Skin Care Books

I just finished reading Susan Miller Cavitch's The Natural Soap Book and found it lacking in several respects.

There is a pervasive preachy tone to this book that annoyed me horribly. Ms. Cavitch uses the book as a soap box (pardon the unintended pun) to promote several personal points of view, two central ones being her diatribes against the use of animal products and anything synthetic. My grandfather made soap the old-fashioned way, using the hot process method. He made his soap by boiling lye with animal fat he had rendered himself, much of it supplied by his children (including my mother). My mother always kept a coffee can in the refrigerator, and whenever she cooked any fatty meat, the grease when in the can. When it was full, it when to her father to be turned into soap. This grease probably wasn't much good for anything else, and was certainly full of unhealthy saturated fats; had it not gone into soap, it would have gone into the garbage. The vegetable oils Ms. Cavitch advocates using are mostly edible, and in many poor countries, vegetable oils are a significant source of calories. Increasingly, non-food uses of vegetable oils, most significantly an ever increasing demand for bio-diesel, have driven the price of these oils up to the point that many poorer populations around the world are being pushed dangerously close to starvation. The increased demand for these oils has also led to whole-sale destruction of virgin tropical forest, as huge plantations of oil palms are planted. So, our luxury all-vegetable soaps are made from oils that in many nations would be considered too valuable as food to be used for such a frivolous purpose as bathing, and further, the production of these soaps, although insignificant compared to the production of bio-fuels, can still not be completely divorced from the destruction of natural forest and the concurrent loss of bio-diversity inherent in the increased production of vegetable oil. So, which is better? To plow under rain forest to plant oil palms for soap, when the workers who labor on these plantations can't even afford the oil they produce for food, or to use animal fats that would otherwise go to waste? Personally, I prefer vegetable oil soaps, but I am also aware of the consequences of this preference and do not pretend that this puts me on a higher moral ground than people who bathe with tallow products. And although I also prefer `natural' products, many of these products are luxury items that are beyond the budget of most of the world's population. People who can't afford food are unlikely to spend $6.00 on a four ounce bar of pure castile soap. Synthetics, although by no means perfect and by no means lacking in potential harmful side effects, have made improved hygiene affordable to huge segments of the human population that would otherwise face much higher mortality rates due to a lack of basic cleanliness. These products have brought inestimable benefit to mankind, and although not without their faults, I would have liked to see a far more balanced discussion of them.

My final comments on Ms. Cavitch's book are technical. She doesn't discuss the use of the stick blender in home-made soap production. Many of the problems addressed in her chapter on trouble shooting can be avoided by the use of these wonderful gadgets; in fact, the 16 hour trace times she mentions for some soaps can be reduced to less than half an hour using one. Her section on trouble shooting also advises the soap maker to discard most failed batches; there is no discussion of rebatching, a technique that can be used to salvage all but the worst soap-making failures. The rescued soap might not be salable, but isn't it better to give away seconds than to throw your time and materials away?

I would advise a novice soap-maker to skip this book and buy Anne L. Watson's Smart Soapmaking instead. It is short, concise, practical, and a pleasure to read. It avoids many of the shortcomings that mar Ms. Cavitch's book.

Great book. I've been making soap for over ten years and this is the first book I purchased when I started. I consider it one of my best sources of information.

I will try to make my own soap and this book is exactly what I was looking for : everything explained from beginning. Thank you Susan

I have a couple other books on soapmaking, but found this book gives me information that has helped me understand the process much better.

As a soapmaking beginner, I found this book to be very helpful. It gives a good grounding in the basic knowledge, chemistry etc. that every soapmaker needs and takes you through the process step by step. There is also a lot of information about safety, working with lye that is important to know, though I can see that it might put some people off. Overall, I would recommend this book - its jam packed with useful information.

This book is exactly that, BEAUTY BIBLE. If you really care about the way you take care of your skin and what to put on your skin type, you need this book. If you have ever stuggled with products and what to put on first, or not at all, this is the answer.

Full of deceptions, outdated research, illogical assertions and heavily opinionated, this book should be kept away from young, impressive minds. The author, obviously with strong industry connections, suggests dish detergent for bubble baths, doubts healh dangers of phthalates, recommends sodium laureth sulfate cleansers, and insists that mineral oil makes the best moisturiser. No wonder Ms. Begoun has such a profound interest in cosmetic surgery! It will take a really deep laser resurfacing to erase the damage done to one's skin by using Ms. Begoun's "advice".

