Reading women’s magazines can sometimes feel like a spectator sport. Checking credits, bylines, and such is second nature to me. I have a keen appreciation for all the beauty geekery.

In this month’s issue of ELLE, I’m putting the spotlight on writer Molly Langmuir. Her piece, “Hot or Not” (p.156 Beauty Test-Drive, August 2014) is some of the best beauty writing I’ve seen thus far.