If you haven’t spent hours on Well+Good, you should. It is an endless source of serious, well researched information on all things wellness, ranging from skin care to food to exercise. I have often gotten lost in Melisse’s articles, only to realize 45 minutes had gone by. My favorites columns are the Refrigerator Look Book and the 5 Beauty Obsessions. Of course, I love this site all the more that it is the brainchild of Melisse Gelula (and her business partner Alexia Brue), whom I have known since her days at SpaFinder Magazine. As is often the case, our friendship blossomed over cocktails and debates about the latest ingredient trends and Apartment Therapy…

AP: What city were you born in? MG: New York, but we moved to Canada not long after.

AP: What city to do you live in? MG: New York!

AP: What is your middle name? MG: Joy, which I used to hate, but now I love it as a mantra.

AP: What is your astrological sign? MG: Capricorn.

AP: What is your favorite thing about the beauty industry? MG: The creativity and innovation, the passion of founders and formulators, the science and the plants—do I have to pick one?

AP: Least favorite thing? MG: The unnecessary chemicals and beauty companies that make women feel insufficient.

AP: What is your most prized possession? MG: I really value the people in my life. Does that count?

AP: What is something about you most people don’t know? MG: I trained as a psychoanalyst. I think it makes me a really close reader of ingredient labels!

AP: Do you wear a watch? If yes, what model? MG: No, but I often want one for running.

AP: Diamonds or pearls? MG: Raw gray diamonds!

AP: If you could have dinner with the person of your choice, who would it be? MG: I’m open—you never know where inspiration is going to come from. I also would love to have dinner with the friends I don’t get to see enough.

AP: What is your secret to work/life balance? MG: I am not a poster child for balance at all. But I say “no, thanks” to way more things now, especially if it cuts into the time I could be on a spin bike.

AP: What are your three top tips for travel? MG: 1. Pack light/you’ll shop. 2. Look at the map of your destination before you go. 3. Ask locals for their favorite places.

AP: What is your favorite book? MG: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.

AP: What is your cocktail of choice? MG: Sancerre!

AP: What is your #1 beauty secret? MG: Eating kale, using facial oils, exfoliation, and monthly facials.

AP: What fragrance do you wear? MG: Musc Botanique.

AP: Botox or not? MG: Not.

AP: Hair color: natural or not? MG: Not.

AP: 3 songs on your ipod right now. MG: Mad Con “Beggin,” Kimbra “Settle Down,” and Depeche Mode “Everything Counts.”

AP: Who is your mentor? MG: I take lessons from a lot of people in my life—I assume everyone has something to teach me. And I’ve really come to believe in the power of collaboration, where lots of great minds weigh in and turn a good idea into an astronomically great one. Also, my brilliant business partner, Alexia Brue, floors me with something every single day.

AP: Words of advice for young women starting their careers today. MG: Be invested in your work, and find someone smart who can teach you things.