Natural Beauty: Pamper Yourself with Salon Secrets at Home (Paperback)

by Laura DuPriest (Author) "MOST WOMEN I counsel use one word more than any other to describe how they want to look: natural..." (more)
Key Phrases: salon secrets, waxing service, permanent makeup, Snake Oil, De-Mystifying Makeup, Fountain of Youth (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
From the PBS show of the same name comes a guide to help women of all ages create natural-looking beauty with natural products. DuPriest, who's been involved in one way or another with the beauty business for three decades (as model, producer, salon-owner), wants to "bring knowledge to the vulnerable hearts of women" who've found themselves spending too much time and money on the latest potions or procedures. She relates her own experiences with both attractiveness and frumpiness, urges the power of positive thinking and takes a swipe at salon "snake oil" gimmicks such as microdermabrasion. (Anyone can scrub her own face raw, DuPriest notes.) It takes a while to get to the nitty-gritty beauty secrets and recipes, and sometimes one wishes that DuPriest were just a little less chatty. But her obvious knowledge about everything from waxing to massaging to not being taken in at the cosmetics counter, as well as her inventive concoctions (a guacamole-esque conditioning hair mask, homemade hair spray, Aromatherapy Bath Fizzies-all made with easy ingredients) make this a solid beauty resource.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description
Salon Secrets at a Fraction of the Cost
Now it is easy to look and feel beautiful, without spending a fortune. Did you know that a mix of equal parts vegetable oil and sugar is not only the cheapest way to exfoliate your face, but it's also the best? Or that by combining specific amounts of sugar, water, and lemon juice, you can create a homemade "wax" and comfortably eliminate unwanted hair for over six?
Beauty expert and aesthetician Laura DuPriest offers countless ideas and recipes that will help you create the natural and attractive look you desire while providing motivational tips to enhance your inner beauty. Inside, you'll find simple recipes and step-by-step directions for:
·Strawberry Citrus Mask
·Egyptian-Style Milk Bath
·Basic Cleanser for All Skin Types
·Homemade Moisturizing Shampoo
·Aromatherapy Bath Salts
·Baby Massage Oil
·Foot-Soaking Fizzies
·Salon-Style Hand Treatment
·And much more!
Pamper yourself, easily and affordably: You'll look better, feel better, and discover that natural beauty is a way of life you love.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Prima Lifestyles (September 24, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761520996
• ISBN-13: 978-0761520993
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #313,316 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not Helpful/ Few Secrets, March 7, 2005

By	Happy Mom (usa) - See all my reviews

This book could be good for a model wanna-be. It does have a chapter on shaping your eyebrows and waxing your legs - ouch! However, if you want useful recipes and remedies do not buy this book! The author's idea of a recipe for Foot-Soaking Fizzies is Alka Seltzer and your favorite essential oil. Her recipe for Aromatherapy Bath Salts is epsom salt, your favorite essential oil and food coloring! This book lacks useful information and only has a few recipes other than those listed on the back cover. Most ingredients are not natural and most of her "secrets" would irritate my sensitive skin.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple and good, September 24, 2004

By	M. Coppedge (North Carolina) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The author, a model turned aesthetician, shares her knowledge about natural body care. She tells how to care for your skin, eyes, and hair and gives recipes for creams, shampoos, conditioners, etc. that have natural and few ingredients, are easy to make at home, and are inexpensive. She also includes a wonderful section about buying cosmetics in stores, how salespeople trick you into buying more than you want and need, and how you can avoid those pitfalls.

Unlike other books that are loaded with recipes and leave you undecided what's best for you, du Priest suggests one or two for each skin and hair type and tells you why they will work for you. For people who may not believe that such simple and inexpensive lotions will work, she points out that her sugar-oil scrub for aging skin, which you can make at home in 1 minute from ingredients in your kitchen, has the same composition as a $15 beautifully packaged mini-tube sold in beauty stores.

Other beauty books require you to buy dozens of basic ingredients before you can start your home cosmetics, duPriest's doesn't. Her ingredients can easily be found in supermarkets.

I liked the author's straightforward way and throughout the book I always felt she was honest

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No nonsense beauty!, February 3, 2003

By A Customer

I just recently bought this book and I am very impressed! Laura Dupriest offers clear advice on skincare, fashion, make-up, hairstyle, etc. I haven't read the whole book through yet; I've just skimmed through certain parts (like the chapter on facials; the sugar and oil exfoliant leaves your skin baby soft!). She is also honest about things that skincare people try to put over on you (like if you don't buy a moisturizer and toner with a cleanser from the same company, it won't work). I also realize that I was slowly fading into the term she coined as "frumpitis" (as the mother of newborn twins, it's hard not to look frumpy!) The only thing I didn't agree with is that you should throw out anything in your closet that looks remotely masculine. Someone just bought me an Oscar De la Renta lounge outfit that fits into that category, but there is no way I'm throwing it out! Sorry Laura!