[.ca] Bobbi Brown Beauty: The Ultimate Beauty Resource (ISBN 0060929766)

restrictive and boring makeup lessons:
bobbi brown's makeup philosohpy is boring and way too restrictive. bobbi brown says in her book, 'i have purposely avoided colors like emerald green, turquoise, and purple. that's because i would much rather let a woman's own eye color pop out than make a bold statement with the shadow shade.' instead, she suggests using lots of brown shadows to look 'natural'. if i wanted to look natural, i wouldn't wear makeup at all. color eyeshadows are what make my brown eyes pop out. most of her suggestions are totally off based. this book is no fun. check out kevyn aucoin's book, 'making faces' instead. now there's a man who knows what makeup is about.

The best of Bobbi's books:
Call me sentimental, but this book is one of my all time favorite books on the subject of beauty and make-up. Coming from a home where anything other than lipstick was taboo and all make-up was comedogenic - and therefore evil - I needed a book like this to properly introduce me to good makeup technique and philosophy. This book provided me with the confidence to start wearing makeup on a routine basis. Ms Brown's techniques enabled me to enhance my appearance without being "high maintenance". Although many of her products are featured in the photographs, the techniques and colors she describes are universally applicable. I have been rather disappointed by Ms Brown's other books as they seem redundant in comparison.

If you don't need or want to put on lots of makeup....:
... then this is the book that you want. Instead of encouraging you to experiment with wild colors and have fun with makeup, unlike artists such as Kevyn Aucoin, Bobbi recommends keeping the makeup simple and natural. There's only one chapter on experimental beauty and even that's only 1 page and still tells you to keep it safe. However, this is still a pretty good book for many women to read, especially beginners, who want to achieve a pretty but not over-the-top makeup look. Bobbi starts off by giving you her philosophy: modern, pared-down, realistic, and natural make-up, which you will see reflected throughout nearly the entire book. Following that is a chapter about diet and excercise, including types of excercises you can do, the right kinds of foods to eat, etc. There are also individual chapters on skin care, organizing your makeup, most-asked beauty questions, changing the makeup you wear with the seasons, and more. Additionally, there are chapters on making up your lips, eyes, and face, along with using blush, eyeshadow, poweder, foundation, etc. A ten-step makeup application routine is also given for fair, medium, and dark skin tones. The book even has chapters on make-up for different ethnic backrounds, including Asian, Latina, African-American, and global women. What I find rather strange is that Bobbi's own makeup line is full of bright and experimental colors and tools, yet she says that you should always keep your makeup natural. She even says to use the same makeup routine you normally use for your wedding or a black-tie event! Bobbi goes on about how she doesn't like bright-colored eyeshadows, bright lipsticks, smoky eyes, or lots of liner for the daytime. Well, I'm sorry, but I see many women wearing these things in the daytime and the look fine. I am thirteen years old and I wear smoked eyeliner and bright eyeshadow. Is that such a bad thing? Make-up is supposed to be all about having fun and experimenting, but clearly Bobbi doesn't realize or doesn't care about that. Overall, I would say that this is the best book for women who don't wear lots of makeup, women who are just starting to wear makeup, women who want a book about natural makeup, or anyone who wants a beauty self-confidence boost. I don't think it's the best option for people who like to go past basic makeup.

my favorite makeup book:
this book covers everything in clear easy language. for me it was magic. after years of the same old routine it reintroduced me to the new styles,products and do's and don'ts in todays makeup world. even my daughters love it. a must in todays confusion at the cosmtics counter.

The Ultimate Resource--for hearing about Bobbi's opinions!!:
DON'T BOTHER with this book if you: 1. Want to learn how to apply make-up (try a Kevin Aucoin book for that--he's the best!). 2. Are interested in trying different colors or techniques, unless those colors are white, gray, nude, and yellow-pigment based. 3. Would like step-by-step instructions or before & after photos. 4. Prefer to avoid self-righteous people who will tell you what you should eat, wear and think (which is everything that they eat, wear & think). 5. Believe that soliciting others' opinions about you for publication is a little too desperate. 6. Don't own a baseball cap or are made uncomfortable when a beauty book author tells you to just wear a baseball cap and dark glasses to cover yourself. 7. Generally like the way you look, and prefer to be told how disappointed with yourself you really are.