Sephora: The Ultimate Guide to Makeup, Skin, and Hair from the Beauty Authority

by Sephora

Product Description

Size: The Ultimate Guide To Makeup, Skin,

About the Author

Melissa Schweiger is a freelance writer and editor. Her articles have appeared in Women's Wear Daily, Interview, Marie Claire, Redbook, Hamptons, Seventeen, and In Style, and on Sephora.com. Most recently, she was a fashions feature editor at Marie Claire. Prior to that, she was a beauty editor at Sephora.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow (April 15, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061466409
• ISBN-13: 978-0061466403
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #63,585 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Prety Basic, April 24, 2008

By 

Antigone Walsh - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Sephora: The Ultimate Guide to Makeup, Skin, and Hair from the Beauty Authority (Hardcover)

This breezy and attractive book is for beginners only. The tips and suggestions contributed by beauty industry luminaries could have just as easily been culled from the beauty sections of major women's magazines. Actual instruction, which includes basic hair, skin, brow and makeup application including the ubiquitous "smoky eye", is minimal and very basic. The book appears designed for young Caucasian females with very little for persons of other races or ages.

The bulk of the book is devoted to products that are, not surprisingly, available at Sephora outlets. Lists of the contributors' favorite products scarcely justify the cost of the book. What works for them may not work for you, although you might be tempted to check out a Sephora store.

If you are thirteen and a makeup newbie, you will most likely enjoy this book. It is beautifully photographed and written in a light, easy style. However, if you wish to take your makeup to the next level or are seeking to address a cosmetic challenge, you will be disappointed.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not What I Thought It Was, June 11, 2008

By 

C. Connelly - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sephora: The Ultimate Guide to Makeup, Skin, and Hair from the Beauty Authority (Hardcover)

I ordered this book to help my teenaged stepdaugther see how make-up should be applied. Instead, this was just a big advertisement for Sephora make-up. Granted, I should have expected this based on the title, but I figured there would be more pictures included. But I don't think Sephora should charge any money for a book that is basically advertising for their products. This book should be a hand-out they give in their stores or charge a minimal fee for, but should not be marketed outside their stores. I returned the book for a refund.

34 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Don't bother., May 25, 2008

By 

Rala (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sephora: The Ultimate Guide to Makeup, Skin, and Hair from the Beauty Authority (Hardcover)

This book does have an author, but really, it's the company's name on the front, which I suppose should have been the first red flag.

Whoever did the final proofing on this book should be taken out back and beaten. Multiple images that should have been transparent weren't, resulting in entire pages where lines ended mid-word.

A large section (dare I say, most?) of the book is devoted to specific products with big, honking, full-color pictures and page-filler descriptions. That's right, this "book" is an overpriced hard-bound color catalogue of Sephora products.

There are pages upon pages of vapid quotes on the nature of beauty and individual beauty tips from the creators of various lines of beauty products. One person recommends yoga, pilates, and cardio. Another swears by "wholesome food". If you don't get it, there's a full-page (and full-color) spread of the man's refrigerator.

Oddly, the quotes deliver this idea that, if you're not beautiful before you reach for the Mega-Zit Concealer (TM), you just shouldn't bother. But the arbitrary bits don't stop there:

One part of the book says, "Try red on your lips!" You, my discerning would-be reader, should ask, "Why?"

Your book: "We can't even be bothered to give historical precedent. One of the rich and not particularly famous people we interviewed just thinks it's a good idea; he sees red lips so often now that red might as well be neutral."

You: "But I don't want neutral; I want beauty! Could you at least give me an aesthetic reason for this highly opinionated recommendation?"

Your book: "...Have you considered trying the Holy Cow Bazungas Lip Exfoliator?"

You: "Is it really made with holy cow?"

Your book: "Focus on the bazungas, sweetheart."

I'm giving two stars for very pretty pictures. Coffee table reading is this book's only means of redemption. My advice: skip the book and pick up a free catalogue next time you're at the mall. Save your book money for one of the non-corporate-affiliated beauty books out there.

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