Journalist Carole Radziwill Talks Injectables, Skincare, and the Pillow that Will Change Your Life
Thespotlyte | July 30, 23
For those on the outside of the world of media looking in, it can appear terribly glamorous. There are seemingly endless parties to attend, the occasional gift, and your name printed (or typed!) by prestigious publishers. However, appearances can be deceiving. A career in journalism requires a lot of work, sleepless nights, low-paying gigs at the start, and a great deal of time dedicated to perfecting your craft. But all that struggling is worth getting paid to do something you love. Just look at Carole Radziwill for inspiration.
Most journalists dream of a resumé like Radziwill’s. Over the span of almost 25 years, the three-time EMMY® Award winner and The New York Times® best-selling author was a reporter for ABC News®. There, she covered stories from all over the world, including Israel in 1990 during the Gulf War, and Afghanistan in 2001. She then went on to produce shows like 20/20TM, write two books, and pen a culture column for GlamourTM.
The 55 year-old media expert was even a housewife on Bravo’sTM “Real Housewives of New YorkTM,�? and was a fan favorite during her tenure for her cool and relaxed demeanor. This turn as a reality star makes it all the more fitting that she was one of the first to break the news about a popular aesthetic treatment many of her co-stars received.
“Did you know I did the first story on injectable wrinkle reducers for television?�? She asks me at the launch party of Goutal Paris’sTM newest fragrance, Etoile De NuitTM. “20/20 did a story about this ‘poison’ that Park Avenue women were injecting into their foreheads,�? she says. “We went to investigate and it turned out to be a [big hit] in the [aesthetics] industry. When we did the story, it was still very controversial.�?
[Editor’s note: Injectable wrinkle reducers are used to temporarily smooth the look of moderate to severe wrinkles in certain areas of the face such as the forehead, frown lines, and crow’s feet. They should not be used more frequently than every three months. Like any medical treatment, they have potential risks and side effects. Be sure to talk to a licensed provider to see if they’re right for you. Have more questions? Chat with our team of trained aesthetics specialists now.]
Decades later, the topic of injectables still isn’t frequently discussed — and the writer thinks that should change. Keep reading: we spoke with Radziwill more about this, her favorite skincare products, and where she thinks journalism is heading in this ever-changing media landscape.
Spotlyte: Injectables are more common than people think. What is your stance on women sharing that they’ve gotten work done?
Carole Radziwill: I’m not a big proponent of women doing things and feeling like they have to tell the world. No one needs to know. There’s no shame in it, but you don’t need to tell everyone every single thing you’re doing. It has a way of undermining women, or making them feel ashamed. I don’t believe in broadcasting every laser or injection that you do.
On the other hand, women are raised to think, “We should be perfect.�? We’re not, and we’re trying to be — [and] there’s some vanity and superficiality in that. Women [also] feel “I’m not a superficial woman or vain person, but I have a lot of wrinkles on my forehead and I just want to [be comfortable with my appearance].�? It’s not about changing the whole look of your face, but doing [subtle] things with lasers and injections.
Spotlyte: What’s your stance on injectables?
CR: I’m not a big proponent of [people in their twenties] doing a lot of stuff. [But] I think everyone should do things that make them [comfortable with their appearance], and if that’s what it’s going to be, that’s what it’s going to be.
It was okay in high school to get your nose fixed; if [you liked the results], good for you. [The] shame attached to cosmetic work is going away. You can be an intelligent, successful woman and get injectable wrinkle reducers or filler. You can be both of those things. To pigeonhole women [into two categories of] you’re either superficial and vain or you’re smart and interesting — I hope those barriers are going away.
[Editor’s note: Injectable wrinkle reducers temporarily smooth the look of moderate to severe wrinkles in certain areas of the face, including the forehead, frown lines, and crow’s feet; they should not be used more frequently than every three months. Injectable filler is a temporary treatment that adds volume to areas of the face such as the lips, cheeks, and laugh lines. Like any medical treatment, both injectable wrinkle reducers and injectable fillers have potential risks and side effects. Talk to a licensed provider to see if they’re right for you. And learn more now by chatting with a trained aesthetic specialist.]
Spotlyte: What is your beauty routine like? Do you like to experiment with bold makeup? What about skincare?
CR: I don’t wear a lot of makeup — it’s all about taking care of my skin; skincare is everything. I was that girl who always took off her makeup, no matter what time I got home. Even when I was making $11,000 my first year at ABC News, I always bought the most expensive moisturizer I could afford. In the beginning, it was Clinique® Dramatically Different® Moisturizing Lotion. Then I upgraded to Lancôme®. I was like, “Wow, I can afford Lancôme.�? I was very loyal to that brand for a long time. Now, I’m just testing everything.
Spotlyte: In your experience, how have you found someone you can trust for injectable treatments?
CR: Before I’ve done anything, like injectable wrinkle reducers, I researched it. It’s really important to know what you’re doing. Talk to other people who’ve done it and talk to doctors.
Photo By: Sara Kerens
Spotlyte: Where on your face do you normally get injectable wrinkle reducers?
CR: In my forehead, I think it really works well there [for me], [and my] crow’s feet.
Spotlyte: Since you love skincare, what are your skincare products right now? Walk us through your regimen.
CR: I like the Dr. Barbara Sturm® Hyaluronic Serum; it’s so good. I’m big into microneedling. I have a cosmetic microneedler, the BeautyBioTM GloPRO® Microneedling Facial Regeneration Tool. It’s great because it has LED red light. I’m really into LED red light; all these serums are great for your skin, but they really need to get underneath your epidermis layer, and that helps it. At night, I’ll watch a show — I binge watch a lot of documentaries — and I’ll just put a LED red light on [my face]. This is the basic foundation of the work I do.
I’m really into Augustinus BaderTM The Cream; it’s a smart cream and reteaches your [skin] to produce and build collagen. I use the Angela Caglia® Power Cleansing Balm. I also use Dr. Barbara Sturm Sun Drops SPF 50 and Vintner’s Daughter® Active Botanical Serum; I do not get off a plane without slathering it on.
Spotlyte: You’re used to being in the spotlight, but was there anything about being on reality TV that made you change your beauty and aesthetics routine?
CR: When you’re on television every week, especially as a woman at a certain age, it’s shocking — you see everything. I feel like over the past six years, I really got into the next level of skincare.
I’ve done injectable wrinkle reducers [for a long time], but now I do lasers to tighten skin. I wish that 25 years ago, when I was in my twenties, that they had lasers. I started really getting into them in a way that I have never done before and I was already in my forties.
[Editor’s note: Injectable wrinkle reducers should not be used more frequently than every three months.]
Spotlyte: You were a favorite on Real Housewives®. For those who miss you on the show, where can fans find you next?
CR: I’m working on a couple of scripted shows. One of them is scripted in the journalism sense and another one is a sitcom.
Spotlyte: What advice do you have for young journalists trying to break into the industry now?
CR: I’m really into podcasts; I think they’re niche and popular. You can really get into a subject in an hour. I think podcasts are the new networks.
Spotlyte: Any podcasts you think are just killing it?
CR: Tim Ferriss®, Serial®, and How I Built This®. To listen to those stories — they’re so good. If I really went back into journalism, this is the space I would enter.
Spotlyte: What’s one piece of beauty advice you can give readers?
CR: I discovered this pillow called Discover NightTM Pillow ($150); it’s a foam pillow with a silk covering. It’s been about two years now and I will not sleep on any other pillow. I’m telling you — it’s easy on your skin and your hair; I added the pillow to my skincare [routine]. You’ve got to look into this pillow.
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