Top 5 beauty books

Best Books For Beauty Lovers

Looking for the very best books to buy the beauty lover in your life? You’ve come to the right place. Our regularly updated list has options for every age and stage of life.

1. Caroline Hirons – Skincare

Caroline Hirons is the self appointed guru of all things skincare, and this book is a summary of pretty much everything she’s ever written on the subject. Like her blog, in this book she takes a no nonsense, down to earth approach to your skin, cutting through the hype to clearly state what works, and what doesn’t.

This book was winner of the Non-Fiction Lifestyle Book of the Year 2021, and with good reason – it does exactly what it says on the tin and is something of a skincare bible, covering every aspect of skincare you could imagine. Not just aimed at a younger audience, there is something for everyone from teens to the elderly to take away from this book.

If you are looking for a book for a beauty lover this would be my number one choice- just check they don’t already own it before you buy. (note – November 2022 – Caroline has released a new version of this book available here*

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2. Sali-Hughes Pretty Honest

Sali Hughes is The Guardian’s resident beauty writer and in that role gets to try A LOT of product. So it’s no surprise that she knows enough about beauty (and then some) to fill a book or two. Unlike Caroline Hirons Skincare this book is an ABC of all things beauty, going way beyond skincare and giving advice on makeup, sun protection and beyond.

One thing to flag- this book is probably more suited to a less experienced beauty user. If you are a beauty guru in your own right, you’ll probably know most of what’s in here. If you’re buying for a gift though and want something that covers more than just skincare, this is your book. As an alternative, if you want more a history of beauty products you might prefer Pretty Iconic, her other book.

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3. Lisa Eldridge- Face Paint

Lisa Eldridge is probably the world’s most adored makeup artist – and this book is a glorious walk through of the history of makeup. Filled with sumptuous imagery this is a flick through kind of coffee table book, as opposed to a guide to how to use makeup on yourself. For what it does though, it’s the best in the market and is perfect as a gift because it’s indulgent and beautiful whilst being informative enough not to lack substance.

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4. Funmi Fetto – Palette

This book is billed as the beauty bible for women of colour and judging by its rave reviews it fully lives up to that billing. Funmi Fetto is an ex beauty editor who knows pretty much everything about beauty for darker skins – and most of what she knows is in this book. Not just a guide of how to use products, she also includes a plethora of mid-high level recommendations about products she has tried, tested and loved. Great as a gift, it looks chic and high end enough to leave on display on a coffee table too.

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Sophie Beresiner & Lisa Potter Dixon – Back Chat Beauty

Best Beauty Books - back chat beauty

This is the book your teenage self wishes she’d had. Better for younger and less experienced beauty lovers it draws on the vast experience of Times journalist Sophie Beresiner and makeup artist extraordinaire Lisa Potter Dixon. Covering the full range of beauty knowledge, from beauty basics to how to prepare for a special occasion, it takes you on a step by step journey to dealing with whatever life might throw at you in beauty terms. Although in general it would be improved by more images, it’s nonetheless very deserving of a space on your beauty bookshelf. Alternatively, it makes a great gift for the young beauty lover in your life who will appreciate it’s no nonsense approach and stylish shelf appeal.

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Top 5 beauty books


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