that was much harder than all the others. It was like another interview and lasted for about an hour. Again I had several questions asked about what I understand about the role, how I would go about selling the store account card, how I would increase sales on counter etc. I then got asked the explain a time when questions and he told me that all his notes had to be sent to hr before I could find out whether I had passed or not. 

Getting the job

My last store approval was on a Thursday and by the Monday I had got a call to offer me the job. She went through the hours I would be working, ordered my uniform in the sizes I needed explained about training, how I would get my rotas, commission and allocation etc. She told me that my uniform would arrive 7-10 days after our conversation and in 10-14 days I would receive my contract and paperwork in the post.

Overall I am so so happy that I have been offered this job and I'm really looking forward to starting. I would do another post about what to expect in your first couple of weeks and what to expect from training and the benefits of working for Clarins some point in the near future. I know it's always helpful when looking at jobs to know what to expect! 

What's in my YSL bag?

First things first, I would like to make a point that I am not doing this to show that I have loads of money or to say that expensive brands  are the best brands because that is not always true. Because of my job, I get given a lot of products to trial, I am entitled to an allocation where I am allowed to chose products to wear to work etc...

So at a quick glance, my YSL makeup bag contains:

2 eyeshadow palettes

1 waterproof eyeshadow

2 nail varnishes 

4 lipsticks

3 lip stains

1 lipgloss

2 touché éclat 

4 mascara

1 lip and cheek colour

1 creme blush

YSL have various mascara a that do various things. Some are for volume, some for length, some for if you want a bit of colour and some that are all round good for everything. 

From left to right in the photograph is effect faux cils noir radical...the standard false lash effect mascara for maximum volume but 50% blacker than the original black. 

Next is the effect faux cils in 01 which is the ordinary black. This is great for a standard volume.

The shocking mascara is in 05 which is a plum black colour that looks black until it catches the light. I struggle to enjoy the shocking mascara as I find the brush a little hard to get along with, especially on the bottom lashes and it seems to go on a little clumsier and wetter than the others. 

My personal favourite and newest to Yves Saint Laurent is the baby doll mascara again in black 01. Because this has a silicone wand/comb rather than a brush, I find that the tube doesn't dry out as quickly as the others and it also the easiest to apply. It is the mascara I wear on a daily basis and would recommend it to anyone looking for long, beautiful lashes. It is said to increase the look of lashes by up to 25%. I may do a post about this mascara at some point if anyone would like it. 

Moving onto blushers. I have always been a fan of a powder blusher and to be honest, I don't wear these 2 that often (as you can probably tell from the 1 finger mark in the creme blush pot!) the creme blushers have now been discontinued and they have instead released the baby doll kiss and blush which is a lip and cheek colour in one. This is in the shade 5 which is a beautiful natural pink colour. On the cheeks, these come out very pigmented so I think if you were after a red lip, with skin my colour I would have to buy another one to wear on my cheeks otherwise it would look too much. I also found the red very drying on my lips and make them peel...not sure if I was allergic to something in it but it was so sore for about 3 days afterwards. Safe to say I have stuck to the pale pinks since then!

Yves Saint Laurent pride themselves on releasing products that other companies do not have. The vernis a levres (also known as a glossy stain to you and me) is one of these products. They are a gloss and a stain all in one. The gloss is highly pigmented and when it wears odd, the chosen colour is stained on your lips. The rebel nude collection is my favourite as I find they are less chalky and flat coloured. The chances are you have to wear a lip liner with them otherwise they will bleed and if you wear a pale pink or nude colour, you generally don't notice the stain on there. 

From left to right in the photograph is 22 a pale pink that I find difficult to wear...it washes me out a lot, 08 a lovely bright orange colour perfect for summer and my favourite is the rebel nude 104 which is a bright fuchsia pink.

Nail varnishes is something I am reluctant to spend a lot of money on. Really, how much better can an £18 nail varnish be compared to a £3 nail varnish? The only reason I have these is because I needed a colour when I first started work so I got the number 35 which is a washed out metallic khaki and then I bought number 28 through choice because I had never seen a nail colour like it. The photo doesn't show so great but it is a chocolate brown with gold flecks in and with a top coat on, they really shine through. 

