Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I bought this book one year ago, I have read it thoroughly and I have referred to it often and followed her advice on skin care - so this review reflects 1 year's PERSONAL consideration of the book's content. Also, before writing this review I thoroughly read every review on Amazon, and I will repeat comments made by other reviewers, I am doing so because it bears repeating. This book is basically written for gullible consumers, consumer's who believe the grandiose claims and are swayed by product labeling. For example, Lancome recently marketed a product that claimed to repair or sooth "derma-creases", if you believe that "derma-creases" is an actual scientific term, than you definitely should read this book, because all it means are "wrinkles on the surface of the skin" (that is my own anecdote - not Paula's). Or if you think that a word that is conjugated so that it is French makes it better, than you should also read this book. But, if you do read this book you need to realize that this the only thing it teaches you - that you are being manipulated by packaging and pseudo scientific claims. Now I am not that gullible, and I know many smart women who aren't that gullible. Many Americans are bombarded by marketing and advertising campaigns on a daily basis, so this is nothing new nor is Paula's almost communistic view of big business anything new either. Unfortunately, when I purchased this book I expected more than that simplistic message. If you are a smart woman than you may find that Paula Begoun's tone throughout the book is condescending, it is also redundant and most reviews are negative. What makes it especially condescending is that she is not a chemist, nor a dermatologist, and her sources of information come primarily from a few selected sources: 1) The FDA (the government, the same agency that approved Vioxx only to have people die from it), 2) Several published medical articles written by dermatologists, and if you know anything about scientific research, there is always a scientist who can poke holes in another's research and hypothesis. Therefore, one can always find a published article to support the claim they wish to make, and use that exclusively. 3) The beauty companies themselves. I do not consider any of those sources objective, not even when combined. Finally, she writes that beauty companies withhold their research or the methods behind them, which is why we shouldn't believe them. Yet, she doesn't hold herself up to the same standards as she admits that her own rating process is more challenging than she can explain or is based "opinion". Sorry, Paula but this does not give me ample reason to believe you. The book is comprised of reviews for 99% of the skin care and makeup on the market. The reviews are based on the following: Skin Care: based upon the ingredients, the formulations and whether than may irritate the skin. Makeup: subjectively (her word - not mine) based upon the texture and color range of the product. Let's start with her makeup reviews. You don't need someone to tell you if the color ranges are small or vast. One can go to a store or an online store for that. She admits she dislikes iridescent makeup and this is peppered throughout her reviews. Her personal dislike of shiny eye shadow has nothing to do with a product review and is waste of text and the reader's time. And since makeup is such a personal thing, colors are relative to skin tone, age and personal style, and formulations are relative to skin condition and texture - I HAVE TO CONCLUDE THAT HER MAKEUP REVIEWS ARE MEANINGLESS. They would have meaning if she reviewed them according to the key ingredients and why they make a product last longer, go on more smoothly etc. - But she doesn't. But what about her reviews of skin care? They are redundant and she dislikes MOST products (with the exception of her own Paula's Choice line which gets A+). Another reviewer mentioned that Paula's ingredient list was not complete. They were right, it isn't - there are many ingredients missing from that list. You can test this yourself, take a few products, read the labels and see if every ingredient can be found in Paula's book, you won't find it. Her reviews are terribly redundant, if you read most of the reviews they are the same: the product is "standard", "ordinary", "possibly irritating" and doesn't contain sufficient amounts of the key ingredient to make a difference. When I purchased this book a year ago, I agreed with Paula. I already knew that most products contain the same fundamental emollients, humectants and preservatives. Then, I started experimenting with the products and skin care advice she gave, including purchasing her own line of products (guess I am guillible). After a year, I can say I don't agree with a single review of skin care products coming from Paula. She adores Cetaphil, and recommends it for all skin types (there are versions for oily skin and dry skin). I decided to try Cetaphil for six months and my skin broke out horribly. Withing a week, my 41 year old skin was covered in pimples on my hair and jawline. I found a site called Makeupally.com and discovered that many women had the same reaction. In addition to trying Cetaphil, I followed her advice for the blemish prone, I even tried her own products - which were so irritating my skin was a red, raw mess, that putting water on it BURNED - AND YES I FOLLOWED HER REGIMEN EXACTLY. I couldn't believe that while her skin care product reviews frequently mention the potential for irritation, she herself advises women with blemish prone skin to use a combination of retinoids, disinfectants and BHA's. That is just too much exfoliation for even oily skin. I had to conclude that her advice cannot be counted on. This book is interesting, it is great if you are interested in trying a new line and want to know the background of the company. However if you chose to purchase this book you need to know ahead of time that the makeup reviews are subjective and her that her research into skin care and ingredients is not complete. Much of her tone throughout the book can lead women to feel stupid and guilty for wanted to splurge on high-end brands or for liking fragrance in their products. And finally, if you are looking for new products to try good luck, because there isn't much out there that Paula likes. Most products are "ordinary", "standard", "with the key ingredients too minimum to make a difference", and "potentially irritating". After having this book for a year, I feel that Paul's words apply to herself as well: her book is "ordinary", "standard", with "key ingredients too minimum to make a difference" and "potentially irritating".