Beauty tips from a bona fide beauty editor

MUST- LIST: The Products in Every Beauty Editor’s Cabinet
Some beauty editors are drugstore gals; others love department store goodies; still more are verifiable snobs, only using products that cost more than the GDP of a small country. Whatever each gal’s preferences, however, a few products exist that are just so effective, you’re guaranteed to find them in every single beauty editor’s cabinet.

NARS blush in Orgasm: A peachy-rose, universally beloved, makes-every-woman-look-sexy-no-matter-what-her-complexion, no-other-product-can-even-come-close rock star blush. The name pretty much says it all—it gives you the kind of subtle, naughty flush that only comes from … well … you know.

Terax Original Crema: Is there a better intensive conditioner in the world? If so, I have yet to find it. Crema works miracles on dry, over-processed hair, turning it from straw into silk. Bonus points because it’s Italian and has an innate glamour quotient. (Maybe it shouldn’t matter, but, c’mon—it so does.)

Essie Mademoiselle and OPI I’m Not Really a Waitress nail polish: With these two nail polish shades in your kit, you’re pretty much set for life. Mademoiselle is the ideal pale pink—not too white, not too rose—that goes everywhere and immediately makes nails look Rich Bitch chic; I’m Not Really a Waitress fulfils the elusive, eternal quest for the perfect red.

Mario Badescu Drying Potion: When it’s Thursday night, you have the biggest date of your life on Friday, and a zit the size of Mount Vesuvius has suddenly erupted, look no further than this tiny bottle of Pepto Bismol-pink pimple destroyer. Within one evening, the blemish will be considerably reduced; if you’re lucky enough to have two nights to spare, it’ll be nearly gone. (And three nights? Zit? What zit?)

Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler: Okay, so it kiiind of looks like a mechanical torture device. Don’t let that scare you. Use before applying mascara and your eyelashes will be twice as defined, as if by magic. It’s my very favorite tool, and the best thing this side of false lashes.

Bumble and Bumble Does It All Styling Spray: Whether your hair is curly or straight, frizzy or limp, thick or thin, this styling and settling spray lives up to its name. It doubles as a medium-hold hairspray, keeping tresses in places without any gross, beauty-pageant-like stiffness, but easily brushes out and works fabulously with heat styling tools.

Cetaphil Face Wash: Dermatologists swear by it for a reason—it’s gentle enough for even the most sensitive, dry or trouble-prone skin. When the mere thought of washing your face is enough to make your skin inflamed, this is your product. Beloved whether you’re 16 or 60.

Kiehl’s Lip Balm # 1: Combats chapped lips like nobody’s business, lasts for hours, and comes in both a pot and tube version. Plus, it’s unisex and scent-free, so the man in your life won’t whine that you taste like a mango-pomegranate-kiwi (and then will probably steal it for himself).

Lancôme Definicils: While other mascaras might get more press, this remains the gold standard, lengthening, defining and just generally tricking-out even the wimpiest lashes. Lancôme pumps tons of research into their mascaras—which are the best in the business—and this superstar is their bestseller.

Phytodefrisant: Plagued by frizz? Look no further than this plant-based miracle balm, which helps relaxe curls and waves, keeping locks sleek no matter what the humidity levels.

Lancôme Instant Colour Self-Tanning Leg Gel: The beauty editor favorite, as championed by industry legend (and, self disclosure, my former boss) Jean Godfrey-June, who famously uses it everywhere, not just on legs. It gives “have you been at the beach?” color with a hint of shimmer, and looks natural—not orange—even in the dead of winter.

Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat Radiant Touch: Tired eyes? Suspicious shadows? Gone. YSL’s cultiest product has light-reflecting particles to deflect attention from any unwanted spots or shadows while somehow—mysteriously, magically—brightening the entire face. Try it once, and you’ll be hooked.

