Rating: 
Summary: Everything you wish your mother knew and told you
Review: I reccomend this book to everybody. In fact it should be required reading. This book is about so much more than blue eyshadow, or shiny blush (which she does say is OK for night time; who wants to walk around with shiny cheeks in the daytime?), it is about properly taking care of your skin. I have seen a dramatic improvement since taking her advice, and understand how and why products work. Information is power, and it seems to me women could use some clear advice on how and where to spend their money. Paula does this and does it well.
Rating: 
Summary: It's better than going in blind like out moms did
Review: I am glad there is someone out there obsessive enough to write a book overloaded with information regarding cosmetics, facial, baby, hair, and men products. I would have vanished into la-la land somewhere in the D's. It's just a book. You don't have to believe everything in it. It's okay to disagree. It won't hurt her feelings. You already bought it. But be thankful that someone finally gave us the true meaning of natural, or pH balanced in the cosmetic industry and the involvement of the Food and Drug Administrations. I don't want to spend $45 on an eye make-up remover when I can spend $8 on pretty much the same stuff because a company just happens to own both brands. Think of it as a reference guide, not a bible.
Rating: 
Summary: Somewhat informative, yet obviously biased
Review: I gave this book three stars because I did find that there were some good descriptions of some of the products, as in texture, degree of shine, and so forth, so it is partially useful. The problem with Paula's whole shtick, however, is that she is so clearly biased against...well...competition! You see, Paula launched her own line after she trashed the "hype" of the beauty industry. Isn't that what the evolutionary psychologists refer to as "self-interest" by the way? Trash the competition, then hype yourself to gain a competitive edge? How downright Darwinian, Paula. Another complaint is that Paula just does not seem to "get" that advertising IS all about perception. People know they are buying packaging and image. We know we don't need thirty different moisturizers to choose from, but we live in a civilized, market-driven society rather than mud huts, so companies have to have a hook to compete with others. In other words, image counts. I highly suggest that when it comes out, readers check out a new book that is supposed to be in the works by author Virginia Postrel. I believe it is titled Look and Feel, and it is about the importance of products having good looks. Face it ladies, image is important. Keep that in mind when deciding whether or not you prefer to buy makeup that is on display at the end of the aisle containing Gold Bond Powder and Pepto Bismal, or where chic, sleek, and attractive sales associates sell it (think Nordstrom or Saks).
Rating: 
Summary: The most ridiculous book I have ever read!
Review: This book is not to be taken seriously.First of all,the ratings are based on Paula's own preferences as a middle aged woman.Notice that she gives a bad rating to a lot of color cosmetic products based on their color or whether or not they contain shimmer rather than performance.I personally like blue eyeshadow and shimmery blushes and have tried many that stay on and look great.This book would have been a lot more helpful had Paula just stated the facts and left the ratings up to the individuals own judgement.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't [not buy] products based on this book alone
Review: The author, Paula Begoun, does not go into great detail when explaining why some products are "bad", and why some are "good". At times, her reasons for discrediting a product are too vague to seriously take into consideration. Also, there are times in many of her reviews when she will give a product a good rating, but then counteract it with something negative to say about it. In my opinion, I don't think that this book is [good] simply because different people with have various reactions to various products. What works for some may not work for others. Bottom Line: The book gives useful information on the ingredients within the products, but the author is not very detailed and comes across as having a "grudge" on many of the product lines. Try the products for yourself through samples, and you be the judge!
Rating:
Summary: a great book for everyone who buys cosmetics, period!
Review: I have read this book countless time from top to bottom, and here is my review of it::) The Good Stuff: This book has definitely changed my life! It has enabled me to perfect my skin-care routine to Hugh success, learn about the trick of the Cosmetic Industry and guided me through the endless array of disappointing products. Learning how to read a product's ingredient list has enabled me to avoid products that contain bad ingredients for my skin. The book has many eye opening experiences and contains up-to-date skincare research and information. Every claim is based on a scientific fact or research, which is very refreshing to see in the Cosmetics field.
