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Do you have any favorite beauty books?
Do you have any favorite beauty books? Share your faves!
Kevyn Aucoin’s books were always good reads!
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Sam Fine’s Books are awesome and so are Bobbi Brown’s
I totally agree and I would add Iman’s and Rae Morris’ beauty books in for consideration.
I have the Allure beauty book (“Confessions of a Beauty Editor”) but I don’t refer to it at all. I was drawn in by the super slick photos. The Kevyn Aucoin ones are stunning!
About face – Scott barnes
Bobbi Brown’s New Teen Beauty book. saw it in Bloomingdales and HAD to pick it up.
Kevyn Aucoin’s Making Faces — an incredible life and talent cut far too short.
Kevyn Aucoin books and Makeup Your Mind (NARS) pops up in my head 😀 I have more but can’t think of them at the moment
i love jemma kidd’s book :the make up school (that is the name i switzerland, there may be an other one in the states)
i also own bobbi brown’s make up manual.. but i think this is only meant for people who don’t have any experiences with make up!!
Yes Kevyn Aucoin’s two or three books that came out years ago were very nice. He was so talented especially Making Faces where he made a whole bunch of celebs like actresses, singers and models look like famous historical people, silver screen early 20th century actresses, or other late 20th century celebs. That was cool and he gave you instructions on how he did those looks.
Sam Fine’s Fine Beauty book, and Paula Begoun’s Don’t Go To The Cosmetics Counter Without Me books. And yeah Bobbi Brown does good books to help people who want to start with makeup but don’t know where to start from what I saw last.
Kevyn Aucoin and Bobbi Brown have good books. Also, I REALLY like Best in Beauty by Riku Campo!
Iman: The Beauty of Color. Lots of inspiration in there.
I agree! I love Kevyn’s books as well, but was very impressed with Iman’s book.
i actually really like the jemma kidd “make-up masterclass” book. it’s a basic book but i think it’s a good one and i still use it as a reference tool all the time.
Bobbi Brown’s Makeup Manual!
Same here. Even though it’s the only beauty book I own, it’s timeless. I can always go back to it whenever I need advice!
Of course Keyvin Aucoin !
I must agree… Kevin Aucoin’s books are my favorite!
Oh, I also love Kevyn’s books. I have 3 of them. It’s such a waste that he died prematurely. His makeovers transcend simple makeup artistry.
I like Confessions of a Beauty Editor by Allure mag, Iman’s Beauty of Color, and all of Kevyn Aucoin’s. I know I’m forgetting others but these are my go-to guides.
I liked Asian Faces by Taylor Chang-Babaian.
What perfect timing! I actually just ordered a book by Bobbi Brown, the Makeup Manual, and it’s arriving in the mail today as I write this. Definitely looking forward to people’s recommendations!
Also I read Face Forward by Kevyn Aucion, loved it.
Whoops, I meant Kevyn Aucoin, sorry about that.
Bobbi Brown’s beauty manual and Iman’s the color of beauty.
Well since ur posts are my dictionary to make up…i consider this to b as good as a book.I just wish we could ask you questions somewhere..like i seriously need help between kaska beige and beiges de chanel quads..which shud i get? I went for Guerlain foundation bt no shade in parure gold so went in for parure aqua,seems a bit watery?my shade was 05.Thanx for all your help Christine.Do you mind us asking questions in unrelated posts?
Aqua is definitely more water-based!
kevyn aucoin making faces and face forward. I like the bobbibrown makeup manual as well but its VERY in depth.
Paula Begoun’s “Don’t Go To The Cosmetics Counter Without Me” is essential for anyone with sensitive, reactive skin like mine. Or anyone who wants to learn about what’s actually IN beauty products. There are SO many choices when it comes to makeup and skincare it can get overwhelming when deciding what to choose. Paula does a good job of helping your narrow it down. I also have a subscription to her regularly updated “Beautypedia” site, which is like an expanded version of the book.
I’m interested in the history behind cosmetics- I thought ‘Hope in a Jar: The Making of America’s Beauty Culture’ was pretty interesting.
I love all of Aucoin’s books. <3 The man was a genius!
Also, I've been buying books of vintage cosmetic ads- I just got 'Hello Gorgeous!: Beauty Products in America, '40s-'60s'. It's a little book full of all these old ads… very cute. (I don't know why they don't make lipstick tubes the way they used to- in those days there was so much design put into them, they were like pieces of jewelry.)
Express Makeup by Rae Morris, beautiful photography and so informative.
Making Faces by Kevyn Aucoin, which I only read this past December, is my favorite. I also enjoyed ‘Don’t go to the Cosmetics Counter without me’ and right now I’m reading Jemma Kidd, Makeup Masterclass. I read the Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual and it had some good parts, too.
Kevyn’s books are amazing. The photos are flawless – he is truly an artist.
Rae Morris- Makeup: The Ultimate Guide
Kevyn Aucoin’s books are so popular! I don’t like them :/ lol! I don’t like the way the makeup looks in them. Some of the ideas are cool but I always thought the end-result came off kind of cakey and in verged on “Draggy.”
I’d love to see a “What’s your least favorite makeup book?” post! hehe! Mine would be Makeup Your Mind by NARS. I LOVE the concept with the clear pages, etc. But the book itself is monotonous. If you’re going to assume that your reader knows enough about what they are doing to NOT include any kind of instructions, etc. Then at least throw in some interesting makeup looks. Blech! lol!
Essence Beauty Basics and Beyond
My favourites are Kevin Aucoin Making Faces, I LOVE all those different looks he did on celebrities and Makeup Makeovers by Robert Jones – I really enjoy his philosophy on beauty and makeup and the before and after pictures on a wide, wide range of women of all ages and all skin colours are really impressive. I even like how he did a small section on models and how they look without makeup!
The 5-Minute Face by Carmindy.
If you’ve done a lot of makeup in your life or are a professional,it’s not going to do much for you. But I recommend it to everyone who’s just been bitten by the bug.
Kevyn Aucoin for sure and Francois Nars’ Makeup Your Mind.
The Tyra Banks one, I think it’s called like “Beauty inside and out” something like that, it’s pretty much my beauty bible! <3 it
I like the Makeup Master Class by Jemma Kidd, w/c was a gift to me from my sister-in-law. I know most of the tips there are out dated buy I like the pictures =)
All of Paula Begoun’s books are essentials . . . although I don’t always agree with her analyses (i.e., some products she gives bad ratings to work great for me and vice versa), the information she gives about ingredients and what products actually do is invaluable . . . makes you a much smarter consumer.
I love Paula Begoun’s The Original Beauty Bible, and her Don’t go to the Cosmetic Counter Without Me.
I think its out of print but i started my beauty education with my mom’s copy of year of beauty by vidal and beverly sasoon. A little outdated but the fundamentals are all there. I also love Jolie/Nadine’s book her first about beauty products. A good reference for the do’s and do nots plus some great product references
rae morris, makeup – the ultimate guide
All the Kevyn Aucoin books are great. Paula Begoun’s “The Beauty Bible” and her books reviewing major cosmetics brands are great too, although her makeup aesthetics may not be for everyone.