Recommended Read: Behind the Red Door: How Elizabeth Arden’s Legacy Inspired My Coming-of-Age in the Beauty Industry

Behind the Red Door: How Elizabeth Arden’s Legacy Inspired My Coming-of-Age in the Beauty Industry ($19.95) is the story of two women, a century apart, discovering themselves and redefining beauty and success on their own terms.

In 2008, Louise Johnson moved from Toronto to Manhattan to begin her dream internship at Elizabeth Arden. She was intrigued by the woman behind the brand, Florence Nightingale Graham, who made a similar journey from Toronto to Manhattan 100 years before and eventually founded iconic cosmetic company Elizabeth Arden. Despite living a century apart, Arden served as a guide and source of inspiration for Johnson as she attempted to navigate the industry in her new role.

In Johnson’s first book, Behind the Red Door: How Elizabeth Arden’s Legacy Inspired My Coming-of-Age in the Beauty Industry, she takes readers behind the red doors of Arden while highlighting how much (or how little) has changed a century later. The book also shares fascinating facts about the cosmetic industry’s history, scenes of NYC at peak old-world glamour, and bold-faced names including Queen Elizabeth II and Marilyn Monroe—both fans and friends of Elizabeth Arden.

The Red Door Salon & Spa Rebrands as Mynd Spa & Salon

What began as a desire to preserve Elizabeth's place in history, evolved into an examination of her coming-of-age in the beauty industry and a cultural excavation on a much larger thread that connects us all. Ultimately, this book is about identity and how we learn to navigate the world to find our best self—even if it's on a different path than we originally anticipated.

Behind the Red Door: How Elizabeth Arden’s Legacy Inspired My Coming-of-Age in the Beauty Industry retails for $30. For more information and to purchase, click here.

Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk