June 12, 2012
Cool Jobs: Ross Burton Teaches the Value of Polished Beauty Around the World
We have good news for you. You can have a cool career and make a good living. No need to choose between loving your job and paying your mortgage. The following profile, part of the BlackEnterprise.com Cool Jobs series, offers a peek into the nuts and bolts, perks and salaries behind enjoyable careers.
The Process: Ross Burton’s brilliant style of makeup artistry has taken him and his makeup kit around the world on assignments to destinations including Paris, Australia, Turkey, Rome and South Africa. He has also painted facial canvases at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, Sundance and ESPN’s ESPY Awards. His recent assignment, headlining the wildly popular Nordstrom’s Beauty Trend show, affording him the opportunity to introduce new and innovative products to capacity crowds.
The Vision: Burton doesn’t limit his celebrated professional insight to celebrities. In an effort to equip women from all walks of life with the appropriate tools to craft winning looks, he hosts style forums, contributes to magazines and partners with additional clients including YSL Beaute, Philosophy, O, The Oprah Winfrey Magazine and Nordstrom.
The It Factor: From his appearance on television as a beauty expert on Entertainment Tonight and Access Hollywood, this style and beauty enthusiast has solidified his position as a leader in his field. Most recently, Burton expanded his industry reach with an Emmy nomination for his work as lead makeup artist on The Oprah Winfrey Show. He has also worked with other entertainment heavyweights including Natalie Cole, Kerry Washington, Eva Longoria, and Lauryn Hill.
The Defining Moment: “Follow your passion and the rest will come,” Burton says. “Avoid having an exact description for your career and try to have more of an attitude about the direction of your career. It has always been very important for me to expand my brand and my comfort zone beyond a title. I encourage you to do the same. Now go beyond!”
The Life: One would think that the travel, exclusive access and notoriety would be at the top of the list of perks. However, for Burton, it’s about spreading the word and showing women all over the world how to simply look their best. From the most adored celeb to the girl next door, making women “feel beautiful†has been the most rewarding perk of his career.