These do pretty much just sit in my makeup bag though. I'm quite happy with my large abundance of Barry m and models own nail varnishes. 

I'm trying not to go into work mode with this post but touché éclat is a must in every makeup bag. I have 2 of these on the of at the moment and probably about 4 empty ones at the bottom of the bag. Please can we all learn that this is a highlighter and not a concealer! Yes it can be used under the eyes for dark circles but it doesn't cover them...it reflects the light away from them. 

They are really good products though. I never used to see what all the fuss was about but I think it's one of those things that once you have it you have to keep using it! It definitely does make a difference but it doesn't cake over your dark areas, it just looks natural.

Can we also please understand that number 1 is generally the universal colour. Before the other shades were released, Naomi Campbell used to use it so the chances are if you give it a go, it won't be too light if you blend it properly!

Eyeshadow are something that I cannot live without and can never have too many of! Although I know I do have too many, that doesn't stop me from buying more. And more. And more. In the tub, the gold is a discontinued waterproof eyeshadow. I have already featured the couture 10 palette in my top 5 high end products post and then the most used over on the right is the pure chromatics in 13. The top right is a shimmery dusky pink, the left is a highlighting colour, the bottom left is a gorgeous vibrant purple and then there is a liner colour. All of these can be used wet or dry. 

From left to right (all rouge pur couture):

Number 58-lilacy purple colour. Mentioned in previous post. Will post a photo or post wearing this.

Number 202 the mats-your standard bright red matte shade. Long lasting, non drying.

Number 10-classic nude shade. Long lasting, needs liner to define lip shape.

Number 08-beautiful plum colour. Great for autumn/winter. Sadly discontinued. 

Finally and possibly. The least exciting is the gloss in 50. These have also discontinued but they have released a much nicer gloss range where the colours are more suited to skin tones, aren't drying and have a wide variety of colours. I find this gloss the wrong colour for my skin and it is slightly sticky also. 

Product of the week

This weeks product of the week goes to the amazing urban decay naked skin foundation. 

For a long time, I have been living off foundation samples, not wanting to splurge my hard earned cash on a product I hadn't fully decided I wanted. When the urban decay counter planted itself in the shop I work in overnight, of course I was there in a flash!

As it seems that urban decay are the best thing to come onto the planet in most peoples eyes for one reason or another, I thought that I would take the plunge and buy their foundation. I am very pale so I got the shade 1.0 which is the second to lightest shade. Now...although underneath it says 'liquid makeup' I guess I was naive to the fact that by liquid they mean it'll run off your hand if you don't use it quick enough! You do only really need one pump of this to cover the entire face so I can see this bottle lasting for a while and it's not one of those annoying pumps where you have to use the whole pump. You can pump out just a tiny tiny dot. Once you have pumped a full pump (are you enjoying the amount of times I am saying pump in this paragraph?) it kind of fizzes into a large mess of the majority of the back of your hand but with some quick working this isn't a problem. 

I find this foundation very blendable and very buildable. I'm not really one for concealer so any problem areas that I might have, I just dab a little bit more over that area once I've done my base and it covers fine.

I have fairly oily skin in my t-zone and on my chin and although this is fine for my skin type, I do have to say that even with powder, towards the end of the day, the oil does start to come through and I have to apply more powder to mattify it. Having said this, if I used the naked skin powder or the oil control setting spray rather than the original, it may be a completely different story. 

Pros

Lots of shades available 

Very buildable so light or full coverage can be achieved

Only need to use a small amount

Same price if not cheaper than most other high end foundations

Cons

Very liquidy

Slightly weird smell (doesn't bother me but some people might be put off)

Oil control not as great as it could be

Price £27

Overall rating 8/10

Finish on my skin

Worst five drug store products

On my looking for a make up cleanser other than makeup wipes, I picked up this cleansing milk. It stated that it Perfectly removes make up. Suitable for even sensitive skin. No perfume, alcohol and colourants. Dermatologically tested. Soothing cleansing lotion. Is Garnier simply essentials soothing cleansing lotion right for me? Yes, if you have sensitive skin or your skin feels fragile when cleansing. Yes, if you are looking for an efficient yet gentle face and eye make up remover. How does it work? Enriched with water lily extract known for its soothing properties, its formula with no perfume, no alcohol and no colourants, perfectly removes make up without leaving your skin feeling dry. Your skin feels clean, soft, soothed and comfortable. No more tight feeling.

