Salon Beauty

Dont Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me 7th Edition

Dont Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me 7th Edition

Women spend an extraordinary amount of money on cosmetics–$45 billion a year in the U.S. alone. Now in its fourth edition, Don’t Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me strikes fear in cosmetics-counter consultants everywhere. First off, Begoun has deconstructed ingredient lists. Ever wonder what methylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben are doing in your mascara? And what is diazolidinyl urea? All four are potential irritants, and the latter is a preservative that can release formaldehyde, a class A carcinogen. Buyer beware.

Begoun also lists which companies are cruelty-free and which continue to conduct animal testing. The majority of the book–and that’s nearly 800 pages–is devoted to reviews of thousands of cosmetics, from cleansers, foundations, alpha-hydroxy acids, and moisturizers to lip liners, eye shadows, and concealers, all of which Begoun has personally tested. (There are no hair care products listed, as that warrants another book entirely: Don’t Go Shopping for Hair Care Products Without Me.)

She’s perfectly frank and tells it like it is. (On Revlon’s ColorStay Makeup: “goes far beyond the claim of ‘It won’t come off on him.’ It won’t come off when you want it to.”) You’ll learn how to tell when you’re being boondoggled by a salesperson, what’s overpriced and overhyped, as well as what’s overlooked. More than 200 brands are included, along with a helpful summary at the end that lists the best products for each cosmetic category. It should be noted that not only is Begoun a fine consumer advocate, she’s also a self-esteem advocate: she mentions time and again that even the best cosmetics won’t necessarily improve your life, and that’s a point well taken.

User Ratings and Reviews

2 Stars Not the greatest
This book is chock full of information and clearly very well-researched. The problem is that it is poorly organized. The book should put all mascara together, all cleansers together, all eye creams, lipsticks, etc. Instead, it places all brands in alphabetical order. Therefore, if you want to know which is the very best mascara to purchase, you have to look through pages and pages to get the info. It seems that it may be done that way purposely to assure that readers go through ever brand and all of their products. This is not the reference that I thought it would be.

3 Stars Don’t Go the the Cosmetic Counter without Me
This edition was 2002 - somewhat outdated given the advances in cosmetic research and products.

5 Stars A must.
I love this book. I looked up every cosmetic and skin care product I own, checking for review. I’ll continue to look up products each time I must replace a used product. It’s also interesting to read the product ingredients and also the parent company of many of these name familiar companies.

3 Stars Not what I was expecting
Pretty plain looking book on the inside. Of course a very personal opinion by the writer. I scanned through it and selected my ‘favorite’ cosmetics which had conflicting views to mine. So based on that I didn’t feel it would be worth keeping - returned it.

5 Stars Don’t Leave Home Without It
This book is a must for anyone serious about skin care. Paula’s no nonsense reviews really help cut through the product hype and find what will really work for you. Just try looking up all the stuff in your cabinet. You’ll be amazed at how many times you’ve been duped and how you will actually save money by using her recommendations.

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Steel Magnolias Special Edition

Steel Magnolias Special Edition

In the South, a diabetic girl decides to risk having a baby and is supported by her mother and four loyal friends.
Genre: Feature Film-Drama
Rating: PG
Release Date: 3-JAN-2006
Media Type: DVD

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Steel Magnolias
This movie is tender and funny. The cast was superb. This movie will steel you heart. A thumb’s up!

4 Stars Movie review
A real “girls” movie! We get to see an insight into this family and all of the wild, wacky and crazy stuff that goes along with it. In my opinion, its a real tear jerker!

3 Stars I saw it, I cried; I’m not ashamed to admit it…
I’ll never understand the male stereotype that says you cannot admit to liking anything that doesn’t involve bloodshed, sports or nudity. Sure, as a guy I can understand why those three things are appealing to my gender (although I am far from a sports fan) but I have never been one to hide my deeper feelings or emotions. I cry whenever I want to; I have deep and meaningful conversations with my male friends and I definitely watch whatever it is that I want to regardless of the intended fan base.

I say this, not because I think that this is a particularly good movie but because this seems to be a popular movie that men feel unabashedly ashamed in either watching or enjoying or, god forbid, crying at.

The film tells the story of a group of women who frequent the same hair salon and become a central part of each others lives over the years. There is M’Lynn, the kind hearted mother who only wants what is best for her daughter Shelby, who just so happens to be a serious diabetic. There is Truvy, who owns the salon, and Annelle, her new employee with a background no one is too sure about. There is the loudmouthed Ouiser and her loyal friend Clairee.

Together they make for one lively bunch.

The film mostly focuses on M’Lynn and Shelby as they struggle to come to terms with Shelby’s growing independence. Shelby wants to get married and have children, but the doctors have warned her that childbirth will not be a smart move for someone in her condition. M’Lynn wants to allow her daughter to live her own life, but she also is the mother and mothers always know what is best for their children; right?

