The Green Beauty Guide by Julie Gabriel
I’m not sure what I was expecting with this book, but I definitely wasn’t expecting something packed quite so full of information.
“The Green Beauty Guide” is more than a guide, it is actually a fairly comprehensive resource. Gabriel spent many years as a beauty and fashion reporter, so she has probably tried nearly every skin care and cosmetic product available. In “The Green Beauty Guide,” Gabriel begins by teaching us about our own skin, then about many of the toxic chemicals that are often used in the pursuit of beauty – including what to look for on ingredient lists and what to avoid. Finally, she transitions to what green beauty is and how, specifically, to achieve green beauty.
The best part of “The Green Beauty Guide,” in my opinion, are the ‘do it yourself’ recipes for creating green facials, toners, cleansers, and moisturizers. I was a little disappointed, because my Advance Reader’s Copy did not include the final seven chapters, which all contain Gabriel’s favorite store-bought products and recipes for things like sun protection, hair care, and body care. I suppose now I have to go out and buy the finished product (on sale today, Friday October 10th, by the way).
The first few chapters can be a bit overwhelming if you are not familiar with beauty chemicals or the precise way your skin works. It is fairly technical at the beginning. I would encourage readers to stick through it, though, and just get from it as much as they can. Once you have read the first five chapters, you can simply reference the last eleven when you want to buy or make a specific product. Don’t feel this is a book you need to read the whole way through.
If you are interested in making your beauty regimen greener to improve your health and that of the environment, “The Green Beauty Guide” would be a great resource.
Sounds interesting
I will get it for me, once it hits the stands here
I may have to check this out. Thanks for the review!
Hey Jen, good review. This book will be on tour with us at a ton of “green” blogs beginning Nov. 17th- here is the schedule: http://tlcbooktours.wordpress.com/2008/10/01/julie-gabriel-author-of-the-green-beauty-guide-on-tour-novdec-2008/
I’m sorry you didn’t like The Best Place to Be more than you did!
I am also reading through the advance copy and I didn’t realize the last chapters are missing. I really want to read the chapter about sun protection.
Thanks for the link Lisa!
I read another very positive review of this (I can’t remember where!). The author of that review had tried two of the “recipes” and was pleased with the results.
I’ve been trying to add a little more “green” into my life and this book looks like a great resource! Thanks for the review!
Sounds very interesting. I used to do home made beauty recipes too. It’s very cost effective and easy.
This looks like a very interesting book (I’m especially interested in the recipes, too).
Have you checked out the safecosmetics web site? Scary to think of all the things we put on our face/body. I’ll be checking out this book! Thanks for the great review.
I didn’t think I would be interested in a green beauty book, but your review hooked me. I am going to put it on my list!
Great review! This sounds like a book for me. As a vegan, I have been well aware for a long time of some of the stuff being put into beauty products. Europe has banned many chemicals but North America is too much in bed with corporations to follow suit.
Awesome review! I read and reviewed this one a few weeks ago, it’s a definite keeper for me. The information was incredibly helpful and the recipes are easy and lovely!
[…] The Green Beauty Guide by Julie Gabriel […]