Most beauty questions today can be answered with a quick Google search. Many hair and makeup tutorials can be found on YouTube, and countless other tips and tricks are scattered throughout the Internet. Many may now find the Internet replacing books as their primary source of beauty information, but don’t underestimate the usefulness of a book for beauty tips and tricks.
They are informative and fun to browse through and also make great gifts, many of which are pretty enough to display in your home. I’ve compiled a list of some of the best beauty books on the market today for your reading (or gifting) pleasure! Many come in Kindle versions, but I recommend buying a paper or hardback edition to get the most out of the DIYs and images included.
1. Vogue Beauty
This book by Juliet Cohen, Bronwyn Cosgrave, and Rachel Marlowe covers a variety of beauty topics. It has six sections including hair, skin care, the body, makeup, scent, and complementary medicines (things like surgery, laser treatments, etc.—this section is not for me, but the rest sound great!). The book contains information from professionals in each industry, lots of photos, and knowledge from insiders as well. Although it’s several years old, it still offers a lot of interesting pictures and advice. The list price on Amazon won’t break your wallet either if you’re looking for a fun book to try.
2. Organic Body Care Recipes: 175 Homemade Herbal Formulas for Glowing Skin & a Vibrant Self
This book is also a few years old, but comes well-reviewed on Amazon. The book is written by Stephanie L. Tourles, a licensed holistic esthetician with over 20 years experience. It features a plethora of DIY beauty treatments that you can make from home with safer ingredients than traditional store-bought beauty products. Most reviewers describe her recipes as simple and extremely informative, making it a must-have if you’re a big DIY-er.
3. Perfumes: The A to Z Guide
This book, written by Luca Turin and Tania Sanchez, is on this list because it heavily intrigues me. Turin is a scientist and Tania is a longtime perfume critic. Together, they spent years sampling perfumes on the market to make this guide. It includes a range of advice and teaches you how to pick the perfect perfume for you. Obviously, the guide is built around their own opinions on perfume, but still looks like a good resource for those that find themselves overwhelmed as they walk through the perfume section of their favorite department store (I always forget how to breathe as I walk through). It seems like a great place to start if you want to know more about perfume or find a new favorite!
4. Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual: For Everyone from Beginner to Pro
Makeup artist Bobbi Brown shares makeup and styling tricks from over 25 years of experience in this book. She covers just about every aspect of makeup, from skincare to styling tips. She also includes advice on how to pick the right shades for your skin tone and step-by steps for applying makeup with pictures to learn from, too. The book gives an inside look on what makeup artists do and how they do it, making it a very interesting read for anyone who wants to know more about the beauty industry!
5. Lauren Conrad Beauty
In this book, style icon Lauren Conrad shares a variety of beauty secrets. The book includes tips on healthy eating for healthy skin and hair, general wellness tips to keep your body feeling its best, and both everyday and special occasion makeup tips. The book is a balance of step-by-step guides (with pictures) for hair, makeup, and nails with little anecdotes from Conrad as well.
6. Making Faces
Making Faces features a variety of makeup tips from famous celebrity makeup artist Kevyn Aucoin. Aucoin has done makeup for stars such as Tina Turner, Cher, Vanessa Williams, and Julia Roberts. The book has two sections. The first offers Aucoin’s favorite makeup tips and tricks for defining facial features as well as other makeup and skincare advice. He includes before and after pictures of celebrity makeup to give an inside look on how the pros make the celebrities look as close to perfection as they do. The last chapter features character makeup and tutorials on how to make those looks as well. This one is definitely a must-have for any makeup lover or anyone interested in Hollywood and the makeup industry.
7. Jemma Kidd Make-Up Secrets: Solutions to Every Woman’s Beauty Issues and Make-Up Dilemmas
Jemma Kidd discusses new makeup products on the market and how to use them in the first half of this book. She also includes tips for how to apply makeup according to your face shape and age. In the second half, she deals with the common beauty concerns of many women including skincare tips, tips on looking more youthful, how to keep makeup up-to-date, and how to protect your skin from sun and weather. The book also includes images and tutorials for iconic looks like Audrey Hepburn and Kate Moss.
8. 600 Aromatherapy Recipes for Beauty, Health & Home
This book by Beth Jones is relatively new, but has high reviews on Amazon. It includes a wealth of information about aromatherapy and how to combine essential oils to maximize their use. It features buying and storage tips for a variety of essential oils and the best ways to combine them. Also included are descriptions of 42 essential oils outlining their benefits, their properties, and other tips for safety and usage. This book is definitely worth a look for anyone interested in aromatherapy or anyone looking to learn more about essential oils and what they can be used for.
Have a favorite beauty book that didn’t make it on this list? Tell us in the comments below or tweet us @litdarling!
