Let's Talk Beauty

DAY 28

of the 30-Day Blog Challenge, 2011

Whether it's magazines, brand work, or makeup artistry, opportunities in beauty abound.

Every time I get close to saying goodbye to my career in beauty, new opportunities always seem to present themselves within this realm. A number of times I've said to myself (or to a friend), "I'm done with beauty, I'm ready for a career in food." As some of you know, it's still a dream of mine to work for the Food Network. Chalk it up to summers spent in Colorado, lazing away and tuning into the network all day.

Some of you may know that I've dabbled in makeup artistry in all these years (not uncommon for current and former beauty editors). Again, every time I decide to be "done with it," a new opportunity to practice comes up. Just recently, I was ready to donate my makeup kit to a cousin of mine—a nurse by profession—who is exploring makeup artistry as a hobby. And then within a day or two after, my aunt asked for "smoky eyes" minutes before heading out to a party. Times like these, I listen to the universe.

Last week, our interns at work approached my desk and asked, "Do you have a blog?" I gladly answered "Yes!" and went on to show them this site, as well as the very neglected All My Sugar. They asked if I had a beauty blog too. I explained that I had an archive of published beauty articles, but not exactly a blog. "I find it challenging to blog about beauty because it tends to feel like work," I said. Even back when I was a full-time editor, I rarely ever wrote about beauty products in my leisure time.

Don't get me wrong, I love beauty. And I appreciate every job that has come my way. Because of skincare, haircare, fragrance, cosmetics, and bath and body products, I've been able to travel the world and follow my publishing dreams. It has all been a pleasant and wonderful surprise—and I am so not complaining!