We belong to something beautiful: what it’s like to work in the beauty industry with Sephora

The beauty utopia that once seemed so far away in the US, now (finally!) has 7 stores in the UK to explore out-of-this-world beauty innovation.

But what’s it like to work in the beauty industry with Sephora? From science to artistry, we talk to three members of the Sephora team to find out about their careers in different areas and how this can help you make moves in beauty.

IN-STORE SAVIOURS: Ambi Matharu

Q: Hi, Ambi! What’s your role in the Sephora team?

A: I’m one of the Sephora Captains at Sephora Westfield White City.

Q: What do you love most about your role?

A: I really enjoy the customer-facing aspect of my role and being able to both educate and play with makeup and skincare! I’m quite a chatty person, so getting to talk about things I’m passionate about is great.

Q: How did you decide this career path was for you?

A: Being a creative student, I have always loved makeup and the idea of your face being a canvas. I think my experience as a portrait artist has also inspired my career here at Sephora.

Q: What’s the biggest challenge in your role?

A: Probably managing my time. Being a student in a heavily coursework-based subject is already incredibly time-consuming. It can be hard to manage work, university and life in general! However, I do find my time working at Sephora acts as my break from university, and helps me come out of my shell and interact with a broad spectrum of people.

I started here as a Beauty Advisor and recently became one of the Sephora Captains at the store, which has been an amazing achievement. A challenge I’ve faced would be keeping the team motivated on the busiest days and finding innovative ways to educate.

Q: What’s something you’d change about the beauty industry if you had a magic wand?

A: As far as the beauty industry has come in terms of inclusivity and transparency, I think there’s always room for development. I’d make ingredient lists and sourcing information completely transparent so consumers could easily understand what’s in their products and where they come from.

I’d promote a broader, healthier idea of beauty that celebrates all body types, ages, and identities, focusing on authenticity, which Sephora obviously does!

Q: What’s one piece of advice you have for a young person wanting to work in beauty?

A: I would say that whatever experience you have is valid experience. It's about contextualising it to the role you’re applying for. Although I didn’t have much experience in the beauty industry before working here, my creative background and passion for beauty and makeup were what got me here!

Q: What’s your fave Sephora product and why?

A: There’s so much at Sephora to love! It’s hard not to present you with a list of things I love in my current makeup rotation, but my current favourite has to be the Haus Labs Triclone Skin Tech Foundation. It's skincare-infused, has medium to buildable coverage and non-comedogenic!

Being an acne-prone girl, I find it hard to be satisfied with the finish of most foundations, especially if they’re glowy, as they tend to accentuate texture. But with Haus Labs, the finish is almost velvet and looks airbrushed. It’s the product I’ve recommended to all my friends and family and the one I use most.

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HQ HEROES: Sabina Ellahi

Q: Hi, Sabina! What’s your role in the Sephora team?

A: I’m the Head of PR & Communications, driving all forms of advocacy through our press office here in the UK, which includes traditional media, influencer engagement, partnerships, PR events, and corporate and crisis communications. Our team is responsible for shaping and maintaining the public image of Sephora in the UK while infusing our values, mission, and goals into the narrative.

Q: What do you love most about your role?

A: I love how we are the relationship builders for the brand–both internally and externally–and when you infuse creativity to tell your stories, it can inspire!

Q: How did you decide this career path was for you?

A: I initially wanted to be a journalist working in fashion editorial. When I graduated after the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, jobs were generally hard to find as a fresh university graduate. But it was especially difficult in journalism as publishers were increasingly moving to producing web and digital content, but using freelancers and existing staff to support.

I had to pivot a bit–I remembered in my first internship at Marie Claire US that we were in touch with a lot of PR agencies who were pitching stories on their clients, and that’s where I got inspired to explore the world of PR because it still had the storytelling element that I loved.

Q: What’s the biggest challenge in your role?

A: It’s probably the constant juggling of priorities and focuses–the spinning of many different plates at the same time, as they say! PR & Communications is a fast-paced sector where your to-do list can get thrown out the window to tackle reactive tasks and projects. It requires a lot of adaptability and agility, but it’s incredibly rewarding.

Q: You’re a mentor for the British Beauty Council’s Student Beauty Board competition. What can you tell us about that?

A: I’m so excited about being a mentor with this next generation of potential beauty leaders, and currently a very important customer demographic for the industry. The beauty industry has come a long way since I joined 15 years ago, but as it evolves, we need to continue to shape it with diverse, inclusive and fresh voices, and who better than the uni students of the UK!

