Have you all read Don't Go the Cosmetics Counter without me? it's by Paula Bedoun (sp??)- honestly you may not want to read the whole thing, but it's very interesting. This lady reviews cosmetics companies skin care and color products, and puts her review in this book It is a huge book- there are 1000s of companies in it, from very expensive to very, well, not. It's an eye opener- In the back of the book, she has my favorite part, her alphabetical top pics in each category-

basically, she cuts through all of the hype, marketing, and packaging and gets down to what is good for your skin, does it work, is it worth it. She recommends some high end and some inexpensive brands, and even shows how there are really only a handful of large companies, many owned by the same company (example, loreal owns lancome and maybelline, and armani cosmetics, etc...) 

I had to read her reviews on Mary Kay, and she doesn't like most of their products, which made me laugh, though she did like some of them--

She does sell her own line of products, Paula's Choice on a website called CosmeticCop.com  which is also very interesting, and her products are really inexpensive, but I like that she doesn't just push her own products, she recommends other brands as well.

Anyway, I just looked through it, but I would like to buy this book, because I always get trapped into thinking I have to have this ingredient, or this brand, or all one brand, etc, and it is hard to know what claims are real and what is bogus, and this is a great tool.

that's it--

hmm, I kind of disagree with that. From what i read, she was talking about why a certain product might not be effective because it doesn't contain enough of a certain ingredient to be effective, etc.

I actually have been looking over her reviews of oily skin products, because I had been breaking out for the first time in my life (yuk) anyway, I like what she had to say- yes, you want a cleanser that will get rid of everything, but you don't want it to completely strip your skin - one thing I like is that she recommends using chemical exfoliants  and clay masks rather than physical scrubs- I always thought that physically scrubbing just irritated my skin and caused breakouts---
yes, she does give her own products smileys, but I think that she created her own products so of course she would like them- but I still respect that she reviews other products, and also gives many other products smiley's as well- even on her website which I just found, she says positive things about other products--
so, yes, you're right, she may have kind of made herself into an expert, but I think that's ok. Even if someone doesn't want to use her own products, a lot of the explanations and reasons behind her smiley and sad face reviews made sense to me, that's all.
For example, she recommends Neutrogena healthy skin moisturizer, which, last I knew, was one of the #1 selling moisturizers anyway,  and I like that she recommends both expensive department store products and inexpensive drugstore ones- gives you at least something to go on.

anyway- I was impressed with what I thought was an unbiased book, even if her own products are within the lists, there are many others on her list as well- I don't knowif I'll try her personal line or not, but I'll probably go with some of her recommendations and try them out, instead of buying and not having anything to go on- that's all.

oh well- glad to know your opinion though, but I really liked it.

It's one thing to like a book. Another to look critically at it. I feel that's how I approached it. She sets herself up as an expert. And I do appreciate her experience. It's just that when I saw certain things that were questionable, I looked more closely.  So I'll have to stick to my original opinion. I would caution anyone to really use a little critical thinking and step back to see where the message is coming from, that's all.

She also claims that Milk of Magnesia is the best thing to put on oily skin. Fine. But not everyone wants to walk around with that on their face or get that down to basics.

I still maintain that she doesn't understand, or if she does, doesn't make it clear, that the percentage and composition of ingredients is important. That was a point that really was glaring to me.

yes, I do agree with that. I was not saying I thought she was the next greatest thing, but I like how you put it Lori, it's how she just breaks things down. I like how she just explains what is and is not in some products- that's basically it. For example, explaining why, if you want a retinol product, you should fine it in an airtight, opaque container or it won't do you a bit of good, etc- just lays that all out there and then tells you which products add up, which have ingredients that will do you some good, and which just are nothing more than a fancy box and cute packaging- that is exactly why I loved the book so much. It's not that she has said anything extraordinary, just, like you say Lori, wrote it all down in a book- I just didn't really see it as her trying to promote her own products, they're not that easily accessible anyway- anyway- that's it.

I agree with UYC, I noticed her reviews of her own products also and felt it was biased.  I do appreciate the educational approach with the ingredients she has taken, though.  I  read her "Beauty Bible" and "Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter...".  I can also say that now whenever I go to buy sunscreen or facial cleansing products I look for certain ingredients and buy the cheapest product to accomplish my goal. 

It makes it hard, after reading something like that, to look at expensive cosmetics the same anymore.  So, I'm still looking at other sources to educate myself.  I watch my friend buy Clinique and Lancome and just can't justify it.  She swears it works and that's great - but $65.00 for a 1.7 oz bottle of eye cream?  I just can't...

Actualy I think she stopped writing them cause it was such alot of work to do every year. I read that in the foreward of her last one. I know what you mean about outdated. Some of the stuff isnt even available.

Sorry to bring up an old topic.  I checked all 3 of Paula Begoun's books out of the library.  I'm reading all 3 at the same time.    They are very interesting and eye opening.  I had heard of her during my MK training, but we were told how she was a crazy bitter old lady.  Now that I'm actually reading her books, I see this is not the case.  Wish I had more time to read.  LOL  Just as with anything, I'm taking her info with a grain of salt.  But I do agree with a lot of it.  I've tried so much skin care over the years.  If I had read her book 15 years ago, I think I could have saved a lot of heart ache and $$$. 

I saw that and downloaded the demo copy.  Haven't read it yet.  Do you get the newsletter in your email or in the "real" mail?  I think the email was cheaper. 

I am enjoying her style of writing.