Rating: 
Summary: Hope in a jar or just hype?
Review: What's IN that stuff that costs more per ounce than some precious metals? Will it deliver its promises or am I buying the proverbial hope-in-a-jar? Well, I'd like to know and that's why I like Paula Begoun's book. She includes ingredients, and lists those that are supposed to cause sensitivities and allergies. She also makes the claim that drugstore brands are no worse than high priced department store or luxury brands of cosmetics. Is Paula right, and can she be fair if she includes her own line of skin care in her book that reviews other lines of cosmetics? Well, here's what I found after reading her book and checking out some of her recommendations: 1. Yes! there are some drugstore brands that meet or exceed the performance of very expensive high-end brands. 2.The fragrance used to scent the products can be unpleasant in the low-end brands. (is this deliberate? Some budget brands and high end brands are made by the same manufacturer.) 3. Prices are climbing in drug store brands so in some cases, what you think is a bargain is really the same or almost same price as a high-end product. So, I give this book a high rating because it can help you become a more informed consumer. I took some of her recommendations and found some very good values at the drugstore, particularly foundation and mascara. Since I replace mascara frequently and foundation runs out because I use it a lot, this was worth the price of the book alone. But some of the drugstore brands are not particularly inexpensive and I prefer the scent, color or packaging of the higher end brands. That's my choice. But the point is, Paula Begoun's book helps you make an informed choice.
Rating: 
Summary: Perfect Door Stop - Dreadful Cosmetics Guide
Review: I was so disappointed with "Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me". Why are products that are given less than enthusiastic reviews, listed in the "Best Product" chapter? My sister, her 16-year-old daughter and I all thought there was an overwhelming amount of not very helpful information. The first thing you do when reading this book is to look up the products you use and see how they rate. Not a single product any of us use was given an overwhelming endorsement. Unfortunately, over 1000 pages later I am still unsure as to what I should be using. Don't bother carrying this enormous book to the cosmetics counter. It is not worth the effort.
Rating: 
Summary: To Each His (or Her) Own
Review: Honestly, I was disappointed with the book overall. The best part of the book (and worth the four stars)is the information on different chemicals and what they can and can't do for one's hair, and which are harmful or damaging. However, after trying some of the products which received raves for my type of hair, I got the same result as my usual trial and error method. So, I am more informed and know which ingredients to avoid, but I still have a showerful of products, hoping to find the perfect one.
Rating: 
Summary: Paula Begoun Doesn't Know It All
Review: I just wanted to comment on this book because she makes criticisms of products that many people are seeing results with. For instance, I had suffered with acne for 15 years had tried every over the counter acne treatment(even had doctors sticking needles in my face) until I found Serious Skin Care. I wish she could look at my before and after pictures and tell me where did the acne,dark spots(I'm african-American),dry ugly peeling uneven skin went? My skin is even,clear,smooth and it feels good. I did my own comparison with the SSC cleanser vs Neutrogena acne cream wash (which is a little simular) and the Neutrogena made my skin itch so bad. And what is she talking about when she says that oily skin does not need a moisturizer? Is she crazy!! Acne skin in the winter wind without any protection on your skin! She also picks on Proactive Solution which I know several people who use that product and are satisfied with the results. The bottom line is if products did not work for the indiviual who uses them, I doubt that Serious Skin Care would be the largest auto-ship beauty line on TV and the people that us Proactive also have their product come to them by auto-ship. Sure I know that there is alot of hype when it comes to alot of products but to acne suffers when we find something that works, we stick to it no matter whats in it. Next time she should interview some people who use acne lines,people who suffered with the terrible cystic acne,large pores,oily skin,red bumps,whiteheads where over the counter treatments did not work. Have her talk to those people whos self esteem has returned. Or would she rather all of them wash there faces with soap and use vasaline! Ha Ha.
