(photo by Courtney Rhodes)
A friend is launching a beauty magazine and needed content to put together a couple sample issues, so I volunteered. However, aside from the occasional waiting-room browse of outdated issues of Glamour or Cosmo, the last time I read beauty mags was… um, does Sassy magazine count? That would be back in about 1989.
Fashion has never really been my thing (just ask anyone who knew me in junior high… or high school… or, okay, at any point since I was old enough to dress myself). I’ve always preferred kooky thrift-store vintage and/or t-shirts and jeans. If you don’t count lip balm and matte powder, I wear make-up about three times a year. Nonetheless, I’ve spent the last week researching and writing about metallic makeup. I looked at loads of pictures, read up on trends, watched demos. I tried to absorb as much beauty-industry lingo as possible. (It did actually make me want to try on some make-up, but I only made it as far as lip stain.) It was weird, to say the least.
Aside from being reminded that lots of women (and some men) spend a whole lot of time thinking about this vast industry of toners and primers and foundations and curlers and shadows and bronzers and things to which I am normally oblivious, I also remembered how challenging and enlightening it can be to write outside my comfort zone. I used to work on a blog where I’d write a post every week on something new or niche or strange. It was educational for me (and my readers, I hope) and good mental exercise. I need to get back into shape for that kind of writing, especially since I’d like to pick up some freelance assignments.
So… anybody out there need articles about… I don’t know, geophysics? Deep-sea diving? Train engine repair? I like a challenge.
michelle heimburger 