Listen to this 'Talk of the Nation' topic

If you're a radio producer, it's well known that the best freebies you're likely to get are books. Walk around NPR, and you'll see delightfully filled shelves of review copies. Now, I love books with a passion, but now I just ignore the giveaway shelves. But when my friend who works at a women's magazine talks about walking by the piles of potions, creams, mascaras, and lipsticks, I am horrified. The giveaway pile is always greener, I guess. Janet Carlson Reed, beauty editor of Town and Country, gets to sort through these delicious spa-like treats... and she's written about the delights — and downsides — to her job. What are the perks of yours?

*When did rouge become blush? Blush seems much more prudish. I, for one, apply rouge.