The Glowdown With Rose Gallagher

I am joined on The Glowdown today by Rose Gallagher; podcast host, makeup artist, blogger and IT Cosmetics Brand Ambassador - a woman owning the multi hyphen career. Having started her career working as a Personal Beauty Shopper for Selfridges, Rose now writes for her blog and creates content for brands on Instagram full time, along-side hosting her favourite industry experts including Bobbi Brown and Sali Hughes, on her podcast Beauty From The Heart and being the UK Brand Ambassador for IT Cosmetics. She’s wonderful with an infectious personality and is here today to give me the lowdown on her relationship with social media, work from home rituals, beauty favourites and how she juggles her multiple projects day to day.

AO: “Welcome to The GlowDown, Rose! How are you doing in these surreal times?”

RG: I’m trying to take it one day at a time. This is such a rollercoaster, one day you feel great, another day you miss your friends and it gets on top of you. I’m lucky to be at home with my family and enjoying time with them I might not otherwise have had, so I’m focusing on the positives.

AO: “How would you describe your work and what you do?”

RG: I never know how to describe my job to someone because it is so varied! I create content around beauty, whether that’s for myself or for other brands. I’ve been a make-up artist for many years and I love teaching techniques. Nothing makes me happier than making another person feel more confident in their own make-up skills.

AO: “I guess you could say that you have a ‘multi-hyphen’ career. How do you balance your time between the different aspects of your work?”

RG: Each week is completely different so balancing time is an ongoing process. I try not to plan ahead too far if possible, that way I can factor in any last minute changes of schedule without it impacting lots of other things.

AO: “Going back to the start of your career, where did it all begin for you and what does your career to date look like?”

RG: Really it all began at Peaches and Cream in Liverpool, where I was trained and worked as a make-up artist alongside taking my degree in English Literature. It was the cosiest place, family run, and I felt like I inherited a family away from home! From there I interned at some of the beauty publications in London, worked at Illamasqua as their Social Media Manager on a maternity cover, worked at Selfridges for four years, and then left to pursue my own ventures and was appointed a brand ambassador for IT Cosmetics.

AO: “What did you learn the most from being a personal beauty shopper for Selfridges?”

RG: I made so many great friends during that time, that was the biggest take away. I loved talking to people with all kinds of different beauty needs, impacted by style, budget, you name it. It was brilliant being able to test products and make-up techniques on people of all ages, races, skin types. When I recommend things to people know, it’s with all of that considered, not just a snapshot of what works for me personally.

AO: “Were you always interested in having a career in the beauty industry? It really is such an amazing industry to be a part of and full of incredible women”.

RG:  I always knew that I wanted to write, but I didn’t know what I wanted to write about. I’m so happy that I found beauty, because now it makes perfect sense to me. I feel like it enables me to share knowledge that will hopefully make someone else feel great in themselves. 

AO: “Let’s talk about your podcast ‘Beauty From The Heart' which by the way, I love! What was the inspiration behind starting it and how do you plan guests and topics?”

RG:  I love doing my podcast, it’s my favourite thing I’ve ever done. Really it is a passion project for me and a total hobby. There’s a brand I love called BECO, they’re a social enterprise and their workforce is comprised of those with visual impairments, disabilities or disadvantages. I loved their story so much and wanted to tell it, and I figured there were more exciting stories like this in our industry waiting to be told. To be honest I just cherry pick people who inspire me and ask them if they’re happy to join me. I pay for it myself so it helps me to be more succinct in my choices. 

AO: “Who would you dream podcast guest be?”

RG: Fearne Cotton! She spreads so much positivity and encourages people to appreciate simple things in life. I’m reading her book Happy at the moment.

AO: “I’m intrigued to know more about your incredible role as an IT Cosmetics Brand Ambassador. What does that entail and how did it come about?”

RG: I am so proud to work with IT Cosmetics! I really love them. When I first discovered their products, I posted lots of before and after pictures using them, so they knew I loved them. Then, when they were launching in the UK it was with Selfridges and I was working there, so we worked closely to make it go off with a bang. Finally, they decided they wanted this role within their team and asked me if I was interested because they knew I already loved them. It was a match made in heaven, I’m really grateful to this day.

AO: “What an amazing achievement - I’m excited to see how the partnership evolves. What is the best piece of career advice you have been given that you would pass on to someone else?”

RG: Just keep the faith and keep going. I worked hard for years writing my blog as a hobby because I knew at some point I would be able to write for people and be paid to do it. Just have faith in yourself and be patient – if you keep working hard, there’s no alternative but to succeed.

AO: “Would you say your relationship with social media has changed much over the years?”

RG: I think so, yes. I think I used to focus on trying to post things as quickly as possible, and now I just try and think about what I can teach someone. Working in this way means I work at my own pace, and whenever I do post something I feel like it has the potential to add value rather than just make someone feel like they need to buy something.

AO: “I think it’s really important to have that mentality, especially with how curated feeds have become today- quality over quantity! Onto some beauty questions I’m desperate to ask you... What does your current skincare routine look like?”

RG: At the moment, I’m literally just using a three step regime from Kate Somerville. She’s launched a new DeliKate range specifically designed for sensitive or sensitised skin, and it’s working well to reduce my redness. There’s a cream cleanser, a serum, and a buttery moisturiser. I use them all twice a day, and slot in my La Roche Posay Anthelios SPF in the morning.

AO: “Ahh, Kate Somerville is top of my skincare list to try. What new launch have you been using the most recently?”

RG: Stila have created sheerer versions of their cream blushers… I think they’re right up your street too, Jasmine! They’re in a stick form, and they’re just a bit dewier than the original creams. They sit well over texture which is why they work well for me.

AO: “I’ve actually just started using the Stila blush stick and I love it, such a gorgeous formula! What makeup products do you find yourself going back to, time after time?”

RG: I wear my IT Cosmetics CC Cream every day, the Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge is always a favourite for lips and cheeks, and Charlotte Tilbury can do no wrong in my make-up bag.

AO: “Charlotte Tilbury is just the queen of makeup. Since work from home has become the new normal, have you introduced any new rituals into your day?”

RG: Yes I have! I realised I was spending too much time mindlessly scrolling Instagram, so I’ve implemented it as part of my 9-5. Answering messages fits into that time schedule, and outside of that I try not to go on it at all. It has made a huge difference to how rested I feel. I’d highly recommend setting a screen time limit for those apps that drain your day.

AO: “I have a few quick-fire questions before we wrap this up…”

AO: “Top 3 accounts to follow on Instagram?”

RG: At the moment: @LauCapon for beauty, @DrinksforGayz for a laugh and @HeartZeena for colour and positivity.

AO: “If you could only apply two pieces of makeup each day, what would they be?”

RG: My IT Cosmetics CC Cream and a cream blush for lips and cheeks – probably the sheer Gerbera from Stila.

AO: “Favourite podcasts to listen to?”

RG: The Griefcast by Cariad Lloyd is moving and powerful. And my friend Laura does the Cosmopolitan All the Way With… podcast which discusses a different sex and relationships topic each week and it is hysterical.

AO: “What is the first thing you are going to do when we are out of lockdown?”

RG: Going to the pub with my best friends!

Interview by Jasmine Harding

Images by Rose Gallagher