Passport to Beauty: Secrets and Tips from Around the World for Becoming a Global Goddess [Paperback]

Shalini Vadhera (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 2, 2006

Throughout the world, every country has age-old, time-tested secrets that women use for looking and feeling beautiful.  Shalini Vadhera, celebrity make-up artist and internationally recognized beauty expert takes you on an adventure -- to Europe, Asia, Africa, the United States, South America, Australia and beyond - revealing secrets for luxurious hair, glowing skin, and more.
 
Passport to Beauty features unique, yet simple beauty tips and techniques as well as instructions for creating cleansing masks, exfoliation blends, and moisturizers for hair and body.  Learn how women around the world stay beautiful:
·        turn back the hands of time with a white clay mask like Australian beauties do
·        refresh your complexion with white tea - an ancient Chinese anti-aging secret
·        use coconut oil for glossy, shimmering hair as South Asian women have done for centuries
A beauty treatment and make-over with an exotic flair is only as far away as your local grocery store - learn how to unleash the beatifying power of yogurt, lemon, olive oil, honey, and other surprising ingredients.  Additionally, Shalini Vadhera will introduce you to the secrets of spices, natural remedies, and spa treatments from around the globe.
 
And once you've got your skin and hair looking wonderful, Shalini Vadhera dips into her bag of international beauty tricks and reveals a multitude of techniques for selecting and applying make-up and always looking your absolute best. 
 
No matter your latitude or longitude on the globe, by using the information in this book you can truly become a global goddess!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Globe-trotting celebrity makeup artist Vadhera's approach to world-wise beauty is simple: if something tastes good, why not put it on your face? Organized into fun jaunts in each continent, Vadhera kicks off her world tour with makeup tips borrowed from European sisters who "aren't afraid to use a colorful palette to make a statement." It's refreshing (if not exactly groundbreaking) that Vadhera uses a "less is more" philosophy, emphasizing the power of deep sleep over heavy foundations and concealers. Her tour of the East includes the assertion that sake is an "all-around miracle worker" for skin, and insists that readers add a cup of the rice wine to a hot bath for "whole-body detoxification." Even if few blushing brides will be brave enough to faithfully recreate the author's "Indian Bridal Glow Mask" that boasts chickpea flour, turmeric and almond oil, "Jacqueline's Okra Hydrating Mask" at least bears the promise of a few relaxing moments despite what the author concedes is a "slimy consistency." Continuing a world tour with brief stops in Australia, the Americas and Africa (to tout those notorious elixirs of beauty-butter and brewed peel of quince fruit), Vadhera proves herself a fun-loving guide to culinary cosmetics.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From the Back Cover

Throughout the world, every country has age-old, time-tested secrets that women use for looking and feeling beautiful.  Shalini Vadhera, celebrity make-up artist and internationally recognized beauty expert takes you on an adventure -- to Europe, Asia, Africa, the United States, South America, Australia and beyond - revealing secrets for luxurious hair, glowing skin, and more.
 
Passport to Beauty features unique, yet simple beauty tips and techniques as well as instructions for creating cleansing masks, exfoliation blends, and moisturizers for hair and body.  Learn how women around the world stay beautiful:
·        turn back the hands of time with a white clay mask like Australian beauties do
·        refresh your complexion with white tea - an ancient Chinese anti-aging secret
·        use coconut oil for glossy, shimmering hair as South Asian women have done for centuries
A beauty treatment and make-over with an exotic flair is only as far away as your local grocery store - learn how to unleash the beatifying power of yogurt, lemon, olive oil, honey, and other surprising ingredients.  Additionally, Shalini Vadhera will introduce you to the secrets of spices, natural remedies, and spa treatments from around the globe.
 
And once you've got your skin and hair looking wonderful, Shalini Vadhera dips into her bag of international beauty tricks and reveals a multitude of techniques for selecting and applying make-up and always looking your absolute best. 
 