Overall - zero stars. This book doesn't deserve a "bible" in title, too.

I am very glad that I read this book. As I get older, I want to take care of my skin and ward off wrinkles and the signs of ageing. After years of struggling with skin problems, I now know why the products I was using didn't work for my skin. I have totally revamped my skin care and makeup. My skin has never looked better! This book is a must read. Thank you Ms. Begoun for writing this book.

I am really mad: I'm mad at Amazon for featuring my review of this book under "Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me" instead of "The Beauty Bible" here. They royally screwed up for some reason!! After writing a freaking 2000 or so word review for "Don't Go" and coudn't have it posted, this is absolutely infuriating!!!!!!

I'm also mad at those of you uninformed know-nothings who call Paula a liar, charlatan, and a quack. You know what? Give me a break. The facts:

1. She gives sources for her research on her findings. I checked them out and they are all real, she is not making a thing up, it is all based on scientific fact.

2. She likes matte makeup and eyeshadows, so what? She clearly states that her makeup advice is for women over 30 and have a professional job. Teenagers, under-30's, the unemployed, or those who make their living in the entertainment industry need not heed her makeup advice. And yes, glittery makeup and especially eyeshadows WILL make aging skin look wrinkled, it's a fact. Besides, mattes and the "natural"-look are back in style now, haven't you heard?

3. In no way does Paula give bad reviews to ALL of the expensive lines. Just some. She just points out that with every pricey product there's almost always a less expensive one that will perform just as well. Besides, some of the lines she reviews are enough to choke even Zsa Zsa Gabor!! 160 dollars for an ounce of foundation?? 600 dollars for an ounce of moisturizer?? Yeah, dream on ya little corporate farts!! You're not getting ME for a customer!! If any of you out there really want to throw away your $$$ on expensive makeup, that's your call. But don't try to convince others to do it by calling Paula a liar.

4. Lifting creams, firming creams, wrinkle-erasing creams, and "Botox-in-a-bottle" products DO NOT WORK. Pure and simple! If they did, why aren't plastic surgeons filing for bankruptcy instead of rolling in dough?? Spare me.

5. If you don't want to use Paula's products, then don't! It's a complete fallacy that she uses her book to tear down everything else. If she did, why are there scads and scads of glowing reviews from her abounding? If she had an agenda, then she'd be more critical of everything, don't you think? The only reason why I don't use her products is because I don't like buying makeup or skin care through the mail.

Okay, as I've said, I'm writing this review at a time when said technical difficulties on Amazon hit my last nerve, but really, I'm so sick of the criticism directed toward someone who is only trying to tell the world "HEY, THE COSMETICS INDUSTRY IS RIPPING YOU OFF!!"

I think that the most ridiculous is someone on this site accusing a commentator on actually being Paula, I mean, how absurd!! Yeah, like she has time in her busy touring and lecturing schedule to argue with some idiot on Amazon?? Don't think so!!

I find it interesting that there are many women (possibly some men) that consider Paula's work to be bogus, harmful, and riddled with lies. Here's one quote from a reviewer "Her products REAK of chemicals" First, Cosmetics *are* chemicals. Secondly, her products are free of any fragrance (masking or otherwise). Without fragrance, the scent of the chemical compounds in the products come through. I've had whiffs of her products, and (personally) they don't bother me, I'm not always expecting my products to smell amazing. But her products don't smell any worse than some of the products that are pushed by drug store brands (SpectroJel and certain Marcelle toners come to mind).
Gentle cleanser? It's going to smell a bit like alcohol (Not grain (rubbing) alcohol, but Cetyl or Stearyl alcohol -aka fatty alcohol, emollients that soften the skin). A toner? It's got a distinct flat smell (Water-binding agents, emulsifiers and light oils produce it). I can assure you that if Chanel, Lancome, or La Prarie put a moisturizer or cleanser out on the market sans fragrance, you'd be smelling something a lot more repulsive. I don't use Paula's products religiously (I have no brand loyalty whatsoever), but I can tell you her products are quite decent. However, I will still say that her website is a bit of a letdown. While it provides information, you have to know where to look for it, and it's mainly laid out as a sales site than a consumer advocate site.
A few other reviewers have commented on her credentials. And, while she doesn't have official credentials, she certainly knows far more than any of the reviewers do (myself included).
In the end, it's up to you when it comes to what goes on your face. This is not some evangelical movement, nothing is being pushed on anyone (on the flip side, I have to say that I've received more pressure to succumb to someone else's idea of proper skin-care at the department store). She's merely giving us tools to better our knowledge

An interesting look into the beauty industry. Creative, funny, and informative. I only gave it a 4 because of how it left me feeling. I've never really considered plastic surgery, but there were times in the book that I actually thought "wow, maybe I should get that done". There were also times when I was so glad I never have and made me relish being actually looking like an individual rather than a barbie.

