What does a Beauty Editor look like?

Now I work in beauty because I'm absolutely addicted to products, prettiness and colours galore, but do you think that makes me ultra groomed and perfect? Not a chance! I still get zits, flyaway hair, and don't even get me started on the state of my nails. The thing is I go to a lot of beauty events, and the majority of women there are very, very groomed. And some aren't. At all.

Now I do wear makeup on a daily basis, and pretty much always the works, foundation, blush, etc, as I think that having some degree of good presentation is necessary in this role (and I like it), but is this just my perception, or do other people judge me by a certain standard?

I work in the field of technology as well, and there appearances really don't matter. Journalists turn up scruffily attired in ripped jeans and holey sweaters and PR's don' bat an eyelid, as it's our brains they're interested in. In beauty though, with PR's who look like they've walked off the Donna Karan runway, appearances do matter more.

The rule seems to be, the more established the journalist (we're talking years in the industry and glossy magazine) the less effort they make/need to make, whilst the younger people wear their makeup almost as a shield to fit in. Whether or not this should be done, I'm not sure. Would you rather take beauty advice form Miss Perfect or Miss Tried and Tested? It's a hard line to follow and I still don't know the right way to go. Oh, and we do seem to be a blonde lot on the whole!

Dani

Its not a question of which is best, the tried and tested or the miss perfect, its the balance between the two that counts.

as readers, we want to see someone who has the same problems as us, but at the same time can pull off the straight from catwalk look. It makes the testing articles that are written carry more weight if you talk about the problem with spots, or the fact that you think a particular diet may have merits but wouldnt work for such and such or people with...

I think you are doing a great job. Being a friend to the readers but at the same time maintaining that 'power' position of editor glamour. (im thinking ugly betty here, not devil wears prada)

(just a thought though. thats not the best picture that I have seen. The camera flash doesnt do your skin any favours. And a slightly elevanted chin would have avoided the 'drunk eye' look)

Mjx

I may be an exception, but I think that a beauty editor who acknowledges her struggles with some appearance-related issues has more credibility.

Also, I find those who seem like actual human beings more interesting than those who give the impression of being cardboard cutouts. Honest, matter-of-fact revelations of personal 'shortcomings' (e.g. skin colour that just doesn't work with particular makeup shade, or great difficulty adhering to the rigorous demands of an exercise or diet regimen) give a realistic frame of reference for product limitations. After all, a foundation that looks good on only 3% of the population, or diets that are nearly impossible to follow during an ordinary aren't of much use to most readers. And we like to know about these things!

The bottom line, however (and this probably puts me in a very small group), is accuracy; I have a science background, and hate sloppy research (all the more so, as I'm usually 'on to it' in a split second), so the beauty editors who impress the most are those who do serious investigation.

What does a Beauty Editor look like?

What does a Beauty Editor look like? - Comments

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