Customer Reviews

Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me

5 star:		(180)
4 star:		(76)
3 star:		(33)
2 star:		(31)
1 star:		(57)

 

 

I am amazed at some of the reviews which demonstrate that some alleged readers didn't read the book very carefully at all. Paula clearly admits that the reviews in her book are her opinions. However, I've been reading her books for over a decade, and her opinions are based on solid, thorough, scientific research NOT funded by anyone other than herself. I don't know of another book that can make that claim. She mixes her opinions with facts that few others dare because she has nothing to lose in the process. When she tells the truth, we all benefit. Articles in women's magazines stand to lose an enormous amount of advertising revenue if any editorials threaten to blow Estee Lauder, Lancome, Clinique, Maybelline, or any cosmetics company that spends literally millions of dollars in ads off their solid gold pedestals. Paula also states quite clearly that if a certain regime or product works for the consumer, then the consumer should stick with it.

However, for the rest of us who need guidance in choosing what is best for our skin and make-up routines, this book is a godsend. She rates products on the ingredients they contain, their effect on the skin, and how well they work. She never claims that all products purchased in a drugstore are as good as those purchased at expensive prices in department stores. She freely acknowledges some poor products that are inexpensive do exist. And she also acknowledges that some poor products which are expensive also exist. In other words, the price of the cosmetic has nothing to do with its effectiveness, safety, or application.

What this book really does is give facts to help the consumer separate fact from fiction. One time when I was shopping for a toner, the cosmetics woman at the department store told me that the alcohol contained in her product was "cosmetic" alcohol - not the alcohol that would dry the skin. Sounded good to me....until I thought about it. Paula cuts through the sales talk to which too many of us have ignorantly submitted and taken as gospel.

The book breaks through the "natural" myth, as well. Of course, we all want as natural as products as possible. What the natural companies don't often tell us, however, is that besides all those wonderful-sounding names are some very basic (harmless) chemicals that actually perform the task of the product. I personally like Aveda's hair products, but it isn't the natural products that are cleaning my hair - it's the chemicals. Paula helps us differentiate between what chemicals are harmful and which ones are beneficial. It often has little to do with brand name. Some products in a certain line are highly rated, and some are not recommended.

The piece of advice that I garnered from the book, for which I shall forever be indebted, is the use of BHA (beta hydroxy acid) on my face. It has given my skin a brand-new look and made my skin healthier and better-looking than when I was a teenager back in the 1980s! I'd tried different ways of exfoliating but her recommendations of BHA for skin that is blemish prone and of the exact percentage (1% for me) was probably the best skin care advice I've ever received. I was nearly ready for a (completely unnecessary!) chemical peel costing an obscene amount of money and committing unknown damage to my skin when I learned about BHAs from Paula's book.

It's true that Paula does have a line of both cosmetics and make-up. However, for anyone who's read her books, she does not push them at all. She speaks generally about ingredients and about what to avoid and what to seek. Her products are simply listed with the other 200+ brands! I do admit that I love her products because I know I can count on them not to contain perfumes, dyes, and other extraneous items that are used to sell most cosmetics. As someone with extremely sensitive skin, her skin care products are magnificent.

I think the biggest boon to Paula's credibility is that she is not immune to changing her mind or advice, based on new research. She demonstrates a true ability to learn and grow with the rest of us. Too many "beauty" books contain a lot of fluff and little substance to really help the reader. This book contains a lot of raw facts and arms the reader with an arsenal of knowledge to help her (or him!) make the best choices she can for herself. Whether or not many people will admit it, a lot of cosmetics and skin care companies have been forced to revise their products in our favor due to the information contained in Paula's books. We owe her a lot.

I'll try to be as thorough as I possibly can in this review.

I'm a pretty big fan of Paula although I don't agree with *everything* she has to say. Being in the skin-care industry myself (I am a bio-chemist) I feel as if I am a little more aware than the average consumer. Some of her research seems dead-on while some seems a little off-base. I'll explain:

Natural ingredients. I happen to be a huge fan of natural ingredients yet Paula, I feel, is way to harsh on companies or products who use such ingredients. As an example, she seems to be a huge fan of mineral oils and petroleum (both biproducts of the oil industry) while I am not. I just don't understand why she uses mineral oil and petroleum as her main moisturizes and praises any formulation that uses them as their main moisturizers. The molecules are simply too large to thoroughly absorb into the pores. They just sit there on the skin and look greasy. On the other hand, plant based oils are lighter in texture, are from natural sources, and are loaded with vitamins. Mineral oil just sits on your skin and clogs the pores.

