Esme Benjamin

Esme Benjamin is a freelance writer, editor, and podcaster based in Brooklyn, New York. Esme joined Byrdie as a freelance commerce writer and editor in 2023, covering the best tried and tested products in the beauty space. As a former wellness editor, Esme has a particular interest in clean beauty and the intersection of beauty rituals and self-care. Her latest obsessions are natural beauty, products that support the skin barrier and tackle hyperpigmentation, curl-friendly haircare, and beauty tech (hello, Nuface microcurrent device). 

Esme started her career in London, England, where she worked as features editor of Sheerluxe.com, a women’s lifestyle publication with an emphasis on unearthing the best fashion and beauty buys. She’s been tapped into the latest industry trends and launches ever since and loves sharing her discoveries with readers and friends alike. 

As the former wellness editor of Culture Trip, Esme started and developed the wellness vertical, exploring the healing traditions, rituals, and trends of cultures worldwide. It was there that she won a Muse Creative Award. As an authority on wellness culture and travel, Esme was invited to contribute a section on managing well-being abroad for the 2022 book Wanderess: The Unearth Women Guide to Traveling Smart Solo and Safe.

When she’s not perusing the aisles of Sephora, you’ll find Esme at the yoga studio (she’s a certified instructor), hanging with her daughter and corgi, or plotting her next getaway to a far-flung destination (Japan, Namibia, and Patagonia are on the list). 

Highlights:

• Esme Benjamin has been working as a journalist for more than a decade–first in London, then in New York City.
• Her articles have appeared in Elle, Self, Shape, Refinery29, Well+Good, Wall Street Journal, and many more.
• A recent article by Esme was optioned, and a scripted TV series–on which she will serve as consulting producer–is in the early stages of development.
• In her former editorial role, Esme started a wellness vertical from scratch, focusing on self-care, rituals, fitness, and all things health-centered. 
• Esme has interviewed A-list celebrities and high-profile experts for magazines in the UK and US.
• In 2013 Esme got her 200-hour yoga instructor certification and has dabbled in teaching small-group classes.

Experience

Esme Benjamin is an award-winning writer, editor, and broadcaster based in New York City. Her editorial work can be found in Elle, Condé Nast Traveler, Refinery29, Self, Well+Good, and the Wall Street Journal, as well as British publications including Red, Grazia, and The Telegraph Magazine. She also works with brands like ClassPass and Under Armour, providing copy and content strategy.

Education

Esme graduated from the University of Brighton with a degree in English Literature and Sociology. She then studied Fashion and Lifestyle Journalism at the London College of Fashion.

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