Today I was blessed with a virtual visit from jean godfrey june, who is honestly responsible for not just much of my beauty philosophy, but also my take on writing, honesty, skincare, and levelheadedness in general. Jean served in the beauty departments at Elle, and the Wall Street Journal Magazine, but she and I met at Lucky, where she was the beauty director. I was blessed with working with pretty much only genuinely kind and helpful women in my career, but Jean still stands out in the top 5 of the best people I ever got to work with.
She now writes her own newsletter, which, like mine, is based around a central topic (hers is beauty, mine is fashion) but includes writing on so many other things. I think of Jean more as a true writer than a beauty editor. But as a beauty editor (and for me, as a fashion editor) at a big glossy mag, we were often required to include products from Advertiser brands in our layouts and coverage, and cater to their marketing messaging in our coverage (and unlike in social media, there was no requirement to disclose that those products were getting coverage because the brands gave the mag ad dollars). That was one of the things that I, and I believe she, found disheartening about the industry. Now that she helms her own Substack, her MO is bringing you just the absolute very best products and recommendations that meet her INCREDIBLY high standards, even if that means including the same things every week. In fact, I’d prefer she include the same things! Nobody needs a new skincare routine every four weeks. Right?
Anyway, here’s Jean, and here’s her favorite moisturizer, here’s her favorite Vitamin C powder (yes a powder! Let her convince you! I just bought a bottle), and the SPF she and I both love.
AND! Subscribe to her newsletter, it’s honestly my favorite one (besides my own, ha!).
I LOVE YOU JEAN!!!
Your friends,
Laurel & Jean
