Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me

Rating:
Summary: Good reference, but opinionated
Review: I found this book to be a very good overview of the thousands of beauty lines/products that are out there, and I recommend it if you're having problems finding the right cosmetics,and you don't want to spend a fortune. This book serves as a very good resource. I didn't give it 5 stars, however, because I also had a few problems with this book. The author strongly suggests using neutral, matte cosmetics and her reviews reflect that opinion. So if a line has particulary "shiny" cosmetics, it's dismissed. Also, the author has her own skin-care line featured in the book, which I think is a conflict of interest, even though she doesn't rate the line. Personally, I found some of the products she dismissed as really great finds, and some of the products she recommends as just awful. Use the book as a guide to experiment and find which products work for you.

Rating:
Summary: Will pay for itself in your next two purchases!
Review: This book is great! It is very comprehensive and informative. In my case it paid for itself on my first two purchases after buying the book. I have passed it on and will be purchasing the other books by Paula.

Rating:
Summary: Invaluable info, but book sometimes difficult to navigate
Review: I lived in Europe for the last few years and experienced the same kinds of problems getting straight information about beauty products that I experienced here in the USA. I returned to the USA and thought maybe I would write a book like this one myself, so I went looking for any that might already be on the shelves. Fortunately, Paula has done a lot of the work I thought needed to be done. Descriptions of individual products, debunking myths, etc., are all great things. I would say this book is an essential buy for all women. It will save them bundles of money and they will get the results they want. However, there is not an index in the back of the book. Also, the listings of recommended products in the back of the book aren't specific enough. How can I choose a moisturizer from a list of a hundred plus without reading the description of every single one? It would help to provide Paula's Top Five or Ten in each category, for example, Paula's Top Ten Inexpensive Moisturizers for Dry Skin, Paula's Top Ten Moisturizers for Dry Skin (Regardless of Price), or Paula's Top Five Creamy Lipsticks. There is so much good information here, but the reader really has to work to figure out what to do with it. I repeat, THIS IS A MUST BUY, and Paula is doing a great service to women, but hopefully the 4th edition will be easier to use.

Rating:
Summary: Great book. I now feel like an educated consumer!
Review: I've spent tons of money over the past 25 years on makeup and skin care products, always thinking that if it costs more, it must work better. Not any more! Paula's no-nonsense approach to product review is straight-forward and easy to read, and I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who uses makeup or other skin care products. She includes all the major department store lines, as well as the lower end retail lines. There is something in this book for everyone!

Rating:
Summary: This is a self empowering book
Review: I truly believe what Paula Begoune is saying in her book...This book will always be used to refer back to...sort of like a consumer reports buying guide for the year...This book has saved me tremendous amounts of money and I have challenged the knowledge of some of these cosmetic sales techniques that truly can be blinding...If you are a consumer advocate...a consumer reports person who likes to know that they are getting quality...then this book is definetley for you...the price is cheap...for what you get....A+ and when you E-mail Paula Begoune she actually E-mails you back promptly...I think she really cares about what she is doing and this is the only book out there of its kind....

Rating:
Summary: A money & time saver
Review: This is one of the best cosmetics books you can buy.It has saved me countless dollars on products I would of bought, yet be unsatisfied with

Rating:
Summary: The title was to misleading!
Review: I read Paula's Bejourn's book about cosmetics. At first I thought it would direct me to the right cosmetics that I can purchase over-the-counter without spending tons of money. But then toward the middle of the book I became more confused. There were so many different cosmetic brand names(even the ones that were most expensive, well known)that it really didn't guide me to the right products that were within my budget. I was looking for clear, distinct, easy reading to illustrate the best buys for cosmetics and not to go into details of the various well known products. To me, being a consumer watcher, when I purchase a book for $16.95 it has to tell me exactly what I'm looking for. I had to refer each time I was looking for a specific makeup product(to the various lists of that particular product), example,concealer, exactly where to shop to buy concealer(and not tons of lists again) which does the same job as the "more expensive concealer" found in better known stores. I got more confused and frustrated. I also thought an illustration on how to apply the makeup to your face(and you don't have to be an expert in drawing), it would help the consumers see the product applied to the face. Thanks, Swoozie

Rating:
Summary: Great, great book!
Review: Ever since reading this informative work, I've stopped spending $$$$ on cleansers that cause my sensitive skin to break out, and stopped using harmful scrubs, and useless "teabag"-like masks that do nothing for your face. My skin has never looked better!! Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Buying this book is money well spent
Review: Paula has done it again with a book that is informative, honest, and filled with money saving advice. Plus, her evaluations of products has saved me agonizing over which brand to choose. She's alway right on with her analysis. As for her spending over 1/3 of the book plugging her own cosmetics line (previous reviewer's comment)--she does spend SEVERAL, not many, pages on her own line. As someone who has tried the very reasonable products ($8.50 or so for an 8 oz. cleanser--can't beat that!), and as someone who has very sensitive, dry, yet problem skin, I can attest that I, for one, am THANKFUL!! that she has her own line that is cheap and effective. Well done, Paula!

Rating:
Summary: Must buy for women who are concerned about their face
Review: This book is great. Whether you are faithful to a particular cosmetics line or you like to switch from season to season, this book is THE guide. In addition to reviewing just about any cosmetic and skin care product available in North America, it addresses other concerns as well, such as which companies test their ingredients and/or products on animals. Begoun also gives information on the simplest way to care for your face, AHAs, sunscreens, acne products...For the conscious consumer!!