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"  I have been lucky enough to work in the amazing world of beauty editorial for nearly 14 years. And I am as obsessed today\u2014if not more so\u2014as I was in my early days as a beauty closet organizing assistant. Every gorgeous pink lip gloss, super-luxe body cream, and game-changing innovation that crosses my desk still makes my heart skip a beat. And the same is true of the latest treatment and A-list expert\u2014from a fresh haircut to a cellulite banisher to a pro spray-tan, I need to know them all. However, if you think about it, when it comes to beauty, you&amp;#039;re dealing with not only your entire body, but also how you look. And so, while, sure, most of the above has been executed with flying colors, the truth is, not all of them have gone smoothly, without some, er, bumps along the way. Here is pretty much what happens when you&amp;#039;re a beauty-loving guinea pig for a living. Well, for me, anyway: 1. Most of NYC has seen me naked... And not in that way. From trying a new bikini wax(er) to getting airbrushed head-to-toe (no tan lines!), to having my rear be the focus of a new unable-to-resist anti-cellulite treatment, I have stripped down in the name of beauty more times than I can possibly count. 2. ...As well as heard me scream out in pain. If you think &amp;#039;no pain, no gain&amp;#039; is more in line with working out, then you have never had laser hair removal, all-over acupuncture, a Brazilian, or laser resurfacing. Need a self-esteem boost or some character-building to learn what you&amp;#039;re about? Do any of the above and you&amp;#039;ll see you&amp;#039;re a lot stronger than you ever thought possible. 3. Allergic reactions\u2014as well as styes and hives\u2014are occupational hazards. Because, unfortunately, you just don&amp;#039;t have the time to patch test when jumping in and out of services each week. From a facial that left me red for days to a contaminated mascara wand and overzealous brow waxing that left lumps, I&amp;#039;ve learned that not every get gorgeous treatment is about TLC. 4. I can quickly channel dance-recital chic. When my typically-long hair is styled, it&amp;#039;s often curled to ringlet-like proportions. In an attempt to showcase every new makeup product or amazing technique, all my facial features are usually left thoroughly\u2014and simultaneously\u2014enhanced. The result: hoarding baby wipes in my bag to wipe down before I hit the street is nonnegotiable. 5. Beauty pros have seen me through more emotional breakdowns than my closest friends. And have kept me from making epic mistakes. Texting an ex isn&amp;#039;t the only post-breakup disaster: once, after a tragic breakup, I begged my stylist to chop off my very thick and naturally wavy hair and add bangs. Luckily, the stylist was sane enough to tell me that I should come back in a week to be sure (which I didn&amp;#039;t do, of course). Facialists always get a fully-detailed run down of every stressful event leading up to a breakout battle. Then there was that time I cried (literally hysterics) while I got spray-tanned for my best friend&amp;#039;s wedding because I was going solo after a seven-year breakup. Yes, that really happened. But with all of that said, what years of trying and testing and getting out of my comfort zone has done is make me see myself differently. And not just what I see in the mirror. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/a1873/confessions-of-a-beauty-editor/>