It contains useful information for all skin-types and "how to's". :( The Bad stuff: Paula Begoun's seems to be a bit harsh - and I find myself using products that she did not recommend, that were actually very safe and good to my skin. She sometimes contradicts herself in the book, and includes her own skin-care line in the best product's category.
Even though she recommends thousands of products, she does have her own skincare line, which some people think might make her biased (though I must admit I'm not one of them, as she clearly recommends thousands of other products). Her reviews are very harsh and many (not all) products are evaluated strictly upon ingredients list only. She has no medical Degree and is not a Dermatologist. :| In conclusion: This book is a must have! However, "read it, don't live it! "I use it as a guideline - not a guide! The book is controversial and not everyone may like it! However, if your sick and tired from the Cosmetics Industry "hopla-dopla" endless disappointing choices and in need of a helping hand, This
Book will revolutionize the way you think.
Rating:
Summary: Excludes teenagers and younger women
Review: I have the previous edition of this book, and although I found it a bit helpful in rating and outlining the ingredients of particular cosmetics, her recommendations were limited to products that would look good on middle-aged and older women. I was about 18 when I purchased her book, and was interested in finding products that had more natural ingredients...it didn't help with that too much. I was also very much interested in finding sparkly makeup in fun colors that can comlement a person's skin and eyes and hair (which, in my opinion can look terrific on young women like myself) that were of good quality, but Ms. Begoun would dismiss anything of an "unnatural" color or what she perceived as being "too shiny." Most of her comments warned against products that will accentuate wrinkles. But what if you don't have any wrinkles and want something beautiful and fun?!?! I tried many of her recommendations like the Almay eyeshadows, which I think are good (now that I am older), but back then, and to some degree now, I thought the matte textures and colors looked bland and boring on a fresh, young face. Paula, I know that your findings were the result of using yourself as a guinea pig for these products, and I appreciate the fact that you provide an alternate source of information on cosmetics, but I suggest that you hire "younger" employees to test and evaluate products too. Everybody is different.
Rating:
Summary: Book by biased author
Review: Having read her preivous books I was anxious to see this latest edition given that she has her own product line. I was extremely disapointed. Her attitude was "too harsh" and it was difficult reading reviews knowing she was critiquing her own competition. This book seems to be nothing more than a marketing tool to get you to her web page in order to get you to buy her products. It's a shame she still calls herself "cosmetic cop", when she is really nothing more than a self-promotor.
Rating:
Summary: Misinformed
Review: I have read her book and, I am thankful that I went to the library versus buying her book. I have found a few errors and, am curious if she is being held liable for misinformation. I was an employee for a company that she reviewed and, I can tell you that she made false claims or incorrectly listed an ingredient in this particular line. Which completely discounts her credibility in my eyes. I encourage the potential buyer to be aware and check her credentials. You may be better off with an ingredient dictionary. 2 that come to my mind are A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetics Ingredients or What's in your Cosmetics.
Rating:
Summary: Bad Advice and Self Promoting...Leave this book at home
Review: I'm shocked that so many women have been duped by this book and her others. It seems like people assume that since a book is in print, that the interior pages must be absolute truth, written in stone. Not so. This self-donned "cosmetics cop" peddles the notion that the more natural skin care care products are a bunch of bunk and a waste of the consumer's money. She puts down the use of MOST essential oils, dismissing them as volatile oils that are skin irritants. Well, Paula, try doing your research! Pick up nearly ANY essential oil or aromatherapy book and they CLEARLY STATE that essential oils are highly concentrated and should be diluted with a carrier oil or other products, such as unscented lotion. She even dismissed lavender essential oil which IS able to be used on the skin undiluted. Furthermore, scanning a few pages of her website makes you feel like you are really soaking up a lot of knowledge that you need to know. Well, keep reading. As you read more and more, you find that it is all a clever web of pages designed to get you to buy HER products....products that reak of chemicals. She raves about mineral oil on your skin, but doesn't let you know that including it in products gives them a LONG shelf life, thus, increasing her profit margin. So...before you go to the cosmetic counter, do a little more research on your own and pick up a few more books. In my opinion, the "cosmetics cop" should have her badge taken away and replaced with a sign that says, "snake oil for sale".
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