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Summary: A great Book! A must Have for the Skin-Care Aware!
Review: This Book Will Show you the truth Behind the 45$ Billion Dollar Industry!This book is defenatlly A must-Have book for skin-care aware shopers.A must Buy!!! Jonathan.
Rating: 
Summary: A great resource
Review: I love this book. I have only had it for a week, and I can tell that it will be an invaluable resource. I don't see myself agreeing with her always (I like shiny make-up -- and even blue eyeshadow) but if I hadn't read her review of my sunscreen, I would have no way of knowing that it did not contain any of the top 3 ingredients used to block UVA rays. The people who probably don't like her book the most are likely those who love the products she trashes -- or those who really believe Chanel is worth the price it costs. Me, I see this book as not being the final word on any given product or item, but as a really helpful resource to find out about skin care and make-up before spend the money. I definately recommend it to those make-up junkies everywhere, as it is easy to read, and reviews every single product found in boutiques, department stores, and drugstores alike.
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Summary: Buy this before you go to the cosmetics counter
Review: This book will save you a ton of money and agravation. After reading Paula's reviews I know longer waste my time with high priced cosmetics when the drug store stuff can do the same thing just as well. Should you take the reviews as gospel? No. As Paula has said repeatedly in each edition of her books, you dont' have to agree with her. Some of the products she likes don't do anything for me and some of the ones she hates are cosmetics I've been using for years.
The book does a great job of debunking beauty myths. There is no cosmetic that will shrink your pores. There is no cosmetic that will recreate your cellular structure and there is no cosmetic that will make a 60 year old look 15 again. Don't be fooled by the cosmetic industry. Buy this book and get educated.
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Summary: Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous.
Review: I have been reading Paula's books for going on 15 years now, and all I can say is she is just a genius. I bought her first book Blue Eyeshadow Should be Illegal, in 1985 and never looked back. Following her beauty advice, I have saved money (LOTS OF MONEY), my skin, and my youthful appearance. Read each of the product reviews carefully before you buy, and you will not be disappointed. I am only disappointed when I can't find an item I am looking for at the store. I find her advice and reveiws to be on the money 99.9% of the time (I have very dry skin, so sometimes I need more moisture in my products than Paula recommends.) However, I NEVER go shopping without carrying this book with me. Be warned, sales women at the cosmetics counters will treat you badly if they see it, so either be discreet, if you need their help, or pay no attention to them and just ask for what you want. The only thing that would make this book better, is if it were available on as a searchable CD-ROM. That way you could print lists to take with you, instead of the whole book. Are you listening Paula?
Rating: 
Summary: Paula Begoun has her own cosmetic line which makes this book
Review: lose a lot of its credibility in my eyes. It was helpful in some areas, but I think it's fair to say that the majority of her reviews are very negative.
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Summary: This book pays for itself with all the money you'll save
Review: At first, this book seems a bit dense given that all the cosmetics company are listed alphabetically. But when you have had a chance to browse a bit through the book, you will notice that Paula Begoun is very consistent with her mission: To make sure the consumer knows what she/he is buying. The claims made by some companies about anti-wrinkling creams and other antiaging products are absolutely ludicrous. Some products go as far as promising results that won't materialize (such as a foundation which pigments adapts to light to match skin color!!!). Paula Begoun has a credible background and is a very good consumer's advocate. I am really satisfied with this book and I highly recommend it to anyone who buys cosmetics, especially the high-end brands like Lancome, Dior, Lauder, Chanel, Creme de la Mer...
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Summary: Well Worth the Price!
Review: Being a college student with acne and on a budget, this book has really helped sort through all the claims of the cosmetics companies. Yes, you can read beauty magazines if you want to, but if you want to know the truth, don't. The writers can't say anything very bad about a product because chances are that company has advertisments in that magazine. The companies won't pay to advertise in a magazine that gives them a bad review. Her chapters on skin care I thought were extremely helpful. The reivews were great, too. I was very curious about her skin care line, so I tried it. I really think they are the best kept secret in the beauty industry. They didn't dry out my skin, make it feel like it was burning, and they helped get rid of blackheads and pimples. Trust me, when you've been struggling with acne for almost ten years, her line can be a godsend. Of course, they won't work miracles, but they work far better than anything else I've tried. And did I mention they're cheap? That's probably the best thing about them! Even if you never use one product of hers (don't worry, the book isn't a 1000 page commercial to buy her products), she can still help guide you through with products will work, and which ones don't. All in all, even if you're not a cosmetics junkie, this book is still worth the price and will save you money in the long run.
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Summary: I'm disappointed!!!!!
Review: I thought that this book would further educate me on a topic I already knew some about, but it really didn't. I'd recommend it ONLY to those with very, and I mean VERY limited knowledge on skin care and makeup. For the others like myself that regularly read health&beauty magazines, books and articles, well, then alot of this will be old news to you. For example, throughout the book Paula constantly reminds us that most of the damage and aging to our skin is brought on by the sun, so wear sunscreen avidly and avoid tanning like the plague. Well, anyone not living under a rock should already know this. And as for the cosmetic ingredient listings in the back of the book, handy for some I'm sure, but I have seen comparable listings on various web sites and in numerous magazines over the years, so nothing new there. Okay, then there's the product reviews. I have to be honest here, I just didn't agree with ALOT of them. She marked quite a few of the makeup and skin care products that I have used religiously for years and adore, with frown faces! And the explanations for why she didn't like them left alot to be desired. I want MORE detail!
And I really started to wonder if any of the products that Paula marked with smileys and gave favorable reviews to were indeed as nice as she claimed, so I tried a few, and truth be told, my opinion was far different from hers on some of the products. I will say this, she is basically right that most of the dept. store makeup and skin care products are the same as the drug store products, the only difference being the price and packaging. BUT, on rare ocassion, some of the more expensive makeups and moisturizers that I have tried did wonders for my skin that a drug store bottle just couldn't. So, sometimes, just SOMEtimes, a higher priced product MAY be better (sorry Paula). I feel that it truly depends on the person's skin, as we all respond differently to different products, none of us having the same skin. Anyway, I don't like to complain, but I feel I really didn't get my money's worth ($22 plus postage)from this book.
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Summary: My Mom Loves This Book
Review: She seriously does not go to the cosmetics counter without it!
Rating:
Summary: Most helpful book for a cosmetic junkie!
Review: This book is a great resource guide for anyone who is tired of wasting money on cosmetics that don't deliver, and for those who need help weeding out the products they need from the dozens that get pushed on us by advertisers and comissioned salespeople. Paula Begoun delivers clear, straightforward information on what a product contains and whether it will deliver what you need. She helps you decide whether it will be worth spending the money for some exotic sounding ingredient that is really nothing more than water! Although she may appear somewhat biased against the more expensive cosmetic brands found in department stores, she does so for good reason. Most of them are selling hype in a bottle and why should you spend more of your hard-earned money than necessary? Her reviews will honestly tell you when one of their products will produce results even if it is expensive. In all fairness to these brands, she does state that if you feel that you are truly getting your money's worth, then spend it even if there is a less expensive and comparable product. She also has some very definite opinions about suitable makeup colors and effects such as shine, so you should keep in mind that it is only her opinion, and decide for yourself if blue eyeshadow or a shimmery blush is something you want to wear. The point of her book is to educate in order to save you time and money and it does just that. I refer to it time and time again. It is definitely worth the money.
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