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Benefit Cosmetics

Part of LVMH

Engaged Employer

Toxic Work Environment at Headquarters - Anonymous employee Benefit Cosmetics Employee Review

1.0
May 30, 2017
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Some of the people who work here are very talented and wonderful to work with- However, due to the large list of cons and the unprofessional work environment, I do not see them staying for a long time.

Cons

Senior management is unprofessional and catty. They are not respectful to each other or the teams that they manage. Yelling and eye rolling is very common in meetings. The management style here is one of creating fear and discord. Instead of trying to build teams that work well together, certain departments compete to one up each other and the employees become collateral damage. It is very common to hear senior management badly slandering each other but then being nice to each other's faces. After being here for some time, I have learned that this toxic environment was present from the beginning of this brand (starting at the top up with the founders) and continues to be nurtured instead of stomped out. Extremely difficult to get promotions- Promotions are only given to undeserving employees who exhibit characteristics seen in senior management (i.e. catty, disrespectful, throwing temper tantrums, and unequipped to manage teams). Hard work does not seem to be rewarded or appreciated and when conversations regarding a raise or title change come up, management comes up with weak excuses as to why it's not possible or will take some time (code for it's not going to happen). Additionally, it seems that if you are not French or European, your chances of a promotion are slim to none. In theory, they encourage employees to grow and promote internal transfers. However, in reality, this is not encouraged and certain departments make it extremely difficult to transfer internally to another department by badmouthing the department of interest. Compensation and benefits are on the lower end when compared to other companies. They expect a lot from their employees and new hires but do not want to provide the adequate compensation and benefits that accompany the job title. Personally, I felt that I had to sacrifice on compensation, healthcare benefits, and vacation time when accepting this job. This company will tell you that all companies in the industry are like this or worse but that is not true. While some of the departments and employees are fantastic, the day to day here with the departments and employees who are less than bearable make it difficult to work here. This company's motto is "Laughter is the Best Cosmetic"- Working at headquarters could not be farther from the truth. Benefit's work environment is synonymous to a mean girls high school environment...except we are all adults and no one should be acting like they are still in high school.

Explore other reviews about Benefit Cosmetics

5.0
Jun 15, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great culture and positive work environment.

Cons

San Francisco location & pay.

3.0
Jul 3, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Working as a freelancer for Benefit Cosmetics was a fun and rewarding experience. One of my favorite parts of the job was meeting other talented makeup artists and beauty professionals. I learned so much from them—not just about Benefit products, but about makeup techniques, artistry, skincare, and the beauty industry as a whole. It was inspiring to collaborate with people who were passionate about what they do. The role also helped me build my confidence in customer service, product education, and sales. I enjoyed connecting with clients, helping them find products that suited their needs, and seeing their excitement after trying something new. Overall, the experience allowed me to grow professionally, expand my makeup knowledge, and build relationships with talented artists that I genuinely appreciated.

Cons

As a former freelancer, I found it difficult to stay passionate about promoting Benefit Cosmetics because many of the products felt overpriced compared to other brands that offer similar or better quality at a more affordable price point. In today’s beauty market, consumers have countless options, and value matters. I also would have loved to see more diversity represented in the brand’s leadership and marketing. From my perspective, it seemed that many of the higher-level positions lacked diversity, and I didn’t always feel that the brand reflected the wide range of customers and beauty professionals it serves.

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