I really didn't like the texture of this milk on my skin, it felt as though I was putting more onto it rather than cleansing it! It also didn't seem to really remove a whole lot of my makeup. It says you can use it on your eyes but even with them shut, the residue seemed to get stuck on my eyelashes and make them feel sticky and uncomfortable.

Now, I have already put one of the apocolips as a favourite product but this one just didn't do it for me. It is a beautiful highly pigmented coral colour but it didn't last as long as Big Bang, bled quickly around the lips and left them feeling a little dry too. I think this is in the colour Stella. 

Again another product I'm really hating to hate is a few of the models own new ranges. A while ago when the fruit pastel scented range was released, I was so excited. Now admittedly these are slightly scented even when they are dry but they even when I have applied 3 coats they are still streaky and they chip so easily! Another of the range are the velvet nail varnishes. The colours are really nice but the texture is strange...not like velvet at all and you have to apply a. Top coat to be able to see the glitter. I wouldn't say I hate this, it just didn't live up to what I had hoped. 

Finally is the avon rebalancing  and mattifying day cream. I absolutely LOVE the night gel! It has such a nice texture and it feels and smells really soothing. I was hoping this would be the same but no I was wrong. I feel that it sits on the face, it feels heavy and doesn't soak into the skin very quickly at all. I didn't notice that it made my skin any more balanced and matte looking unlike the night cream and in certain areas it broke me out. Just disappointed that it wasn't as good as the night time version.

Worst 5 high end products

Now all of these are my own opinion but don't you like reading reviews about good and bad products? Well that's exactly what I'm doing so they can be compared! Reviews will start from left to right.

First off and with big regret is a Clinique product (traitor I know!) The review says: High Impact Mascara is a multi-benefit mascara that adds maximum volume with definition and length. Specially developed brush and formula work together to dramatically thicken lashes while separating. Okay, so the brush is actually nice and it doesn't gather too much product on the brush but for £17.50 I would expect high impact and just didn't feel that! It definitely lengthens by lashes but that is all. This was a sample and I wouldn't be investing in the full product. Sadly as this is the first Clinique makeup I have tested, it makes me unmotivated to try any others.

Next up is something that I really really wanted to love but couldn't! MAC mineralize foundation is: A combination of powders creates an optical blurring effect that virtually diminishes imperfections and fine lines, for a more even tone. The light-reflecting, natural satin finish makes skin appear refined, revitalized and refreshed with a new purity, softly lit from within. SPF 15 adds the perfect finishing touch of sun protection. Features our 77-Mineral Complex, Shea Butter and Vitamin E. Now in MAC foundations I am NC15 (very pale I know) and I find it so hard to find foundations pale enough for me so it has always pleased me that they do foundations in my colour however this made me break out really bad. It made my skin really oily and shiny after about 1 hour of wear. When it is first applied, it does smooth out imperfections and create a more even skin tone but it certainly didn't last for long on me. As with all things, that's not to say to other people not to buy it because all our skin types are different but it's always helpful to read reviews from people with similar skin tones to you. Obviously I will still be using MAC products as they give amazing coverage and are good value for money. This product just isn't for me! 

A product I was really excited to try was the benefit ultra radiance mist. It is said that: Even the brightest complexions need a quick pick-me-up now & then. Ultra radiance facial re-hydrating mist instantly enhances radiance with our exclusive tri-radiance complex to deliver immediate & long-term hydration. Now benefit products are usually fine for my skin type, but this didn't seem to be at all. To be honest I have always struggled with moisturisers but I thought this would be okay. It is also said that it works as a setting spray and renews your makeup throughout the day. If anything, I found that it ruined my makeup and made it melt off my face! Still have the full bottle over 1 year on. Seems like such a waste of £20. 