Essential Oils. When used in moderation (preferably in concentrations of %0.25 - %1) essential oils can work wonders on the skin and, I feel, are much safer to use than their chemical counterparts. Tea tree essential oil, for example, is one of the few things I can use that zaps my blemishes. On the other hand, Paula seems to be a rabid fan of BHA. Although effective, it is just too harsh for most people. She seems to really bash anyone who uses essential oils in their products. These are basically natural plant extracts that have several benefits for the skin and are meant to be dilluted and used only in small amounts. Sure there are some companies that overdo it (I won't name names though I can think of one in particular) but when used in the right amounts, essential oils can have awesome and natural benefits for the body.

Fragrances. Though I totally agree with Paula in that fragrances should never be used on the face or eye area, fragrances are a nice additive in "fun products" like bath oils or shower gels. Again, they are used in such low concentrations (%0.50 - %3) that only those with extremely sensitive skin should avoid fragranced products.

Product Reviews. I understand why she did not review her own products in her book (it seems like some of the other reviews in this section have a problem with this). But it would make no sense if she did rate her own products. If she gave one of her own products a low rating then we would just think "well fix it, silly." lol On the other hand, I do think some of her reviews of other companies were completely unfair. Who cares if you don't like shiny eye-shadows or fragranced items- those are not "scientific no-nos" but personal opinion.

Pricing. This is something I agree with Paula on more than I disagree. If you are paying more than $35-$50 on a facial cream, chances are, you are getting ripped off. Remember, in order for the emulsion process to work, water makes up approximately 70% of the total formula. No matter what else is in it, these companies that charge outrages prices (like $250 for 1 fl oz. of facial lotion) are out of their gourd and are really taking advantage of the consumer. I recently purchased a facial serum for $129. The main ingredients were water and vitamin E- Something I could have made myself for $2 if I had bought the ingredients myself at a health store. So on that end, to an extent, somethings can be way overpriced so I have to give Paula kudos on exposing that one (although expensive items don't necessarily mean overpriced). I usually stick to the "$35- $50 rule of thumb." If it's over $50, chances are, you're getting ripped off.

Hope this helps some people. This book was pretty much a hit or miss with me.

I used to work selling cosmetic ingredients. Meaning that I didn't work for any particular company, but in selling ingredients via a broker to cosmetic chemists and scientists of major cosmetic corporations. Because of this, I learned a wealth of information that I am not sure the author may have gained, although I do believe she has good intentions.

The major discrepency I would point out at is that petroleum based products are her go-to moisturizer. Petroleum jelly and petro based ingredients are very cheap for companies to use so it's been highly popular. However, it's been banned for use in cosmetics or skin care ingredients in Europe because it's been shown to often carry carcinogens. It does, after all, come from the ground...It is actually currently going through FDA retesting right now in the United States because of this. (Google "petrolatum cosmetic toxin data". It takes waaaay longer to ban something in the US than other countries if it's been shown to cause some problems.) Because of this, any company I sold ingredients to that was big enough to be a world-wide company would not order any petroleum based ingredients because they are banned as toxic overseas already and are expected to be here in the next few years. Yes, petroleum jelly...what people put on their babies in the United States is banned as a skin ingredient elsewhere and expected to be banned here if tests go as expected.

She has her own cosmetics line that uses many controversial, but very cheap ingredients. That bothers me. For example, she is against all-natural and organic ingredients and says so clearly. However, these have been shown in so many cases to not only work better, but be healthier...yet, they are far more expensive for a company to use in manufacturing. In looking at her own cosmetics line, she certainly doesn't seem to go for the most proven yet more costly and natural ingredients...they are, instead, quite basic and inexpensive...

I am not saying this is profit-driven. I am saying that cosmetic scientists have much to say about it.