No matter your latitude or longitude on the globe, by using the information in this book you can truly become a global goddess!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; First Edition edition (May 2, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312349629
• ISBN-13: 978-0312349622
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #251,233 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book for the Adventurous and Inquisitive July 5, 2006

By A. Tokarev

Format:Paperback

This was a fantastic book that went through all six inhabited continents and shared all-natural beauty remedies that I was very excited to try. I'm a believer in natural recipes for masks, lotions, serums, etc. and this book was full of them. It was refreshing to have a book that allows me to do nearly everything in it without it shoving brand names with sky-high prices down my throat. The only thing that I found that I wasn't particularly fond of was that some of the recipes are repeated through the book in various contexts, and also because Shalini Vadhera has her own makeup line, she ends up touting it a bit.

It's a great find if you're looking for some back-to-mother-nature beauty rituals and tips.

30 of 33 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Not bad, but not quite what I was hoping for September 30, 2007

By cafemocha

Format:Paperback

This book isn't quite what I was hoping for. I'm interested in the beauty ideals of other cultures and was hoping Vadhera would go a little further into each culture's perspective of beauty, such as by providing a few pages of narrative in each chapter in addition to the "beauty tips and techniques". (For example, how does what the culture found beautiful in the past compare to what it finds beautiful now?) But that isn't really what the book is about. It's a lightweight, breezy collection of face and hair masks used by women in other countries.

I found some of the tips interesting, but other advice appears numerous times throughout the book, worded differently. Drinking a lot of water, eating a healthy diet, portion control, and exercise are mentioned constantly, which of course are good tips, but not really anything new. Vadhera has a perky style of writing, such as "African gals say walking is not only a way of life but also a great way to keep their lean physiques. Walking around town is an easy path to a tight butt and strong, toned legs!" and "Avoid trying to emphasize all your features at the same time. Overdoing it may label you a makeup misfit!"

I would recommend this book to someone who enjoys making her own skin and face masks and is looking for more receipes. I would also recommend it to someone who wants to learn more about the beauty practices of women in other cultures, as long as they aren't looking for anything too deep.

Someone who is looking to learn more about French or Japanese beauty may enjoy "All You Need to Be Impossibly French" by Helena Frith-Powell or "Beauty Up: Exploring Contemporary Japanese Body Aesthetics" by Laura Miller.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great informative book May 15, 2006

By Sarah

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I think this is a wonderful book because it has beauty masks that you can make by yourself at home. It is also fun reading about beauty tips from around the world.

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is passport portable and PACKED with tips on being your best, gorgeous self! May 8, 2006

By NaughtiLiterati VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

I love it, there is something in here for EVERYONE, especially if you are the natural type of woman that isn't stupid enough to spends hundreds of dollars on products in Sephora instead of lovingly making them with your own hands with essentials found right in your kitchen!

With tips and treats from all over the world, and a fun and easy-to-read style, you can use this book to treat yourself like the queen you are and share it with your loved ones as well. GET IT!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars beauty at home December 1, 2010

By stephieava

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I saw this book on Dr. Oz and ordered immediately via Amazon.com. i was surprised at how many things are everyday things that beautiful woman around the world use. the book was in great condition. i only wish it came sooner.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars natural wonders June 15, 2010

By Janet Hays

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

My daughter and I loved this book. We have tried many of the face masks and our favorite was the coconut oil and honey. I also tried putting garlic into my clear base coat nail polish and it worked incredible well. My nails were as hard as acrylic nails after only one use. After using coconut oil for the face mask I started reading other information on this super healthy oil and have incorporated into my cooking.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun all around July 6, 2011

By K. Pearson

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book has been so much fun. I brought it along to read on a family vacation (it's not much of a read so much as a huh, I never thought of that). My great aunt, my mom and myself all had a great time trying out the face masks from all the different countries. It was interesting to see what worked the best on the different type/ages of skin (so far peach). It is really a fun book with lots of try it at home goodness. I now have two friends and my brother's girlfriend in search for copies.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have December 3, 2010

By Michele

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is awesome. A co-worker and I both bought it and we love it. Her's is her bible. She carries it with her daily. Every Monday we talk about what we tried from the book over the weekend. Our kids are totally into it too! Definite stocking stuffer all of our friends are getting a copy this year.