Sadly another benefit product again! I feel bad for putting this in here because it's not necessarily a product I don't like. The product states that it is: Our silky pink primer takes your complexion from dull to darling! Simply blend it on for the look of brighter, smoother skin. Contains light-reflecting pigments to help brighten all skin tones and raspberry & camomile to soothe skin. Now I don't feel that this product actually works as a primer. It doesn't hold my foundation on for longer, it doesn't smoother out my skin or make my foundation to apply and it doesn't reaaaally change the complexion of my skin. I think it is fine as a product but just doesn't do as much as I would hope. Think maybe my expectations were maybe just a little bit too high. On the other hand, when is run out of primer, I do still use this as an emergency back up, just because it's better than applying my foundation straight onto my skin. 

A high end company I have never really used but always envied people that have the products in the makeup bags is Chanel. The packaging is just so cute and classy and I have always wanted to own some of their products. I got a sample of their new foundation. Here are it's claims: CHANEL PERFECTION LUMIÈRE VELVET SMOOTH-EFFECT MAKEUP SPF 15. PERFECTION LUMIÈRE VELVET is a lightweight second-skin foundation. It naturally smoothes and evens out the complexion for a velvety matte makeup result. The lightweight texture of PERFECTION LUMIÈRE VELVET makes it perfect for normal and combination to oily skin. This ultra-soft emulsion instantly becomes one with the skin, transforming into a natural powdery matte finish that disappears onto the skin. 

Now this foundation does absolutely everything it claims to do, doesn't break me out, has such a lovely smooth, flawless and velvety finish but it really just does not last. After about 45 minutes to an hour, I noticed the foundation separating on my skin. I also feel that it is far too pricey for the size of the product. Really you are paying for the name more than anything else. 

Top five drugstore products

The sleek eyebrow kit specifies: Brow Kit is the ultimate product to create perfect brows with plenty of impact. Using the shaping wax and setting powder provided, defining your brows will help to frame your face, whilst opening up the eye area dramatically. Brow Kit is small enough to fit in your handbag and includes, shaping wax, setting powder, tweezers and an angle and blending brush. 

I would say this product does exactly as it says. To be honest, when I first used it and actually for a long time I used the 'setting powder' as a powder to draw the shape of the brow I wanted and then went over the top with the wax. I don't necessarily find that putting the powder on top sets it any better than not using it. I have been using this for such a long time and only now am I just starting to see the metal at the bottom of the wax. I think it now retails for about £8.49 but that is such good value. If you use benefit brow zings, I would say it is definitely worth giving this a try. It is much cheaper but does exactly the same thing and as far as I know is also the same size! It is available in 4 shades also. 

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water contains micelles which act like magnets, gently lifting away makeup and impurities from the skin, without the need to rub or rinse. The result? Beautifully cleansed and refreshed feeling skin in an instant. The formula is suitable for the face, eye area and lips, has no perfume and comes in a generous 400ml size. 

This has to be the absolute best cleansing water I have ever tried. I was getting fed up of using makeup wipes and everyone at work was telling me that it's not good for you because I doesn't take off all your makeup...more just smears it round your face which when you think about it, it's probably the case. I read a lot of reviews about micellar waters before purchasing and was a little skeptical when I read a lot of them break out sensitive skin but for the £2.99 that this cost me, I thought it was worth the risk. 

It is said that you should get about 200 applications from this, which when I bought it, I thought it was a little unsure about. It has however lasted me probably about 4/5 months so far and I am only about half way through the bottle. It makes your skin feel so soft and clean and it definitely removes all of your makeup. I use this before I use the Clinique anti blemish solution.

The Nivea essential care lip balm is an essential in any bag. It is so so good and leaves your lips moisturised and smooth. I use this once a day (obviously the more you use it the more you need it so I don't overuse it) but it stops my lips from being dry and cracked all year round. It has a very buttery feel when applied but isn't greasy in anyway. 

