Review of The Black Book of Hollywood Beauty Secrets (Paperback)

Alright, I have never written a review before but I just had to after receiving this book. I read it cover to cover in one day and it was redundant. They mentioned about five different "secrets" throughout thebook more than once. Let me save you the fourteen bucks and give you the skinny on the "secrets"
1) Egg White Mask :Tightens pores
2) Baking soda :Gentle microdermabrasion
3) Strawberry Jello :Lip and nipple stain...I kid you not!
4) Wine in the Bath :Good for skin
5) Ice Cube in Mouth :Press it to the roof to reduce puffiness in face.

These "secrets" were mentioned numerous times. The "authors" talked to stars and make-up people and they either said they used Creme De La Mer or were trying to push their own products. It seemed like onebig ad. All in all, I'm really disappointed...95% filler...5% meat!

Product Description
"We just asked the movie stars how they did it. What did they use? How often? Where did they get it? How can we do it, too? And they told us. We couldn't believe it either."

Kym Douglas, host of the upcoming Lifetime makeover show Queen and the image consultant on The View, and celebrity journalist Cindy Pearlman had always wanted to know how the A-list stars looked so, well, A-list.It turns out that even the most carefully guarded stars were more than happy to dish. Collected here, in their own words, celebrities and their beauty gurus reveal their tricks of the trade.

How do they reduce puffiness, lose five pounds in a week, put shine in their hair, buff their skin, and vacuum their pores without spending a fortune? Find out from Jennifer Aniston, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Lindsay Lohan, Beyoncé Knowles, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Hurley, Charlize Theron, and many, many more!

Kym Douglas is the creator and host of the upcoming Lifetime Television makeover show, Queen, airing in October and the image consultant on The View.She appears regularly on Soap Talk, Good Day Live, Before & After'noon, and Your Weekend with Jim Brickman.



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Review of Jeanne Rose: Herbal Body Book: The Herbal Way to Natural Beauty & Health for Men & Women (Paperback)

I'm 14 years old, and am just discovering the world of herbs, and ofcosmetics. I found this book very useful in both areas, because of thewonderful descripitons, and the useful, simple recipies. Oh, also, the version I read was the 1976 version (from the library of course) so I imagine that this newly updated copy is even better!

Product Description
In this book, Jeanne Rose introduces readers to over 300 herbs and a variety of other household substances that provide all-natural care for the hair, skin, teeth, and scalp. She includes simple recipes for shampoos, soaps, moisturizers, deodorants, dyes, exfoliants, and sun creams.

About the Author
Jeanne Rose has also written Jeanne Rose's Herbal Guide to Food, Jeanne Rose's Kitchen Cosmetics and The Aromatherapy Book.

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Review of Curly Girl (Paperback)

On André Walker's scale, my chemical-free long fro is a 4a: kinky, tight ringlets. As a graduate student, I have very little money, but am looking for techniques to protect my hair's health as I grow it long again. Massey and Chiel have done beautifully. The short chapter on African American hair does what most "experts" are too vain to do--it relies on the judgement of others who specialize in the field. How many times have I had a hair disaster at the hands of a stylist who only knew rumors about nappy hair? Even most Black stylists are truly experts with *straightened* hair. Massey courted some impressive professionals whose opinions did not always bend to hers. As a former researcher, I respect that!
And the no-shampoo method works! For those handling nappy hair, I would recommend the following adaptations to Massey's techniques:

1) During the conditioner wash, cover all the hair w/conditioner, then gently comb out. I comb my hair in the direction I plan to style it. Combing is necessary for kinky hair, unless you are cultivating dreadlocs.

2) Shake your hair a little once you've conditioned for step 3 (kinky ringlets sometimes need a bit of room to shape up.)

3) Massey says silicones weigh hair down. Silicones can't weigh down virgin kinky hair, but they will eventually turn your hair into a shiny, dead mess. They also resist removal by even super-strippingshampoos, so use a non-silicone conditioner with as few ingredients as possible.

4) I have dandruff, but it is under control even after many weeks on Massey's technique. I use the brown sugar scalp scrub every week. Dandruff scalps benefit from more exfoliation. Also, you can substitute cider vinegar for the lemon juice in her Lemon-Aid potion. I have a small spray bottle of vinegar in the shower and i spray some right onto my oily scalpprior to step 2. Oily scalps just need to do the scalp cleansing step more often than Massey indicates. It is not drying.

5) I use inexpensive conditioners by VO5 and CureCare (a beauty supply store brand with 5 ingredients) and have not suffered from a dull look on my hair. Learn to read labels. Try a conditioner which says it's designed for use as body moisturizer.

6) Feel free to add some olive or sesame oil to a dab of conditioner if your hair seems to crave extra. I never use gel, but i gently put this mix through my hair, when needed.

7) She describes a straw set. You can get other-sized curls by setting hair on perm rods. Just use curl papers.

Black curly girls may find it funny that the British Massey has re-invented a product familiar to many of us: oil sheen spray! She suggests putting olive oil in a culinary oil mister for use on the hair! I had to smile.
Massey's book is written with *intelligence,* *respect,* and enthusiasm for all people with textured hair. Not only does she paraphrase Marcus Garvey's thoughts on hair hatred, she actually points out the prejudiced attitudes behind the modern insistence on straight hair as "professional," "well-bred", or "intelligent." Hair is political, and this woman knows it, although her book in straight-up fun. It is valuable for women who want to look like their curly, kinky, nappy, happy selves, not like some deep-fried blow-out queen.I like that the book is inexpensive and that the models are real women with truly lovely "real-world" hair. Bravo!



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Review of The Herbal Home Spa: Naturally Refreshing Wraps, Rubs, Lotions, Masks, Oils, and Scrubs (Herbal Body) (Paperback)

This is a great book for all those interested in making their own skincare and bodycare products. The recipes are very easy to follow and all the products I've made have come out wonderfully. I have noticed a definiteimprovement in my skin. There is also a great reference guide to all theproducts that are used. I would defintely recommend this book to anyone,from the beginner to the advanced.

Product Description
These easy-to-make recipes include facial steams, scrubs, masks, and lip balms; massage oils, baths, rubs, and wraps; hand, nail, and foot treatments; and shampoos, dyes, and conditioners. Includes bathing rituals and massage techniques.



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