Rating:
Summary: An essential purchase
Review: I've been a Paula Begoun reader since _Blue Eyeshadow Should be Illegal_ and have always, always found her research to be on the mark and impartial. Another reviewer deducted a star because her new line of skin care products and cosmetics is included in the book. Ms. Begoun includes them with descriptions but without ratings along with the many other products available because she recognized the conflict herself. This book and _The Beauty Bible_ have been invaluable to me even though I don't agree with her ideal of a more matte makeup finish. The product reviews will point out when an AHA or BHA product is inadequate (or dangerous), whether a 'natural' ingredient is irritating and when the latest 'miracle' serum is simply an emollient moisturizer. She also points out when a cosmetic is likely to turn color or crease in wrinkles, what's suitable for the various skin types despite the claims made by the company, whether or not the claimed SPF has the adequate formulation to be effective and if the SPF is even high enough. She says plainly what's good, what's mediocre and what is outright lousy. This book is to be used like any other reference, along with your own critical judgement.
Rating:
Summary: FABULOUS BOOK - WHAT MORE CAN ONE SAY!
Review: I am sure just about every question you could probably think of regarding beauty care products is answered here. The book is complete, extensive, well-organized and factual. To date, I have not seen a better book written on this subject. I especially like the product ratings, although the reader may not entirely agree with all of them. That's fine, peference is an individual thing. One must keep in mind, the cosmetic industry in general is a multi-billion dollar business, and every cosmetic company out there has developed an extensive marketing and promotional strategy to convince you, the consumer, their product is better than the competition's. Beware! Do not be swayed into thinking the more expensive the product is, the better it must be. Sometimes you get what you pay for, often you do not - like a lot of other things in life. How many of us truly know what is in the beauty products we are buying. The book was very helpful in this regard. Some people do not care what is in it as long as it works. Personally, I want to know what is in it, what it does, how it works and the effect it may have over long-term use. I also want to know if the product has been tested on animals. If it has, it stays on the shelf, regardless "of the wonderous fountain of youth" the salesperson claims the product contains. Do not rely entirely on the salesperson's or beautician's expertise; quite often they receive a commission on sales, so if you were in her shoes, wouldn't you be inclined to make the product sound as if "your youthful complexion is going to look precisely like the cover-girl of your favourite fashion magazine" or "the wrinkles on your fifty year old skin are miraculously going to be transformed into the youthful, dewy, flawless skin of a twenty year old?" For most of us that would call for a magician, not a beautician! I did find this book to be extremely helpful in revealing the facts and reality of the beauty product industry, weeding out what is good and what is not. It is certainly a book worth reading, even if you do not necessarily agree with all the information provided.
Rating:
Summary: An entertaining, brutally frank read!
Review: Paula Begoun tells us what many cosmetic companies (and beauty editors!) don't want us to know: that most high-end, pricy cosmetic products are not much, if at all, better than their drugstore counterparts. Ms. Begoun's style is straight and to the point, and empowers the reader to go out and make some educated choices about cosmetics. She tells us which colors are too pink, too peach, etc. We probably already know that a Maybelline mascara makes more sense than a Chanel mascara, but the reviews of the skin care products are eye-opening! As to the issues of not agreeing with her on everything -- well, sure, isn't that obvious? If we agreed with her on everything, we would not really need this book, would we? And it's OK not to agree on everything. She is simply providing information that consumers can use. By the way, a few years ago, Allure magazine ran a story on Paula Begoun (probably referring to a previous edition of this book). Allure slammed her. I recommend taking Allure's commentary with a big grain of salt. Just look at who's taking out ads in the magazine! It's the cosmetic companies, who have the most to lose by Ms. Begoun's honesty. Overall, this is a great book for the cosmetics junkie in all of us!
Rating:
Summary: Great resource when you need guidance!
