Welcome to 5 minutes with … BEAUTYDIRECTORY’s latest series where we spotlight one beauty journalist a month and chat all things beauty, the industry, and how they got to where they are now.
Beauty journalism is a lucrative yet competitive field to get into. Behind the glitz, glamour and endless beauty products, lies a job that demands long hours, product knowledge, and of course, compelling writing.
In Australia, the beauty world is small and anyone in the industry will tell you that everyone knows everyone. From seeing the same familiar faces at events to chatting with them on socials, beauty journalists are one intimate family.
BEAUTYDIRECTORY had the opportunity to chat with INSTYLE and Professional Beauty Magazine’s beauty editor, Ariana Pezeshki, who gave us the inside scoop on what a day in her life looks like as a beauty journo.
What is your role?
I'm Beauty Editor for INSTYLE Magazine and Professional Beauty Magazine.
What are you responsible for?
I'm responsible for creating innovative beauty stories featuring profiles of makeup artists, salon owners, hairdressers, and game-changers across this fast-paced industry. I'm also responsible for concept and product curation, sourcing beauty products and delivering beauty shoots for each issue and including new products in my beauty pages. I also attend media events and produce events pages and social media content for both magazines.
How long have you been in the role and how did you get here?
I joined the INSTYLE team two years ago on a part-time basis where I also freelanced for various lifestyle and entertainment publications. In November 2022, I joined Professional Beauty and since then, I have worked across both titles on a full-time basis as Beauty Editor. I began my career as an intern for various publications such as DOLLY Magazine, MTV Australia, Primed/Body&Soul, and more where I then moved on to freelancing for BuzzFeed AU, Yahoo Lifestyle AU etc. and worked my way through the ranks, meeting people in the industry and sharing my work across social media.
What’s been a career highlight so far?
For me, the biggest career highlight has been actually turning my dream of becoming a journalist into reality and entering this fast-paced industry where I can confidently write about everything that interests me in beauty and lifestyle with a sprinkle of pop culture and entertainment on occasion. I've always been a passionate writer and dreamed of writing and creating content for glossy magazines since I was a kid, so turning that into a reality is something I do not take for granted in this highly competitive industry.
How do you like to be pitched to?
Email is the best way to pitch me. I can feel publicists rolling their eyes at this, but it's true! My inbox is a minefield but I will come back to you if I haven't filed your pitch already. A friendly follow-up email is perfect too if I haven't come back to you in a couple of days, but please don't text me. I've noticed a lot of publicists are turning to texts and DMs to get in touch on my personal number and Instagram and I can't keep track if you've reached out three ways. Also, please include a high-resolution imagery link in your pitch to a Dropbox or Google Drive for ease when saving new products for inclusion. WeTransfers expire and I don't always see them in time. It saves us and you a rushed email requesting imagery on deadline.
Who has been your biggest mentor/supporter within the industry?
It's so difficult to name just one. I feel that there have been many mentors along the way that have challenged me, rallied for me, and instilled confidence in me that I had a talent for writing. Each editor I've worked with has taught me valuable lessons from critiquing my work to complimenting it, which I feel every writer needs when going through a creative slump in ideas or confidence. I'll always highly regard my first editor JRC because she was the first to give me a chance after I fought endlessly to land an internship and get my foot in the door. I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for her sticking her hand up for me and encouraging my work.
Where do you see yourself five years from now?
The industry is changing rapidly, and I think it's an interesting time with the rise of AI and social media platforms evolving every day. Five years from now I think the landscape will have totally changed and our work as journalists and creators will look a lot different, but I'm eager to see what that will look like. I love creating content and being involved in the media industry, I hope five years from now I'm still doing what I'm doing today and that I will be a mentor for the younger generation.
Tell us one thing people don’t know about you
I feel like my first "breakthrough" in the industry can be attributed to being a One Direction fan. Long story short, I read a callout that DOLLY Magazine was looking for interns and it mentioned something about having a Harry Styles obsession as a "must". I emailed back right away that they wouldn't find a bigger fan and I was in the office the next day at my dream internship. I'll never take that time for granted, my time at DOLLY still holds some of my favourite memories in the industry to date and I look back on it fondly.
What’s a beauty product you’re loving right now?
I'm obsessed with the Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Matte Beauty Blush Wands for the perfect kiss of colour across the cheeks. The new Fenty Beauty Icon Velvet Liquid Lipstick in shade The MVP (the dreamiest red) and the lippy Rihanna wore for the Superbowl half-time show. The Oribe Hair Alchemy collection, because it makes my hair feel and look luxurious and also smells heavenly. For skincare, I'm using everything under the sun but I'm currently loving Saint Louve 12% AHA BHA Exfoliating Serum for the softest skin texture.
What would you say is the secret to your success?
Success is an interesting notion, I'm grateful for where I am today, however, I feel that I am constantly striving to be better, grow in my craft, and learn from those who have paved a path before me. I would say take a leap of faith, risk failure and have the confidence to pick yourself up and turn your goals into reality, the risk is worth the reward.
Follow Ariana on Instagram here.
