cover image TOTAL BEAUTY

TOTAL BEAUTY

Sarah Stacey, Josephine Fairley, . . Sterling, $14.95 (256pp) ISBN 978-1-4027-1776-5

This invaluable resource for makeup counter regulars includes the results of what is perhaps the most comprehensive survey of cosmetics available. Stacey and Fairley (The Beauty Bible ) arranged for 1,180 women to test thousands of beauty products from 32 categories, including eye shadow, lipstick, makeup remover, acne medication, face masks, teeth whiteners and more. Essentially a product review guide (without pesky advertisements), the book lists the items in each category that received top ratings, as well as the best budget buys. Each product gets a score on a scale of one to 10, averaged from the testers' responses. The authors also include illuminating quotes from the testers about the pros and cons of each item, be it mascara that visibly thickens lashes or cellulite cream that just doesn't work. In between the score sheets is a series of mini articles that, for beauty mavens, will be worth the price of the book alone; they offer tips on coloring hair, making lips look more full, and plucking eyebrows into the perfect arch, among other things. The advice in these pages is more specific than anything readers will find in women's magazines, making this book the ultimate unbiased guide for the woman who's willing to take a few minutes to read up on nail polish if it'll tell her which brand won't chip after a day. (Jan. 21)