Beauty Junkies, by Alex Kuczynski, gives us the history of plastic and cosmetic surgery, the charlatans, the risks, the popularity especially in the U.S. and its ridiculous extremes. The story is told deftly, with humor and a sense of veritas: the author herself had undergone several procedures, including one that had the unintended effect of swelling her mouth to grotesque proportions (a severe response and fortunately for her, a temporary one). This last experience compelled her to wean herself from her growing obsession with cosmetic surgery and procedures.

Now, although the trend of excessive surgical change doesn't only apply to females, it's with the females that it is most prevalent and to me, most offensive: to change oneself into the porn star mold (i.e., sexual object), to reduce one's features so the result is a person indistinguishable form scores of other blandly appealing "beauties" (i.e., loss of that which makes us unique) or to chase youth as if it were the only thing worth having. It's sad that the inner selves of these people - intellect, creativity, personality, achievement - is so neglected and disparaged - in order to maintain a superficial and ultimately impermanent illusion. Ms. Kuczynski, in fact, discusses a woman for whom her appearance - and all the supporting procedures - is ALL she does with her time and money. This book is a cautionary tale, and an honest and entertaining - if disheartening - read.

This book was an eye-opener for someone not familiar with cosmetic surgery and beauty procedures. Lots of interesting information but rather rambling and lots of spin on the info.

The endless struggle against looking old or inadequate, the inability to accept the changing or imperfect body and face, coupled with the relentless promotion of the technology to reverse the aging process, spawned a $15 billion industry in America. This book discusses the moral, ethical and socio-economic implications of readily available services like liposuction, breast augmentation, face lifts and botox injections.

Kuczynski's reporting is by no means ground-breaking. The book is certainly not an outright condemnation of cosmetic procedures and vanity, but don't expect anything balanced or objective. Its tone is definitely negative and very much against cosmetic surgery.

After throwing a lot of stunning figures (numbers) and highlighting the extreme extent to which some American women go to make themselves look younger or more beautiful. She talks about "surgery safari"s in South Africa. This is followed by a chapter on the "rise and fall of botox". A very concise history of this "magic bullet" against aging, but it would be hard to convince the public that the cases which ended up in disaster/death are representative of the huge number of satisfied botox patients.

Next, Kuczynski goes into the history of reconstructive surgery. This branch of medicine has, over the years, shifted from rehabilitating disfigured soldiers to perfecting the faces of vain people.

The link between HMO hassles and the flourishing of cosmetic surgery industry is an interesting one. But the author goes further than that. The media fixes our notions on what is beautiful. The herd behaviour influences people to improve themselves both inside and outside. The result - nobody is plain anymore. Evolution won't take its course! The author is actually worried that women who can play the role of grandmothers are getting fewer in numbers. Then, she goes on to expose juicy details on the disunity of the medical community, the unflattering ways in which cosmetic surgeons market themselves.

Finally, we get an inkling into why the author takes her stand. She recounts a traumatic experience with a Restylane injection in her lip. Another chapter on "the fatal quest for beauty" and a very interesting experiment (and results) in which the author begs for breast augmentation funds online.

Beauty Junkies is a a very well-organised, well-reserached and well-written book. But like some of the unnecessary surgeries she mentions, I think that Kuczynski's views are a bit on the extreme side. A good read for those obsessed with cosmetic surgery, but don't forget to put matters in proper perspective.

Survival of the Prettiest: The Science of Beauty

it is an overall goodbook,but one thing attracts the attention is that the author is very self centered.one cannot deny the good sides of plastic surgery or its substitutes,like botox or others in the same field.
being born not a long time ago,the author does not know how lucky all women are today to have handy so many ways to stay beautiful and young.eversince humankind exists,human beings have been looking for the magical recipes for staying young.the author was born when all these fights were elements of the past.exagerating?maybe but why be so intolerant if people feel like doing it???? intolerance is what drives to such extremes in working on yourself but it is fashionable now to be
''natural''........let us wait until she really NEEDS it badly.would she prefer then to be a junky or an old rejected hag?????

