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Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me
This well-organized, authoritative book helps women find products that make them look great without spending a fortune. From drugstores and home shopping to department stores and catalogs, Paula Begoun reviews all the major cosmetic and skin-care lines, product by product, with more than 30,000 total. Regardless of cost, there are good and bad products in almost every line, and with the turn of a page, readers can get concise reviews and fast answers. A user-friendly rating system makes it easy to find items worth trying.
1100 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1991
40 people are currently reading
875 people want to read
About the author
Paula Begoun
29 books39 followersPaula Begoun is the founder and innovative force behind Paula's Choice skin care and cosmetics. She is the author of 18 self-published books, the best-selling ones are on skin care. She has a flourishing website selling her books and her cosmetics. The author has appeared on many chat shows and Paula, nor any of her team, are dermatologists or qualified in any way medically.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
October 30, 2010
Ugh. I'm all for consumer protection and everything, but I can't believe that she calls this an unbiased book when it's clearly biased to her very own skin care and makeup line!
Makeup and skin care is pretty subjective, since everyone's skin and personal style is so different. I don't mind fragrances, but she immediately marks anything fragranced an entire grade lower. Lame. It's really just a book about products appropriate for her skin. I guess if I had been living in a cave and had never washed my face or been to a drugstore before, I would find this a useful tool. But I have so it's not the end.
Also, why does this book have to be 80 pounds? I tried to flip through it in bed last night and my arms and hands were so tired that I finally just had to chuck it to the floor.
Makeup and skin care is pretty subjective, since everyone's skin and personal style is so different. I don't mind fragrances, but she immediately marks anything fragranced an entire grade lower. Lame. It's really just a book about products appropriate for her skin. I guess if I had been living in a cave and had never washed my face or been to a drugstore before, I would find this a useful tool. But I have so it's not the end.
Also, why does this book have to be 80 pounds? I tried to flip through it in bed last night and my arms and hands were so tired that I finally just had to chuck it to the floor.
July 13, 2010
This is a MUST-HAVE for every woman so we don't get conned by the beauty industry. I have saved thousands of dollars since buying this book last year and I frequently use it as a guide when choosing products for myself and my family.
Paula Begoun has provided me with effective solutions to rid my skin of acne and eczema. I have been acne free for a year now and my skin is luminous and hydrated. Even though I am 26 I can still pass for 19. I look better than I have in years and I only spend pennies on skincare vs. the thousands I used to shell out for over-hyped creams in the past.
Paula Begoun has provided me with effective solutions to rid my skin of acne and eczema. I have been acne free for a year now and my skin is luminous and hydrated. Even though I am 26 I can still pass for 19. I look better than I have in years and I only spend pennies on skincare vs. the thousands I used to shell out for over-hyped creams in the past.
June 23, 2012
I really appreciate the reviews by Paula, and I flipped through this book for about a day before I realized that all of the information is available online, thus the low rating. Paula's website Beautypedia.com had all of the same information that the book includes, for free, in a much simpler format that makes it easier to search by category and compare similar products. The information in both the book and website is extremely valuable and I felt like I learned a lot. Reviews are honest, objective, and easy to understand. Some products I have been using for years (Pond's) are pretty much trash. Some expensive products I've been eyeing but ahve been hesitant on due to the price turn out to be worth it. My favorite part is learning that expensive does not always mean better; there is a ton of information about lower priced drugstore brands. Some products are not worth any money, but it's nice to know that so many drugstore mascaras are in fact the best out there. I will definitely consult the website before all makeup and skin care purchases in the future!
April 2, 2008
flawed and quite un-scientific. Most of her claims are blown out of proportion or just taken out of context when you look at the actual studies.
December 31, 2010
So, looking to find out what goes on behind the making of your cosmetics and all the evil ingredients? Then this is the book for you! According to Paula, using Burt's Bees is a huge no-no and so is eye cream. The ONLY products that get all happy faces and check marks is her own line of cosmetics. Suspicious? Yes, I think so. So, even though she told me not to use certain products, I will continue to because my face likes what I currently use. The real asset to this book is the list at the end that tells you what is irritating to the skin and what products are complete lies.
May 16, 2009
They should do a larger review of products in categories so you can choose the best moisturizer, eye product and so on. THere is a brief one - but it's not very good or comprehensive. The book is also poorly written and is all opinion - I want science & clinical trials!!!! This is the 7th edition and you still don't have things down right - this had so much potential - but fell flat.
