Customer Reviews

The New Beauty Secrets: Your Ultimate Guide to a Flawless Face

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

When I found out that Laura Mericer wrote a book I rushed out the door to find a copy. Well I was unpleasantly surprised to find a lack of..........well......Beauty Secrets. Very few photographs are included except for celebrities. There are line/charcoal drawings that are cute but not particularily helpful for putting on my makeup in the morning. There are no before and after photos, no interesting color combinations of eyeshadows or lip color, no pictures of the correct brush/tool to use for a specific application.....there is nothing unique about this book. I have been a customer of her products for going on 6 years and I know her cosmetic line is full of interesting products but none get showcased here. This book should be titled "Laura Mercier's musings on the Philosophy of Beauty with all my celebrity friends".

If you are seeking a book on how to apply makeup then go with Robert Jones, Kevyn Aucoin, Linda Mason etc. These book have BEAUTIFUL full page color photos. In these other books there are models and celebrities shown but also moms, sisters, lovers and friends with lots of information on how to apply makeup.

I have enjoyed Laura Mercier's products over the years. Her makeup is top notch. This book, though, is just fluff. I would suggest you buy the Laura Mercier "Flawless Face" videotape instead. The tape costs less than the book and is a lot more useful. The tape demonstrates Mercier's application techniques. The book is just a lof of pretty pictures of celebrities.

I probably wouldn't suggest this book to someone who is new to makeup and needs to look at step by step instructions. There are lots of online tutorials that are good for that.

This book offers techniques for corrective makeup applications, color suggestions, and yes, lots of photos of celebs wearing Laura's makeup. I think these photos can be used for insiration, or to identify with the celeb's features (provided said features are not bolted on-ha ha).

If you are pretty comfortable with makeup application but want to fine tune your routine, this is a decent book. Even better if you can find it at a discounted price...more money for makeup!

Dcalypso says it all. I regret not having taken her review more to heart. I love Laura Mercier's products and hoped for a book to match. It's a very pretty book, but not at all useful. If you want a book full of gorgeous photos of Madonna, Julia Roberts and so on, interspersed with cute watercolour sketches of Laura, Laura's dog, Laura applying makeup and so on (filler, in other words) - then go ahead and buy this book. For application mavens, go to Kevin Aucoin. I can't recommend anyone else because I only know his books - which have proper step by step photos of concealer application, for instance - not vague sketches with captions like deep set eyes showing one deep set eye with make up and one without. In a sketch. Hello? Is it just me or are sketches useless? Especially cute watercolour sketches? Hey, I think I speak for most women when I say we want step by step photos (like the great lamented K Aucoin!) - that's how the non professional can learn from the pros!

To be honest, I don't know what to do with this book. I can't imagine giving it to anyone I know. And it's so big that it's going to take up valuable space. Oh well.

Celebrity makeup artist Laura Mercier's book is just as eye-pleasing as her products plus it's chock full of advice, makeup tips and how-tos. While she is a makeup artist for some of the biggest names in entertainment - Sarah Jessica Parker (who wrote the foreword) Madonna, Julia Roberts, Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, to name a few, she is also very much in tune with the average woman, offering down-to-earth, do-able at home regimens to help all of us look our best. There is an authenticity in her voice rarely found in these days of cosmetic hype.

"The New Beauty Secrets" holds 225 pages of guidance, cautions and no-nos accented by gorgeous shots of Laura's A-List clients plus fetching illustrations by Izak.

Beginning with a description of her early years in Provence Laura quickly moves to what we want to know - what will work for us, what can an individual do to optimize her appearance?

One of my favorite Lauraisms is "What makes you unique makes you beautiful." How true, but how difficult for us to accept. Most of us want to look like someone else, preferably a famous beauty. Instead, here's a mantra for all: " Change only what you can't live with, but try to accept who you are, and say yes to what makes you unique. Your confidence will make you sexier than any beauty product or accessory you could possible buy."

A chapter is devoted to brushes and beauty tools, with an emphasis on washing these items often , especially those used with creamy products should be washed daily. Next, skincare necessities are itemized with special attention to varying skin types.

Acclaimed for creating the flawless face, Laura leads us step by step from primer to foundation to cheeks, eyes, lips, and a fabulous finish. Along the way we learn how to select the best color for certain skin tones, and how to shape eyebrows.

"The New Beauty Secrets" closes with a chapter on beauty rituals. Laura's description of luxuriating in a bath will make you want turn on the tap and slip into a warm tub.

Nothing is overlooked in this comprehensive guide to helping all of us discover and accent the beauty that is uniquely ours.

Many of Laura Mercier's products are on my list of must-haves beginning with her brushes. Ever tried to use a powder or blush brush that simply doesn't pick up the product ? Not at all so with these brushes - they're perfectly shaped for each application. For instance, the powder brush, made from natural materials, is fully rounded so that powder adheres and applies beautifully to your face. Couldn't start my day without the long Powder Brush, Cheek Colour Brush (which I've found is equally effective with both cream and powder blush), Eye Color Brush and Lip Brush.

Face Tint is a unique preparation, a fine powder that replicates the way you would naturally blush. It's subdued, natural and very flattering. My favorite shade is "Blushing", a soft pink rose. Ever attending to detail, Laura has packaged this in a small round container with a sifter for ease of use.

Setting powder is one more small miracle as it works alone or over foundation to keep shine under control and ensure lasting makeup. (A good idea is to use the side of the brush when applying loose powder). This is a silk-like powder that doesn't cake or dry skin.

Five shining stars for both book and products by Laura Mercier!

- Gail Cooke

...She states this in the introduction. The only reason I think this book came to be is because she was offered some kind of amazing book deal, which was surely followed by the work of a ghostwriter.

But all that aside, there isn't much more information in this gigantic thing that what could be compressed into a pamphlet. Most of it is just photos of celebrities (which, I can only assume are photos of the makeup she's done? They never say). If you carefully read through the directions for how she applies foundation and eye concealer - that is very helpful and unique. But that was just about the only thing that was worth it.

It's a pretty book, with lots of information, but unless you're going into the makeup business yourself, it's just not practical. Too many products, too complicated applications. Cute, but not really usable.

I have been a loyal fan of Laura Mercier for many years; I got goose bumps when I heard she was launching a book! From the moment the book crackled open and I turned the first page I could not stop reading about her philosophy and becoming enthralled with her stories. The New Beauty Secrets makes you feel like you are sitting across from Laura Mercier herself talking about a woman's individual beauty. I love this book and will continue to share it with friends and family. Great job Laura!

I was reluctant to buy this book based on all the negative reviews, but I got it anyway. I really do not understand what all the hostility is about.

This is definitely a gorgeous coffee table book, featuring Laura Mercier's makeup tips, her makeup and yes the celebrities who swear by her products in gorgeous photos.

I am not a makeup artist and I appreciate simple makeup tips that I can do myself at home vs. going to a cosmetic counter, getting overly made up with no instructions on how to do it at home.

I love her concealer products and I highly recommend this beautiful book and her products to anyone who wants to have a natural, flawless look.

This is such a beautiful book for so many reasons. It makes the reader feel good about themselves and not another book "Telling" me what to do. It offered great ideas and you really feel like Laura is speaking to you. I waited a while for this book to come out. I really enjoyed it.