Paula Begoun – The Cosmetics Cop – has carved her niche as the voice of the beauty consumer. After struggling with acne and eczema in her youth, she made it her mission to ensure that others weren’t bamboozled – and betrayed – by skincare as felt she was. Since then she has written several best sellers – including ‘Don’t Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me’ – and appeared on numerous television shows spreading the message about product tales and truths. In 1995, she bottled her years of research and Paula’s Choice Skincare line was born.
RESCU: Can you pinpoint your career trajectory on one ‘Ah Ha!’ moment in your youth?
Paula Begoun: Yes. In early 1977, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) made cosmetic ingredient labeling mandatory; we could finally find out what was in our products. Armed with this information, I was able to research and discover why the skincare products I was using were making my skin worse, not better. And what I found out made me angry and set me on the path that has led to where I am today.
RESCU: How do you find the criticism towards you for speaking the truth?
Paula Begoun: I don’t write books or product reviews to make cosmetic companies happy or unhappy, I write them for consumers struggling to find skincare and makeup that works and won’t mislead them or cost an extravagant amount of money.
RESCU: The beauty industry is behemoth. How do you remain brave in your approach to telling the ‘other’ side of the story?
Paula Begoun: “Because the cosmetics industry at large isn’t about to be forthcoming and someone has to be on the consumer’s side when it comes to distributing honest, research-based information about what works and what doesn’t. This isn’t a career anyone would dream up or willingly sign on for, but it has proven to be more wonderful and gratifying than I ever could have imagined.”
RESCU: What would be your advice to others starting in the beauty industry?
Paula Begoun: Be skeptical, become familiar with how to separate fact from fiction and learn what’s really possible from skincare products. And try to retain a good sense of humour!
RESCU: What are three of the best words of wisdom you have received in regards to your career?
Paula Begoun: Integrity and success cannot be separated.
RESCU: Do you think women can have it all within the work/life balance?
Paula Begoun: I think the notion of a woman having it all or even trying to have it all is a myth because although a woman (or man, for that matter) can strive to create a sensible work/life balance, it is always going to come undone because life is just so unpredictable. If you have a rewarding, challenging career coupled with people in your life to love and who love you and nurture and inspire you, that’s about as good as it gets and it probably won’t ever seem balanced because life is endlessly about challenges and changes. The second you see think life is balanced it comes unhinged. The one thing that is certain in life is that life changes and it is unpredictable.
RESCU: How important do you think study is within a writing career these days, with so many ‘writer’s’ hanging their hats on hash tags and handles rather than a university education?
Paula Begoun: I wouldn’t be where I am today as a writer without ongoing research and an enduring curiosity for the subject matter I write about. You cannot rest on your laurels or ever think you know it all, because there’s always more to discover and research evolves. So, yes, ongoing study is very important and education, whether from a university or life experiences or both, remains vitally important for any writer, regardless of their chosen topic or style of writing. And thank God for editors, their input is the only way to stay on track and double check your information.
RESCU: What advice would you give the Paula of 20 years ago?
Paula Begoun: The advice I would give myself is exactly what I ventured into which was to follow my passion and mission in life regardless of the challenges and pitfalls. What has come from all that has certainly been a career I am more proud of more than I could ever imagined or hoped for.
