There's a very specific criteria for an office hand cream: a non-greasy formula in a pretty tube. Assistant Editor Sharon Yi is dedicated to Crabtree & Evelyn India Hicks Island Living Ultra-Moisturizing Hand Therapy, $19, because she can put it on and get right back to typing without leaving her keyboard a slippery mess. Plus, the scent brings to mind a glamorous tropical vacation -- the perfect, subtle mid-afternoon distraction.
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A pencil jar filled with anything but pens and pencils
When you're a beauty editor, playing with makeup is a necessary part of the job. Every season, we evaluate all of the color collections (looking for trends) and try out the new-to-the-market products. While most of it gets filed in the beauty closet to be considered for stories, the inkiest black eyeliners and the fluffiest makeup brushes inevitably find a permanent home next to my pens. Some beauty editors I know have two cups -- one for actual writing implements and one for beauty products. Mine are mixed together -- and yes, every once in a while I end up writing something in eyeliner.
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An army of lipsticks, glosses, and balms
When I'm testing out a lip product, the first thing I do is swipe it on the back of my hand. It's the best way to get a feel for the color, sheerness, and texture without actually putting it on. Then, if I like what I see, I'll wear it -- and add it to the lineup of lip products next to my computer monitor. At the moment, my assembly is mostly glamorous, bright-pink lipsticks like Chanel Rouge Coco Hydrating Cr�me Lip Colour in Paradis, $32, and Tom Ford Private Blend Lip Color in Cherry Lush, $45. These will change with the season, but I'll always, always have some moisturizing classics -- like CoverGirl Natureluxe Gloss Balm, $5.99 -- in the mix. Sarah's favorite is Korres Natural Products Lip Butter, $12, and Sharon loves Vaseline Lip Therapy, $1.99.
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A stress-reliever
Of course we're not implying that being a beauty editor is as stressful as, say, being an ER doctor, but there are tense moments and difficult situations in every job. So whenever a product claims to calm nerves or alleviate stress, we give it a try -- or hand it over to a co-worker who's having a bad day. At the moment, we're loving Lather Clear Head Balancing Balm, $9, an essential-oil based salve that you rub on your temples. Another one that gets passed from desk to desk: 21 Drops De-Stress Aromatherapy Oil, $29, which smells a bit like donuts and lavender (weird, but in the most amazing way), and helps when you're super-close to missing a deadline.
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Dry shampoo
Whether you're too busy (or lazy) to wash your hair or you're trying to make a great blowout last an extra day, dry shampoo is the answer. It volumizes and absorbs oil -- making your hair look and smell clean even when it isn't. Beauty editors have at least one bottle on hand at all times, because even if your hair looks great in the morning, a long day in the office can make it totally lackluster. We're all obsessed with Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray, $39 (so much so that Sharon and Sarah are constantly stealing it off each other's desks). It not only has an amazing gardenia scent, but also comes in the most gorgeous bottle.
If you love beauty products and love to write, there's no sweeter gig than being a beauty editor. We get to test, review, and write about almost every new product that hits the market. Of course we'll never be paid like hedge fund managers, but that seems like a fair tradeoff.
Even beauty editors who have been in the business for decades have soft spots for certain products: Some collect mascaras, some love eco labels, and others hoard neon nail polishes -- the same way someone who works in fashion might have 100 pairs of shoes. But if you were to check out any beauty editor's desk -- from an assistant to an editor-in-chief -- you'd find a lot of similarities. In addition to the things we're each personally obsessed with, there are certain things that 99 percent of us have on hand all the time.
While we thought it would be fun to give you a glimpse at the workspace of a beauty editor, there are also some inherent tips in this roundup. Remember, we've tried everything -- and these are the products we deem special enough to take up real estate next to our computers. They inspire us while we're writing, make us feel and smell better and, of course, they're pretty enough to look at all day, five days a week. Keep reading to find out what your desk is currently missing.