There are many things the basic consumer is not aware of. For example, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate are some of the worst cleaning agents you can use in your hair, are highly stripping, and are also used in industrial floor cleaners. Yet in the United States, we equate "foaming" with "clean" and these are high foaming agents. They are also not used in Europe where there is more consumer knowledge about cosmetics and ingredients. Marketing-wise and price-wise, shampoo companies get more profit from using these. However, if you locate a shampoo that is sulfate and paraben free (They are getting far easier to find now as the consumers in the US become more smart on what they are using on their bodies) your hair will SHINE. If you dye your hair and avoid these ingredients, your color stays in twice as long, but if you go to a hotel and use a cheap shampoo with these in it, you'll see a great deal of the color wash out that day. It's that stripping of your hair's natural moisturizers as well as color. I have never had a hairdresser not commont on how incredibly healthy my hair is since I learned this. And I dye it which they can't believe because that SHOULD be stripping...but my hair gets no SLS products so it's strong and shiny. Although she is a hater on natural ingredients, science says otherwise.

Now let's cut to acne products. If you see commercials like Proactive you'd assume you should pay more for a name. In reality, all over the counter acne products are the exact same thing (one of 2 products)...either up to 2% Salycilic Acid or up to 10% Benzoyl Peroxide plus other inert ingredients. They both work on acne differently but, by law, over the counter products can only contain that certain amount of either ingredient. Some products, like Proactive actually have LESS of the active ingredient than generic brands however! (you are paying for the marketing, not a better product) So forget the name, turn the bottle over and look at the ingredients...If 10% Benzoyl Peroxide works better on your skin than Salycilic Acid, Use the cheapest product with it. Proactive wash only has 2.5% and all other ingredients in it are inert (you will see 2.5% benzoyl peroxide listed as the only active ingredient on the back of the bottle) so you are getting less but paying far more, for example. On the other hand if Salycilic Acid works better on your skin, use a product with 2% of that. Forget the name. But you aren't going to get any difference in strength with a different product up to a certain amount. It's illegal for an over the counter med to contain any more than this. And there are only 2 primary ways to fight acne in over the counter meds (unless you go all natural) and that's it. The other ingredients are inert. How do they both work? Benzoyl peroxide knocks off the top layer of skin cells to open pores, Salycilic acid is actually chemically similar to aspirin (which is why you can put crushed aspirin with water on a zit in a pinch and get good results) and SA will not only slough off the dead skin cells which clog pores as well, but it will also fight the bacteria within the breakout and also prevent clogging of the pore in the future by helping to reduce the pore size. Because of this, for most people, 2% salycilic acid is a better acne medication...because it does more. But everyone is different. If your skin works best with Benzoyl P, just find a cheap brand with 10% Benzoyl P in it instead. Just remember to read the label...in over the counter products 10% Benzoyl Peroxide is the most it can contain by law or 2% salycilic acid. Paying for water and other fillers , or a product with only 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide is getting less but paying more for a company's ads.

And guess what? Does a product you use tingle? Cosmetic companies put things that tingle in the product that are inert to make you feel like they are working. Americans equate tingling or burning with "it must be doing something".

You don't need to buy expensive tanners at the tanning salon. Buy a regular brand...Same thing.

But do not buy No Ad sunscreen...this is where you don't want to go generic. Those ARE worse and watery and won't stay on.

Look, it's a profit driven industry and these are just some examples. Unfortunately, I feel this book is also profit driven in pushing the cheapest ingredients that are also used in the cosmetics that the author sells even though some of what she pushes the hardest have actually been banned in other countries due to skin problems and health problems and are expected to be banned here as well in spite of the alternatives being more expensive for cosmetic manufacturers--which is why they are lobbying against it.

She mentions alcohol being drying and to avoid it--which it is in hair care products such as mousse BUT there are ingredients in the best skin care lines or hair care products that contain the name "alcohol" that are good ingredients such as stearyl alcohol or benzyl alcohol which are fatty alcohols. In fact, stearyl alcohol acts as a thickener and is the exact opposite of drying...so much so that it's used commercially in swimming pool liners to PREVENT the evaporation of water! (I kid you not) Benzyl alcohol is an all-natural ingredient and is derived from plants and is commonly found in fruits and teas and found to be beneficial as a natural bacteria reducer and is very good for your skin. You will find it in essential oils such as hyacinth, and ylang-ylang.

The idea of the book is a good one and she does have some useful information in it...she just missed the mark according to cosmetic scientists in my own discussions with them. And I have worked with the best and the brightest.

This is a great book. Because of it, I have saved lots of money by not buying overrated products. I am very grateful for how educating and eye opening the book was.

