It's fun to sniff and slather on beauty products, but the end

Hear the words of Elaine Welteroth, who proclaimed with insight and clarity: “It’s fun to sniff and slather on beauty products, but the end goal is finding what appeals most to ‘Teen Vogue’ readers and reporting on it in the most compelling way.” Though these words may appear at first to speak only of cosmetics, they in truth reveal a much deeper philosophy—one of service, of responsibility, and of the sacred duty of the storyteller. For she teaches us that while delight may be found in surface pleasures, the higher calling lies in understanding the people we serve and in conveying truths that touch them meaningfully.

To “sniff and slather” is to acknowledge the joy of experimentation, the playfulness of trying what is new. These things have their place, for life is not only solemn duty but also the enjoyment of beauty and craft. Yet Welteroth reminds us that such enjoyment is not the end, but the beginning. The true task is not indulgence but discernment: to sift through passing pleasures in order to find what truly resonates with the audience. The journalist, the editor, the leader must look beyond her own taste to the heartbeat of the people, asking always, “What matters to them?”

This wisdom is not new but ancient. Consider the tale of Herodotus, called the Father of History. He did not record tales merely because they pleased him, but because they revealed the spirit of his people. He traveled, he listened, he gathered the stories of nations not to entertain himself but to give his audience a window into who they were and what they might become. In this same way, Welteroth places the ‘Teen Vogue’ readers at the center, recognizing that her labor is not for herself, but for those who will receive it.

There is also in her words a reminder about the art of communication. To report “in the most compelling way” is not simply to list facts or to describe products, but to weave them into a story that captures the imagination. For facts alone may fall like stones, heavy and lifeless, but a compelling story moves like water, carrying the truth into the soul. Welteroth here shows reverence not only for the subject, but for the craft of expression itself—the belief that beauty must be communicated with beauty, and truth with clarity.

Her words also carry humility. She does not place herself as the center of attention, nor claim that her preferences alone should guide the magazine. Instead, she submits to the needs and interests of her audience. This humility is itself heroic, for in a world where many chase their own image, she declares that the highest calling of her work is to reflect and serve others. In this, she joins the lineage of wise leaders and teachers throughout time, who knew that greatness lies not in self-glory but in elevating those who follow.

The lesson for us all is clear: in our own work, whatever its form, we must distinguish between what delights us personally and what serves those we are called to uplift. Enjoyment is not wrong, but it is incomplete if it does not connect to a greater purpose. To the teacher, this means speaking not only what is easiest to say, but what the students most need to hear. To the artist, it means creating not only for personal indulgence but for the awakening of others. To the worker in any field, it means remembering that behind every task lies a human being whose life may be touched by the quality of our labor.

So let Welteroth’s words be passed down as teaching: find joy in your work, but let your joy serve others. Seek always to discover what resonates with the hearts of those around you, and then present it with care, truth, and beauty. For the measure of your labor is not in your delight alone, but in the lives enriched because of it. In this way, even the smallest act—whether testing a fragrance, writing a story, or speaking a word—can become an offering of meaning, a bridge between self and audience, and a legacy that endures beyond the fleeting pleasures of the moment.