Power and exploitation within the cosmetics industry
This ongoing project explores themes of power and exploitation within the cosmetics industry. It draws upon ethnographic research undertaken by Dr David Hollis in a UK cosmetics company.

Project overview
The project explores how routines, norms and discourses that centre around âbeautyâ exploit workers whose labour is typically undervalued and underpaid. Access to makeup artistsâ daily work allows for insights into how seemingly mundane and innocuous practices, such as âmaking upâ the face and makeup techniques, can extract surplus value from workersâ bodies, subjectivities, and pay.
Key research outputs
Hollis, D., Wright, A., SmoloviÄ Jones, O. & SmoloviÄ Jones, N (2021) âFrom âprettyâ to âpretty powerfulâ: The communicatively constituted power of facial beautyâs performativityâ. Organization Studies, 42(12): 1885-1907.
Key research activity
Hollis, D., Wright, A., SmoloviÄ Jones, O. & SmoloviÄ Jones, N (2021). âFrom âpretty to pretty powerful:â Facial beautyâs performative powerâ. Nominated for Responsible Research Award at The Academy of Management Annual Meeting (Organization and Management Theory division)
Hollis, D (2022). âMethodological and Theoretical Learnings about how Identities Materializeâ. Invited presentation at University of Twente.