Book dossier

Don't go to the cosmetics counter without me

by Paula Begoun

Paula Begoun has been reporting on the beauty industry for more than 25 years. Loved by readers and feared by corporations, she has earned the name of "Cosmetics Cop" for her thorough, authoritative investigations of beauty products and her fierce consumer advocacy. From drugstores and home shopping to department stores and catalogs, Begoun reviews all of the major cosmetic and skin care lines product by product — more than 30,000 in all. Regardless of the price tags, there are good and bad products in almost every line, and with the turn of a page, readers receive concise reviews and fast answers in this comprehensive, totally revised edition. Begoun covers product websites, efficacy, and whether claims such as youth extension are accurate. Individual chapters are devoted to best products, a cosmetic ingredients dictionary, and animal testing. A user-friendly rating system makes finding items worth trying a snap.