Anyone who works in the beauty industry will tell you that it’s an inviting and inspiring place full of powerful #girlbosses, evolving ideas and technologies, and conversations about the merits of one holy grail beauty product over another. Since I’m constantly interacting with and surrounded by such strong (and beauty-obsessed) women, I wanted to highlight one of the incredible beauty editors bringing us cutting edge industry news! Meet Julie Ricevuto, Digital Beauty Editor for NewBeauty.com! 

Here Julie shares insight into how she thrives, how she got to where she is in her career, practical advice for young people trying to break into the editorial world and tips & tricks she's picked up along the way.

Q&A

Can you tell us a bit about your background? Growing up, I was constantly devouring any book or magazine I could get my hands on. So, when I got to college and an opportunity to intern with Seventeen Magazine popped up, I knew I had to take it. I immediately fell in love with all things magazines, so I applied to another internship with SELF Magazine working in the editorial department, and then another one in the beauty department of Fitness Magazine. Once I was out of college, I became a staff writer for a smaller beauty website for about a year and then after that, I freelanced for publications like Glamour Magazine, Yahoo!, Shape Magazine, and Redbook Magazine. After a year of freelancing, I landed at NewBeauty Magazine as the Digital Beauty Editor and couldn't be happier.

What was your "gold lining" that lead you down this career path? As a beauty editor, people are constantly asking me for skin care, hair care, and makeup advice—even complete strangers will message me on social media for advice! One time a middle-aged woman emailed me asking about how she can fix her overly plucked eyebrows, so I responded with a bunch of options and she wrote back the sweetest reply. It made me realize how much people rely on a good beauty routine to boost their confidence and the fact that my words helped even just one person made me BEYOND happy.

What does a typical day look like for you? Everyday is different for me. I usually have multiple brand events I have to attend throughout the week as well as Facebook live's to host. I try to write a quick news article each morning, tackle my emails around lunch time, and work on longer, feature form articles in the afternoon.  

We're all curious. What does an inbox of a beauty editor look like? My inbox is out of control. If I don't touch my inbox for 24 hours, the email count will easily reach triple digits. Emails generally range from product pitches to event invites, but I'm always in constant communication with experts (hairstylists, makeup artists, dermatologists, influencers, etc.) doing interviews for upcoming articles, so staying up to date on email is super important.

What is your creative process like when writing a story? What inspires you? Experts and brands provide me with a lot of my inspiration for my articles. Whether it's a new skin cleansing technique that a dermatologist swears by, or a brand new product launch, I'll write it up. My friends and family also inspire a lot of my writing because they're the ones experiencing beauty/wellness issues first hand, and if they're struggling with it, chances are someone else out there is too.

What has been the most exciting moment in your career to date? This is a hard question...I was featured twice on CBS as a beauty expert and was super excited about that. Also, getting to interview a lot of my idols in the industry (ex. Jessica Alba, Harry Josh, etc.) is always a "pinch me" moment.

How has the editorial space changed since you first entered? The editorial world has changed so much since I first started. Everything is going digital and there's a big emphasis on social media now which is certainly an added pressure. Also, content has changed drastically (in a good way!), becoming more inclusive of all women.

How has the editorial space changed since you first entered? Moments of self-doubt are inevitable, but it's important to remember that these moments of insecurity are usually short-lived. Whenever I'm not feeling confident or am facing a hardship, I take a minute to breathe and remember all it took to get to where I am now and that no matter what, I'll be able to handle whatever life throws at me.

What quotation or saying inspires you and motivates you to be yourself and do what you love? I grew up idolizing Rocky Balboa (my dad is a HUGE fan), so my favorite inspirational quote is super cheesy: "Nobody is going to hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!"

What characteristics do you admire most in creative women and men? Kindness and passion. Kindness (especially in the workplace) can get you SO far and being around passionate people is so inspiring. 

What’s your best advice for all those people who want to follow in your footsteps? Network with as many people in the industry as you can—regardless of their position or status. It's a very small industry so the more people you know, the better. Also, be proactive chasing your dream. It's not going to fall in your lap and hard work is the only thing that'll get you to where you want to be. 

Fun Facts

What's your zodiac sign? Aries!

Recent discovery? I'm recently discovered Infrared saunas. It's just so relaxing and I love feeling so detoxed afterwards. 

What is your favorite ingredient for both beauty and wellness right now? Vitamin C is my absolute favorite ingredient right now. Not only does it brighten my skin when applied topically, but it also helps boost collagen production so my skin looks younger and more vibrant. Exercise as much as you can! It'll boost both your energy and endorphins so you'll feel happier each day.

What is your philosophy on self care? What would you say is your number one self care tip? Taking care of yourself emotionally and physically is the key to feeling fulfilled and connecting with yourself and others. So, it's SO important to take the time to indulge in yourself every now and then. Oh, and getting a full 8 hours of sleep every night is probably the most important self-care tip out there.

What are some of your go to spots in NYC? I go to Joe & the Juice all the time. It's my favorite stop for a post-workout smoothie and I used to do work there a lot when I was freelancing. I love going to Bar Primi for dinner 

Favorite workout right now? My favorite workout spots are Gotham Gym, y7 Yoga and Barry's Bootcamp. I'm obsessed with boxing. It's super therapeutic for me and I just can't get enough!

Want to follow Julie's journey? Head on over to @jricevuto!