8 Beauty Products You Should Stash at the Office
I love checking out other companies' offices. It's right up there with my HGTV obsession -- is there anything better than peering inside strangers' houses? But I digress.
Just yesterday, I was at a makeup brand's headquarters and found myself fascinated by the beauty tips they had decaled on the windows, the inspiration boards featuring Kate Middleton's wedding makeup, and, most of all, the in-house manicurist! (Employees are encouraged to take a break and stop by for a polish change whenever they need it -- I'm not kidding.)
Related: Editors' Picks: The Best BB Creams
While the nail station was cool, all the other beauty products scattered on the workers' desks were from that one brand. As far as desk voyeurism is concerned, I prefer to poke around other beauty editors' desks. What I discovered from years of spying is that we all keep a lot of the same things at our cubicles. We hoard our favorite lip glosses, fill our pencil jars with eyeliners, and always have the best hand cream at the ready.
And here's the thing: Keeping some of these beauty editor faves at your office can make your day better, too. Note: If you work with dudes, just make sure you stash these 8 products inside a drawer.
This one is a given -- no matter what kind of office you work in you should stash a nail file in your pencil jar or drawer. After all, there's nothing more annoying than a jagged nail you can't do anything about for an entire day. Because most files are so basic, beauty editors gush over the extra-special ones. A universal favorite is the Paul & Joe Emery Board, $5. Paul & Joe releases new designs each season that range from kittens to psychedelic swirls -- perfect for displaying on your desk.
I keep my favorite, everyday fragrances at home, but I always have at least one perfume on my desk at work that I love -- but I'm not so sure is me. Case in point: Roberto Cavalli eau de Parfum, $65. It's wildly sexy -- created for the leopard-print-wearing Cavalli woman (not quite my persona) -- so it's perfect for a night out. I spritz it on before leaving to meet my husband for dinner, and it makes me feel mysterious. Editors also tend to collect unusual and hard to find fragrances, and my co-worker, senior editor Sarah Carrillo, is no exception. She has a cool, modern bottle of Jil Sander No. 4 eau de Parfum, $65, displayed next to her computer. The elegant floral was discontinued and then brought back as an Ulta exclusive.
Related: Editors' Signature Perfumes
Even though most offices don't allow actually lighting them, there's something sophisticated about putting a beautiful candle next to your keyboard. You'll occasionally catch a whiff of the scent, and it makes a sterile environment seem a little homey. While it's hard to choose just one candle or brand, every beauty editor I know loves Diptyque. The black and white jars are incredibly chic and the scents are unusual in the best way. My personal favorite is the fruity yet rich version called Baies. And since you're not burning it, the $60 price tag isn't as hard to swallow.
There's a very specific criteria for an office hand cream: a non-greasy formula in a pretty tube. Assistant Editor Sharon Yi is dedicated to Crabtree & Evelyn India Hicks Island Living Ultra-Moisturizing Hand Therapy, $19, because she can put it on and get right back to typing without leaving her keyboard a slippery mess. Plus, the scent brings to mind a glamorous tropical vacation -- the perfect, subtle mid-afternoon distraction.
A PENCIL JAR FILLED WITH ANYTHING BUT PENS AND PENCILS
When you're a beauty editor, playing with makeup is a necessary part of the job. Every season, we evaluate all of the color collections (looking for trends) and try out the new-to-the-market products. While most of it gets filed in the beauty closet to be considered for stories, the inkiest black eyeliners and the fluffiest makeup brushes inevitably find a permanent home next to my pens. Some beauty editors I know have two cups -- one for actual writing implements and one for beauty products. Mine are mixed together -- and yes, every once in a while I end up writing something in eyeliner.
Related: Beauty Editors' Road Test Mascaras
AN ARMY OF LIPSTICKS, GLOSSES, AND BALMS
When I'm testing out a lip product, the first thing I do is swipe it on the back of my hand. It's the best way to get a feel for the color, sheerness, and texture without actually putting it on. Then, if I like what I see, I'll wear it -- and add it to the lineup of lip products next to my computer monitor. At the moment, my assembly is mostly glamorous, bright-pink lipsticks like Chanel Rouge Coco Hydrating Crème Lip Colour in Paradis, $32, and Tom Ford Private Blend Lip Color in Cherry Lush, $45. These will change with the season, but I'll always, always have some moisturizing classics -- like CoverGirl Natureluxe Gloss Balm, $5.99 -- in the mix. Sarah's favorite is Korres Natural Products Lip Butter, $12, and Sharon loves Vaseline Lip Therapy, $1.99.
Of course we're not implying that being a beauty editor is as stressful as, say, being an ER doctor, but there are tense moments and difficult situations in every job. So whenever a product claims to calm nerves or alleviate stress, we give it a try -- or hand it over to a co-worker who's having a bad day. At the moment, we're loving Lather Clear Head Balancing Balm, $9, an essential-oil based salve that you rub on your temples. Another one that gets passed from desk to desk: 21 Drops De-Stress Aromatherapy Oil, $29, which smells a bit like donuts and lavender (weird, but in the most amazing way), and helps when you're super-close to missing a deadline.
Related: 10 Products That Hide (and Fix!) Skin Problems
Whether you're too busy (or lazy) to wash your hair or you're trying to make a great blowout last an extra day, dry shampoo is the answer. It volumizes and absorbs oil -- making your hair look and smell clean even when it isn't. Beauty editors have at least one bottle on hand at all times, because even if your hair looks great in the morning, a long day in the office can make it totally lackluster. We're all obsessed with Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray, $39 (so much so that Sharon and Sarah are constantly stealing it off each other's desks). It not only has an amazing gardenia scent, but also comes in the most gorgeous bottle.
More from TotalBeauty.com:
Editors' Best Lipstick Finds
Beauty Editors Take It All Off
12 Best Makeup Primers