However, I must say that I only take what she says with a pinch of salt. She has very strong opinions about expensive brands, shiny makeup, moisturizers and blue eye shadows that sometimes, you wonder if she is doing a fair analysis of each product. I agree with several of the others who commented that she seems to hate expensive skin care lines and the cheaper the product, the better. She seems to find whatever she can to attack an expensive product that may not live up to its miraculous claims but may still do wonders for skin.

As for her own skin care line, I believe it is a good line based on reviews I've seen, but I was disappointed that she was not confident enough to give her products smiley faces, or truthful enough when reviewing them. Most of the time, her review was "the concentration of ..... here SHOULD be good for ... skin" If there was something not perfect about her product, she should say it, otherwise, go ahead and give it a smiley face. Afterall, isn't plain honesty and unbiasedness what her book is supposed to be about?

I was also disappointed that while she was so strict in her review of products, yet when it came to the list of best products, almost every single product with a smiley face made it to the best list. I guess what I was hoping for was the best of the best.

My advice is to use her book to educate yourself on the list of ingredients of products, because this will help you to judge for yourself whether a product is worth it or not. Ultimately, you know your skin best and one man's meat is another man's poison.

Go ahead, buy the book, because despite all the cons I've mentioned, this really is a useful book and it gives you a second opinion of a product to neutralize all the slick advertising and persuation the sellers of the product will entice you with. Think of it as getting information from two opposing sides and you being the judge to decide.

There are a lot of ingredients in skin care products and cosmetics that are bad for ANYONE'S skin and Paula lets you know which ingredients these are and which products contain these ingredients. I like the way she's not afraid to tell it like it is and be honest (some people would refer to this as sarcasm). She also points out which expensive products and reasonably priced products have the SAME ingredients so you don't waste a lot of money. The first cosmetic purchase I made after reading Paula's book I saved enough so that the book paid for itself. I have to say that the cheaper brand is doing just as good a job as the more expensive brand. Also since I'm sure she knows what she's talking about, I purchased her skin care routine. I LOVE it. My skin looks and feels better than it has in a long time and my makeup looks great because of her opinions. Now every time I need to buy something I refer to her book.

I bought this book several years ago, and have peeked at the new editions in the bookstores when they come out. She does make some very good points:

* the sun, not aging, does most of the damage to skin, so use a sunscreen!

* The best sunscreens have avobenzone, titanium dioxide, or zinc oxide.

* More expensive is not necessarily better.

* Most of the hype in the cosmetic ads is misleading and they don't do what they lead you to believe they do.

I've used her reviews for some products, and have generally been happy with the results.

However, there are several things about the book I do not like:

* She will not recommend a foundation with SPF if it does not have one of the sunscreens mentioned above. But she does recommend foundations without an SPF. That doesn't make sense. As long as you use a moisturizer with the appropriate sunscreen in them, it shouldn't matter what foundation you use.

*Her focus on yellow-based foundation colors. I've tried several, and they just do not look good on me. Some people may need a bit more peach or pink in their foundation, like me.

* She mentions that doctors who make their own product lines are suspect, yet she herself has produced a line of skin care products. I haven't found in the books why her products are so much better than anyone else's. She should rate her own line and explain why it is so good.

*She hates products that have ingredients that might irritate the skin of some people. That is good information to have if you do have sensitive skin, but if you don't, then that is not a reason to avoid the product.

*She gives negative reviews to some products that she obviously hasn't tested. For example, I recently started using the skin care products made by N.V. Perricone. He wrote The Wrinkle Cure, and developed his own line of skin care products. After about two months, my skin has never looked better. I don't even wear foundation anymore - I don't need it. I just use a tinted moisturizer (with appropriate SPF!). It IS outrageously expensive, but to me it is worth it. And I don't use the entire line - I just ignore what I think is unecessary. Nothing else has worked so well for me. Paula writes a skeptical review. But did she actually try it or talk to someone who has?

* Her constant push for matte colors. I have several that have a shimmer to them, and I love them. I do not think they make me look older (eyeshadow). I love lipsticks and glosses with some shimmer. I generally don't like the feel of matte lipsticks, so I end up putting some gloss on top of them. I don't think it looks ridiculous. I don't use products or so many that I shine like a light bulb. I think she needs to get over it.

