Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Miller.
Erin, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My love affair with makeup started at a really young age. My mom was an artist and teacher but I was always mesmerized by the idea of transformation. I used to watch the Style Network on TV and “borrow” my sister’s makeup to recreate the looks.
At 15, I started cleaning brushes for Laura Mercier’s personal appearances and events until I was old enough to work at Nordstrom for lines such as Bare Minerals, Trish McEvoy, Laura Mercier, Chanel, and Bobbi Brown.
Having attended Johns Hopkins for International Studies, I was sucked into the corporate world post-college, but I always maintained a freelance wedding business and occasional event work on the side. Making women feel their most beautiful, especially on such important occasions, was such an honor and a high.
In June of 2018, after delving into the ingredients we put on our bodies every day, I joined Beautycounter, a start-up out of Santa Monica that’s main mission was to get safer products into the hands of everyone.
The makeup was incredible, and I found Beautycounter to be at this perfect intersection of beauty and wellness, something that could truly improve how we feel from the inside out. My business is booming, as is the clean beauty movement and making women feel their best is more fun than ever.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Cosmetics is such a tricky industry, mostly because IT’S FUN! I saw the road from a salesperson at a department store counter to cosmetics executive as an incredibly long and not particularly profitable one. So many women are vying for the same position that upward mobility could take decades.
Freelancing is an incredible way to meet new people. Marketing yourself by offering free applications to photographers to build a portfolio has always been a great first step. Personally, I finally saw an opportunity with Beautycounter to own my own business and experience immediate growth, work my own hours and represent a brand that would not only give me a great source of income but expand my wedding business as brides look for more natural options.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
My forte is natural beauty. Of course, I can achieve a smokey eye or play with color but my favorite applications are those where the client looks just like herself, only more polished. I always ask my clients for photos of themselves every day. I like to see what they normally wear, what they feel comfortable in because the makeup can be stunning but if the woman wearing it doesn’t feel pretty than it might as well be clown makeup!
Who do you look up to? How have they inspired you?
Bobbi Brown was a huge inspiration to me. Seeing every woman as perfect in her imperfections changed the way I look at makeup.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.beautycounter.com/erinmiller1
- Phone: 4434549991
- Email: eringoffmiller@gmail.com
- Instagram: @erinmillerartistry
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erinmillerartistry/
Image Credit:
Jacqueline Willard Photography, Hannah Schweiss Photography, Loryn Eaton Photography, Jason Brown Photography
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
