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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 646.72
EAN num: 9781877988325
ISBN number: 1877988324
Label: Beginning Press
Manufacturer: Beginning Press
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 1184
Printing Date: December 28, 2007
Publishing house: Beginning Press
Sale Popularity Level: 3303
Studio: Beginning Press
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
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.
Amazon.com Review:
Women spend an extraordinary amount of money on cosmetics--$45 billion a year in the U.S. alone. Now in its fourth edition, Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me strikes fear in cosmetics-counter consultants everywhere. First off, Begoun has deconstructed ingredient lists. Ever wonder what methylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben are doing in your mascara? And what is diazolidinyl urea? All four are potential irritants, and the latter is a preservative that can release formaldehyde, a class A carcinogen. Buyer beware.
Begoun also lists which companies are cruelty-free and which continue to conduct animal testing. The majority of the book--and that's nearly 800 pages--is devoted to reviews of thousands of cosmetics, from cleansers, foundations, alpha-hydroxy acids, and moisturizers to lip liners, eye shadows, and concealers, all of which Begoun has personally tested. (There are no hair care products listed, as that warrants another book entirely: Don't Go Shopping for Hair Care Products Without Me.)
She's perfectly frank and tells it like it is. (On Revlon's ColorStay Makeup: 'goes far beyond the claim of 'It won't come off on him.' It won't come off when you want it to.') You'll learn how to tell when you're being boondoggled by a salesperson, what's overpriced and overhyped, as well as what's overlooked. More than 200 brands are included, along with a helpful summary at the end that lists the best products for each cosmetic category. It should be noted that not only is Begoun a fine consumer advocate, she's also a self-esteem advocate: she mentions time and again that even the best cosmetics won't necessarily improve your life, and that's a point well taken.
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers 
-
I don't usually write reviews, but this book is really great. Much time and research went into this gem and the information can help consumers to make smart choices. Helps identify what's good for your individual skin type. I keep referring back to the book over and over. Now I'm going to buy her book about hair care.
Rated by buyers -
For two decades Paula Begoun has called cosmetics companies on their sensational claims while emphasizing that a ton of bad apples do not spoil the whole bunch in terms of skincare and cosmetics.
In the 8th edition of her cosmetic opus Begoun's catalog of bad and beautiful products is expanded once more. Although her reviews are not always perfect, she is human after all and she makes it clear that her reviews are her opinions after culling current research, overall Begoun's work is second to none. You show me another book that goes as far as Begoun's does and I'll eat my shoes.
Begoun is also clear about her own line of cosmetics and skincare and I feel that she never pushes her own products, she recommends so many competitors products I feel any criticism directed to her in that regard is simply sour grapes.
Essentially, I feel that Begoun's book is required reading for anyone who wants to protect their skin and age as well as possible. As far as I'm concerned if you go to the cosmetics counter having not read Paula Begoun's book you're simply asking to do damage to your skin and that's just not pretty.
Rated by buyers -
This is a supremely interesting read for anyone who tends to buy and try TONS of makeup and skincare products. I have not been able to put it down since I got it in the mail. For 90% of the products in the book that I've tried myself, I agree with what she's written. Yes, it's annoying that she reviews her own products in the book (don't even bother reading those), but it's easy enough to overlook when she gives a lot of high ratings to other brands. I liked reading about the ingredients in cosmetic and skincare products, even if some other reviewers note that that list is incomplete. I wouldn't expect her to be able to cover every ingredient in existence.
The only reason I did not give this book 5 stars is her obsession with sunscreen and matte, neutral makeup. I don't think it's necessary to give a foundation, powder, or moisturizer that doesn't contain a sufficient amount of sunscreen a low rating for that reason alone. I want to know how the products will look on my skin and last through the day, without regard to sun protection. Besides, if we use one product with sunscreen in it, there's no need for everything we use to have it. Additionally, I'm in my twenties, and I'll wear shimmery eyeshadow or purple eyeliner if I want to. It's a little bothersome when she critcizes a great product just because they offer too many blues, purples and greens. Overall, though, this book is great!
