Customer Reviews

The Beauty Brains: Real Scientists Answer Your Beauty Questions

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Who has the knowledge to really know whether the promises made to us by the beauty industry and their advertisers are legit? Let's face it: Not too many of us. As a result, most of us hop from product to product, hoping that the next purchase we make will be our miracle in a jar, bottle, or tube. More often than not, we're disappointed so we buy something else only to discover we've thrown more of our hard-earned dollars away and we're no closer to the results we had hoped for.

If you're tired of being played the fool and want real answers to what works and why so you can start making SMART decisions, read the Beauty Brains book. The authors are a group of cosmetic scientists who work in the industry but stay anonymous so they can report the facts in an unbiased way. They host a great website that answers questions people submit concerning all sorts of beauty topics. This book is a collection of those questions, in an easy to read and fun style. You don't even have to read the chapters in any order: the table of contents lists the questions covered in each chapter so you can focus on what interests you and find your answers fast.

In the first three chapters, you'll learn the shampoo secret that companies don't want you to know, the only two oils that deep condition hair by penetrating the hair shaft, (Stop wasting your money at the salon, ladies! You can do it yourself at home with two oils you can purchase at the grocery store!), what to avoid if you want shiny hair, what everyone should know about straightening irons, and "the top ten split end busters", to name just a few topics. There's also a chapter on skin care, including the five top moisturizing oils you want to look for, honest help for acne and Rosacea, ways to reduce enlarged pores, wrinkles and realistic information on what you can do about them, and safe ways to make your skin look brighter and younger. Additional chapters include questions & answers concerning makeup, nails, cosmetic surgery, which ingredients really matter, as well as the scandals and secrets of the beauty industry and answers to your cosmetic concerns. These authors are not afraid to mention product names, companies, and bogus claims, either. They know their facts...and use them!

So stop falling for the hype! If you want to become a smarter shopper and finally find the beauty products you need, read this book. I've found that I no longer waste time and money and couldn't be happier with the results. Thank you, Beauty Brains!

Written in a witty, fun to read style, this book explains the chemistry behind the beauty biz in an easy to understand language. Never pompous or condescending like other cosmetic industry watchpeople, the authors never promote any particular brand or do they even judge the spending choices you make. They just try to unravel the hype created by the multi-million dollar advertising campaigns created by the cosmetic company congomerates. Good read.

Anyone who is a fan of the Beauty Brains blog will find this book indespensible. I have been reading beauty books for decades and it wasn't until the preview copy of this that I finally understood that there are really only four kinds of shampoo. The Brains are funny, extremely knowledgeable, and lucid. The only suggestion I have (and this is not a criticism) is that it would be good to see more coverage of men's products (or products that would be suitable for men, i.e. not overly greasy or perfumed). Anyone who has ever had to help a teenaged son cope with acne, Accutane, or razor burn might know what I mean.

I have spend a lot of money on brand name salon products from hair to skin. I got my self in debt going to expensive salons buying what my stylist told me to buy. The products worked yeah but they weren't anything especial. I mean for the money I paid for them.. it HAD to do something. But what I didn't realize is that with a little research I could achieve the same results I was achieving from these really expensive products, with products they sell in drug stores for a fraction of the cost. This is what this book did for me. THE BEAUTY BRAINS BOOK will help you start your path to smarter consumer purchases. For the money I spent it is stupid to pay so much money for over hype products. This book will be a complete eye opener. I have realize that real good beauty is SMART beauty. Every smart intelligent consumer should have a copy of this very smart book. This book could make a great gift. I HIGHLY recommend this book to every product junkie out there. Good luck~

The Beauty Brains is interesting and a very easy read! The authors break down the science and give you straight talk with lots of humor! If you want to know the truth behind what works and what doesn't, read The Beauty Brains! Make sure you have plenty of time once you start reading because you won't want to stop! Everything from Hair Care to Skin Care and Makeup is covered. Very informative!

The Ad Men (or Women)really do a number on my brain sometimes. If only a cream really could make me look 10 years younger and erase years of sun damage. Can you imagine if a night cream could really make me feel that great? I know better, deep down inside. But it's nice to know that a rational scientific argument can be made to balance out the unrealistic (and occasionally realistic) claims of the cosmetics industry. This book is interesting, fun to read and it really helps to keep the money from slipping unnecessarily out of my wallet in search of silly solutions.

The chapter on hair products alone could save you hundreds of dollars. Well worth the investment.

I was so psyched to have found the beauty brains online and now this- a book to cherish, laugh with, and memorize for all of it's valuable information. It is so refreshing to find such well-researched and broken down information regarding all the beauty products thrown in our faces on a daily basis. it's overwhelming trying to sort out what works and what doesn't- and specifically, WHY? The beauty brains had my heart with all of their knowledge about the ingredients and their purpose (or none for that matter) in the products we encounter. I have a science degree and can appreciate the way they dissect these products, but it doesn't take a scientists really to understand what they've put together. They made this accessible to everyone and such a pleasure to read and laugh along with their humor. These gals are on our side- no agenda or products to pimp, just the facts. Thanks for all your research and commitment to simplifying the confusing world of beauty- this book will be my beauty bible!

I'm a little late to the Beauty Brains, but as soon as I found out about the website, I was hooked! So, when I found out that there is now a book, I was itching to read it. I'm not really into beauty products, so having this book BEFORE I make any purchases definitely gives me a head's up. I'm definitely telling my girlfriends about both the website and the book. They'll LOVE this!!

I have been a reader of the Beauty Brains blog (http://thebeautybrains.com/) for some time now.

I stumbled upon this collective of cosmetic scientists because, in middle age, I thought I better do something to enhance myself before it was TOO LATE. So I have undertaken my own self-help/study course on skin care and cosmetic products. Uh oh...it turned out to be waaaaaay too complicated for me on my own so I had to turn to experts like the BBs and Paula Begoun.

What I like about the Beauty Brains blog and this book is that they explain how products DO or DO NOT work by explaining in scientific terms how effective the ingredients in those products are. They do this with wit and style so that your eyes don't glaze over from too much scientific jargon.

The book's design is very simple and certainly not like that of a coffee table book with lush color spreads of beautiful people with fabulous skin and make up. Uh...there aren't any such photos or illustrations so you need not be intimidated by the unattainable or the merely superficial. Instead, the text is composed of a series of questions from readers of the Beauty Brains Blog and their very informative and concise answers.

Used along with the Beauty Brains blog and forum one will end up learning how to get past the relentless hype of every new product that launches and I daresay all the commercials you see in style/fashion magazines/blogs touting the latest miracle cream or perfect lip gloss. The info that these sources provide prevent you from making expensive mistakes in your quest for BEAUTY. Enjoy!

The Beauty Brains book is perfect for anyone who has found themselves scanning the shelves at their local Target, wondering which shampoo to get and why and does it even matter. Even those who claim to be seasoned beauty veterans (including stylists) can get tons of useful info from this book. We don't hear a lot about the science of beauty, just the results. Obviously the authors know what they are talking about and write it in a way that is easy-to-read, fun, and funny. Bust beauty myths and learn a lot...and how to better spend your hard-earned dollar on your beauty products!