Get Positively Beautiful: The Ultimate Guide to Looking and Feeling Gorgeous [Hardcover]

Carmindy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 7, 2008

According to a recent study, only 2% of women describe themselves as 'beautiful.' (Dove Global Study 'The Real Truth About Beauty: A Global Report', 2004) The media instructs women how to 'look ten years younger,' 'cover up wrinkles,' or 'get fuller, plumper lips.' And even makeup products play off womens' insecurities, promising to conceal perceived flaws, define cheekbones, or make eyelashes fuller and longer. The underlying message? That there's something inherently wrong with the way women look and that they have to spend time, money, and energy keeping up with all the ways they should 'fix' themselves.

In GET POSITIVELY BEAUTIFUL, makeup artist Carmindy from TLC's hit program What Not to Wear shows you how to change your mindset from negative fault-finding to a positive beauty philosphy. You learn how to find and focus on your best features and how to combat negative thoughts about your appearance. Carmindy demonstrates easy makeup techniques for eyes, brows, lashes, lips, cheeks, and skin, and how to adapt looks to different weather conditions and 'beauty moods.'

Editorial Reviews

Review

'In a perfect world, Carmindy would make house calls ... ' -- The New York Times

About the Author

Carmindy was raised in Southern California, where she started doing makeup fifteen years ago. Today she is the makeup artist on TLC's #1 show What Not to Wear and has appeared on The Today Show, CBS Sunday Morning, CBN, as well as in The New York Times, Cosmopolitan, Elle, O, Glamour, Self, Lucky, GQ, Essence, Details, Marie Claire, and InStyle. She lives in New York City with her husband.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Center Street (October 7, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1599951436
• ISBN-13: 978-1599951430
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 0.9 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #794,576 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #61 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Beauty, Grooming, & Style > Cosmetics

More About the Author

Organized by feature, the book covers everything from eyes and brows to cheeks and skin care, and includes travel tips and ways to channel your inner "glamazon." Whether you want advice on creating perfect smoky eyes or need help picking the perfect shade of foundation, Carmindy has tips for daytime routines, nighttime glamour, travel, and every other time you want to look and feel beautiful in your crazy, busy life.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great diversity of models, great for young people and all ages November 14, 2008

By Vivian Jean Boyer

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is amazing! Talk about diversity. All types of skin... light to dark. African American, Asian, Latin, Caucasian and all ages from teen to 60's! All types of face shapes and features. The models are just every day people like us. It is well written, down to earth and easily understood. I have ordered several of these books and am giving them as Christmas presents to several people and also to my friends who have pre-teen and teenage girls. A wonderful message for them and all of us who need to be positive about who we are instead thinking we have recreate ourselves in some magazine or celebraty image. I love the fact that she gives product recommendations because it is difficult to weed through the many choices out there. I often waste money getting the wrong things. Sometimes you see her use something on the show and want to know what it is to achieve the same results. She names the affordable to very high end products so we can make an informed choice or find something similar. Also, the book layout and photography inside and out is just beautiful!

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing! Shows How Bringing Out Your Best Is Pivotal AND Pretty November 10, 2008

By Hell's Kitchen Kitten

Format:Hardcover

Carmindy's message is so perfect for right now when we're all looking to focus on what's important and want to spend our energy, money and time wisely. Skip the celebrities and celebrate your own beauty [and that of all women.] Dump the tired [and tiring] "flaw focus" and learn how to light up what you love about your own darn face.

In this book, Carmindy takes you in hand and shows you both practical makeup tips and positive ways to THINK differently about your own beauty. I love the stories and makeovers of the real women in the book. Aged 18 to 60+, each lady said something I could relate to. After reading GPB, I can honestly say I've stopped looking at my "big" nose and started playing up my big brown eyes with abandon. Thanks, Carmindy!

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Give Yourself A Makeover November 21, 2008

By Sally

Format:Hardcover

This comprehensive book is every woman's dream for how to properly use make-up. Chapters include tips for each separate area (eyes, skin, lips,) along with separate chapters for tools and travel. I especially like the before/after full size color photos and tips chapter called, "Everyone Loves a Makeover." A shopping guide is located at the end.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book about accentuating the positive December 21, 2008

By BermudaOnion VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Get Positively Beautiful by Carmindy of What Not To Wear fame is a make-up manual that covers every aspect from skin care to what tools to use. She says, "I believe looking good starts with feeling good," and she emphasizes the positives. She goes over how to sustain your look when you travel and through all seasons. There are quite a few makeovers in the back of the book that are fun to look through. The best part of this book, in my opinion, is Carmindy's attitude. She says we should:

* Drop The Flaw Focus
* Kick Away Corrosive Comparisons
* Revel in Your Fantastic Features
* Embrace the Beauty Ritual
* Change the Game and Win Every Time

Carmindy admits that changing your mindset isn't always easy, but her infectious attitude rubs off on you as you read this book. Throughout the book she stresses forgetting your negatives and accentuating your positives. She says you need to "commit to thinking differently about your beauty." I think this would be an excellent book for a teen just learning to use make-up.

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Not great December 18, 2008

By L. M. Kesh

Format:Hardcover

I thought this book would be a nice purchase but I was disappointed. Basically, I was looking for straight forward make-up tips but what I mostly got from Carmindy was a self-esteem builder. It is very nice, but if that is not what you are looking for, like me, I wouldn't buy this book. I plan on giving it to my 13 year old cousin because it would be a great beginner book into the world of make-up.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Carmindy Vision July 2, 2009

By Hikari VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

This follow-up to "The Five-Minute Face" features a section of "real-woman makeovers", and in that respect is superior to its predecessor. I thought a range of non-model faces was a glaring omission in the last book that this one rectifies. I also appreciate the extensive list of Carmindy-approved products, in their Expensive ($$$) and Bargain ($) versions. The photography is stunning and Carmindy comes across as a very caring and upbeat person. I didn't glean any egotism from her text, but, as in the previous book, there are what I consider to be an excessive number of model shots of Carmindy. I counted nearly 20 in the first two-thirds of the book alone. Carmindy is an attractive woman and a good advertisement for her own technique, but so many full-page spreads of her limit the number of other women's faces that can be included. Since we already know what Carmindy looks like, appearing so many times in her own book is self-indulgent at best. Like the last book, this is a thorough overview of different beauty products and is a good beauty pep talk, encouraging women to embrace their less-than-perfect features. But if like most of us you are beyond the beginner stage with makeup, you are probably searching for the nitty-gritty on more advanced techniques than are provided here. The final section featuring makeovers of actual women is what makes this book special. I don't think this is a necessary purchase for most women, but every public library should own a copy in their beauty section.