Today we look into the world of beauty journalism with esteemed guest Linda Wells, founder of Allure magazine.

Linda shares fascinating behind-the-scenes stories from her career, discussing the creation and impact of Allure, the innovative approach to beauty journalism, and significant milestones such as early celebrity covers and the introduction of investigative beauty articles. 

We cover the evolution of beauty standards, the integration of wellness into beauty, and the essentials of impactful magazine editorial. Listeners are treated to personal anecdotes, industry insights, and reflections on the lasting effects of Linda’s pioneering work in the beauty editorial world.

00:00 Introduction

00:30 Meet Linda Wells: The Pioneer of Beauty Journalism

01:49 The Early Days of Allure Magazine

04:34 Breaking the Mold: Allure's Unique Approach

16:19 Celebrity Covers and Iconic Moments

23:10 The Art of Retouching: Balancing Beauty and Reality

27:22 The Era of Retouching in Magazines

28:09 Navigating Celebrity Covers

28:50 Early Celebrity Features: Taylor Swift and More

30:24 Britney Spears and Other Early Bets

33:56 The Art of Cover Lines

36:40 Pioneering Beauty Journalism

39:16 The Evolution of Beauty and Wellness Reporting

39:41 The Role of an Editor and Writer

44:20 Reflections on a Career in Beauty Journalism

48:01 Closing Remarks and Credits

Under the cover is a production of Knockout Beauty Media Group and Audily. Writer and host is Cayli Cavaco Reck. Guest booking is by Paul Cavaco and Lindsay Hannon. Audio and video production is by David Woje. Photo research is by Kate Hill. Our executive producers are Cayli Cavaco Reck and Paul Cavaco at Knockout Beauty Media Group, and Matthew Wells, Lindsay Hannon, and David Woje at Audily.

Special thanks to Meredith Honig, Jessica Alpert, and John Perrotti at Rococo Punch. And Rachna Shah, Jamie Karp, and Jenna Provencher at KCD. 

For photos and more details on the series, follow:

Under the Cover Podcast on Instagram

Substack at Under the Cover.