Location:Brooklyn, NY

Rachel started writing for the Dotdash Meredith commerce team in 2022 and has over 15 years of experience writing and editing food, drink, and lifestyle content. She's also the author of several award-winning nonfiction books.

Experience

Rachel is obsessive about finding the best possible products and then sharing that information with her friends. She's perfected her approach over the years and loves testing out new products and letting people know if it lives up to the hype.

Rachel is a beauty historian and lectures on the evolution of beauty and makeup on the graduate and undergraduate level at universities including NYU, FIT and Parson's School of Design (in partnership with LVMH) as well as the Society of Cosmetic Chemists where she's keynoted multiple times.Rachel is also a brand and marketing strategist who creates content and has consulted for a wide variety of consumer brands including Allergan, Coty, MSN, Not Your Mother's, Macy's, Kroger, and many others. She's quoted widely as an expert on consumer and beauty/fashion trends in publications including Teen Vogue, ABC News, The Guardian, and many others.

Rachel is an avid crafter and when she isn't spending time in the kitchen baking up something amazing, she's usually covered with paint.

Rachel is also a certified chaplain and co-founder of the RWR Network a national nonprofit organization working primarily with caregivers and Holocaust survivors.

Favorite Review:

Rachel absolutely loves testing out and reviewing products. After a recent article on cordless vacuums went live, Rachel's inbox was flooded with questions from random strangers about the merits of Dyson vs. every other brand.

Rachel grew up in a retail environment (her mother opened a yarn and crafts store when Rachel was a toddler) so she's very attuned to what makes consumers happy or what purchases they can do without.

Education

Rachel speaks several languages and has multiple undergraduate degrees in writing, art, and women's studies. She also studied makeup artistry in both New York and Paris. Rachel has completed advanced studies in global negotiation, art therapy, and journalism.

Rachel comes from a family of phenomenal bakers and home cooks. She's honed her own expertise over the years by studying everything from knife skills to cooking with foraged foods. One of Rachel's most fun experiences was when she was invited by Nestle USA to their test kitchens in Solon, Ohio. Rachel worked with a team to create new cookie recipes under the direction of Chef Michael Laiskonis, former Executive Pastry Chef at Le Bernardin and current Creative Director of The Institute of Culinary Education.

Awards:

Rachel Weingarten has won multiple awards for her books and articles including Book of the Year for "Hello Gorgeous! Beauty Products in America '40s-'60s" by the New York Public Library. Muckrack has many of her articles.

About InStyle

InStyle is an award-winning destination for fashion, beauty, and pop-culture, with an all-are-welcome ethos that swings open the proverbial velvet ropes. Whether you’re looking for a wardrobe refresh, haircut inspiration, or a story that’ll make sparkling cocktail-party conversation, our expert-connected coverage is where to start. Learn more about our team and editorial guidelines, here.