This is the best book you can find if you want to know anything and everything in detail about beauty. The book goes into detail about the anatomy of skin, the biology of aging, every supposedly effective ingredient in beauty products, plastic surgery and cosmetic procedures, make-up application and much, much more. It is very unbiased. The author flat-out tells you if something doesn't work, and she tells you the motivation behind misleading advertising and why companies get away with it. She also tells you what does actually work and why it works. She gives a list of the actual product brand names that she discusses in the book. I went through several books which didn't even come close to giving me the amount of subjects and detail that this book does. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in improving and maintaing their appearance.

I have read it and I think it's good but not really worth 20 $ in my case because the level of my skin care knowledge is higher , there was nothing in this book that I did not know already. I wish I could have read it when I was 15 , in that case it would have saved me from making a lot of mistakes.
So, I highly recommended for people that want to know more about skin care.

Thanks to this book I will never again fall for the sales pitch ("even oily skin needs moisturiser") or marketing strategy ("developed by such and such famous doctor/dermatologist/scientist") skin care companies use. All I can say is I wish I bought this book sooner - it is worth its weight in gold.

I have this book and two others of Paula's and highly recommend them. I have learned so much about skin care and saving money! I won't buy cosmetics or skin care without checking her book "Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me". The Beauty Bible has excellent skin care advice. My cystic acne is now gone thanks to her advice and products! Thank you Ms. Begoun for the excellent information!!

Some reviewers have mentioned that this book is just a rehash of Paula's other book, _Blue Eyeshadow Should be Illegal_. That is somewhat true because technically _The Beauty Bible_ is a revised/updated version of that book, just with a new name. The name change reflects the fact that, in addition to having information on cosmetics and skin care for the face, it has information on body care as well. So if you already have _Blue Eyeshadow_ you may not be interested in this book, since large parts of _The Beauty Bible_ are similar to it.

That said, I think this is a wonderful book. Paula explains why fashion magazines will never give an honest critique of beauty products (they can't say anything negative and risk angering the cosmetics companies who advertise in their pages). She explains how most moisturizers are the same, and how any claims that they can lift, firm, or tone the skin are a bunch of BS. She explains why so-called "botanicals" or "natural" products have no special benefits for the skin and are only used as a marketing strategy to make products seem more interesting or glamorous. (By the time the "natural" elements are extracted and bottled, there is hardly anything "natural" left in them.) She explains how toners/astringents and most products that supposedly help acne contain extremely irritating ingredients that can make your pimples worse. She also includes a lot of information on skincare and makeup application. I didn't always agree with her opinions about makeup, but it's still refreshing to see someone willing to speak out against the downright dishonest claims made by cosmetics companies, and to educate us consumers. Every woman who uses cosmetics or skincare products should read this book, as well as _Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me_. These two books will pay for themselves when they save you time and money. You'll learn to be a smart consumer and see right through the marketing hype and ridiculous claims that the cosmetics companies would have you believe.

If you want to irritate your skin and use ingredients you should to avoid in skin care, read this book. Any dermatologist would forbid this book. Its is an insult for dermatology science. I dont know how I paid for this book, when I read 15 pages I throw at the garbage it.

Covers beauty topics but also fashion, supplements & even low calorie recipes. No pictures. No specific product recs. Ms Irons prefers natural/cheaper alternatives so this book is filled with home remedies and multi-use items. The fashion tips are rather dated. If you don't have a good censor I would recommend skipping that section.
I doubt anyone could read this book & walk away without finding at least one new thing to try.

This is my third Diane Irons books,I love every one of them.Great savings on my face creams, i have done most of her skin treatments and the do work for me.

found it practical and inspiring. since i spend a small fortune on cosmetic products, i view this as a way to spend less and use more natural products.

I appreciated Shaz's comment in her June 26, 2001 addendum in which she wrote the following:

"I was particularly interested in the tip of using coffee grounds for cellulite control. I emailed Diane Irons office regarding a more specific application of the coffee grounds, and this is what she wrote back:

"The coffee grounds should be warm when applied. Sit on the edge of your bathtub (or in your shower w/ newspaper beneath you). While you're massaging in the grounds, most will fall to the floor. The residue is what remains, and this should be wrapped (she didn't specify, but I assume any old plastic food wrap will do). Leave on for 5-10 minutes to detoxify and smooth. Rinse off with warm water and a loofah or vegetable brush".

