Taking the industry by storm, Victoria Curtis has had a successful year launching her professional makeup brand, Curtis Collection, and has just been awarded ABIA Makeup Artist of the Year. Here, she discusses her career and collection.
What led you to a career in the makeup industry?
Having grown up in a family of very talented hairdressers, makeup artists and beauty therapists, my love affair with all things beauty started at a very young age! Unlike most, I suppose I went about becoming a makeup artist in a very unconventional way. Although I had a passion for the beauty industry and always wanted to become a makeup artist, I chose to attend university instead. I completed a double degree in accounting and marketing in Melbourne which formed the basis for me to run my own business. During this time, I also completed various makeup courses and when I graduated I was fortunate enough to be offered a marketing role at L’Oreal Australia where I discovered an opportunity in the market to launch a luxury cosmetics brand specifically for the salon industry.
Why did you decide to launch Curtis Collection and how did you go about it?
My vision was to combine the chic and style of a department store makeup counter with high quality products, ingredients and formulas that would compliment a salon’s beauty services and their total skin approach. Curtis Collection is ‘more than makeup.’ It is premium brand offering luxury cosmetics for the everyday woman. The comprehensive range of stunning shades and high end products have been designed to offer simple, attainable beauty solutions and allow women to effortlessly achieve the Curtis Collection signature glow. My quest for the ultimate makeup collection saw me travel around the globe sourcing the highest grade vitamins and minerals, cutting edge formulas and chic sophisticated packaging in order to create what is now known as the Curtis Collection.
How have you gone about acquiring stockists?
I have worked extremely hard to present our collection to some of the countries most luxurious beauty salons and day spas. I have been fortunate enough to meet some wonderful and very like-minded business owners along the way who believed in my products and in my brand and chose to add the Curtis Collection Makeup Bar to their store. The luxurious Curtis Collection Makeup Bar can now be found in over 23 retailers around the country with that number growing by the day.
What have been your career highlights to date?
Definitely launching the Curtis Collection Salon Collection in 2012. This was something I had worked towards for a number of years and seeing it come to life was one of the most incredible moments in my life. It definitely was not an easy process, however, the hard work paid off in the end and both the brand and the collection truly are a reflection of me and the makeup products and looks I love!
What’s new for the brand?
Recently we collaborated with Roxy Jacenko, head of PR power house Sweaty Betty PR and star of this season’s Celebrity Apprentice Australia on Channel Nine, to create a limited edition Roxy Eye Shadow Quad. Roxy is a huge fan of our products and after using them during the filming of the show, we decided to create a gorgeous smokey palette featuring the perfect combination of cream, latte, mocha and chocolate hues. The stunning, one of kind shadow quad, was designed to help customers get Roxy’s signature look as seen on the show.
What does a typical working day in your life involve?
I’m usually up and answering emails by 6am, I always try to fit in some exercise in the morning where I can – I tend to get most of my ideas during a workout! If I am not on a plane flying interstate, my day will typically involve creating new and exciting marketing material for our stockists, planning for new product launches, working with our PR company on new campaigns, addressing stock, orders and warehousing issues.
I also look after the accounting side of the business as well as the training and education for our stockists and Curtis PRO Artists. In the evenings I often attend Curtis Collection VIP evenings for our stockists and their clients and I will finish off my day with a conference call with our manufacturers overseas at around 1am.
Do you still do makeup artistry even though you have Curtis Collection?
I definitely still enjoy my role as a makeup artist. It gives me the opportunity to connect with my clients and experience their reaction to our products first-hand. I love the fact by simply applying one of our mineral foundation formulas along with our incredible primer and illuminator, I can literally watch a women’s complexion transform right before my eyes! There is nothing more satisfying than helping a woman restore glow to her complexion and bring her features to life. That is ultimately why I started this business – to provide simple, attainable, beauty solutions for the everyday woman.
Tell us about your Australian Bridal Industry Awards (ABIA) win.
I was fortunate enough to be nominated for this award by our amazing and incredibly loyal clients. It was an honour to receive such a prestigious award from the ABIA and I am incredibly proud to have won the “Makeup Artist of the Year 2013.”
This award means the world to me personally. I suppose you work so hard on a daily basis that you often lose sight of what you have achieved along the way because you are concentrating so hard on the future. It is nice to stop and think about all of the amazing women I have had the pleasure of providing a makeup service for and cannot thank them enough for their loyalty and support for not only myself but also for the brand. It is an honour for both myself and for Curtis Collection to be named “Makeup Artist of the Year 2013.”
Which makeup products do you always carry with you?
Definitely our Radiant Glow Illuminator and Illuminating Bronzer are probably my must have’s right now, however my ultimate “touch up” survival product is the Curtis Collection Invisible Blotting Powder. It absorbs shine on impact and keeps makeup looking fresh and polished all day long.
Who are your beauty icons?
My mother is my beauty and style icon! She always told me to wear what suits my style rather than always following trends as sometimes they just don’t work on you. Her style is elegant and sophisticated and her makeup is always flawless.
What look are your currently loving most and why?
At the moment I cannot get enough of the glowing goddess look Curtis Collection is renowned for creating as seen at the Rachel Gilbert Spring/Summer launch earlier this year. I love my complexion to have a radiant airbrushed glow. The secret to achieving this look is to mix the Curtis Collection Radiant Glow Illuminator with the Curtis Collection Mineral Foundation for a luminous finish that will have everyone asking what your secret is. Our illuminator has been designed to deflect light away from imperfections ensuring your skin looks effortlessly flawless every single day. You can learn how to get this look on our website.
What’s left for you to achieve in your industry?
I am excited for the future of Curtis Collection! My goal is to create an iconic Australian cosmetics brand that will eventually launch in the international market. Although it is progressing a lot faster than I had initially anticipated, I am loving every moment and I am always prepared for the next challenge and opportunity. We also have some very exciting plans, launches and collaborations on the horizon and can’t wait to announce these over the next year.
Curtis Collection is now available nationwide in beauty salons and boutique clothing stores around the country as well as www.curtiscollection.com.au