Beauty Secrets for Dummies

by Stephanie Seymour

After years working with makeup artists and hairstylists, Stephanie Seymour provides real-world advice on everything from selecting quality cosmetics for any skin type and colour to choosing the right hairstyles for all kinds of occasions. Using over 100 colour photographs and illustrations, she also shows how to complement facial features and gives time-saving for women of all ages.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0764550780
• ISBN13: 9780764550782
• Release Date: September 1998
• Publisher: For Dummies
• Length: 322 Pages
• Weight: 1.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 7.4" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Fantastic reference

A fantastic reference, even for makeup mavens! Packed with information and tips, it really is a pleasure to read. The illustrations of different brow, eye and lip shapes and how to make them up are very helpful, as are the Q & As that everyone wonders about, and the sections of suggestions according to your age (eg teens...50s etc). Positives and negatives of different formulations are also succinctly detailed (eg different types of eyeliner). Stephanie also includes a "Home Spa" chapter which is fun and personal. She refers to experts' advice as well, like Patricia Wexler in some of the skincare tips. This book covers heaps of bases and manages to give beauty "novices" a great start as well as keep up the interest of beauty addicts. It's definitely one you'll find yourself dipping into regularly!

Good book for basics of general beauty from hair to makeup

While I do have a hard time picturing Stephanie Seymour sitting down and writing all of this out, Beauty Secrets for Dummies is an excellent guide nonetheless. The skincare chapters are the weakest sections; most people have skintypes that don't fall neatly into one of the few categories listed in the book, and the information on skincare products just skims the surface. The chapters on hair are good at covering the basics, and the tips on coloring/processing will be useful for anyone wanting to do at-home coloring. The step-by-step hairstyling instructions mostly apply only to those with longer hair. One helpful aspect of this book, used in every section, is the suggestions given for different age groups, from teens to women in their fifties and beyond. The cosmetics section is by far the most in-depth, with plenty of information on product types and application tips for just about every situation. The color section on how to get different 'looks' is interesting, but it would be easier for women to duplicate the looks if the makeup used was a more readily available, more inexpensive brand than Nars. The chapter on brows is excellent. The only thing lacking is the absence of any solid advice on choosing the correct colors for your skintone.This book would be great for women of any age, though it might be especially helpful for teens or anyone else just getting into beauty regimens. It has a light tone and an 'everyone can look pretty' attitude that is encouraging.

You'll refer to this over and over

This book works well for several reasons : 1) The language Ms.Seymour ( or her editors) use(s) is colloquial and non-intimidating . It is a pleasure to read . 2) The " Dummies" format lends itself well to a book on beauty . After all, who wants a beauty manual filled with the author's own anecdotes and boring stories ? The " Dummies" book series is known for getting to the " meat" of the topic , and this one is no exception . " Beauty Secrets For Dummies" will give you some great tips if you are a beginner, but it is also very helpful for organizing and streamlining your daily routine ( you'll probably have a list of products to buy and new techniques by the end of your first read) . It offers a substantial source of information on everything from basic skin care, cosmetic surgery , and makeup techniques . Trust me, you'll find something useful in here no matter what you are interested in and how many other " beauty" manuals you've read before .This is definitely one of my favorite books on the topic.

Wonderful for all levels of expertise

Ms. Seymour has written one of the most well-organized guides to beauty and health I have ever seen . Each section is informative , easy-to-follow , and interesting . Don't let Ms. Seymour's supermodel status fool you- this book was written from the point-of -view of someone who has been through every beauty process imaginable and has had her fair share of disasters . The book was a pleasure to read , and I'm sure I will refer to it often .

Great question and answer guide to beauty & personal care

There is more in this book than any other book I have read about makeup and beauty. It is not "glitzy" but answers a lot of questions that come up every day. And the middle "makeup workbook" section by photographer and makeup artist Francois Nars has wonderful color pictures and detailed product information. Basically the book is divided into skin care, hair, makeup, home spa, 10's (best drug store items, from the salon, ways to vary your makeup) a good glossary and a great appendix of beauty resources including 800 #s and website addresses. This is an invaluable resource book.