How do you pick which cosmetics to buy?

*Note: This book was not sent to me to endorse in any way and I did not receive compensation. These options are my own.*

For Christmas this past year my Mom gave me a book that she saw me read in Costco one day. It's called Don't Go To The Cosmetic Counter Without Me by Paula Begoun, a well known cosmetic expert. You can read more about her on her website here. This book is like an Encyclopedia for all cosmetics from face wash to lipstick, it has tons of products listed here broken down by brands and categories.

What makes this book so useful is that her ratings are based on the ingredients used in each product and also  spells out whether to product delivers on it's claims i.e. "moisturizes for 24 hours"! She will also disclosed if the product is tested on animals which if you have a soul, you will care about :)

I am a cosmetics junkie.... this is just some of what is in my purse and desk at work.

I have a ton more at home that fills a full drawer in my dresser, several plastic storage containers and about 1/2 of my cabinet in my bathroom!

In North America, we spend $7 Billion a year on cosmetics! That's mind blowing! That doesn't count plastic surgery either. I know I spend a lot of my income on beauty products and I used spare almost no expense on what I thought was a life changing product. Now that I am older I try to be more practical with my spending on beauty and this book has been an invaluable resource in that goal.

When approaching the cosmetics area of your local department store or pharmacy, it can be overwhelming! There are so many brands and products to choose from. This one moisturizes, oh but this one makes me look younger, this one has SPF and this one has sparkles on the package (how cute!). How can we possibly choose the best product at an affordable price when there are so many options? And after we have spent our hard earned money, are we going to be happy with that purchase? Well Paula is here to help you!

Paula rates products from Poor, Average, Good and Best with honesty and fairness from how they are packaged to what the ingredients do, results you can expect and their price points (huge money save here if you are slave to expensive, trendy brands). Paula also has her own line of cosmetics available on her website.

Now there will always be a matter of preference to consider. Even if Paula rates a brand with a less than Best rating, you may still love that product and see great results from it. For example, I have no idea why people love Maybelline Great Lash Mascara. It has been rated at the top of almost every magazine's" best mascaras" for decades and makeup artists claim it is a must have. I don't get it, the brush sucks and the results are "meh" in my opinion.  Paula, however rates it as Poor, finally someone sees the light!

I think it is really great to have a reference guide to arm yourself when you purchase a cosmetic of any kind. I refer to this book all the time and her website as well!

You can find Don't Go To The Cosmetic Counter Without Me in any bookstore or on Amazon and it retails for approximately $26.36 CND.

I hope you'll find this post useful and next time, before to run out to drop your dollar bills on the latest and greatest in make up or wrinkle cream, do some research to get the best bang for your buck!

Melmac oxoxoxox

Currently Reading...

While at my Mom's over the weekend we were discussing the horrific details of Ariel Castro kidnapping Amanda Berry and 2 other women (I know, nice Mother's Day conversation) and we were dumbfounded by how someone could do that to another human being.

My Mom who is an avid reader, like most of my family, suggested I read the book ROOM by Emma Donoghue. It is a novel told from the perspective of 5 year old Jack, who is imprisoned in an 11 x 11 room with his Mother who he calls Ma. Jack was born in this room with only a bed, a wardrobe, a table, a toilet and a TV; it is the only world he has ever known. Ma has done her best to make a happy life for Jack while being held captive by "Old Nick", the man who abducted her.

For the first time I downloaded the book in Audio format and listened to it on my drive back to Kingston and while I drive to work ( I commute an hour every day). I am definitely going to listen to audio books again! Some may say that this is lazy and to really get into a book you need to read it but I respectfully disagree. Why not do something more productive than listening to the same playlist I have heard a thousand times or the radio? Why not listen to a book that you have been meaning to read for forever but haven't had the time? To me it is convenient as this is an hour of my day that is wasted and I never have time to sit a read a book for any period of time. That doesn't mean I wouldn't ever read again! I love to sit by a pool when I am on vacation and read; it's super relaxing and a great escape for the mind. But I am telling ya, audio books are going to be my new obsession.

Back to the book, you would think by the description of the story that it is depressing and disturbing but it is actually very a uplifting read. Because it is told from Jack's point of view, you see the innocence of how he perceives his life and how his Ma has made the best of an inconceivable situation to raise an observant, bright and optimistic Son. The author does a fantastic job of showing bits of the abuse "Old Nick" subjects Jack and Ma to without it being graphic or sad. Her writing is real and very captivating considering most of the book takes place in one room.

If you are looking for a good read this Summer or if you are like me and want to try an audio book for a change, check out ROOM by Emma Donoghue. You will love it!