I just got off the phone with a reporter. I could scream. It was a completely bizarre conversation that went something like this.

Reporter: What skin care products are worth splurging on?

Me: None. Save your money, there isn’t an expensive skin care product that can’t be replaced by an inexpensive option.

Reporter: But aren’t there advances in skin care that are worth spending your money on like Estee Lauder using situins.

Me: Sirtuins are a group of enzymes that protect cells. Lauder is using an ingredient they are calling resveratrate in their Re-Nutriv Ultimate Youth Crème. It is similar to resveratrol, an antioxidant from grapes. That’s nice but there are lots of great antioxidants, this isn’t the miracle one. And does that mean all the other Lauder anti-aging products (think Clinique, Aveda, Prescriptives, La Mer etc.) should be dumped? And by the way, did you notice the product comes in a jar and that antioxidants don’t stay stable in jar packaging?

Reporter: Oh right, jars. But I’ve talked to the President of Lauder and they are reformulating all their products.

Me: I don’t believe that for a second, but assuming that’s true shouldn’t they write a press release saying this is the best of our products forget the others? Or at least alert their loyal customers that, oops, they goofed but this time they’re really going to get it right and tell you the truth?

We had a few more back and forths that didn’t make any sense either but this was the kicker:

Reporter: Nothing really works right so it doesn’t matter?

Me: That’s not true at all. There is a ton of research showing there are wonderful, potent, powerfully effective ingredients that can benefit skin. What’s true is that there just isn’t a magic bullet. There isn’t one ingredient that is the final miracle for skin.

Reporter: There is no research showing that to be true.

Me: Of course there is, just check the National Institute for Health’s database of over 5,000 science journals.

Reporter: I don’t believe research done by the cosmetic companies.

Me: There are mostly studies done outside of the cosmetic industry, but even if the studies are from the industry as long as the studies are published and you can evaluate how they were done and the results, you can make an informed decision.

Reporter: Those studies are always biased.

Me: Then ignore the studies from cosmetics companies and just focus on the ones that are from independent sources.

Reporter: They’re all biased except the ones from Universities.

Me: But cosmetic companies often pay institutions for their studies. But this is all off topic… you were asking about products that are worth splurging on and I’m saying there aren’t any so I’m probably not the best person for your story.

Reporter: But what about sirtuins and clock genes?

Me: Well I could quote you the research as it relates to the cosmetic industry but you just said you don’t believe any unbiased research exists, you don’t trust the research from cosmetic companies but you believe the press releases you get from cosmetics companies? I’m confused.

There was a bit more, but you get the gist of it. And these are the people writing stories about skin care “breakthroughs” that my readers find and then ask me about. Sigh. I really did try to help this reporter but somehow I think I only made matters worse by stating the facts!

I’m in Seoul now. Boy is this a different part of the world! The pollution is so thick you can cut it with a knife. Because Seoul was so heavily bombed during North Korea‘s attack in the early 1950s, everything here is completely rebuilt and new. It is like a huge (and I mean really, really huge) cement, steel, and glass, high rise jungle with over 10 million people–but it is immaculate: no one honks, everyone is polite, and virtually no homeless people or slums. This is about as 180 degrees from Mumbai as you can get!

One thing I have a VERY hard time getting used to is how passive the men and women are (completely unlike Americans, Australians, or Europeans). They are reticent to speak out, to move, or take action when you ask them to do something or they see something needs to be done. No matter what the circumstance, they always, and I mean always stand back, almost afraid to move, especially women, and always to check to see if anyone would object to what they might do or say. Of course I’m being a very assertive American woman and often have to say to the people working for me, just go ahead, please do that NOW for me.

I’m a bit of a celebrity in Korea. I had a press conference today with over 30 reporters. On Sunday I did a lecture to over 400 Korean women. After the lecture they stood in line waiting to get my autograph and their picture taken with me. It’s just amazing and incredibly flattering. Moments like this make all the hard work and days of non-stop traveling worthwhile.

My translators are great; they are working very hard and are sweet putting up with me. It is not easy for them to translate from English to Korean. The word order is out of synch with English. In order to say “Don’t waste your money on expensive skin care products”, the word order in Korean would be “Money waste not, skin care products expensive”.

Paula’s Choice Korea is doing great; they are growing at a phenomenal pace. This country is wired with a capital “W”! Everyone is on the internet and Internet shopping is more active here then almost any place in the world.

We watched a traditional Korean concert last night, which was fascinating. The twangy music is hard on these American ears but the audience was quite enthusiastic.

Oh, and the food here is amazing here! The variation of cooked and pickled vegetables is remarkable.

I’m here until Thursday and then off to Melbourne and Sydney for a week. It’s a 13 hour flight from here to Melbourne and then a 16 hour flight back from Sydney to Seattle. I’m tired just thinking about it. Thank goodness for Ambien.

I’m off to do more interviews, then get my hair and nails done so I look good for the interviews I have lined up for tomorrow. One thing that hasn’t changed over the years is the amount of time it takes to get ready for an interview.

 All the best!  

 

Almost eight years ago I sat in Paula Begoun’s office in my red sport coat and tie having a conversation (OK, an interview) that would drastically change my future. I was working as a retail manager in cosmetics, and was ready for a change. Having been a fan of Paula’s books for years, I decided to visit her Web site, something I had not done in several months. As luck would have it, there was an employment ad on the home page for a makeup artist/journalist. I knew the makeup part quite well, and journalism was what I studied in college, so I applied. I had no idea if I would hear back from Paula. I didn’t know if she’d be comfortable talking with a man about cosmetics, seeing as her readership was predominantly female. But you never know unless you give it a go, so I did. About a week later I was meeting the Cosmetics Cop in person, being quizzed about ingredients, what I like and don’t like about working in the cosmetics industry, even which fashion magazines I routinely read. Although I was nervous, it was the first interview in my working life that felt natural rather than stilted.

The original interview actually turned into several more, with various job-related tests being assigned. Paula was nervous about hiring a co-writer, and had doubts that she’d be able to work on a book project with another writer without egos and viewpoints clashing. One of my assignments was to review the cosmetics line I was working for at the time. Paula wanted to see how well my writing style would blend with hers. I took to the project with gusto, turning in my “review” the next day. Paula was impressed, and that led to the next interview, which I’ll detail in another blog. Shortly after I began working for Paula, she told me that she initially thought my review of Aveda was just a minor re-write of what was in her book. She exclaimed I had some nerve if I thought she wouldn’t notice I just gave her own words a slight tweaking. But that wasn’t the case—I wrote the review from scratch (every writer’s fear: a blank computer screen save for the flashing cursor) and hoped for the best. It wasn’t until Paula passed my piece to others in the office that they pointed out I had not simply retooled her review. Rather, my writing style just happened to match hers in a nearly seamless manner. In essence, we had the same “voice” and I officially became Paula’s “mini-me”. So nearly eight years later, with five books, countless newsletters, and pages upon pages of Web content written with Paula, I’m still gainfully employed! Despite Paula’s concerns about sharing writing responsibilities, our working relationship has rarely been strained. Her experience, perspectives, and unfailing sense of humor blend perfectly with mine, and have seen us through many daunting projects. And she isn’t shy about celebrating, which is always a treat!