I was very fortunate to be invited to my first beauty brand trip with Benefit Cosmetics. The event was AMAZING! Benefit Cosmetics launched their NEW Cheek Stars Reunion Tour palette and Blends with Benefit brush collaboration with Morphe Brushes exclusively on their website, www.benefitcosmetics.com and Sephora Online.
I had such a great time experiencing the new launch, and I also learned so many things along the way.
Here are 5 things I learned while on this trip…
1. Make Friends
It’s so important to find easy ways to engage with others because, as the old saying goes, “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” Meeting new people can be very challenging. I’ll admit, my job requires me to be outgoing, but mostly in private, I’m super introverted.
Here’s what works for me.
Introduce yourself, don’t be ashamed to tell people who you are, be intriguing, and if you’re not totally comfortable sharing information about yourself, ask questions about who they are. You’d be surprised, people love talking about themselves, and if you’re lucky, it will turn into a fruitful friendship or, at the very least, a beautiful business relationship.
2. Learn as You Go
Can I be totally honest with you? My trip to Key Largo, FL, with Benefit Cosmetics was my first beauty brand trip ever. I was really nervous because I didn’t know what to expect. This was my first time meeting the Benefit Cosmetics team and other big-time influencers invited on the trip (apart from a few Sephora Squad members I’ve met in the past).
I thought to myself, “you have to start from somewhere.” I knew a critical part of my success on this trip depended on me thinking positively. A positive outlook can change the trajectory of your entire life. Even when you don’t know what to expect, you have to know no matter what happens, everything will be okay.
Really embrace all parts of the journey. Get over anxiety or fear of trying something new. Know that each step along the way is a learning experience for you to grow, cultivate new skills, and hone your craft.
These types of experiences take you out of your comfort zone and shape your life for the rest of your life. Trust me, as you go forward on your journey, these experiences don’t get any easier; you just start to develop the muscle to deal with them better along the way.
3. Stay Ready
Readiness will always set you apart. Tiffany Haddish gets it. “She ready!”
Even Will Smith says, “if you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready,” and I couldn’t agree more.
I always do mental check-ins with myself and figure out more ways in which I can be more prepared. Two things that help me release anxiety before trips are packing a week earlier, and researching all details/info I’ll need for my trip in advance.
Staying ready allows me to start my journey in a positive, productive way. It also always me to maximize my time on location because experiences like these don’t last forever.
Usually, when you’re on a brand trip, you have to capture a ton of content while working with limited time and a heavy schedule. There is so much to do and so little time.
I make sure I get up early, eat breakfast, prepare for all my equipment, prepare my outfits, and take a hard look at my itinerary for the day.
It’s a lot of work, but it’s totally worth it. Always remember, being “ready” in this industry can make all the difference of whether you fail or succeed.
4. Capture the Essence of Who You Are Wherever You Go
Life is like a camera
Focus on what’s important
Capture the good times
Develop from the negatives
And if things don’t work out
Just take another shot. : )
(Unknown)
Whoever created this quote really has their head on straight! I adore this quote because, really, this is how I live my life.
Remember when you’re on a trip, especially a brand trap, you’re there for a reason. Of course to have fun, learn, etc., but also to capture great content.
Sometimes when you’re traveling in a new environment or a new space, you don’t know what to expect, and it can be quite stressful. You know you want to create beautiful memories on location, but you’re working with limited time, limited help, and limited resources.
That’s why it’s essential to make friends who can help you along the way.
100% of the photos I captured on this trip were taken by others. Teamwork makes the dream work, and if all else fails, pray about it.
I pray on so many things that I’m worried about. I pray that God will send help my way and hallelujah! God answers prayers.
This trip, I was able to create tons of content with my gal pals, Christina Vega, Kathlyn Celeste, and a crew member from the Benefit Team, Omar Charcousse. They helped me get my shots, and I helped them get theirs.
5. Live in the Moment
Living in the moment is an essential life skill.
Training your mind to focus on what’s happening in the now, and enjoying the process along the way is a fundamental part of happiness. Take it all in. Everything that’s happening around you; sights, sounds, smells, ambience. Enjoy it all!
So many of my most memorable moments of this trip were activities where I was living in the moment. I really listened to people while in conversation, savored the delicious food, appreciated the scenic beauty of Key Largo, Florida, and The Baker’s Cay Resort, and had a deep sense of gratitude for being invite to such a wonderful event.
Overall I had a wonderful time on this trip with Benefit Cosmetics. I’m so thankful Sephora partnered with Benefit Cosmetics on this trip! I feel truly blessed to be able to go on these trips and share them with you here online.
To see more behind the scenes of me on this Benefit Cosmetics brand trip, head on over to my YouTube channel right now where I posted a vlog about my journey.