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Bella Book: Being Simply Beautiful
Lymphatic drainage massage tutorials, correct lipstick application, a seven-minute workout, an explanation of the body's glandular systems, even Kegels — author Helen Noble's new book Being Simply Beautiful packs a lot of info into its slender 128 pages. Noble, the founder of luxe skincare line Belacrema and a big believer in natural beauty and traditional medicines, seems to have put her entire life philosophy into this book, and a lot of it's very useful. This is one woman's approach to beauty, and it reads like a knowledgeable friend who really wants to help you, even if her ideas are sometimes a little kooky.
Bella Book: You'd Be So Pretty If . . .
My childhood is remembered in small snippets, some of which continue to shape me today. One of those moments involved a 12-year-old Bella and her mom, who said, "You'd be so pretty if you didn't have your father's nose." (Guess who grew up to find microscopic imperfections with her schnoz.)
My mom probably wouldn't have said that if she'd read You'd Be So Pretty If .
Bella Book: Style, Naturally
The green movement is growing quickly, and a new book aims to help shoppers track down fair-trade, organically grown, and earth-friendly fashion and beauty. Style, Naturally is a surprisingly hefty tome (printed on recycled paper, naturally) covering clothes, accessories, and beauty products. Author Summer Rayne Oakes is a model and green activist, and her passion for planet-friendly style is contagious.
Bella Book: The Japanese Skincare Revolution
When it comes to beauty, I'll admit that I can always learn more about having a healthy complexion. So when I heard of a book that Japanese women consider to be their go-to guide to skin care, I took notice. Esthetician Chizu Saeki's The Japanese Skincare Revolution ($14) has recently been translated to English, and it draws upon her 45 years of beauty industry experience.
Bella Book: The Beauty Diet
You are what you eat, right? That's what nutritionist Lisa Drayer will have you believing (and then some) in her new book, The Beauty Diet: Looking Great Has Never Been So Delicious ($15.61).
A registered dietitian, Bayer devotes the majority of this read discussing the nutritional value of foods, naming 10 of the best for a beautiful appearance.
Bella Book: Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual
From her makeovers on The Today Show to her columns in Prevention, I've found makeup guru Bobbi Brown's tips to be straight to the point with a little bit of unexpectedness. So, it's no surprise her new book, Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual: For Everyone From Beginner to Pro ($21.12), has tips on everything from leading a healthy lifestyle to applying dramatic makeup like a geisha.
This book, Brown's fifth, was written "as a complete reference guide for everyone who wants to know about beauty and makeup."
Bella Book: Vintage Hairstyling
It's no secret that Mad Men has popularized retro fashion — and if you're looking for some tips on Joan and Peggy's makeup, these straight-from-the-set secrets will help you achieve their looks. Hair, on the other hand, is a little more involved. That's where Vintage Hairstyling ($29.95) comes in.
Bella Quiz: 20th Century Beauty, Part I
The nerd in me loves history and the lady in me loves makeup. So, imagine my excitement levels when a dear friend of mine lent me Face of the Century: 100 Years of Makeup and Style, a great coffee table book she picked up at a yard sale.
Filled with old pictures and writer Kate de Castelbajac's brilliant bits of beauty information, the book provides the details on makeup and style one decade at a time.
Bella Book: Looking Younger
I know what you're thinking: "I don't need to look any younger, so this book, Looking Younger ($13.17) is just not for me."
Well, don't judge a book by its cover. Although written with an older audience in mind, this isn't an old fashioned makeup guide.
Bella Book: The Beauty Myth
I know many of us have already read The Beauty Myth, Naomi Wolf's 1991 screed against tyrannical ideals of beauty. But at this point, it's worth revisiting the bestseller — or reading it for the first time if you haven't already. Wolf turns a critical eye on advertisers, magazines, and our culture in general, pointing out the unrealistic standards that we women try to attain.
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