February 12, 2009
The biggest obstacle for finding a quality beauty product is interpreting the glossy marketing which generates most of the cost. Begoun helped me develop a healthy skepticism and got me into the habit of reading the back label before the front.
Once I realized every bottle of goo is made up of mostly water and promises, I was willing to let go of all the pathos and begin to understand what I'm buying. The book begins with a broad spectrum chapter designed to educate about the powerful psychology behind beauty marketing, the language designed to persuade, and some explanation about how skin works and what it needs to be healthy and beautiful.
Begoun has made a reputation of being a really tough sell. Her product reviews are brutal and concise, with clear overarching standards on the quality of the active ingredients as well as the practical ease of use. She's quick to point out claims which lack credible support.
This book is frequently updated online as well as in print. While I don't think of it as an out-and-out investment, I consider both worthy companions that help me make confident shopping decisions.
Once I realized every bottle of goo is made up of mostly water and promises, I was willing to let go of all the pathos and begin to understand what I'm buying. The book begins with a broad spectrum chapter designed to educate about the powerful psychology behind beauty marketing, the language designed to persuade, and some explanation about how skin works and what it needs to be healthy and beautiful.
Begoun has made a reputation of being a really tough sell. Her product reviews are brutal and concise, with clear overarching standards on the quality of the active ingredients as well as the practical ease of use. She's quick to point out claims which lack credible support.
This book is frequently updated online as well as in print. While I don't think of it as an out-and-out investment, I consider both worthy companions that help me make confident shopping decisions.
October 27, 2016
I found out about all of the products I was using and found some better products to use instead. No wonder I wasn't liking my face wash - when tested it doesn't remove makeup, but that's not on the label. No wonder I wasn't happy with my moisturizer - it didn't have any skin identical ingredients.
This book was fantastic. I'm amazed at the level of research that went into each brand and product. She covered all major lines available in department stores as well as stores like Target and Walmart. You can read about each ingredient and what it does. She has a great system to help you understand what works and why.
I highly recomend this book!
This book was fantastic. I'm amazed at the level of research that went into each brand and product. She covered all major lines available in department stores as well as stores like Target and Walmart. You can read about each ingredient and what it does. She has a great system to help you understand what works and why.
I highly recomend this book!
April 25, 2012
I liked this one because it explained few things i personally didn't know, like that cremes in jars are not as good as ones in tubes because of fingers always touching it and oxidizing. I also loved alphabetical order of companies, it was sad to see some of my own products to be on the bad list, but now atleast I know which ones not to buy!
I also actually consider to buy this book to keep or just use website.
I also actually consider to buy this book to keep or just use website.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2016
This is a very large and detailed reference book for buying cosmetics. I looked at a while ago and read a lot of it. Paula Begoun tells you what cosmetics are animal-friendly, what cosmetics actually sort of do what they say they do and what cosmetics are merely fancy (and much more expensive) versions of less expensive ones. Even if you have only a passing interest in cosmetics, this is a very interesting and helpful book to consult. I certainly found it to be an eye-opener.
June 7, 2008
This is Begoun's second book that I've read. I am so not into makeup and all that, but maybe because I am not, I feel like I don't have a clue sometimes what to do, wear, or buy. She is so helpful in cutting through hype, and again, I learned so much. Loved the reviews and found some new (affordable!) products to try. (Btw, I read the 7th edition, just realeased this year.)
September 30, 2011
I like this book, but it annoys me as well. I am skeptical of the quality of a lot of big cosmetics brands too.
However, she seems to hate everything, even natural products are bad in her eyes. I can understand making your own brand because you're not happy with what's on the market, but I don't always agree with her viewpoint.
However, she seems to hate everything, even natural products are bad in her eyes. I can understand making your own brand because you're not happy with what's on the market, but I don't always agree with her viewpoint.
December 14, 2009
I hated the way this book was organized! I really didn't get anything out of it because I wasn't willing to read the entire book cover to cover. I read a previous edition of this and remember that it was much easier to follow.
October 12, 2009
I thought this would help me to decide what type of moisturizer, foundation, etc to buy and all it did was confuse me even further. Plus...I just figured out that you can find most of the info that's in the book, on her website cosmeticscop.com.
January 10, 2011
Despite its length, it doesn't take long to get through. I just read the introductions and then skimmed through each brand to see which products she most recommends and why. This is a helpful reference to have around, and definitely has changed how I look at the cosmetics industry.
