Beauty is one of the busiest niches online. Skincare brands, salons, cosmetic clinics, make-up artists, hair care companies and the apps and tools that serve them all want to reach people who read about beauty, and those readers buy a lot.

That makes beauty editors picky. The big titles commission experienced freelancers and rarely take unsolicited guest posts, while smaller beauty blogs are more open but vary a lot in quality. Knowing which is which saves you weeks of pitching into silence.

This page sits alongside my free list of websites that accept guest posts, which covers sites across every niche.

Which beauty blogs accept guest posts?

These are long-running beauty publications that are known for running work from contributors, freelancers or guest writers. Each one works differently, so treat this as a starting point:

• Byrdie: a large beauty publication that commissions freelance writers on skincare, hair and make-up.
• Allure: a long-running beauty magazine that takes pitches from experienced freelance beauty writers.
• Refinery29: a lifestyle publisher with a busy beauty section and a history of freelance and personal essays.
• Well+Good: a wellness publisher whose beauty coverage leans towards skincare science and expert advice.
• Who What Wear: a fashion and beauty publisher that runs trend pieces and product round-ups.
• Glamour: a major women's magazine with a beauty desk that works with freelance contributors.

The big magazines above mostly commission freelancers rather than run classic guest posts, and they expect a strong track record. Guidelines change, and some sites pause submissions for months at a time, so read each site's current pitch or write for us page before you send anything.

Should you aim for the big names or smaller beauty blogs?

The famous beauty titles are worth a pitch if you have real expertise and patience, but they get far more pitches than they can use, and many only work with writers they already know. Smaller beauty blogs with a loyal readership are often the better first step. They reply faster, they're more open to new writers, and a post on a focused site that your buyers read can do more for you than a line on a huge site they never visit.

Whichever you choose, judge a site on its readers and how it looks after them, not on one metric. A site that still publishes, edits with care and has real people commenting is worth more than a bigger site that publishes anything.

Skincare, make-up, hair or the beauty business?

Beauty sites split into groups with very different readers:

• Skincare sites want posts on ingredients, routines and skin conditions, often with expert input.
• Make-up sites want tutorials, trend pieces and honest product comparisons.
• Hair sites want posts on styling, colour, hair health and textured hair care.
• Beauty business sites want posts on running a salon, clinic or brand, from marketing to staffing.

Skincare brands fit best on skincare sites, where ingredient knowledge counts. Salon software, booking tools and marketing services belong on the beauty business sites.

What do beauty editors want?

Credibility. Beauty editors want writers who know the subject: dermatologists, cosmetic chemists, make-up artists, hairdressers and experienced beauty writers. Claims about what a product or ingredient does need a source, and anything that sounds like a medical promise will be cut.

They also want honesty and inclusion. Readers can tell when a post is an advert in disguise, and they want advice that works for different skin types, tones and hair textures. A post that only works for one kind of face won't get far.

Free guest post or sponsored post on a beauty blog?

Free contributions are possible on smaller beauty blogs, especially from experts with something new to say. The big magazines commission their own freelancers. Sponsored posts are common in beauty, because so many brands want coverage, and they're faster and more predictable when you're working to a launch date.

How do you check a beauty blog before you pitch?

• Read the three newest posts. Is the site still publishing, and who writes for it?
• Find the current guidelines. Look for a write for us, contribute or pitch page, and check its date.
• Check for disclosure. A beauty site that labels its sponsored posts and affiliate links is one readers trust.
• Find a name. A real editor you can email beats a form that never replies.
• Ask if posts are permanent. Some sites prune old content in clean-ups.

There's more in how to check backlink quality and my guide to high DA guest posting sites. Beauty often overlaps with fashion and lifestyle, so my fashion blogs that accept guest posts and lifestyle blogs that accept guest posts pages are useful places to widen your search.

How should you pitch a beauty blog?

Lead with a reader's problem. "How to build a skincare routine for skin that's oily and sensitive at the same time" is a pitch. "A skincare article" is not. Add two backup titles and a line on your expertise.

If you represent a brand, say so up front and make the post useful to someone who never buys from you. Beauty editors will mention a product in context, but they won't publish a sales page.

Think about timing. Summer skin, party season make-up and winter hair care all come round every year, and editors plan for them weeks ahead.

Can you place a beauty post on my blog?

Yes, when it's about marketing or running a beauty business: social media for salons, getting reviews, influencer campaigns for beauty brands, or the tools a clinic runs on. lilachbullock.com is a marketing blog that's been publishing since the dial-up days, with thousands of indexed articles, and my readers are business owners, marketers and entrepreneurs, mostly in the USA and the UK. Product reviews and skincare advice suit the sites above better. Guidelines are on my beauty and skincare pages.

How placing a post on my blog works

1. Email [email protected], or start on my write for me page, with your target URL, topic and niche.
2. I reply with whether it fits and which format I'd pick: a new sponsored post or a link insertion into an existing, indexed article.
3. You send the article, or I choose the right existing article for your link.
4. I edit, publish and send you the live URL.

Accepted posts usually go live within 24 to 48 hours of everything being agreed. Placements are permanent. I invoice by PayPal, and if you're an agency, I never contact your client.

If you're weighing up where to place a post, how buying a guest post on my blog works explains what you get and what I turn down.

Frequently asked questions

Which beauty blogs accept guest posts?

Well-known examples that take outside writers include Byrdie, Allure, Refinery29, Well+Good, Who What Wear and Glamour. Check each site's current guidelines before you pitch, because they change.

Do big beauty magazines accept guest posts?

Rarely in the classic sense. Most commission experienced freelance writers. Smaller beauty blogs are much more open to outside contributors.

What should I pitch a beauty blog?

Pitch a specific answer to a reader's beauty problem, with expert input and sources for any claims about what a product or ingredient does.

Can I place a beauty guest post on lilachbullock.com?

Yes, if it's about marketing or running a beauty business. Email your target URL, topic and niche and I'll tell you if it fits.