Review: I stumbled upon the 4th edition of this book entirely by accident. I wasn't looking for a makeup book, and I happened upon it one day in a used bookstore. After flipping through some select product lines that I either use currently or have used in the past, I realized that I agreed with about 95% of her assessments and proceeded to buy the book. It has been very helpful to me thusfar, and now I can't wait to buy the new edition - there are a lot of new products out there that I'm dying to find out about. I've read some of the other reviews, and I hear the complaints that people don't agree with her about everything. Neither do I. But then again, what critic of any kind - movies, music, books - has 100% of the population in total agreement? None. Of course this book reflects her opinions and experiences, so they should be taken for just that. Advice from a friend who has been there. That doesn't mean you'll always agree. As an example, I have been a loyal Mary Kay user for a number of years, using almost exclusively Mary Kay products. Paula is pretty hard on Mary Kay on a number of topics. However, she also gives them credit in a number of areas as well, and I agree with most of what she has to say. I have not completely abandoned Mary Kay because there are products from that line that I'm quite fond of (one of which earned an unhappy face in her book). However, for those things that I'm not happy with, I now have a resource to help me find a good replacement. To the point about Paula having her own product line, who cares? Is she biased? Of course! And she states as much in the introduction to her product line. She also doesn't rate her products with happy or unhappy faces because she knows she can't be that objective. But if you look in the Best Products chapter, there are several sections for which her products DON'T make the list. So she acknowledges other products as superior to her own, and that tells me she is making her best attempt to be objective. This book won't give you all the answers, and you'll likely disagree on occasion. But overall, if you're looking for a resource to help you work your way through the mazes of cosmetic counters and at least point you in a direction - whether drug store, department store, or boutique - this is a very valuable reference to have. Keep up the good work, Paula!
Rating:
Summary: I love this book!
Review: I recently bought the newest edition of this book and it has been well worth every dollar. Buying cosmetics has always been a nightmare for me!! Who wants to cart 3 young children into a department store to try on cosmetics and have the sales people tell you about "toxins, vitamins, etc"? I don't have the time or the patience. I much prefer to buy my products at the drug store and have been able to do so by reading up on certain products before buying them. It has saved me so much money! In Paula's defense, I believe she started her research and review of products long before she started selling her own line. I have tried her skin care line for dry skin that is prone to breakouts and it has worked wonderfully! I am glad that Paula has her own line. It has saved me the time of looking for each individual product at the drug store, buying it and then deciding if it is working on my skin.
Rating:
Summary: Slices & Dices All the Cosmetics Hype!
Review: I was running out of my usual moisturizer, facial wash, etc., and wondering if I should upgrade my skin care regime. I thought this book would be helpful in deciding what my next move should be in the skin care aisle at the drugstore. And is it ever helpful! At 41 I still have very few wrinkles (due mostly to very oily [ugh] skin), but perhaps it was time to put aside Ponds, and at least try Neutrogena, or Clinique or (pricey!) Lancome. Should I start forking over big bucks for little bitty jars of moisturizer, or individual ampules of magical skin elixirs? Should I at least pay another few dollars for a L'Oreal or RoC product? Nope! The gist of the book is this ... it's almost all hype (something which I think we pretty much knew already, but in this book that suspicion has been substantiated!). Claims by cosmetics firms are sometimes out-and-out false, or ... more frequently ... are only partially true. Manufacturers claim their "botanical extracts, AHAs, oh-so-special vitamins, etc." will benefit skin, but include them in such minute amounts they have little impact. Ads are enticing, claims breathtaking, the packaging exquisite, the price eye-popping ... and the product mediocre! Thank you, Paula! So I went out and bought my usual Ponds Moisturizer, AlphaHydrox Facial Wash, and Freeman Scrub -- all products that work well for me, and don't irritate my skin. There are some problems with the book, though. First problem is that so many products are slammed it seems almost none are any good (so many, many "unhappy face" symbols on every page!). It becomes a game of choosing a product with the fewest evils at the best price. Next ... there is Paula Begoun's obsession with the sun and sun-blocking agents in products. I personally don't get a lot of sun, not even in the summer if I can help it, so all this harping on improper sunscreening ingredients gets on my nerves. One more thing ... if you have oily skin there really isn't all that much useful detail here for you. Begoun feels if you have oily skin then you don't need a moisturizer at all. I've found that if I slap on foundatation, etc., without first having used some sort of moisturizer, I'll break out. I need that thin film of moisturizer between my skin and cosmetics. I've also found that my skin is no more oily with moisturizer than without. The Ponds Moisturizer I'm using doesn't seem to be exacerbating my oily skin problem. That's it. The book's intelligently written and certainly comprehensive ... and sometimes quite amusing! It's fun to look up the descriptions for ridiculously expensive lipsticks, mascaras, etc. (many of which have earned "unhappy face" symbols) and then go out to buy a Wet 'N Wild product that earned a good review instead! Congratulate yourself on saving all that money on over-priced cosmetic and skin care products, and spluge on very good, very expensive chocolates!
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