Nadine Haobsh

Welcome to the final part of my interview with Nadine Haobsh, the beauty blogger whose book Beauty Confidential just hit bookstores. We've already chatted about the growth of beauty blogs and the secrets of magazine editors. Now we're talking about the best drugstore products and that ever-controversial injection, Botox. Read on:

Are there any drugstore brands that you think do things well?
Yes! I am in love with anything and everything Neutrogena and actively choose their skincare products over things you can find at Saks and Barneys. The only cleanser I love in the world more than Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash is the Shu Uemura High Performance Cleansing Wash, and that's mostly because it's just fun to use. I will probably be using Oil-Free Acne Wash for the next three decades. I have some new Armani, Lancome, Avon, Kiehl's and Origins sitting unused in my cabinet right now because I can't give up my Neutrogena. Olay Regenerist is the best anti-aging product you can find without heading to your dermatologist, and that includes the $300 creams you'll find at Neiman Marcus. Oh, and Clean & Clear Persagel and Oil-Absorbing Sheets are worth their weight in gold; better than anything ten times the price.

For Nadine's opinion on Botox, and on whether caring about beauty is shallow, read more

Yesterday, I shared part of my interview with Nadine Haobsh, whose book Beauty Confidential is out this week. In the first part, we talked about the growth of beauty blogging, and today's installment covers products that are worth their price—and which ones are a waste. Here we go...

Can you tell us three products that are absolutely worth the money, and three that aren't?
Not worth the money: Creme de la Mer, Chanel nail polish, any cleanser over $10. Completely worth the money: Solano or Chi hair tools (flatirons or blowdryers), Bare Escentuals mineral foundation, any fragrance from Bond no. 9 (I am obsessed with Chinatown!) Nail polish, no matter how expensive or cheap, will be on your nails three days at best. Why spend $40 when you can spend $4? It's just not worth it. And you can't skimp on your hair; an expensive cut, expensive tools and moderately priced products will truly make a difference.

To find out a dirty little secret about beauty editors, read more

If you've been reading blogs for a few years, you've probably heard of Nadine Haobsh. A former beauty staffer at Lucky and Ladies' Home Journal, she anonymously wrote the blog Jolie in NYC. A few posts about the perks that beauty editors enjoy (Marc Jacobs wallets, plane tickets, spa vacations, and so on) didn't go over so well in the industry, and when her identity became known, Seventeen rescinded a job offer.

But that's all in the past. This week, Haobsh releases her first book, Beauty Confidential. It's a breezy, easy-to-read guide to makeup, hair and skin care—complete with honest opinions about which products are worth the cash, and which are a waste of time and money. Nadine and I chatted over the weekend; here's the first part of our interview.

How do you think readers perceive beauty bloggers as opposed to beauty editors for magazines? Is there any difference?
Absolutely. I think that readers think (and rightly so) that you can trust beauty bloggers a bit more. There's less of an agenda, it's direct blogger-to-reader contact, and you're going to hear a tell-it-like-it-is review of products and trends. There's always going to be a certain amount of spin, no matter whether you're reading on a blog or in a magazine, but in general I find blogs to be so much more honest in their coverage

For Nadine's thoughts on whether magazine editors worry about the growth of blogs, read more