October 25, 2015
This book is no more helpful than your own common sense. Her self-promotion is so obvious and so wrong. There are lots of super sources out there.
June 26, 2018
I read this book because I wanted to see for myself, and I am now regretting the fact that I always have to look. :-P From what I've gathered, she was a self-taught makeup artist who lost a position at a cosmetics counter because she either couldn't or wouldn't do her job: selling. I'm not sure how this makes her more qualified to recommend products than dermatologists hocking their own, but she is doing it nevertheless-- So, on with the review:
If I reviewed every product listed on Amazon like she does in this book, the other members would be on a campaign to get me banned for trolling. I can't emphasize enough how useless rating a product on ingredients alone is. Different fillers, quantities, packaging and preparation can and do have different effects on how any product performs, including makeup and skincare. But because her rules are more important than the outcome, she relies almost exclusively on ingredient lists. If she tried something it was likely on the back of her hand, not in the way it was intended. So much for complaining about cosmetic companies' testing when she can't even be bothered to do decent testing of her own.
Even if she wasn't peddling her own stuff, it's just too much information for one person or even a small group of people to tackle. One person, one skin type, one ethnicity, performing one test one time (if that) is just not enough to get an accurate picture of what a product will or won't do. Her incessant complaints about shimmer & color make most of the makeup reviews useless since this is so subjective. I applaud her enthusiasm for sunscreen, but her criticism for products that don't contain it seems like overkill and is rather arbitrary in some cases. She completely ignores the importance of a small amount of sun for vitamin D synthesis in skin. If you're going to wear a lead suit every time you go outdoors like she advises, you ought to at least ask your doctor about a vitamin D supplement.
She says we should look for a moisturizer that has antioxidants, cell-communicating ingredients and so forth, but does not provide even basic lists. Ingredients that she does name are buried in a sea of text. The review for Urban Decay Primer Potion states that you can get the same effect from a good, silicone-based concealer, but she doesn't name any. She goes on to waste the space complaining about shimmer, sometimes finding it in products that I can't find any shimmer in at all. She would have been better off including a symbol indicating "this product contains shimmer," and using the extra space to elaborate on performance. Instead we get a condescending attitude toward anyone who likes shimmer, and that attitude extends to anyone who disagrees with her. She provides a list of "irritants," but it seems to be based on her own biased opinions against essential oils, etc. Her biggest irritant is irritation, and apparently everything except petroleum by-products and her own questionable line irritate her. Many of the reviews themselves only consist of a couple of sentences-- hardly enough information to help someone evaluate a product.
Any brand that's halfway decent almost always gets the dollar symbol indicating that the product is outrageously expensive. Even if it doesn't have a dollar sign, she sometimes still wastes review space criticizing the price. I happen to agree that a lot of stuff out there is a rip-off, but this is more overkill. Listing the price and amount of product you get would be more than enough for me to decide on my own. Her general view seems almost communist-- everyone should use cheap skincare, everyone should wear the same matte neutral makeup colors, and she acts like she is there to protect us from the big bad corporations. (Maybe she should run for President.) It's a great business strategy-- make everyone think you're a consumer advocate and expert in the field, trash the competition and then introduce your own products.
The format is as obsolete as her early 90s views on matte, neutral makeup, blue eye shadow, shimmer, natural ingredients, essential oils and fragrance. A database like this should be in an online, searchable format that is continuously updated and expanded as new products and cosmetic advances are made. I think this is what she is doing with her new site, but I don't recommend THAT either. Bad information is bad no matter how well-presented it is.
Bad stuff aside, it's actually an entertaining read in the same way that infomercials and reality shows are fun. There's some scathing, witty commentary, someone claiming to be on your side, and a lot of shameless self-promotion. The disclaimer in the front says it all-- it's a train wreck of dumb ideas, bad advice and unflinching arrogance. I laughed out loud at a lot of it because it was just so absurd. Don't kid yourself about this being a beauty bible or even mediocre reference material. Go to an online cosmetics community to get good product reviews. Buy this book for the laughs and keep it on your comedy shelf, because that's where it belongs.
