Work Friends Member Spotlight: Courtney Brunson
When I recently asked the Beauty Work Friends community to describe the group in one word, Courtney’s answer was instant: “Comfy.”
I already knew she was my kind of work friend—from our very first 1:1, where we spiraled (in the best way) about the merits of cool secondhand furniture and how Europe is the place to be to find exceptional treasures. But that one word cemented it: Courtney not only gets the vibe of this community—she actively contributes to the magic of it.
Beauty Work Friends is a comfy, casual homebase for senior-level consultants, advisors, and freelancers and Courtney fits right in. With a background that spans product development, editorial writing, and marketing, she brings both depth and curiosity to every interaction.
She’s exactly the kind of person this space was made for. And someone I’m so glad the internet brought into my world.
Here’s a bit about Courtney, in her own words.
Courtney Brunson
Product Development, Marketing, & Editorial Direction
“Moving to Paris and beginning independent consulting work was an incredibly freeing shift.
It’s allowed me to collaborate with more brands than would have been possible in a traditional role, and be at the forefront of the body care industry’s evolution. ”
What’s your background and specialty?
I’m a product developer, specializing in skincare and fragrance development. While living in NYC I worked in-house with larger, established brands like Clinique and eos Products. It was only after moving to Paris that I began freelancing, first with Soft Services and Salt & Stone and later for Nood, the Body Lab and other brands.
I also advise strategic product marketing and editorial direction, combining creative elements alongside technical responsibilities. My career began as a writer for publications like Allure, Elite Daily and xoJane, which is why editorial guidance often becomes part of my projects.
How/why did you choose beauty as your niche?
Beauty was a completely new terrain while I was a student at FIT—originally, I thought I would work in fashion or be a magazine editor. As a Teen Vogue intern, raiding the beauty closet exposed me to the world of skincare and I fell in love. Later, as an editorial intern at Into The Gloss, I watched the beginning stages of Glossier being built. Glossier’s founding product developer inspired me to switch my major to Cosmetic & Fragrance at FIT, and I never looked back. After graduating, my Origins internship turned into a full-time product development job at Clinique, and ever since I’ve known beauty is where I’ll stay.
I’m creative, but also love science—beauty is the perfect path for anyone with a creative vision who also has a scientific or technical curiosity.
What’s something unexpected you’ve learned about yourself through freelancing or consulting?
Working independently taught me the true level of my skill and seniority. Often when you’re working within a specific title, the tight framework can be quite limiting. As a consultant working alongside brand founders and senior teams, I’ve learned how far my experience can take me through different roles, departments and scopes. It’s helped me gain so much more confidence in my capabilities.
What’s a pivotal moment in your career that shaped where you are today?
There have actually been two key phases that needed each other. Spending the first five years of my career at Estée Lauder and Eos gave me a strong technical foundation and insight into R&D, while also exposing me to the full spectrum of business operations within a successful company.
Moving to Paris and beginning independent consulting work was an incredibly freeing shift. It’s allowed me to collaborate with more brands than would have been possible in a traditional role, and be at the forefront of the body care industry’s evolution.
If you could snap your fingers and instantly master any new skill, what would it be and why?
Speaking any language fluently—it’s unrelated to beauty, but would have made my first years in Europe much easier!
How do you stay creative and avoid burnout, especially when juggling multiple projects?
As a freelancer, it’s easy to deprioritize time off when there are no built-in vacation days like at a full-time role. Fortunately, living in a country that embraces leisure like France has helped me embrace rest, and build it into my routine.
What’s been your favorite freelance project to date?
Working with Soft Services was a wonderful early consulting experience. Collaborating with a warm, welcoming team showed me how it’s possible to seamlessly integrate into a brand despite being fractional. A huge part of freelance work is relationship building, and finding partners you can work in synergy with.
Who’s your dream client?
I would love to develop a fragrance with a musician or artist who has built a world around their sound.
How do you define success in your career? Has that evolved or changed over the years?
Success has become more personal throughout my career. Early on I followed common benchmarks of success like promotions and raises. As a consultant, there are no promotions! I have one title with ever-changing roles, and instead look for satisfaction deep within my work and in what I create.
What have you gained from being a part of Work Friends?
From the first day, Work Friends has been friendly and welcoming. As I live in Paris, it’s easy to feel far away from the industry, but I’m happy to be part of a community that keeps in touch so frequently and roots for each other.
What’s your most-repurchased beauty item?
Caudalie Vinoperfect Serum has been in my rotation for nearly a decade. It was one of the first luxury products I was able to try during my time as an Into the Gloss intern, so I’ll always associate it with the thrill of receiving my first PR sample. Lucky for me, it’s also one of the most beloved products in Paris, and easily found in every pharmacy.
Get in touch with Courtney
It's fun to be Work Friends
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It's fun to be Work Friends 〰️
If you’re interested in joining Work Friends, you can find more information here. And if you’d like an introduction to Tarina or any member of the Work Friends community, send me a note.