* I try the cheaper brands of cosmetics, but more times than not I don't like it. Sometimes they are okay. But I usually go to othe department stores.

The bottom line is that there is good information in this book to educate you so you can research and make up your own mind. Don't, however, take all of her reviews as gospel.

I am not surprised that so many people have had a negative reaction to this book. The idea that cosmetic companies are not looking out for our best interests is unthinkable. After all, we spend our money on these "miracle" creams and lotions, hoping they will somehow erase all of our defects, and make us look like we did when we were younger. People seem to forget that cosmetic companies are businesses and they need to make money. The beef that Paula Begoun has is that these companies make outrageous claims that the consumer ends up believing because they don't know any better. A cosmetic is just that, cosmetic. It can't repair skin, or get rid of wrinkling, a fact that Paula underlines many, many times in her book. I think that her book is worth checking out, because she takes the time to go through all the major cosmetic lines and explains in detail why their products don't work. It's a bit repetitive and not the most stimulating thing to read, but she knows what she's talking about. In regards to including her own line of products and not reviewing them, how is she supposed to review these items impartially? She is fair and meticulous in her reviews, underlining the strengths and weaknessess of each line. This book is a handy reference for people who are tired of wasting time and money searching for cosmetics and skin care that suits them.

This book has saved me hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars! Paula's quick reviews and easy little rating system make shopping for makeup and skin care products as easy as whipping out the "Personal Beauty Guide" at the back of the book and heading to the store. (There's a great little pull-out at the back of this book that you can make your own notes in--the information in this huge book is so extensive that it's nice to have your own place to keep track of various things to try.) From this book, I've learned that there are good and bad products in every line and now I use just a couple department store products and the rest is inexpensive stuff from the drug store. I'm finally off the very expensive cosmetics roller coaster! I only wish I had found her books sooner--maybe I would have a down payment for a house saved up by now! If you are a "cosmetics junkie" and are sick of buying products that just don't work, slow down and read this book--I don't mean to sound corny but it will change your life!

Good grief, it seems people can't stand to have their favorite products panned. Paula does a very good job of highlighting products that have well-known skin irritants as ingredients, such as witch hazel, methol, and speariment, as well as the lesser-kown (urea, for example). She also discusses ingredients that have unproven claims, such as Kinetin, and recommends not paying extra for them.

Paula does pan the more expensive lines, as well as the cheaper ones. Wet N' Wild and Sea Breeze contain some of the worst reviews, as well as Origins (how do you think they get that "tingly" sensation?).

Reading these reviews, it seems some people like feeling indulgent about overpaying, as if they're buying a fine wine. Others might just feel embarrassed at being "had". Either way, I read through more far impudence in these reviews than was warranted.

True, Paula does criticize shiney, frosty, and sparkly make-up, but so what? It's not her taste, maybe she should have kept her mouth shut, but grow up, get over it, and read about the ingredients. If you like sparkle, then wear sparkle, stop acting insecure. You're not reading this book for her taste, you're reading it for her analysis of ingredients.

Lastly, Paula does have her own line, which she provides brief descriptions of, but DOES NOT RATE with any of her smiles/frowns/faces. In fact, she admits her own line of moisturizers with SPF for oily skin are as fraught with problems as those of any other brand.

It's worth a read. I've bought some good products due to her advice, none of which were from her line, and my skin looks much better for it.

This book is a must have if you've ever bought any product that claims to "lift" or "renew" or fight wrinkles, etc., etc. Paula tells you HOW products that work work, and properly bashes products that are only trying to steal your money. Most of the people who are complaining that the book lacks value, are probably those who are reading nothing but the opinions on specific cosmetics, such as a specific mascara or eye liner. I, also, do not always agree with Paula's assessment of a particular costmetic item. I have used her recommendations, however, to winnow out which ones I want to try. People who work for the companies who's products are reviewed are frequently displeased with her comments. But, if you've read Paula's "The Beauty Bible", you'd know that Paula begs companies for ingredient lists and factual information. For example, if your advertising states that a "study" showed xxx result, wouldn't an inquiring mind want to know who performed the study and what was the control? Paula subscribes to the cosmetic scientists/industries magazines, and if there's any REAL studies, she knows about them. Ms Begoun does not expect people to consider her infallible. Her goal is to get women to THINK before they buy!