I feel pretty, oh so pretty!

“It’s about reinventing yourself throughout life. Don’t stop at pretty – go for gorgeous all the time.
Life isn’t a dress rehearsal.”

-- Jerrod Blandino, Founder of Too Faced Cosmetics, on Beauty

This is my new favorite quote, and it’s one that greeted me when I opened the pages of Sephora: The Ultimate Guide to Makeup, Skin, and Hair from the Beauty Authority. An admitted beauty-product addict (see my bathroom counter for proof – you won’t find the actual countertop) and dedicated Sephoree (yes, I just invented that word – hello Websters, it’s Chic Shopper Chick calling!) this book is a must-have for fanatics like me who just can’t get enough. But really, as I read it, I realized that this book is also a must-have for even those who aren’t fanatics like me. See, I am willing to seek out beauty tips and chat off anyone’s ear about my favorite skin-care products, mascara, and eyeshadow. I spend hours on my vacations in Sephora stores (ask hubby – poor guy just books vacations in cities with a Sephora) because until a month ago, my darling state of Louisiana, for all of its culture, music, and fabulous food, DID NOT HAVE A SEPHORA.

But are you willing to do those things? If the answer is no, that’s ok. For me, it’s a hobby. But I know you still want to look fabulous, and if it’s not your hobby and you don’t want to spend hours scouring the internet for beauty tips, then this is the book for you. EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LOOKING FABULOUS IS HERE. I’m serious! It’s my new Beauty Bible! Full-time job and full-time mommy? This book is for you! Full-time student and part-time job? This book is for you, too.

Case in point. Have you ever gone to the salon and gotten a really, really fabulous new hair style? You get home, you’re feelin’ good – the next day you brush it, maybe add a little product – but you’re still feelin’ good about this ‘do of yours. Then the third day comes – maybe you throw it in a ponytail, but what a cute ponytail – all of the hairs are just right! And then, day four. You can’t milk it anymore. You have to wash it. So you do. And you never get your hair to look like that again. Well, last time I got my hair “done” as I like to say, I told my fabulous stylist repeatedly that I can’t get my hair to look like she does. Well, she took baby steps with me, pointed me in the direction of some good products, and taught me how to do it myself. I left out of there $220 poorer but confident that I could at least come close to what she does with my hair -- and you know what? I can. But if I had read this book first I would have saved her some time and my hair would have looked a lot better, a lot sooner. All of the same tips that she gave me, like blowdrying in sections with a round brush in the opposite direction that your hair grows and using a root-builder on the crown of my head (whew!) ARE IN THIS BOOK! Sweet!

Oh, and this book is just gorgeous. It is full of color photos to give examples, all big enough to see in detail. Tons of little tips are scattered throughout the books as well, giving you tips about how to reduce the appearance of cellulite (20 percent topical, 80 percent diet – who knew?!), how to elongate your legs and make them look flawless with a bronzer, using a primer under your foundation, and oh – did you know that concealer should be put on AFTER foundation?!

Sephora: The Ultimate Guide to Makeup, Skin, and Hair from the Beauty Authority is a must-have, and is full of classic tips that you can pass up or down a generation. The list price for this hardcover book is $27.95 but Amazon is currently selling it for $18.45. That is a serious deal for this book, so grab a copy for yourself -- I promise you won’t be disappointed!