Lauren Balsamo

Lauren Balsamo is the Beauty Director at Cosmopolitan, where she writes, edits, and produces comprehensive beauty content ranging from product reviews to personal essays and trend reports. With more than a decade of experience at Cosmopolitan, she has established herself as a trusted voice in the beauty industry. Her career progression at the publication saw her advance from Deputy Beauty Director to her current leadership role. Balsamo's writing style combines accessibility with expertise, making complex beauty topics approachable for mainstream audiences. She has also contributed content to other Hearst publications including Women's Health and Seventeen magazines. Her expertise spans the full spectrum of beauty coverage, from testing and reviewing new product launches to conducting high-profile interviews with celebrities and athletes. Recent work includes interviewing tennis champion Aryna Sabalenka for Cosmo Sports, demonstrating her versatility beyond traditional beauty coverage. She is known for her honest, no-BS approach to beauty reviews and her ability to identify standout products from the constant stream of new launches that cross her desk.