Intern Diaries: Chloe Zelch

At Milk Makeup, our interns are an integral part of our day-to-day. Here you'll get an inside look to see exactly what a day in the life looks like for them. In this edition of Intern Diaries, get to know Chloe Zelch (she/they,) our Editorial Intern who swears by green eyeshadow and tomato blush.

What school do you go to and what do you study?

I am currently a senior at Fordham University at Lincoln Center. I'm a double major in journalism + new media and digital design.

What drove you to apply to the Milk Makeup Editorial Internship?

Writing has always been my passion and I grew up using Milk Makeup products. So when I saw the opportunity to write and also work with a brand I've always loved, I was like, I have to apply right now.

What's your favorite Milk product and why?

I was a huge Blur Stick girl back in the day. Now, I think my favorite product is probably Lip + Cheek in Perk. I love it because it's super easy to blend in and get a nice flush. I also really love the Pore Eclipse Primer.

What's your favorite song to do your makeup to?

“Control” by Playboi Carti.

What was your favorite project you worked on while interning at Milk?

Probably the blog I wrote about Matcha Latte Makeup, because I’ve always loved green eyeshadow. I think it's so fun and it works for literally anyone, but it's not a color people would think of reaching for first. So when green eyeshadow was trending, I knew this was my opportunity to write about it.

What's a typical day at Milk like for you?

If I'm working in the office, I hike to the D train—I get in around 10 a.m. Normally, I already have my coffee in my hand, so I say hi to the other interns. Then, I start working on whatever projects I have for the day; I check Asana and reach out to my supervisors to see if they need help. During work breaks, I usually make myself coffee; I go through at least three cups every day. I leave the office around 5:00 p.m.

What is the most valuable experience you've had at Milk?

I learned a lot about writing in a specific brand voice here. While writing the blog posts, we have to aim for a very specific tone. It's like writing a magazine article while keeping marketing priorities in mind. Finding that happy medium in my writing while remaining authentic and fun has been a great learning experience. I've also learned a lot about writing about makeup in general—it's not something I had experience with before.

What's your favorite coffee shop in New York?

I love Birch coffee. There's a few locations around the city. They make a really good iced vanilla latte with oat milk and they have a student discount.

Milk Makeup Intern Chloe Zelch poses next to a Milk Makeup display.

What's your favorite TV show of all time?

Neon Genesis Evangelion. it's an anime from the ‘90s. It's super old school and I love it.

Who inspires your approach to beauty and self-care?

I’d say Selena Gomez, who's very much about natural makeup that accentuates her features. I also really admire how she promotes kindness and is so accepting. She really influences my approach to enhancing my look and being confident and kind to myself.

When did you start using makeup and how has your relationship with makeup progressed over the years, especially after working with Milk?

When I was old enough to wear a little bit of makeup, probably 11 or 12, my mom took me to a department store so I could buy my first makeup set. We picked a brand, and a store representative sat me down at the counter to do my makeup. The color was atrocious and the look was awful, but at the time, I loved it. Over the years, I leaned on my older sister to teach me more about makeup.

My views on beauty have really changed over the years, especially as someone who has grown to accept stubborn acne. When I got to college, I started having really bad acne, and that's something I've struggled with ever since. It was really hard at first, as I felt the need to cover my entire face with makeup to hide it. But as I grew older, I started loving my face and not feeling self-conscious about the fact that I had acne. It was definitely an uphill battle, not being afraid or ashamed of my skin.

Milk Makeup Intern Chloe Zelch poses in front of a sunset image

What was your favorite recent beauty trend?

Tomato girl makeup, sunburn makeup—whatever you want to call it. As someone who's incredibly pale, that's just my look during the summer! I like that it allows for a sun-flushed look whenever you want with no skin damage.