I tried this, and after one session, I swear my skin felt taught the rest of the day. Brilliant!"

Thanks Shaz, for elaborating on how to use that coffee ground tip in the book. Because of your review I bought the book and I'm glad I did.

Most of the tips are really straight forward. But knowing how to apply that one tip alone is worth the price of the book! The price of cellulite creams and potions are astronomical and used coffee grounds are free!

And there is so much more.

This is a keeper.

May I suggest you use a highlighter and review the book once in a while for more tips to try. Or a sticky note in the flyleaf with notes for fast reference.

I lost this book years ago and was happy to find you had it for a reasonable price. I am very happy with it so thank you very much!

I bought "The Art of Makeup" in 1994 when it was first published. The other day when I was reorganizing my bookcase, I pulled this book off the shelf and found myself captivated by the gorgeous pictures in this book. I find that this book still inspires me.

Admittedly, some of the techniques shown in the book, such as taping and body makeup, are of the "don't try this at home" variety. But there are pictures of pefectly-executed everyday makeup that is wearable without being boring. These don't look one bit dated thirteen years later. There are also pictures of the more exuberant, creative makeup for which Mr. Aucoin was known.

The women pictured in the book run the gamut from supermodels (Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford, Christie Brinkley, Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss among others,) actresses and singers to other women living outside the spotlight like Mr. Aucoin's mother, sisters and friends. Each one looks great. He was able to find and bring out the beauty in each woman.

As a practical matter, there are application techniques ranging from basic to advanced covered in the book. Feature by feature he tells the readers about tools and products available. As a makeup junkie, I would have loved to have seem more of this information.

All these years after this book was published, browsing this book was sort of like visiting an old friend. And it did make me pull out my lipsticks and eye shadows and do a little expirementing on my own.

This book is so expensive because it is simply an art book, showing Kevyn Aucoin's art. It is not a step by step guide. It's a beautiful book and worth it.

Hi, I have all the 3 famous book of Kevyn Aucoin (Making Faces, Faces Forward and this) and this one is the worst. Why is this the most expensive? I don`t understand.

While his other books are more of a how to on make up, this is more of an art book than a guide. Kevyn Aucoine was a master of the art, no question, and he made some of the most beautiful faces ever captured on film. The average so and so will never use things like face tape, false eyelashes, and spirit gum. I'm one of the rare few who isn't in theater and uses those things on occation for a fancy dress occation! You have to know what you're doing for some of these looks. Plus, the finished product was meant to be photographed rather than seen by the public in a normal setting. Enjoy the finished products for what they are, but take care if and when putting together.

This book is an inspiring look at handmade soap recipes. The photographs are helpful as well as beautiful, and there are some good photos of the soapmaking process. Readers should always be aware that every soap recipe should be run through a lye calculator before use, and this book is no exception. Typos do happen, and a few of these recipes are lye-heavy. The descriptions of each recipe are also not very informative, but rest assured that every recipe will create luxurious handcrafted soap. The photos will also inspire the reader to create their own recipes and experiment with color and fragrance options.

I returned this book. As an experienced soapmaker, I found that this book just repeated a lot of the same information from other books I have read. There are better books out here and this one is pretty mediocre. I would recommend "Essentially Soap" over this book.

I like the way the book is organized and written, and the photos are inspiring. The writer does a good job of organizing the topics. I found the lists of additives, essential oils, and fillers especially interesting and informative, and I return to this section often. However, after plugging in a few of her recipes in a lye calculator, I was disappointed in the lye heavy recipes. I felt this was very lazy editing and a potential danger to new soap makers who do not know how to design their own recipes. I checked some of her sap values and they are correct, but, out of a sampling of 5 recipes, 2 recipes are lye heavy: "Grapefruit Slice" is -1.6% lye heavy; "Fresh as a Cucumber" is also -8% lye heavy. However, "Blackberry Smoothy", "Peach Melba", and "Strawberry Soap" are all okay. If you already know how to design your own recipes, this is a good book for inspiration.

