Getting to know... Self Magazine

One of my biggest pet peeves is waiting in line. It sucks. You're standing there, waiting bored as hell, and without any guarantee that you will ever get out of said line, or that the pot of gold at your rainbow is even worth it! The only line I don't mind waiting in, is the grocery checkout line because at least they provide you with ample reading material, albeit of the more trashy kind. If you poke your head around though, you can avoid reading about celeb cellulite, or the latest sighting of Tupac/Elvis/the boobie man/Sarah Palin. One such quality read worth poking around for is Self Magazine. Self is different from the usual rags in that it promotes health, fitness, and a safe body image, all things that proper high maintenance women should follow. When you treat your body right, you feel right!

Recently I got the chance to poke one of the brains behind Self's beauty experts. Alex Samuels is an associate beauty editor at Self and she was kind enough to answer my questions about working at Self and what it takes to make it in the publishing industry.

MizzJ: Tell me a bit about yourself - what's your background, and how did you get started at Self?
Alex: I was a journalism/news editorial major at University of Colorado in Boulder, and worked at a music magazine (MarqueeMag.com) for three years during college. I also worked in the web department of a beauty company and at two business journals, but quickly realized my heart wasn’t in it. I got started at SELF because I met Elaine, our beauty director, when I was still in college (I was working for a beauty company one summer) and ended up interning for her the next summer. After graduation, I e-mailed her for an informational interview and ended up getting an internship. A few months later, I applied for the editorial assistant position and – two years later – was promoted to Associate Editor.

MizzJ: What do you do as a beauty editor?
Alex: I pitch newsy stories for the front half of the beauty section. Once we decide on a lineup, I either research and write the stories, or assign them to writers. I also round up all the product that appear in my stories. Then, I edit the pieces with my top editor (who is amazing), and work with the designers as they create the layouts. I oversee our annual Spa Giveaway in April, our Healthy Beauty Awards in May and our Trend Report in October. I also attend Fashion Week to round up beauty trends for the upcoming season.

MizzJ: What are the best perks of the job?
Alex: Writing, trend-spotting, amazing events and experiences.

MizzJ: And the worst parts of the job?
Alex: The late nights, but those aren’t so bad.

MizzJ: Best beauty tips you ever heard?
Alex: I have three:

1. Be confident in who you are. Joi-de-vivre can erase any physical flaw.
   
2. Wash your face twice a day and use a simple moisturizer with SPF. It sounds almost too simple, but I don’t think there is anything prettier than clean, gorgeous skin.
   
3. Be nice to your hair.

MizzJ: What's in your daily beauty regimen?
Alex: Wash my face (I’m a big fan of the Wonderbar - http://wonderbarusa.com/), brush my teeth, tweeze my brows if I need to. Pop in contacts, load up on Kiehls Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF 15, dot concealer where I need it and add a couple swipes of mascara. Then, I flip my head, spray with texturizer (I’m loving the earthy smell of Kevin Murphy Heated Defense lately) and shake it out. I only wash my hair two-maaaaaaybe three-times a week. Otherwise it gets too dry! Oh - and if I need to look especially nice, I’ll dig through my purse for a bright lipstick and apply it on the subway (after my coffee, of course).

MizzJ: What is your signature makeup look?
Alex: Lately? MAC Morange Lipstick. I’m obsessed. Otherwise, just really clean skin and lots of mascara.

MizzJ: Who's your beauty icon? (that person who always looks just flawless and whose look you love to admire and emulate)
Alex: Jenny Lewis. I used to go see her band (Rilo Kiley) at the Westchester Community College Auditorium when I was in high school and am STILL obsessed with her style. Plus, she has the most gorgeous skin and always rocks perfectly tousled hair. Check it out:

(Wow she is gorgeous!)

MizzJ: What advice do you have to give to someone who dreams of following in your footsteps and becoming a magazine editor?
Alex: Work hard, work efficiently, and innovatively, and be ready to get your hands dirty. There are fabulous parts to the job, but for every “glamorous” minute you spend at events, there’s five more minutes you need to spend at your desk working your butt off. Oh – and don’t be afraid to work or write for free (at first). Of course, getting paid is ideal, but internships are rarely money-makers and a byline in your book can be more valuable than the little bit of cash you’d get from writing it.

Thank you Alex for your insightful and interesting answers! You can check out Alex's latest articles in the May 2010 issue of Self, out on stands now and featuring the gorgeous Zoe Saldana on the cover.