BEAUTY CONFIDENTIAL: Getting in the Door
My first real interview was with the beauty director of one of the premiere magazines in the world. Allow me to set the scene for you. Me, a fresh-faced twenty-one year old college senior with three internships under my belt. Her, the Queen of the beauty industry and a woman who could make or break a brand with one line in her book. (“Book” is beauty editor lingo for a magazine.) In general, magazine offices do not look like a Kate Hudson or Jennifer Garner movie come to life, with assistants running about, photos of celebrities on the walls, and tasteful-yet-colorful décor. Hers did. Two underlings sat at a desk outside her office in white shirts smeared with red lipstick, examining shades as if the cure for cancer depended on it. As I cowered in my chair, facing her desk and an array of beauty products each more expensive than the cost of my outfit, accessories and haircut combined, I clutched my resumé tightly, wondering what the hell I was doing there. The meeting was blissfully sweet as she less interviewed me, more barked commands about what I would be expected to do (“You will show up promptly, call in all beauty products, conduct research and liaise with publicists”) and what I would not (“You will not call your boyfriend during office hours, play on instant messenger, check your personal emails, or waste my time.”) I didn’t get the job (surprise, surprise), but I did take away some valuable lessons from her. Number one: if you take yourself too seriously, you won’t be winning any Miss Congeniality awards. Number two: if you take beauty too seriously, you suck all the fun out of it. And what’s the point of that? (Now, in her case, it’s her job, so I suppose it’s actually to be commended that she and her staff approached it with such medical precision. It makes for a fabulous magazine, and a fabulous beauty section. I’m sure glad I didn’t end up working there, though.)

The Lazy Girls Club
Beauty editors are a fairly lazy bunch. We want pretty, we want chic, we want classic, we want impact—but above all, we want fast. Sure, we’re willing to spend two hours in front of the mirror on a random Thursday evening recreating Jennifer Aniston’s latest awards-show hairdo for the hell of it—but only, like, once a year. Otherwise? Speedy, please!

We’re also not fashion editors. Fashion editors are—generally speaking, of course—perfectly turned out, impeccably coiffed, glossy, manicured, wearing threads that won’t be available in the stores for months. Beauty editors? Let’s just say that four-days dirty hair, no makeup except for mascara and concealer, short, bare nails, and three-seasons-old clothing gifted by various beauty companies is the norm. Lest I make you think that all beauty editors are filthy, smelly hobos, let me assure you that’s not the case. Beauty editors simply operate by the “less is more” maxim. Who has time to apply a full-face of makeup, arrange a coiffed hairdo, coordinate a different outfit for everyday of the week and be a fully-functioning member of society? We’re only human, after all! (Plus, beauty sleep is really, really important, and who wants to wake up early to doll yourself up when you could sleep in?)

When you’ve missed your alarm, or simply aren’t feeling beauty motivated, here are the best tricks to get yourself out of the house in under ten minutes and still look great:

If you only have two minutes:
- Great skin is the foundation of any look and is always the first thing you should address. (And, if you’re pressed for time, is the only thing you should address.)

-If your skin is perfect (lucky you), apply a few swipes of light-reflecting concealer (with mica particles) around the eyes to brighten up the face.

-If your skin is generally good, with just a few imperfections, apply concealer to trouble spots.

-If your skin is more troublesome, with uneven tone and blemishes, apply foundation or tinted-moisturizer with fingers (for a more natural look) to even out skintone, then lightly add concealer as needed.

-No matter what your skin condition, finish with bronzer on your cheeks, temples, forehead and brow bone. It will instantly warm up your face and give you a “done” look.

If you only have five minutes:
- After you’ve “fixed” skin as directed above, the next most important thing is ensuring that eyes are defined.

- First, use an eyelash curler for five seconds on each lash.

- Next, take your mascara wand out of the tube and gently wipe it on a piece of tissue to remove excess product.

- Apply mascara to both the top and bottom of lashes, for extra definition (I like to apply mascara to the top first, then follow on the bottom to “spring” lashes back up).

If you have seven minutes:
- Once your skin looks ready and your mascara is done, finish accentuating your eyes.

- Use your fingers to apply a sheer wash of peach, taupe or copper eyeshadow from your eyelid to your browbone.

- Classic shades to try: Giorgio Armani Eyeshadow #12, Bobbi Brown eyeshadow in Bone, or NARS Eyeshadow in Nepal.

If you have ten minutes:
- Skin? Check. Eyes? Check. Now it’s time to warm up the rest of your face and complete the look.

- Lightly dust blush on the apples of your cheeks.

- NARS blush in Orgasm is killer (as we’ve already established), but you also might try NARS blush in Sin, Benefit Dandelion, MAC blush in Pinch O’Peach or Jane Blushing Cheeks Powder Blush in Blushing Petal (drugstore.com).

- Slick on a neutral, just-like-your-lips-but-even-better gloss such as Clinique Black Honey, Giorgio Armani Shine Gloss #4, Stila lip pot in Mure.

- All finished! Subtle-yet-gorgeous in ten minutes flat. Not bad, eh?

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