As a professional soapmaker I own just about every soapmaking book published. "The Handmade Soap Book" by Melinda Coss is my favorite and I highly recommend it. The photographs by Emma Peios are sensual and entice you to want to make each and every soap in the book. The recipes are for small batches which works well while you are just learning and when you've found your favorites you can double or triple the recipes. The recipes are well written and pretty much fail-proof. Coss is not a soap snob or purist, rather she uses color freely to produce delightful results. Coss features both vegetable soap and animal-based materials for those who would like to experiment and choose for themselves rather than have the decision made for them which is done in many soapmaking books. Yes, the book is a bit pricey but it is hardcover so it is durable, the photographs are inspirational and the recipes make "The Handmade Soap Book" worth every penny.

I am a beginner soap maker, and found the recipes and pictures good for inspiration. Also, the sequence of pictures for a basic recipe from heating stage to the trace stage are useful. However, the book is not useful for creating your own recipes. While the book has a saponification table and a description of how to calculate amount of lye to use, it does not tell you how much liquid to use in a new recipe.

This has got some very good recipes. I especially like the strawberry mask. It smelled fantastic and left my skin glowing. With that said, I was disappointed with the gift giving ideas. Most are just lists of items to put in a gift basket, not so much actually *MAKING* gifts.

This book has some fabulous ideas for facial scrubs and massage oil BUT reader be warned of the BANANA-HONEY conditioner! I tried this and the gooey bananas would NOT come out of my hair. It took 4 shampoos and a LOT of brushing. Not a fun morning.

I decided to check this book out at a bookstore first, because I have gotten so many craft books that sound really great, but the materials and ingredients needed are very exotic or expensive. This book is no exception. Although the recipes and ideas are simple and easy, the essential oils needed (which are NOT cheap, mind you.) and the other array of items (that no one keeps in their house) would cost a fortune.

Her other book, "Natural Beauty at Home", is a MUCH better book, with the same easy and simple instructions, and realistic materials. Ideas like oatmeal masks, potpurri, and soap that are not hard to do, and not pricey. I highly recommend this one over "Natural Beauty for All Seasons".

It got easy follow recipes, easy find ingredients.
Perfect for prepare homemade gift.
I follow the recipes prepare gift for my mother-in-Law and my husband's sister and recently they are very happy with me...Sure!!!
So glad to get such easy recipes to make someone else happy!!!!
Good Book!!!!

I had fun reading through the recipes in this book evening if I do not have enough time to make them.

I recommend getting Natural Beauty for all Seasons by Cox if you enjoy simple pleasures like house work and gardening. But get Healthy Beauty using nature's secrets to look great and feel terrific by Hadady if you want advice on top quality natural cruelty-free products you can buy.

I also am wondering if all the positive reviews are legitimate. I went to the bookstore to check it out & found the book to be fairly useless. Lots of text & needless exercises for the body. The few exercises listed for the face had unclear photos that are not very helpful. I say save your money or you might be very disappointed.

I never knew that it was possible to tone the face but when you think about it, why not? Like Juliette Kando writes in her book THE NATURAL FACELIFT if you can tone up your stomach, why not the face as well? Anyway, when a friend gave me the book for my birthday I started doing some of the exercises and just after the first few days of doing them I could see and feel the difference. It's absolutely amazing. It felt like my face was awakened and had wanted to do the subtle movements all along. It felt so natural. Now that I have been doing my facial exercises regularly for three months I have lost my double chin, my eye bags and the droopy lines at the mouth corners. People have remarked on how well I look. All that made me feel happy and much more confident than I used to be. Once I got interested in the subject I looked at other books on the subject but none of them could match Juliette Kando's common sense and wholistic approach. So, if you are worried about your age, get Juliette Kando's NATURAL FACELIFT it's definitely the best facial exercise book on the market and I want to strongly recomend it to anyone, male or female who is worried about losing their looks!

I am in the market for a book on this topic, but too many of these reviews seem faked up -- multiple reviews by Charlotte from London; exact same wording submitted under different names. At this point, I don't care if the book is any good or not -- your overkill has cost you a sale.

I appreciated this book very much. I recommend this book to someone who will appreciate going to the basics and questioning their own stereotypes for beauty care.

I bought this book years ago, and now I am looking to buy it again after having misplaced it during my last relocation. I am 33 years old, and look younger than my age, people tell me, to begin with. I believe in prevention so I bought this book to slow down the appearance of wrinkles. I believe that I am slowing it down thanks to this book even though I only applied 1/4th of all the advice in this book. I think that if I applied more of it, I would see even a stronger effect than I do now. It is all about what I do with it. That's why I want to buy it again, to cover the other 3/4ths.

