I love my books. I will read practically anything you put in front of me. Combine reading and beauty together as far as I am concerned it's going to be a recipe for success... Or is it?
I am a little addicted to Amazon. There is something new posted through my door almost every week (or there was until I started the 100 Day Challenge). I've received books I have had a hard time putting down and I've received books where I really shouldn't have wasted my precious pennies.
Here, just for you, I have rounded up a small selection of the books that I have in my 'beauty' selection and am going to give them all a mini-review so that you know not to make the same mistakes that I did!
HOW TO WALK IN HIGH HEELS & A YEAR IN HIGH HEELS - CAMILLA MORTON
THINGS I WISH MY MOTHER HAD TAUGHT ME: LESSONS IN GRACE AND ELEGANCE - LUCIA VAN DER POST
I picked this book up on a whim purely because of the title. It's a fascinating book written by a beauty journalist that has quite literally been there and done it. There is home inspiration as well as travel advice and a directory of the places where you can pick up the best products at the lowest prices. The section entitled 'How To Look Good' is the most well thumbed of all of it's glorious pages. It really is like having a wise aunt imparting mature knowledge that will last you a life time.
THE GIRLS' BOOK OF GLAMOUR: A GUIDE TO BEING A GODDESS - BUSTER BOOKS
This book is more for tweens and teenagers than it is for adults. To be honest it's a little condescending in it's tone of writing and it has dire illustrations but it would make the perfect gift for a young girl just starting out with beauty products that wants to know how to do certain looks and learn certain tips. I prefer my books a little more mature but this does have a couple of ideas that work for both women and girls so don't completely rule out reading it.
BACKWARDS IN HIGH HEELS: THE IMPOSSIBLE ART OF BEING FEMALE - TANIA KINDERSLEY AND SARAH VINE
I devoured all 376 pages of this book in three days. I couldn't put it down. It isn't a beauty book in the traditional sense of being about tips and tricks. It's more of a lifestyle essay, if that makes sense? There is a beauty section but it discusses modern interpretations of beauty. It's hard to describe except to say that this is exceptionally well written and beautifully illustrated with wonderful quotes and chapters on everything that a woman is going to encounter in her life at some point. Please buy it. You won't regret it!
1001 LITTLE BEAUTY MIRACLES - ESME FLOYD
I constantly have this book in my hand when I'm at home. It's full of crazily good tips and tricks for being beautiful. Every time I pick it up I find something new to remember and use in my beauty routine. It also has ideas for homemade products as well as general well-being advice. It comes as part of a line up of '1001 Little...' titles which are also worth a look at! I can't imagine not having this book now.
THE COMPLETE MAKE-UP AND BEAUTY BOOK - LEIGH TOSELLI
'Complete' is rather a large over-statement in my opinion. This is quite a thin book when there are so many things to cover in the make-up and beauty world. However, there are some great photographs and the concise guides to brushes, looking after your skin and how to apply make-up are very good. The back of the book contains some looks to try to replicate for yourself. I think they look a little 90s, personally. It's not something I would have bought if I had bothered to read the description of it properly (that's my impulse purchasing for you) but if you want a book that is going to take you right back to basics then give it a go.
I do have a lot of other beauty books but I wanted to vary the ones that I listed here as books like The Beauty Bible are generally quite well known anyway. I hope you enjoyed this post and it's inspired you to do some reading!
Are there any beauty books that you could recommend for me?
What do you think of these books I've reviewed here?
Let me know - all comments loved and appreciated!
I just bought "Things I wish my mother had taught me" for a couple of pounds on ebay second hand thanks to this post. I've never actually bought a book like this, sticking mostly to fiction or art books, but I'm looking forward to reading something different.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'll pick up some of the others, too!
-Olivia xxx
Creamteaandkisses.blogspot.co.uk
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did Olivia. I love it and won't ever part with it. The author is so well respected too that it makes it even better in my opinion!
DeleteHelen xxx
I really like the Bobbi Brown books The Makeup Manual is really good. Also although mainly for fashion the Lauren Conrad book has a really good beauty section to it. I found your blog through the Blog love therapy blog hop and am now following :)
ReplyDeletehttp://prettylitlefashionista.blogspot.co.uk/
Thanks for following :) ooh I will take a look at those - thanks! xxx
DeleteBrilliant post, would love to have a read of some of these x
ReplyDeleteAw thank you :) yeah they're definitely worth a read! xxx
DeleteI actually really want the Bobbi Brown book! I want it :) xo
ReplyDeleteI'm eyeing it up as there are so many great reviews and recommendations for it! I might just have to buy it! xxx
DeleteYay, I was looking for books like this lately, will have to check these out!xx
ReplyDeleteI love my books so there will probably more than one of these posts haha - glad I could post something useful :) xxx
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