Rated by buyers -
Three days ago, my husband said to me in the car, "do you know you spent $1000 at Sephora in April? It's right on the Visa card."
Yes, that was in April. But in June, I got my very first ever copy of Paula's book and it changed everything.
I had been using Chanel Sublimage eye cream at $175. Now I don't use eye cream at all. I had been using Christian Diors Capture R60/80 XP Ultimate Series, serum, lotion and cream, spending in total about $700. Turns out I have oily skin and that line was doing me nothing but harm.
And make-up? I thought I had to use all the same beauty line at a time. That's right, if I wanted to use Diorshow mascara, I thought I had to use only that Dior line with that mascara that day. I basically owned 3 make-up lines- Dior, Aveda and Channel. Three looks, natural, night, work. Boring.
Paula's book taught me that every product is different. Dior makes a killer mascara but their $100 Capture R60/80 XP Ultimate Wrinkle Restoring Serum is a complete waste of money. AND HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS. Guess who makes some of the best face products according to this book? Freakin' Neutragena (and many other drug store brands trump the pricey department store lines!).
I was also pleasantly suprised to see that Paula went and started her own line, which I've tried and love. Her website gives away samples of the entire skincare line for free. I was worried at very first but it's been months now that I've been using Paula's pick from Neutragena and my face hasn't ever looked better. I'm still using some high-end products, the ones she reviews in her book as 'Paula's Picks', and my skin looks amazing. Sometimes I don't even need to wear make-up. I should point out that the author isn't against department store products at all, if it works and does what it says it's going to do, then she gives it a good rating, whether it comes from Barneys or Walgreens.
I study her book for the best in each lines' beauty products, lipstains, waterproof mascaras, eyeshimmer, illuminators, foundation, and then buying what she recomends. Her reviews are so in-depth that you're able to pinpoint exatly what your looking for and leave the rest. So far my favorite line is Urban Decay. I'm having so much fun buying make-up from boutique lines like tarte, benefit and too faced, lines I wouldn't have shopped before.
One last note, after I bought this book, I became very obsessed with it and carried it everywhere, I became virtually infatuated with getting the perfect formulas and colors of all my products. It paid off and I look amazing but the fixation that gripped me lasted for months and still rears it's gorgeous head. If you're inclined to become fanatical about girly stuff like make-up, skincare products and find yourself wandering around Sephora for hours on end, well, this is really the book for you, Beauty Junkie.
Rated by buyers -
A very helpful guide to beauty products, but not an oracle to be followed religiously. Use this book, with its recommendations and warnings, as you intelligently choose products and form your own conclusions on what works well for you.
This is an exhaustive compendium of products, ingredient lists and the author's opinions on both. All based on cited scientific literature published in professional journals -- not beauty mags. Begoun is NOT a scientist, which some readers just can't forgive her for. But, to my way of thinking, it's an insult to any intelligent and inquisitive person to say that only those who have an advanced degree can read carefully, reflect critically and form valuable opinions. I'm satisfied that the book's author has been reasonable and responsible in the analyses she presents. Begoun has a point of view (don't we all), she can be dogmatic, and may be guilty of using hyperbole in promoting her own book. So what? Personally, I'm not looking for a beauty guru. If, like me, you're looking for well-supported information that can help you wade through the flood of products out there --this is a very good book to have on the shelf.
Pros: Thoughtful reviews. Product ratings, prices given. Supporting professional journal articles cited. Informative "Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary."
Cons: Not a well organized book.
Writing is not particularly compelling.
The Bottom Line: Buy it. Use it -- along with your own good judgment. And feel less like a fool hoping for miracles in a jar or glamour in a tube.
Begoun also has a website for reviews of new products and updating of pertinent scientific research.
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