Emily Dougherty, the editor-in-chief of NewBeauty, has been covering the beauty and wellness industry for over two decades, testing thousands of products and interviewing hundreds of experts each year to bring the best of the best to her readers. Prior to NewBeauty, Dougherty was the beauty and fitness director at ELLE Magazine, where she spent 16 years editing the beauty section, the largest of any U.S. women’s fashion magazine. She has also held senior editorial roles at Harper’s Bazaar and NYLON. She has tested anti-gravity firming creams with the help of scientists at Cape Canaveral, and has gone undercover as a hairstylist at film festivals and a makeup artist at fashion shows to test hair and makeup launches. Dougherty graduated from Yale and lives in NYC with her husband and 3-year-old son.
For more on Emily follow her on Instagram and be sure to check out NewBeauty for all things beauty.
February 18, 2019
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R&S
What do you love most about your job:
Emily
Every single day I get to learn something new from the best of the best—the top doctors and researchers, the best makeup artists and hairstylists. I get paid to learn! That’s so cool!
R&S
Walk us through a typical work day:
Emily
NewBeauty has some next-level (read: Google-office-style) perks, so my first stop is getting caffeinated at our own in-house Starbucks. Next, I’ll touch base with a few of the doctors we work so closely with–every single word that we publish at NewBeauty is vetted by our medical board. When I’m not editing text or brainstorming ideas with the team, I might be learning about the latest breakthrough skincare molecule from an R&D expert or meeting with an indie brand to strategize their growth–I love helping small brands get the exposure they deserve.
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R&S
What’s your advice for someone looking to pursue a career similar to yours:
Emily
Celebrate and nurture your curiosity: 99.99% of creativity comes from curiosity.
R&S
A secret talent we should know about:
Emily
I can read upside down and backwards and, if I really concentrate, both upside down and backwards.
R&S
You decompress each day by:
Emily
Singing “99 Jars of La Mer on the Wall” to help my son fall asleep.
R&S
Describe your personal beauty routine:
Emily
On days when I’m editing at my desk, I go to work wearing plenty of moisturizer and sunscreen, but no makeup, so that I can test products throughout the day. At night, I wash my face right when I walk in the door. This lets me put on some lovely treatment serums twice—once when I get home and again before I go to bed. (Caroline Hirons taught me this! I do everything she tells me to do.)
R&S
What apps and gadgets can’t you live without:
Emily
I try not to fall in love with an app—some of my biggest heartbreaks are when apps ghost on me after OS updates. Yes, I’m looking at you, Ultratext.
R&S
What’s the most exciting thing in your life right now:
Emily
My 3-year-old gets so excited about every single thing. EVERYTHING really is exciting, thanks to him.
R&S
Favorite way to stay fit:
Emily
Anything and everything that has proven systemic anti-inflammatory benefits: 20 minutes of walking fast everyday, core work, infrared saunas, sound baths, cupping, meditation.
R&S
Share your biggest guilty pleasure:
Emily
Our offices are right next door to Katagiri, one of the country’s oldest Japanese grocery stores, and they have the best treats. My current favorite is the tiny little cookies that look like miniature cheeseburgers.
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