Daily Inspiration: Meet Jessica Canzoneri

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Canzoneri

Hi Jessica, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started off in the beauty industry over 20 years ago working at the Clinique counter in Macy’s on Long Island, New York. I then went to esthetic school and got my esthetic license. Knowing I wanted to do more with Makeup, I decided to make the move to California and I went to Cinema Makeup School. After that, I head back to New York working at the MAC counter. Getting to do a lot of extra events with Mac such as Broadway Bares. I also was doing a lot of freelance makeup For weddings, independent films, and everything in between. I also always worked any Makeup tradeshow. I can throughout my career. In New York and California

After a few years of being back in New York, I decided California is where I really want to be at. I made the journey back to LA. I’ve been living here for 11 years since that. I came back wanting to pursue my film and TV make up dreams and in that mix between New York and LA. I had also worked up the beauty industry corporately. My love for the corporate world Became Greater for my love of actually doing make up. I worked my way up that ladder from being a counter manager for Laura Mercier to an assistant department Cosmetic Manager. Then I switched over to what we called the vendor side. And I worked for Cargo cosmetics as their regional account executive and then got promoted to one of my biggest wishes in life, national artist and educator with Cargo. That was one of my dream jobs to be able to travel all over the United States and Canada creating make up looks doing large events and educating consumers and employees. From there, I took a couple of different other positions and I found my way to Olaplex. It was my first hair care brand I’ve ever worked for And I’m absolutely loving it. I am Account executive with them and I never realized how much I love hair care until working for the brand. My friends will often go around and say I’m obsessed with olaplex.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It wasn’t always a smooth road. They’re definitely was an inner struggle for me, deciding to stop pursuing my actual make up career and lead towards corporate America in the beauty industry, of course. Then, after that, being in the industry has a lot of us ups and downs a lot of times when you’re in the field, they’ll be brand budget cuts and layoffs and ” restructure“. It’s a lot of hard work, rolling up sleeves and getting in there and making a name for yourself. As I guess with any industry.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Currently, my role in Olaplex is considered a field role. in a nutshell, my job is to ensure that the brand is successful year over year. It sounds smooth on paper, but in real life it’s a lot of work. I have two different retailers that I make sure to go to educate show love sell my product and inventing. I run a team of freelancers, making sure they are giving just as much love to the brand, and getting people excited in store to sell it and people to buy it. Something that really set me apart from the rest of my peers is my people skills. I have the gift of gab and most people like me, and in this industry, it really is about getting likes. Being liked or well received Equals sales. I also like to say, I play fair and I think in the beauty industry, there’s a lot of people that don’t, and that will set you apart. One of the things that are most proud of is my ability to truly connect to every person no matter what level of income level they are in or style of clothing They wear. Am a truly motivated and dedicated individual and they always find a way to persevere. I always say what’s the variable in the good and in the bad why did it work and why didn’t it work. For me it really sets me apart from the rest finding the variable and figuring out how to work around it or with it.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
I love helping out people who are just starting out in this industry. I currently have somebody who works under me who I’m truly helping grow to be super successful in this industry. My biggest biggest advice is this is an extremely small industry and your reputation Will follow you even when you’re not there. Always make sure you’re not involved in the drama, always make sure you’re not caught talking over and over again, ignoring customers annd not educating staff. You never know who is watching you while you’re doing your job. most of my positions that I got was by word-of-mouth because of my reputation. Another thing I always like to say is you have to put in the time, I’ve noticed that a lot of people expect to get paid extremely well excel super fast and set unrealistic expectations. Always remember your first elevated position maybe a position that doesn’t pay exactly what you want, but what you’re getting is that title and experience behind the title that. it is valuable to future jobs that you’re going to want to apply to. Your first title job is a steppingstone. It’s a leg up. It’s a true time to show people who are watching even if you don’t think they are what you’re capable of.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: JessCanz / insideTheMakeupBag
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@InsidetheMakeupBag