The earth-shattering lip lacquer from Rimmel London combining the intense colour of lipstick with a lacquer like shine, Apocalips Lip Lacquer is an explosive make-up phenomenon that represents the end of colour as you know it. Packed with pure colour pigments, its lusciously creamy, conditioning formula promises a never-before combination of colour, shine and comfort that last and last. 

At the time is purchased this, I was looking for a highly pigmented red gloss but all I could find in the high end range were lipsticks or see through tinted glosses. I looked around for a long time and eventually found these apocolips in 'big bang'. I find that it doesn't bleed after long use and it is so highly pigmented and glossy. For a drugstore lip gloss, impersonally feel it is a little pricey but it is well worth it. 

To conclude, my last product is a sleek eyeshadow palette. Now I have a few of these but I purchased this one in about 2009. Firstly it is amazing that the shadows have lasted that long but also I feel that this palette is actually much better than the newer range. They are shimmery shades and really pigmented. They last for the day and they come out the colour that you can see. They are very velvety and blend really well together. 

Top five high end products

I'm going to start with my top 5 high end. To be honest, this was pretty hard to narrow down to just 5. Obviously working in the high end makeup industry gives you a chance to try and test loads of products you might not necessarily try ordinarily. Admittedly, since I have started working in this industry, my ideas on what is an acceptable price to pay for something have changed drastically!

Working from left to right, my first favourite is actually a skin care product. Clinique has been a brand that I have used from quite a young age as I have always suffered from problemed skin. When they released the anti blemish range, I jumped on the opportunity to buy all of it. For about the past 3 years, I have narrowed it down and have stuck with using the anti blemish solution morning and night. I have combination skin and am very oily in places but dry around my nose and under my eyes. I find that this product helps keep my skin calm as well as feeling really clean but does not dry it out anymore than it already is. Although it is pricey, it's definitely worth investing in as the bottle lasts for such a long time!

Next is the YSL couture palette in number 10. When I first received this from work, to be completely honest I didn't like it. It's not the sort of colours I would wear usually and I really didn't think that it was going to suit me. It has now however become one of my favourite eyeshadow palettes that I own. The colours are so pigmented and with the right eyeshadow primer, will hold all day long no matter how hot it is out. Retailing at £39.50 it is pricey but they do last a while and they can be used wet and dry. You get a little silicone applicator in with the shadows that you use for wet and a sponge for the dry. They also blend really easily. I would just say, don't be out off by the bright colours. Maybe go into your nearest store and test them out if you are not sure...I reckon you'll be pleasantly surprised!

Being a huge urban decay fan, when one opened in the store I work in, I was straight over there to look at all the products. I was needing a new foundation as I was living off samples and was undecided what one to buy. I thought I would take the plunge and buy this urban decay naked skin foundation. I thought that the shade 0.5 would have been best when looking at reviews online but I tested them out in the store and bought the shade 1.0 which is closest to my natural skin tone. Other reviews I have seen say that this doesn't last for long on the skin but I have found that as with all urban decay products it does exactly as it says. It is also suitable for all skin types, and I feel that the coverage is fine. It's not full coverage but it does what I need it to! I use the pore perfecting primer underneath just so I have a smoother more even base. It is VERY runny but when blended, it leaves the skin radiant and feels very velvety and matte.

Lipsticks are one of the products I struggle with most. Don't you find it is so hard to find a colour that isn't like all the others you have? Or you find the perfect colour and it comes off as soon as even move!  My favourite would be the YSL rouge our couture in number 58. It is a lilac purple colour but looks beautiful on the lips. It gives a classic makeup a twist but still isn't too vibrant for daily wear. I will post a photograph in another post wearing it. It is very pigmented and lasts for a long time when on the lips. Only downside is it stays on around the outside of the lips all day and wears off on the inside so it looks like you are wearing lip liner when it wears off!

I will be doing a holy grail post and this last item is definitely going to be in it! The urban decay eyeshadow primer potion is an absolute god send to the eye makeup world. It's truly amazing that it manages to hold your makeup on for the whole day. When I leave work after a long shift, my eyes still look as good as they did when I left the house that morning. This is one product I feel every girl (or guy) needs in their makeup bag.