Become a Beauty Editor
Beauty editors manage the appearance-related content in a publication, which can include features on skin care, hair care, and cosmetics. They typically work at women's or fashion magazines to cover products and trends. The duties of a beauty editor can include writing and editing articles, working with staff and freelance writers, managing photos, and participating in editorial planning.
Competition for these jobs is often high, particularly as the need for editors in print media continues to diminish. More and more of these professionals work from home or on a freelance basis.
Career Requirements
| Degree Level | Bachelor's degree |
| Degree Fields | English, journalism, communications, or a related arts major |
| Experience | Requirements vary by size of publication; most employers look for several years of writing or reporting experience |
| Key Skills | Written and oral communication skills; attention to detail; collaboration with others; creativity; familiarity of graphic design, multimedia and online publishing; computer, technical, and organizational skills; ability to meet tight deadlines |
| Salary (2015) | $56,010 per year (median salary for all editors) |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Now, let's check out the career steps for beauty editors:
Career Steps
Step 1: Complete a Bachelor's Degree Program
Aspiring beauty editors can pursue a degree in English, communications, or journalism to develop critical reading, writing, and editing skills. Additional coursework in marketing, advertising, and business can help students to predict trends, understand different audiences and promote publications. Beauty editors are also responsible for visualizing the layout of content, so art, photography, and design courses are helpful.
To really shine, take advantage of internship and training opportunities. Internships are crucial for writers and editors. Students can receive real-world training at a local, national, or online publication, and they may write and edit content, pitch feature ideas, and conduct research. Other options include working for a college newspaper, pitching freelance articles to local and national publications, and starting a beauty-related blog.
Step 2: Gain Work Experience
Most editors begin their careers as writers or journalists, but students may be able to find entry-level positions as editorial assistants. These jobs typically include writing or working with writers, compiling information, copyediting stories, and publishing content online. Prospective editors can also work as freelancer writers and build their portfolios by covering stories for large and small publications. Articles on beauty and fashion are ideal, but professional clips on any subject can go in a portfolio.
Remember to sharpen your computer technology skills. Beauty editors must increasingly publish online, and some are in charge solely of managing and updating a publication's website content. Taking web design and computer classes can provide important knowledge of key software programs used in the industry, such as Adobe Photoshop, as well as social media programs.
Step 3: Promote Experience to Advance Your Career
Experience is most important for advancing in this field. Often, experienced editors may get positions with larger or more prestigious publications, become editors-in-chief, or even own and operate their own publications. Freelancers with experience and diverse skill sets will have increased opportunities to work with higher-paying clients. Maintain an up-to-date resume and promote accomplishments while working within the industry.
To recap, with a bachelor's degree and experience, a beauty editor can earn about $56,000 a year to manage the appearance-related content in a publication.
