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Paula Begoun
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The Beauty Bible: The Ultimate Guide to Smart Beauty Paperback – June 1, 2002

by Paula Begoun (Author)
3.9 3.9 out of 5 stars 46 ratings
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There is a newer edition of this item:

The Original Beauty Bible: Skin Care Facts for Ageless Beauty
The Original Beauty Bible: Skin Care Facts for Ageless Beauty
$21.39
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Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
Myriad new formulas, outrageous claims, and hot controversies run rampant in the cosmetics industry. This second edition of The Beauty Bible will help clear up the confusion. From tanning pills to oxygen in products, from facial exercises to behind-the-scenes industry information, this book covers it all. Containing 50 percent new material, this edition includes advice on the latest cosmetic surgery procedures, online beauty shopping, and permanent makeup. Drawing on her background as a makeup artist, her 20-plus years as a consumer reporter, and the latest dermatological studies, Paula Begoun (a.k.a. the “Cosmetics Cop”) gives readers the tools and information they need to make smart skincare decisions.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    528 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Beginning Press
  4. Publication date
    June 1, 2002
  5. Dimensions
    6.25 x 1.25 x 9.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1877988294
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1877988295
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Beginning Press; 2nd edition (June 1, 2002)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 528 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1877988294
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1877988295
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.55 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.25 x 1.25 x 9.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.9 3.9 out of 5 stars 46 ratings

About the author

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Paula Begoun

Paula Begoun

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Paula Begoun is the founder and innovative force behind Seattle-based Paula's Choice Skincare. She is the author of 20+ best-selling books on skin care, makeup, and hair care.

Paula's books have sold more than 2.8 million copies worldwide. Her work as a nationally-recognized consumer expert for the cosmetics industry has led to repeat appearances on CNN, as well as programs such as Oprah, The Today Show, 20/20, Dateline NBC, The View, and The Dr. Oz Show. Each member of The Research Team is personally trained by Paula to honestly and scientifically analyze thousands of product formulations. This specialized team is dedicated to helping you find the absolute best products for your skin based on facts, not misleading hype.

Begoun is based in Seattle but spends much of her time traveling the world, often for the Paula's Choice line, which is sold in over 50 countries. Despite this, she's never too busy for some playtime with dogs and, on occasion, an ice-cold gin martini!

Customer reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars
3.9 out of 5
46 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

SoccerC444
5.0 out of 5 stars She is my idol!
Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2011
Verified Purchase
Paula Begoun and her products are hands-down the best of the best! She is my inspiration for my YouTube channel Men's Skincare With Ross ([...]).

I didn't find this book as informative as "Don't go to the Cosmetics counter without me" but I do find myself referencing this one when I need to learn about proper skincare and makeup techniques, etc.

I recommend both!
2 people found this helpful
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yogichic
5.0 out of 5 stars The Beauty Bible: The Ultimate Guide to Smart Beauty
Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2011
Verified Purchase
I selected a new book. However, I received a used book with highlighting on some of the pages. If a book is used, it needs to be labeled that way.

It's a great book with a wealth of usual information when it comes to skin care.
One person found this helpful
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J. Patrick
3.0 out of 5 stars Beauty Bible
Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2009
Verified Purchase
Information that I already knew but I am a glamour girl. If you are new to skin care and make-up then this might be a good book for you. Too elementary for me.
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Liz Something
1.0 out of 5 stars Wow, a Beauty Book Sponsored by Exxon!
Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2005
Verified Purchase
This book is a horrifying display of techno-chauvinism. Begoun insists that a regimen of chemically engineered and modified acid, petrolatum and mineral oil is the only way to keep skin clean and healthy, she even asserts that petroleum is natural and thereby no different then say olive oil or shea butter (Anyone else disturbed?) As the book progesses the advice becomes more and more caustic.
While I wanted to keep this book to show my friends what "bad advice" truly is, I had to return it. In addition to being cheaply printed and unevenly cut, the book was missing pages 231-269, (the portion dealing with blemishes, which I can only imagine.)
Don't waste your money or precious time; The Beauty Bible is a sure way to cosmetic damnation.
20 people found this helpful
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Naturals44
5.0 out of 5 stars The Beauty Bible: The Ultimate Guide to Smart Beauty
Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2011
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This was a gift for my wife who is very well satisfied with this book and uses it as a resource for her purchases of beauty products.
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socal
2.0 out of 5 stars Not worth the money, DON'T buy Paula's products
Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2005
Her book goes through a lot of trouble to rate various beauty items but I've found this "ultimate guide" to be hit and miss. At times, I'll buy a product that she rated highly and completely disliked the item and at other times I'll buy products that I love but were rated poorly. Whether you choose to spend the money on this book and the time looking up and reading about each product is up to you but I say you'd be better off taking recommendations from a friend, co-worker, etc. who has had good experiences with a product.

Also, I highly recommend that you do NOT purchase from Paula's line of cosmetics and skin care products. I bought a moisturizer from Paula's Choice, thinking that her products must be good since she has critiqued all of these other products and knows what's good and what's bad. However, I broke out into a huge rash all over my face and neck. It took me 2 trips to the doctor's office, lots of potent cream, and months before the redness went away. I would hate for anyone else to have to go through that.
17 people found this helpful
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K. Balsamo
5.0 out of 5 stars Informative book
Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2009
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Found it to be interesting and enlightening to me.
From time to time it has come in handy as a
handbook to keep rather than pass on to friends.
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Andrea Egger, author of Grave Accusations
5.0 out of 5 stars Top Cop tells it all like she's testifying in court....
Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2005
I just love Paula Begoun. The strides she's made possible for women everywhere is beyond belief. I loved her first edition of this book, and now this one brings so much more.