If I reviewed every product listed on Amazon like she does in this book, the other members would be on a campaign to get me banned for trolling. I can't emphasize enough how useless rating a product on ingredients alone is. Different fillers, quantities, packaging and preparation can and do have different effects on how any product performs, including makeup and skincare. But because her rules are more important than the outcome, she relies almost exclusively on ingredient lists. If she tried something it was likely on the back of her hand, not in the way it was intended. So much for complaining about cosmetic companies' testing when she can't even be bothered to do decent testing of her own.
Even if she wasn't peddling her own stuff, it's just too much information for one person or even a small group of people to tackle. One person, one skin type, one ethnicity, performing one test one time (if that) is just not enough to get an accurate picture of what a product will or won't do. Her incessant complaints about shimmer & color make most of the makeup reviews useless since this is so subjective. I applaud her enthusiasm for sunscreen, but her criticism for products that don't contain it seems like overkill and is rather arbitrary in some cases. She completely ignores the importance of a small amount of sun for vitamin D synthesis in skin. If you're going to wear a lead suit every time you go outdoors like she advises, you ought to at least ask your doctor about a vitamin D supplement.
She says we should look for a moisturizer that has antioxidants, cell-communicating ingredients and so forth, but does not provide even basic lists. Ingredients that she does name are buried in a sea of text. The review for Urban Decay Primer Potion states that you can get the same effect from a good, silicone-based concealer, but she doesn't name any. She goes on to waste the space complaining about shimmer, sometimes finding it in products that I can't find any shimmer in at all. She would have been better off including a symbol indicating "this product contains shimmer," and using the extra space to elaborate on performance. Instead we get a condescending attitude toward anyone who likes shimmer, and that attitude extends to anyone who disagrees with her. She provides a list of "irritants," but it seems to be based on her own biased opinions against essential oils, etc. Her biggest irritant is irritation, and apparently everything except petroleum by-products and her own questionable line irritate her. Many of the reviews themselves only consist of a couple of sentences-- hardly enough information to help someone evaluate a product.
Any brand that's halfway decent almost always gets the dollar symbol indicating that the product is outrageously expensive. Even if it doesn't have a dollar sign, she sometimes still wastes review space criticizing the price. I happen to agree that a lot of stuff out there is a rip-off, but this is more overkill. Listing the price and amount of product you get would be more than enough for me to decide on my own. Her general view seems almost communist-- everyone should use cheap skincare, everyone should wear the same matte neutral makeup colors, and she acts like she is there to protect us from the big bad corporations. (Maybe she should run for President.) It's a great business strategy-- make everyone think you're a consumer advocate and expert in the field, trash the competition and then introduce your own products.
The format is as obsolete as her early 90s views on matte, neutral makeup, blue eye shadow, shimmer, natural ingredients, essential oils and fragrance. A database like this should be in an online, searchable format that is continuously updated and expanded as new products and cosmetic advances are made. I think this is what she is doing with her new site, but I don't recommend THAT either. Bad information is bad no matter how well-presented it is.
Bad stuff aside, it's actually an entertaining read in the same way that infomercials and reality shows are fun. There's some scathing, witty commentary, someone claiming to be on your side, and a lot of shameless self-promotion. The disclaimer in the front says it all-- it's a train wreck of dumb ideas, bad advice and unflinching arrogance. I laughed out loud at a lot of it because it was just so absurd. Don't kid yourself about this being a beauty bible or even mediocre reference material. Go to an online cosmetics community to get good product reviews. Buy this book for the laughs and keep it on your comedy shelf, because that's where it belongs.
June 10, 2021
I'm studying beauty therapy, so books like these are of great interest to me. Plus I'm also a bit of a skin care and cosmetics junkie. Its the vanity in me. The thing I like about this book is that its unbiased. Sure there are things that are hard to believe, and things that you think ... sure that makes sense ... but in general, Paula tries to be as objective as she can and substantiates everything that she has written in the book. I may not agree with everything she says, but I can respect what she says and the position she takes and I have learnt more than a few things from the book. Using this book as a reference before going to the cosmetic counter really does help. Sore some people may have different skin types and some things work better than others, but for the most part, this book is worth getting.
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See more from Deanna's World
October 16, 2021
I can see how this was a must read for beauty junkies before the pervasiveness of the internet. This is a comprehensive catalogue of the market's top beauty brands, with detailed ratings for each product. The "best of" guide in the back is also extremely useful. Since the Paula's Choice brand took off, it's become more and more difficult to take the rest of Paula's advice seriously, because she sounds like a walking ad for her brand.
