great comprehensive makeup coverage
Carmindy did a good job. I have been using make up for 15 years now, but there was always something missing. I had a feeling that I don't know how to use make up, and I don't like exploring it myself. I want to be done and look good. I do read magazines and I read several books about make up, but here I learned several valuable tricks that made me go from OK to great.
Thank you Carmindy

Everything you need to know to be a makeup artist
This is one of the best written, do-it-yourself makeup book out on the market. No elaborate tricks, no special lighting, no hard-to-find products. No cookie cutter look of the same color makeup applied to different women.

This book will quickly and easily help you find the best makeup products and colors based on your age, hair and skin color.

PROS
* It takes you step by step, from skin care, to picking the right foundation, to getting perfect brows, to the 5-minute basic make-up routine that is great by itself and/or becomes the basis for more other looks (black tie, holiday, vacation, wedding).
* Only 3-7 beauty products are needed, usually available at your local drugstore or department store.
* There's a complete list of recommended products in back - each with a splurge ($$$) or inexpensive option ($). It would be useful to know about this up front instead of finding it in back by surprise as not everyone would read the book all the way though.
* There are wonderful pictures and how-to instructions to follow specifically for redheads, brunettes or blondes. For light skinned, Asian, mocha skinned, dark skinned, or olive skinned. For teenagers, and for women in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s (grey hair). Special looks - smoky eye, retro, bronze goddess, jewel tones.
* For each section, there are tips and a list of makeup products/ colors to achieve the look shown.
* The book more than pays for itself as you get specific product recommendations based on your coloring from a top makeup pro. Don't panic - the colors suggested sometimes look unusual (pearly highlighter, eggplant eyeshadow, light peach blush) but once applied they look great and very natural.

CONS:
* The routine is so simple and the list of best products so small, it's almost minimalist, but it works! You might see all the makeup you bought in the past (and barely used) and regret it.
* There seems to be a look for anyone and everyone, so a lot of it won't apply to you. Nonetheless, there are useful tips throughout - as well as wonderful pictures - it's worth reading it all the way through.
* There are no "before" pictures, although the makeup is so natural looking that you don't notice the makeup, you just see that each woman looks great.

In all, a great buy if you're looking for simple makeup routine that's easy and inexpensive to duplicate at home.

Good product
This is great. Supplies info not just for achieving a five minute face but also for matching make up colours to skin tone and hair colour as well make techniques for certain age groups.

Simple, easy, well organized information!
I really enjoy this book and will for years to come. I will always have it as a reference. I am a hairstylist and keep it on my station for my clients to see it. It was a great purchase, and I am so thankful to Carmindy for her expert advice.

Could have been better.
This book could have been better...the information was pretty basic,
so it would be good for the beginner, but not so much for a professional
makeup artist.
I enjoyed the layout of the book, the photos, and the easy-to-read style
of the text.
The biggest turn-off was at the very beginning on page 11 in the section
"Toner Talk". It is no wonder that the average woman thinks that she can get by without this 'basic necessity' beauty item. There are five basic types of facial cleaning products: 1) thick, rich creams 2)lighter-weight lotions 3)oil products 4)things that lather 5)facial
cleaning cloths. The first three break down makeup in a very gentle fashion and you can remove the excess with a soft cloth or tissue, but that still leaves a layer of residue (of cleanser and makeup) on the surface of the skin. The removal of this residue is extremely important to keep it from building up in the pores.
Things that 'lather'...some are actual 'soaps' and others are not.
Soaps are very stong and harsh to the skin especially with long-term usage.
Often times the 'things that lather'are so thorough that a person
does not need the toner/astringent to rinse the skin.
Facial cleaning cloths....I have not experimented enough with them to
give too much information, except to point out that they are extremely
expensive in the long run. If you do not believe me, just add up what
a one year's recommend supply would total.
It seems to me that the reason the beauty industry is so big is
because women are very uneducated on what their actual needs are so
they are constantly search and purchasing items/products that they do not need, therefore wasting their money.
Do your research. Ask more questions. Ask for samples. Find women, preferably mature women, that have beautiful skin and ask them if they would mind sharing their beauty secrets. If they are willing to share, ask them what brands they used when they were younger and what brands they are using now. The brand that they used when they were younger is the one that kept their skin protected and looking good.
You brush your teeth twice a day to prevent cavities and decay in the future, well, a good skincare program twice a day is what will help protect you from fine lines and deep wrinkles in the future. You should
not wait until you have damaged skin to start trying to protect it.

The average cost to protect your skin per day can range from fifty cents to five dollars (more if you can affort the truly expensive brands). Otherwise, you can save your money for Botox shots, dermapeel treatments, or plastic surgery...all of which are a lot more expensive.