Rating: 
Summary: True To Its Title
Review: "Beauty, The New Basics" is a great book to own, if you're 13. The vast majority of the material should be common knowledge to anyone who regularly reads fashion and beauty magazines. I'm positive that you could take any part of this book and find a similar article in one of last year's copies of Cosmo, Glamour, or even YM, for that matter.
But I'm judging this book based on its content, not on my expectations, which is why I give it four stars. It's true to its title, as the material and techniques are very basic. If you're new to makeup, want to try a new hair removal technique, or are simply looking for some easy-to-whip-up homemade beauty treatments, this book is a veritable treasure chest. Some of the eyelining tips (how to make small eyes look larger, close-set eyes look further apart, etc.) were helpful, and if you're a beauty newbie, the sections on determining your skin type and hair type are useful as well.
The writing is straightforward, easy to understand, and the book covers all the bases. I didn't care much for the photos of the makeovers...the looks seemed a bit dated, and I could hardly detect any change in the models' appearances. Otherwise, this is a decent, comprehensive primer. But like I said, beauty veterans might want to skip this and go for one of Kevyn Aucoin's books.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the only beauty books you'll need...
Review: "Beauty: The New Basics" is the ultimate guide to looking your best and feeling great. Full of practical advice, hints, tricks, and tips, this book makes a wonderful reference guide for beauty maniacs everywhere. It covers tons of beauty topics, including hair-care, make-up and cosmetics, hand and foot care, bath and body, and many more. Also included are many quick beauty fixes, cool beauty secrets and tips, and a guide in the back of the book to the best day spas, destination spas, hair salons, and places to shop for cosmetics. Keep this book on your vanity table, and when you have a beauty problem or question, turn to this book for the answer. It's one of the best beauty guides out there, and you will refer to it again and again long after you've spend the worthwhile twenty dollars on it.
Rating:
Summary: True To Its Title
Review: "Beauty, The New Basics" is a great book to own, if you're 13. The vast majority of the material should be common knowledge to anyone who regularly reads fashion and beauty magazines. I'm positive that you could take any part of this book and find a similar article in one of last year's copies of Cosmo, Glamour, or even YM, for that matter.
But I'm judging this book based on its content, not on my expectations, which is why I give it four stars. It's true to its title, as the material and techniques are very basic. If you're new to makeup, want to try a new hair removal technique, or are simply looking for some easy-to-whip-up homemade beauty treatments, this book is a veritable treasure chest. Some of the eyelining tips (how to make small eyes look larger, close-set eyes look further apart, etc.) were helpful, and if you're a beauty newbie, the sections on determining your skin type and hair type are useful as well.
The writing is straightforward, easy to understand, and the book covers all the bases. I didn't care much for the photos of the makeovers...the looks seemed a bit dated, and I could hardly detect any change in the models' appearances. Otherwise, this is a decent, comprehensive primer. But like I said, beauty veterans might want to skip this and go for one of Kevyn Aucoin's books.
Rating:
Summary: One of the only beauty books you'll need...
Review: "Beauty: The New Basics" is the ultimate guide to looking your best and feeling great. Full of practical advice, hints, tricks, and tips, this book makes a wonderful reference guide for beauty maniacs everywhere. It covers tons of beauty topics, including hair-care, make-up and cosmetics, hand and foot care, bath and body, and many more. Also included are many quick beauty fixes, cool beauty secrets and tips, and a guide in the back of the book to the best day spas, destination spas, hair salons, and places to shop for cosmetics. Keep this book on your vanity table, and when you have a beauty problem or question, turn to this book for the answer. It's one of the best beauty guides out there, and you will refer to it again and again long after you've spend the worthwhile twenty dollars on it.
Rating:
Summary: It's all in one place--that's the value
Review: A FRESH AND FUN VIEW ON BEAUTY FOR ALL AGES!
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful book -- would love to see more!
Review: I agree with chicagojess' comment that the book doesn't really address beauty issues faced by women of color. Berg does include photos and some models of color, which I applaud, but as an Asian-American woman, I felt that the issues brought up for Asian-Americans were very generalized, as if everyone of a certain race would have the same coloring/hair texture, etc, etc. The one makeover that featured an Asian woman had her with stick-straight jet black hair and powder blue eyeshadow--not very useful for everyday wear. It would be nice if there were a special chapter dealing with women of color.But all in all, I really enjoyed reading this book. The layout is wonderful, the book is stuffed with good information, and it's easy and fun to read. It's great that Berg tries to cover all age groups as well. I would love to see her publish a beauty book that just deals with young women in their 20s -- of all faces and colors.
Rating:
Summary: Great reference book that's fun to read
Review: I am over 30 and just starting to use makeup. I found that magazines did not have enough practical tips for me and I wanted to get better informed about product ingredients, cosmetic companies and to find basic "how to" tips. This book is perfect. It gives you the "how to" AND it also gives you the "why". I found it so informative that I have been returning to it each day, for a week. I compare it to "The Joy of Cooking" because you can return to it again and again for different topics, techniques and references. Berg's writing is direct, and practical, and it is beautifully illustrated, with tips for many skin types, hair types, ages, etc. The author also gives great recommendations for products, in a wide range of prices. The historical timelines are also really fun.
Rating:
Summary: So far so good....
Review: I just got this book and so far so good. I'm not a little girl anymore, I'm 25 years old, but some how I'm not an expert in makeup or spas. This book is great for girls like me (makeup clueless). I recommend this book 100%.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Resource Guide!
Review: I think this is a very underrated resource guide! It covers everything from skincare-to-haircare-to-makeup. There are great recommendations for cosmetics from every price range. It describes the necessary tools that should be in your makeup bag. There are even quotes from some of the more famous makeup artists describing their own makeup philosphies. I also enjoyed the "recipies" for natural facial masks, etc. you can create at home that will work just as well as those found in the store. In general this is a well-rounded resource that touches on every aspect of beauty.
Rating:
Summary: It's all in one place--that's the value
Review: One reviewer suggested that it was a fault of the book that you could pick up any issue of "Cosmo, Glamour, or even YM" and find similar information to what's in this book. Maybe that's true, but how many issues would you have to go through? And how much product-hawking on the part of the beauty editor would you have to sift through first? (I, for one, cancelled my subscription to the beauty magazine Allure because I was tired of the way they seemed to push primarily expensive products, ones that could easily be purchased only in NYC boutiques, or the favorites of this year's "it" girl.) This is a no-nonsense guide by a down-to-earth, sensible woman who simply has an interest in beauty. I trust her research and advice more than I do that of most of the shallow, celebrity-loving beauty editors out there. Beauty doesn't have to be silly and expensive.
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