The film is tragically clich

The Green Beauty Guide Your Essential Resource to Organic and Natural Skin Care Hair Care Makeup and Fragrances

The Green Beauty Guide Your Essential Resource to Organic and Natural Skin Care Hair Care Makeup and Fragrances

“Go green and get gorgeous The promise of beauty is as close as the drugstore aisle-shampoo that gives your hair more body, lotions that smooth away wrinkles, makeup that makes your skin look flawless, and potions that take it all off again. But while conventional products say they’ll make you more beautiful, they contain toxins and preservatives that are both bad for the environment and bad for your body-including synthetic fragrances, petrochemicals, and even formaldehyde. In the end, they damage your natural vitality and good looks. Fortunately, fashion writer, nutritionist, and beauty maven Julie Gabriel helps you find the true path to natural, healthy, green beauty. She helps you decipher labels on every cosmetic product you pick up and avoid toxic and damaging chemicals with her detailed Toxic Ingredients List. You’ll learn valuable tips on what your skin really needs to be healthy, glowing, and youthful. Julie goes one-step further-and shows you how to make your own beauty products that feed your skin, save your bank account, and are healthy for your body and the environment, such as: - Cleansing creams and oils - toners - facials - under eye circle remedies - anti-aging serums - lip balms - scrubs - exfoliators - clay and cleansing masks - moisturizers - acne treatments - makeup remover - teeth whiteners - shampoos, conditioners - fragrances - sun protection - bug repellants - baby products - and much more! With her friendly, thorough, and helpful advice; fabulous beauty recipes; product recommendations and ratings; Toxic Ingredients List; and a complete appendix of online resources, Julie Gabriel gives you all the information you need to go green without going broke and become a more natural, healthy, and beautiful you.”

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars love it!
I love this book, and I pad a fraction on here vs. barnes and noble.

5 Stars A real eye-opener
This book is excellent. I want to show it to all my friends so that they will realise the amount of potentially dangerous chemicals in all the cosmetic products we use. A must read.

5 Stars Upgrade Your Beauty
Most women will look in Cosmo or other beauty magazines for the latest cosmetic and fashion tips, but what many of these magazines don’t tell you is that the products manufactured by these companies are using chemicals and other compounds that once your skin absorbs them could cause other ailments or problems. While I don’t readily wear makeup or use cosmetics, I gladly took on a TLC Book Tour stop for Julie Gabriel’s The Green Beauty Guide: Your Essential Resource to Organic and Natural Skin Care, Hair Care, Makeup, and Fragrances. I love holistic looks at our everyday lives and books that seek to provide an alternate perspective to how we live our lives whether its from turning holiday celebrations green or learning how to reduce our own carbon footprints.

The Green Beauty Guide goes beyond the typical fad advice given by glossy magazines, providing the reader with recipes to create their own natural shampoos, facials, and other products, while at the same time providing readers with the know-how to become savvy cosmetics shoppers. Check out the Ten Commandments of Green Beauty at the end of Chapter 2.

Through a combination of science, insider information about the cosmetic industry and government regulation, and common sense, Gabriel dispels some of the myths espoused by the cosmetics industry. For instance, did you know that the skin absorbs about 60 percent of the substances applied to its surface? I didn’t, but now that I do, I plan to be more careful about what solutions I use. Think about your morning routine. . .how many cleansers, lotions, and gels do you use before you leave the house each day? Examine the ingredients of those bottles, and you’ll see exactly how many chemicals you expose your skin to every day. Given the complexity of skin and other systems throughout the body, it is no wonder that diet, exercise, and other behaviors can influence how well those systems function. Beauty or the health of your skin is tied to all of those things and more.

One of the best sections in the book discusses green washing, which will help those newly interested in the “green” movement to discern which products actually are safer for them and made from natural products, and which are merely using the presence of natural products to claim they are “green” or organic. Gabriel even provides Green Products Guide with a one-, two-, three-leaf system that categorizes how natural a product is. Other helpful sections of the book provide ways to make your own green beauty products, with a list of necessary tools, ingredients, and tips on where to purchase the ingredients. I also was surprised to find green beauty tips for babies in terms of diaper area care, massage oils, baby wipes, and bathing for babies.

Overall, this guide has a great many tips for those looking to expand the care of themselves and their environment into cosmetics and beauty care. I recommend this for those who wear makeup, lotions, shampoos, conditioners, and other products, which is pretty much everyone. We all should take better care of our planet and ourselves, and what better way than to start with the beauty products we use.

5 Stars Great Purchase
I really liked this book, I found it to be technical but friendly to read. I found myself reading it like a novel that I could not put down. The suggestions have worked well for me and I look forward to adding many of her top picks to my beauty regime. This book is a great gift for anyone who wants to start going green with their beauty products and gain some real and helpful knowledge about the beauty industry.

5 Stars Absolutly Amazing
I didn’t buy the book from Amazon, but wanted to leave a review for all potential buyers: The book is so informative, it is packed with so much information, and is a real eye-opener. I thought buying organic was enough, but its not, there are so many hidden things that Julie points out and writes about. She doesn’t just say “this is bad for you” she tells you about the effects that each chemical may have on our bodies. This is a great read, and has lots of recipes for DIY too!!

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