What Are the Different Types of Cosmetics Industry Jobs?

Cosmetics is an extensive, multibillion dollar industry existing in some form in every country in the world. Subsequently, there are a large number of jobs that are required in order to support this field. Different types of cosmetics industry jobs include production, sales, and application. Like any industry, there is also a number of management positions.

Production of cosmetics requires a large number of specialists that research, manufacture, and test cosmetics. Employees involved in this sector are normally salaried and employed by larger companies and include scientists from a number of backgrounds such as chemistry, biology, and physics. These positions require degrees and significant amounts of training.

The sales side of the cosmetics industry employs a huge number of people in a range of positions. Frontline sales staff are involved with selling cosmetics directly to the public, either door-to-door or over the counter in retail stores, salons, and spas. Generally, no formal education is required for these jobs, and they provide good entry-level positions for cosmetics industry jobs. These positions can be salary or commission based.

Behind-the-scenes jobs in selling cosmetics include product branding and marketing. These positions usually require formal education and training, which tends to consist of generalized product branding and marketing degrees supplemented by more specific training for the cosmetic industry. Education and training are also types of industry jobs where employees are involved in informing companies and staff about the production and use of various cosmetics. These positions are typically salaried.

Technicians also hold important cosmetics industry jobs. These men and women are responsible for the application of cosmetics on the general public. Skin care specialists, makeup artists, and cosmetologists are all examples of this profession. As these positions require practical knowledge, such as how to create artificial fingernails, for example, they usually require some form of formal training and certification as well as a license to practice. Practitioners can be employed by companies and salaried or can work as freelance contractors.

There are also a range of management cosmetics industry jobs. Positions can range from the management of brands, to human resources management, to the development of international partnerships. These jobs require a significant amount of experience in the industry and normally take a number of years to achieve. Formal education is also often required, as are relatively extensive training programs. These positions tend to be the highest-paid cosmetics industry jobs but are also often the most stressful.