A blessing of the internet age is that all information is at our fingertips. And a curse of the internet age is that all information is at our fingertips. It can be a time-suck, overwhelming, and counter-intuitive. This has never been more apparent than when a brain-soaked individual tries to navigate the information highway that is beauty products.
Not only are there millions of products out there, but the information provided is usually a crock of steaming cow manure. Every brand promises that their product alone will deliver you the moon on the back of a sparkly unicorn’s back whilst simultaneously making your skin as clear and wrinkle free as an unborn fetus’s butt. It can be exhausting to the modern woman, juggling career, children, and being the image of perfection that is so required of us, while somehow still swimming through all the nonsense to find perfect beauty products.
If this sounds like you, let me introduce you to your new product hero. Her name is Paula Begoun, a.k.a. “The Cosmetics Cop.” She’s a woman who has dedicated her life to sifting through all the nonsense and lies to boil down the information into an easily digestible format for the masses.
A few facts about her:
- Published over twenty best selling books
- Appearances on CNN, Dr. Oz, Dateline NBC, and Oprah to name a few.
- Employs a research team with various backgrounds in science to investigate thousands of products
- Has over 25 years of experience investigating beauty products
The book I’m reviewing today is the book that led me to her. It’s called, Don’t Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me. I think the only book I’ve ever referenced more than this one is possibly the dictionary.
Inside you will find the following information:
- Product reviews broken down by:
- If they deliver on claims
- Cost
- How they perform (Best, Good, Average, Poor)
- Ingredients
- Comparisons between department store and grocery store brands
- Best products organized by:
- Cost (Above $20, Below $20)
- Type (eyeliner, foundation, eye cream, etc.)
- Brand (Neutrogena, Stila, Smashbox, etc.)
- Detailed descriptions of ingredients:
- Are they harmful?
- Do they actually work?
- Are they worth the money?
The whole intention behind her book is to help women find the best products catered to their needs at the best bang for their buck. She helps you decide if that $250 ounce of whale sperm eye cream is actually worth it. She also helps you make educated decisions as to when it’s smart to splurge or save on a product. I have religiously been buying my products based on her reviews and have only disagreed with her evaluations ONCE. Who could ask for more?
If you’d like a preview of the reviews from her book, she also has a website that offers a limited amount of reviews (to gain access to all you need a membership) here: Beautypedia.com
Your brain and wallet will thank you for this investment.
Side note: She also has a phenomenal skin care line I’ve been using since I was 24. I constantly get told I look 28 when I’m actually 123 years old. Post on that coming soon!
