Dominique Bossavy, micro-color infusion specialist

What she does: Bossavy specializes in correcting scars or other abnormalities with permanent makeup. For instance, she tattoos areolas on women who have undergone mastectomies and fixes skin discolorations on burn victims.

How she started: "I had my lips done in Paris and it was terrible. I wanted to find someone to fix it, and that is where I found my mentor. She mentioned that I would be great at her job because I paid attention to detail. I liked the idea, and she offered me a two-year internship. At first, I was really excited, but then I realized that we had different ideals of beauty. Her clients left looking too fake for my taste. I loved the concept but hated the unnatural results. Each time a beautiful woman came in, I wanted to whisper, "run away." So I developed a more natural way to perform permanent cosmetic enhancements."

Weirdest part of the job: "Once I had a woman come in who often makes the tabloids for her botched and over-the-top plastic surgery. When I recognized her, I knew I couldn't take her on as a client -- she was beyond repair. I politely explained that I didn't have the right technique and that she would not be happy with my work. She left screaming that I wasted her day. That was the oddest experience."

Best part of the job: "Seeing my clients blossom with an instant boost of confidence is the best part of my job. Once I was coloring in a burn survivor's facial scars, and I accidentally discovered that not only was it changing the color of the skin, it was making the burn scar corrugation smoother, and it released the contraction from the scar tissue. My client was able to open her mouth without the pulling on the lower eyes, which was really exciting."

Judy Heylmun, sensory scientist

What she does: As a sensory scientist and president of Fore Sense + One, a research company focused on the sensory experience of personal care items, Heylmun evaluates how products smell, look, feel, taste and sound -- which, yes, sometimes means she literally has to feel other people's skin. She works with companies to understand everything from how wine hits the taste buds to how well a body lotion rubs into the skin.

How she started: "Sensory evaluation is a newer field. When I first started, people usually fell into it through studying nutrition or even teaching. I applied for a position at Life Savers right out of college and learned from the ground up.".

Weirdest part of the job: Sensory scientists want every perspective, even if it's not necessarily their target audience. "Asking a panel of men to try lipstick is weird," she says. "Also, talking to people about the performance of personal products, like feminine hygiene products or certain creams and jellies."

Hardest part of the job: "Testing products that are used for skin care on the intended user and having to feel their legs after they shave or put on moisturizer."

Best part of the job: "Getting to try new products before they hit the market. I also love when our research completely changes the way a client views the experience their product provides."

Emily Katz, TV makeup artist

What she does: Katz specializes in recreating wounds and burns and has lent her talents to TV shows like "Lost," "24" and "Diagnosis Murder."

How she started: "I have a background that equipped me to create the more gruesome looks of my career: I started as a painter with some sculpting experience, and I was also pre-med, so I've been around a lot of medical situations. Pooling these skills and training at the hands of some of the best makeup masters in the country really allowed me to hone my ability."

Weirdest part of the job: Being a makeup artist doesn't mean just making up a pretty face, says Katz. "I worked on the first BBC movie made in America, "Crazy for a Kiss." I had to do bedsores on elderly actors, and you know where those are. It was hilarious at times!"

Hardest part of the job: "You're entering someone's personal space for an extended time, and it's an odd kind of intimacy. It can be fun and silly or extraordinarily awkward. Part of the job is wiping sweat, wiping noses, taking care of blemishes -- things a parent does."

Best part of the job: "Making the ladies of "Lost" still look beautiful while they were covered with tan, burn and dirt products. We had to make it look like they were literally stranded on an island. I was honored to receive an Elle Beauty Genius Award for that work."

Kelly Mathiasen, body artist at Our Little Secret Salon

What she does: Mathiasen specializes in waxing and vajazzling, the practice of affixing Swarovski gems to your nether regions.

How she started: "I was in skincare, but I wanted to be able to offer more services. Waxing was among those services, and alongside that came vajazzling. I thought it would be fun. Women love to feel sexy and feminine, and this is another way to help them do that."

Weirdest part of the job: The oddest part of vajazzling is actually the waxing that comes before placing the crystals, says Mathiasen. "It's a surprising request in itself, if you think about it. I'm waxing someone's private parts!"

Hardest part of the job: "I don't like inflicting pain on people, but creating a smooth canvas for the crystals is part of the job. It's a little uncomfortable for me."

Best part of the job: "One of my clients said she was inspired by me and went back to school to be an aesthetician. Being able to inspire another person is the greatest feeling."

Katrina Brown, St. Tropez West Coast skin finishing expert and owner of The Bronzing Boutique

What she does: Brown is a professional spray tanner who owns her own company and provides bronzing services to the stars.

How she started: "I grew up in Australia, where the sun is strong and skin cancer is prominent. I wanted to create a healthy way to tan that didn't look orange. I started The Bronzing Boutique, which offers a natural shade of bronze that makes skin look gorgeous and luminous."

Weirdest part of the job: "I see people naked for a living, but it doesn't phase me -- I have seen hundreds of thousands of naked people! After eight years of tanning, I have had only one inappropriate experience with a male client, who was not welcome to return."

Hardest part of the job: "Flying back and forth from Los Angeles to Sydney is rough. It's also a lot of fun, so I can't complain."

Best part of the job: "Helping clients fix a tan that has gone wrong is nice, because they're so happy afterward."