Paula, I’m never going to the cosmetics counter without you…never ever again.

I’ve said it before: Consumer Magazine NZ does not give enough thought to the beauty industry. Think about the proportion of your personal or household income spent on hair products, body washes, lotions, fragrance, cosmetics….it’s huge! I’ve looked many times at Consumer’s index of product reviews, and while it’s brimming with appliances, electronics, and service providers, you’ll find very  few beauty product reviews.

I can’t think why, because Paula Begoun, author of ‘Don’t go to the Cosmetic Counter Without Me’, makes it look easy.

Basically, she looks at the ingredients list of each product; cross references them against published research; checks back against product claims; weighs the price of the product; and bam! product is reviewed. (OK, so there is a little more to it.)

The book is really a database of the vast majority of beauty products reviewed using the same robust method alongside a simple rating system. Readers can quickly read up on a particular product before purchasing, or look up Paula’s recommendations. If you have preferences for non-animal tested products, paraben-free products, etc there’s enough info there for you to narrow down your search for the best products for you.

And, Paula has a complete and frequently updated database online at beautypedia.com which I also subscribed to. (The book came with a coupon for half price subscription using the code:  BP50. But you didn’t hear that from me.) I haven’t been posting on ppp recently because I have been scouring the database for reviews of every product I can think of.

I love beauty products, but that doesn’t mean I have to be made a fool of by marketing and sales creeps. Not anymore! Thanks Paula.