One of the newest strides Paula's brought out in this book is new research on chemical exfoliants to help people with oily skin and those with wrinkles. She reminds us that THERE IS NO WRINKLE CREAM that can erase a single wrinkle. Yet here we are with options to improve the skin we have through AHAs and BHAs, AND she reminds us of how to prevent wrinkles in the future. Sunscreen! Worn daily, under makeup. One simple step to prevent those wrinkles that make us cringe when we look in the mirror.

But that's not all. She talks about her newsletter, where people can get the latest info before her next book edition comes out. She talks about advertising hocus-pocus and why there just IS NO WRINKLE CREAM. Sure, they've created creams with the claim of getting rid of wrinkles, but they don't work. So what does that mean? Women everywhere can save their money and forgo such creams!

Paula gives us the hope that a wrinkle cream might come out in the future -- anything's possible -- but until she tells us, don't spend money on that.

She talks about ingredients in products and what they do and don't do. She describes how smoking affects one's skin and makes a person age prematurely. She describes skin care for every skin type.

But she's not done! She talks about cosmetic surgery, the types that are out there and the prices. She even describes personal experiences with different types.

She gives a detailed description of how makeup should be applied and why shiny eyeshadows and BLUE should be avoided. Pictures are included of makeup application on a woman. She goes on to describe nail care.

Nope, she's still not done. THEN she tells all about men's skin care and suggestions women can give the men in their lives. She talks about baby skin care, and how teens can ease into makeup application without looking like they walk the streets, but more than just "a little pink blush and lip gloss." Then she has a problem-solution section.

Paula even has a wonderful section on how a woman can feel beautiful while undergoing cancer treatment. Written in very tender terms.

She uses humor and kicks the advertising and magazine hype in the...well, you know where!

READ this book if you are at all interested in your appearance, as you must be if you got this far in my review. Kudos to you, Ms. Begoun!
23 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book. Everything you need to know about beauty, skincare, treatments and the cosmetics industry.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 27, 2007
Verified Purchase
I first discovered this book and 'Don't go to the cosmetics counter without me' when i was in Australia and ordered it for my sister back home. It is the BEST book i have ever read on skincare and beauty treatments. Very honest and informative. There are so many different skincare products out there, that all promise to work different miracles on our skin. Paula Begoun tells us the beauty myths and how she experinced, first hand the marketing ploys cosmetics companies use to encourage consumers to buy their products.

She tells us how expensive isn't always better and how it's the ingredients that matter, which are just the same in cheaper lines as the extremely expensive. There are some very interesting ones; one face cream that cost £95 used no more impressive ingredients than one at £5. It's the mis-leading marketing that's impressive NOT the cream!

I'd recommend this book to any women who uses skincare products or is interested in various treatments from laser to acne procedures. I have wised up to the marketing used by cosmetics companies and no longer listen to the skincare advisors who will basically tell you anything to get you to buy something from their range. I have saved a lot of money and have established a simple and more effective-than-ever skincare routine. I would also really recommend buying Paula Begoun's other book 'Don't go to the cosmetics counter without me' which gives a review of every skincare product and cosmetic from most of the lines out there. I never buy anything now, without referring to it first!
9 people found this helpful
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riripo
5.0 out of 5 stars 日本版希望！
Reviewed in Japan on June 20, 2002
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スキンケア、ボディケア、脱毛、美容整形、そしてメイクアップと、ありとあらゆる美容の知識が網羅されている本。
日本の美容関連書ってアーティストや芸能人が美容のHow Toを語るという内容か、あるいはヒステリックに化粧品の毒性を訴える本か、あるいは美容ライターの美容精神論か・・・といった内容しか見つかりません。あとは女性誌の美容記事。これも、どうしてもメーカー寄りの視点になってしまうのは仕方ありません。情報があふれているのに信頼できる情報に出会えないというのははがゆいものです。
しかし、この本はその手の美容書とは一線を画しています。スキンケアに関しては、できる限りその説を提唱している学者の実名、出典となる論文をきちんと提示するなど、科学的な正確さを重んじる姿勢が貫かれていて、かなり信頼できる情報ソースとなってくれます。キレイな写真も図版もなく、ひたすら字の本ということもあり、とっつきにくいし理屈っぽいと思う人も多いとは思いますが、化粧品選びに関して、一つのガイドラインとなるのではないでしょうか。これが邦訳されるか、こういうスタンスの本が日本でも出版されることを期待しています。
ただ、メイクについては本音を言えば退屈かも。Paulaさんはひたすらベーシックなメイクをすすめていますが、コスメフリークとしては、やっぱり色で遊びたいし新色が出たら試してみたくなりますよね。また、アーユルヴェーダとか漢方、アロマコロジーなどの、効果がデジタルに測りにくいものや、メンタルな部分に対する効能は、この方は(この本の中では)まったく切り捨ててしまっています。特に、伝統的な植物エキス、アロマ成分などにはかぶれの原因になるとして冷淡な扱いです。(正確に言うと「効果が不確定」とか「結果の報告がない」と言い切ってます。)そこで、ちょっと納得できないと思う人もいるのでは。
10 people found this helpful
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