February 19, 2018
I would recommend following online as it's more up to date. Once books like this are published, they are outdated by an ever changing industry.
While there were many commercial lines that were listed; not all their products were. Also not enough attention was given to "natural" "organic" product lines but I think this was a resource for trying to pick the best of the worst off the counter.
While there were many commercial lines that were listed; not all their products were. Also not enough attention was given to "natural" "organic" product lines but I think this was a resource for trying to pick the best of the worst off the counter.
September 23, 2018
Always great reading up on honest and proven product reviews, just hard to get the book when all the content is current ... Best to get book from shelves hot off presses, but every chick should take a look n research any products used, insightful
January 29, 2020
I really appreciate this book when it first came out but now that Paula’s Choice has an app and a website that’s constantly updated there’s no reason to have the book. But Paula’s Choice and Beautypedia have changed my skin. You won’t regret it and you will save a lot of money.
December 4, 2017
A bit out of date. All the information you need is online at Beautipedia
July 12, 2018
Very good information about skin care and what to avoid!
December 30, 2020
What a great book to finish the year of 2020! Paula is an expert in the cosmetic and skincare industry. This book navigates and explains ingredients in beauty products, helping consumers understand and decode advertising promises. A useful book for any beauty guru!
June 14, 2022
Highly recommend for anyone who is even a little bit interested in skincare and ensuring we use effective products on our skin!
February 7, 2016
I read the newest edition a few months ago.I am a fan of her, and I believe all her books are good.
Cons:The one thing that bothered me was there were some areas that she gave no background about.She covered some areas and some she did not cover well. One example is where she talked a lot about natural ingredients that hurt the skin and explained they were dangerous because they were capable of giving a cytotoxic or photo toxic reaction in the reviews. I wish she had explained what these ingredients were earlier in the book like how she did for other things like cell communicating and anti irritant ingredients and how they could do this in one of the earlier chapters. Although, it does not make the book any worse I would have liked some information on colorless makeup that transforms to your skin color when you put it on and scrubs and lotions that heat up when you put them on (zeolites) in cosmetics since these things were talked about in her reviews, and some of the cosmetics had these things in it.
Pros: The book was thoroughly researched and I learned what ingredients you do not want in your skin products and make up. There was also exciting news on some news on ingredients being used in cosmetics that will make them feel and look better and be more healthy for your skin. In addition the writer Paula is a great writer she is humorous and admits when she's wrong and is always honest. Her analogies are also helpful. I recommend this book.
EDIT: In her 7th edition she mistakes a 'Paula's pick' wich personally effected me. This was updated on her website but it goes to show not to blindly follow things without checking it out for yourself. Another review she made a comment on the saleswomans makeup pertaining to the product she was selling. That was mean and though she does not do it very much i'de rather not see that. Otherwise great job!
Cons:The one thing that bothered me was there were some areas that she gave no background about.She covered some areas and some she did not cover well. One example is where she talked a lot about natural ingredients that hurt the skin and explained they were dangerous because they were capable of giving a cytotoxic or photo toxic reaction in the reviews. I wish she had explained what these ingredients were earlier in the book like how she did for other things like cell communicating and anti irritant ingredients and how they could do this in one of the earlier chapters. Although, it does not make the book any worse I would have liked some information on colorless makeup that transforms to your skin color when you put it on and scrubs and lotions that heat up when you put them on (zeolites) in cosmetics since these things were talked about in her reviews, and some of the cosmetics had these things in it.
Pros: The book was thoroughly researched and I learned what ingredients you do not want in your skin products and make up. There was also exciting news on some news on ingredients being used in cosmetics that will make them feel and look better and be more healthy for your skin. In addition the writer Paula is a great writer she is humorous and admits when she's wrong and is always honest. Her analogies are also helpful. I recommend this book.
EDIT: In her 7th edition she mistakes a 'Paula's pick' wich personally effected me. This was updated on her website but it goes to show not to blindly follow things without checking it out for yourself. Another review she made a comment on the saleswomans makeup pertaining to the product she was selling. That was mean and though she does not do it very much i'de rather not see that. Otherwise great job!
April 18, 2013
It's a very useful source of information but it doesn't cover a big deal of brands sold in Europe or cover just some strange selected group of products within a brand. For instance in her review of Nivea P. Begoun doesn't write a single word about numerous sunscreen products of the brand. It makes me wonder whether the brand sells such products in the USA or what might be a reason to ignore them... That's why I don't give the book the highest rate - when the author goes international the book must be international, too.