I find this book the most comprehensive, written with a profound understanding of the matter at hand. I learned about WHY and HOW, not just about WHAT. Some of the exercises are difficult to implement but when I learned to make them I felt that my facial muscles toned up very soon.

As a result from reading this book I became more conscious of my posture, and I've improved it tremendously. People complement me on my straight posture. I do believe that even without a trace of a wrinkle poor posture makes one look older. I became very conscious of my facial expressions, and thus avoid wrinkle-producing movements that I did not know I did before. I use natural oils, instead of creams, a lot, and my skin tone has improved. I learned how to remove make up and massage my face without stretching the skin, which is another wrinkle-producing factor. I look forward to learning more of it.

Yes! At last a book that makes some sense. The author is right in saying that you can't hang a beautiful picture on a decaying wall and gives some valuable advice on posture before introducing the facial exercises. I found that the exercises made a lot of sense and were well explained and illustrated and easy to follow. My friends have said that I look better since I have been doing them. It's certainly cheaper and healthier than facila surgery and the results are more natural.

I purchased this book with an open mind as I have tried others before but was very pleasantly suprised that this actually makes sense and works for the longer term to completely cleanse the system of cellulite by working on the deep tissue damage. I started to take Dr Murad's advice and followed the basics for every day including taking the recommended vitamins - this does work! It explains everything clearly and I am continuing the regime. I also recommend the Real Age book along with this.

I am not one to write online reviews very often, but I felt that this one is necessary....I have been taking the supplements for 3 months now and have lost 1 inch off of both thighs. Something that has been a struggle for me at the gym. I bought the supplements on my own which were inexpensive and easy to find at my local Target. The only thing with buying them on your own is that there are a lot to take at once. Whereas if you buy the expensive Murad vitamin packs, there are only 4 vitamins to take twice a day. I take 10 supplements once a day. This is the reason for 4 out 5 stars, however, it's not that bad. My supplements include vitamins C, E, and a combo pill of all the B's, Grape Seed Extract, Glucosamine, Flax Seed Oil, Fish Oil, Soy Lecithin, combo pill of Calcium Magnesium and Zinc, and finally L-Lysine. I also purchased the Murad cellulite kit which included Firm and Tone serum, body scrub and Firming Lotion for $80. I continue to do cardio a few times a week and have recently added Pilates to my routine. This program should be used in addition to a healthy lifestyle including diet and exercise and not in replacement of. I was skeptical at first but by week 2 I could see a difference and by week 4, my jeans fit differently. This program may not work for everyone, and some may want to consult their doctor before beginning. However, some of these vitamins should be taken daily anyway.

The suggestions/solutions in this book do NOT work. I wasted over $250.00 on vitamins and followed the recommended regime for over 3 months (As opposed to the suggested 2 months... to give the program the benefit of the doubt after failing to observe any form of promised results). I am a 5'4, size zero female and I have cellulite in my thighs. After following the program outlined in this book I now have varicose/spider veins which I did NOT have before following the suggestions of this book! As part of the vitamin/supplement regime, this book instructs its user to take antioxidant, biotin and niacin pills. I read an article in Reader's Digest that said these supplements could actually be harmful! It appears the antioxidants may have contributed to giving me varicose veins. Do not make the same mistake I made... go to the gym and build up the muscle in your legs. That may help, but the program in this book certainly will not.

I bought Dr. Murad's vitamin pack, and followed his regime. After about 21 days, I started to become violently ill about 3 hours after taking the vitamins. Thinking I had the stomach flu, this went on for several days until I realized that the vitamins were actually toxic to my system. Not only was there extreme vomiting, diarrhea, but I became very itchy. Wherever I scratched, I would develop severe bruising! I think Dr. Murad should be very careful prescribing the same amount of vitamins for ALL women. Many factors should be taken into consideration, like weight, health history, etc. By the way, I was in excellent health prior to this regime, just had some cellulite that I wanted to get rid of. The good news is, that I should recover 100%, but there are some long term, permanent effects to vitamin toxicity that all buyers should be aware of.

I wasted a lot of time and money on this useless program. If you'll notice, most of the positive reviews were BEFORE they actually tried the program. So, those were ratings of how excited they were about the program as opposed to how well the program actually works. Save your money - this is no miracle cure.