Q: What’s the top reason someone should apply?

A: I’ve always talked about the power of building your network and the fact that students will be in a room with other passionate, like-minded individuals will be a great start to building their network for the future.

Q: What’s something you’d change about the beauty industry if you had a magic wand?

A: If I had a magic wand, I’d use it to grant more authenticity to the beauty industry. While the industry has made huge strides in diversity and inclusivity, especially from an external perspective, I believe there’s still much work to be done to make it feel truly authentic. This means moving beyond tokenism—no more box-ticking exercises—and ensuring representation isn’t just skin-deep but also reflected inside the organisations, from the decision-makers to the creators behind the scenes.

One of the things that first drew me to the beauty industry was how it’s rooted in self-expression and empowerment. For someone who resists conforming to trends, I loved how the industry embraced individuality rather than pushing people to fit into a mold. As more brands adopt this mindset, it’s crucial that they have a genuine commitment to representation, offering meaningful support to people from all backgrounds and giving them a real platform. This should go beyond superficial gestures, with authentic and consistent inclusion at every level.

So, I’d use the wand to create a beauty industry that truly values authenticity, where everyone feels seen, heard, and celebrated for who they are, not just for how they look.

Q: What’s one piece of advice you have for a young person wanting to work in beauty?

A: Stay curious, because this is an industry where you will never stop learning. The beauty industry is driven by innovation and is always evolving with new trends and technologies. Allow for opportunities to expand your knowledge, whether it’s formal education, panels, networking, or just simply reading to stay up to date on the industry. I’ve been in this industry for over 15 years, and I am still learning every day–which is the best part!

Q: What’s your fave Sephora product and why?

A: I rave about this product to anyone who would listen. I’ve been using the Sephora Collection Vitamin C+E Super Glow Serum for 7 years, and it has become one of my holy grails. I scar easily from pimples, so I was looking for a serum to help reduce dark spots but also even out my complexion overall. It’s really smoothed out my skin and made my complexion feel brighter! It’s such great value too. I do pair this with another serum to help with dark spots, but it’s the one product I have been using consistently and can really see the results.

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STRATEGY STARS: Madeleine Harries

Q: Hi, Madeleine! What’s your role in the Sephora team?

A: I’m the Head of Category Management for Sephora UK.

Q: What do you love most about your role?

A: The incredible variety it offers. I get to work with a diverse range of brands across all categories, giving me a front-row seat to the latest innovations and trends. It's exciting to continuously explore what's next while also deeply understanding the customer, ensuring we bring them something fresh, relevant and inclusive. I love working with brands to bring their vision to life for our unique customers, tailoring it to resonate in our exciting retail environment whilst thinking differently for all of our digital platforms.

Q: How did you decide this career path was for you?

A: My love of beauty started at a young age, bonding with my mum over discovering new products and experimenting with her makeup. At the same time, my dad’s career sparked my passion for retail–I was drawn to the fast pace, diversity, and excitement. My first role at John Lewis allowed me to explore different categories, but the moment I landed in beauty, I knew it was where I belonged and I haven't looked back since!

Q: What’s the biggest challenge in your role?

A: One of the biggest challenges in my role is navigating the unpredictability of trends in the age of social media. With new viral moments emerging constantly, it’s crucial to stay agile and responsive, as some trends can disappear as quickly as they arrive.

Another key challenge is ensuring we cater to the huge diversity of our customers. With such a wide audience, it’s essential to curate a product offering that feels relevant and exciting for everyone. Balancing both agility and inclusivity is always a challenge—but it’s also what makes the role so dynamic and rewarding.

Q: What’s something you’d change about the beauty industry if you had a magic wand?

A: Hmm, two things come to mind.

1) If I had a magic wand, I'd erase the labels. Beauty is for everyone, however they wish to choose it.

2) Virtual swatching. Imagine a world where a tool magically adjusts to your exact skin tone and shows exactly how your foundation will look and the perfect shade for you. No surprises when it arrives!

Q: What’s one piece of advice you have for a young person wanting to work in beauty?

A: Building a network of connections is crucial. Attend industry events, make connections on LinkedIn and don't be afraid to ask for advice or mentorship. Like all industries, it can be competitive, but stay resilient, be patient and don't lose your passion along the way!

Q: What’s your fave Sephora product and why?

A: I am currently OBSESSED with Elemis Black Cherry Cleansing Balm, Summer Fridays Iced Coffee Lip Butter Balm AND SEPHORA COLLECTION Size Up Mascara!