The author marks her own products exclusively as the best but there are several web-sites (including Paula Begoun's own web-shop) where you can find the customer's reviews and ratings... all kinds of satisfied and disappointed ones... Well, it shows that criticizing is much easier than creating.
You can simply ignore her products (9 pages of 1110) - the book is not about how great they are comparing to others, the book is about the right criteria of choosing a good product for your needs. The author always explains her reasons of rating so you can think for yourself whether they matter to you or not when P. Begoun writes about the best, good or average products.
Knowing how jar packaging can destroy good ingredients, how fragrance can damage your skin in spite of good ingredients, how meaningless are claims of "natural" cosmetics you can make better decisions about buying or not brand new products not mentioned in the book. So, actually, you can go to the cosmetic counter without Paula Begoun, her team and their book... but only if you are a good reader ;-)
The author marks her own products exclusively as the best but there are several web-sites (including Paula Begoun's own web-shop) where you can find the customer's reviews and ratings... all kinds of satisfied and disappointed ones... Well, it shows that criticizing is much easier than creating.
You can simply ignore her products (9 pages of 1110) - the book is not about how great they are comparing to others, the book is about the right criteria of choosing a good product for your needs. The author always explains her reasons of rating so you can think for yourself whether they matter to you or not when P. Begoun writes about the best, good or average products.
Knowing how jar packaging can destroy good ingredients, how fragrance can damage your skin in spite of good ingredients, how meaningless are claims of "natural" cosmetics you can make better decisions about buying or not brand new products not mentioned in the book. So, actually, you can go to the cosmetic counter without Paula Begoun, her team and their book... but only if you are a good reader ;-)
March 8, 2014
This is a fantastic book to use for shopping for all kinds of face cleansers, lotions and cosmetics for men and women. Products are tested and rated for effectiveness, hypo-allergenic properties and price. While the author does sell her own line of products (which I have never tried) her reviews of every product seem thorough and the recommendations have all turned out well for me.
Personally, I want to take good care of my skin, with a little hassle as possible, and for a reasonable price. This is a great way to stay current with the constantly changing offerings from your favorite brand, or look for something new to try.
In make-up especially I find that when I DO find something I like the formula, color or features change and every time I shop I'm starting all over. This is a good way to search by skin type and how well different types of make-up work on dry vs. normal or oily skin.
I got this book from the library, and though the latest edition my library had was only two years old, some of the items I went looking for at my local store were discontinued. You can check at the website for the most current information (http://www.paulaschoice.com/beautypedia/)
I recommend that if you initially screen for the "best" rating, and sort by price, make sure you read the individual descriptions which detail the results of their research. Something rated "best" may have a similar product at a lower price from the same manufacturer and they will give you all of that information in the detailed review.
Personally, I want to take good care of my skin, with a little hassle as possible, and for a reasonable price. This is a great way to stay current with the constantly changing offerings from your favorite brand, or look for something new to try.
In make-up especially I find that when I DO find something I like the formula, color or features change and every time I shop I'm starting all over. This is a good way to search by skin type and how well different types of make-up work on dry vs. normal or oily skin.
I got this book from the library, and though the latest edition my library had was only two years old, some of the items I went looking for at my local store were discontinued. You can check at the website for the most current information (http://www.paulaschoice.com/beautypedia/)
I recommend that if you initially screen for the "best" rating, and sort by price, make sure you read the individual descriptions which detail the results of their research. Something rated "best" may have a similar product at a lower price from the same manufacturer and they will give you all of that information in the detailed review.
June 21, 2014
You don't need to read this book from cover to cover since it's packed with over 1000 pages of product mini reviews and it works as a fantastic reference guide for checking up on your favourite products, assessing potential purchases, and understanding how these products work. There is a substantial 78-page "introduction" including why we need to care more about the products we buy, what goes in them, and how that can affect us, along with skin care "rules to live by." The reviews are precise, upfront, and brutal;
Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me
can help you make confident shopping decisions based on professional advice and bare bones analysis of ingredient lists. This is a companion book to
The Beauty Bible
so if you're looking for a book to help pick exactly which products to buy and which ones to avoid, rather than an intense break down of the entire beauty industry, this is the one you need to read. The Beautypedia website is an online version of the book, which contains similar information including all the reviews and is regularly updated.
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