Excerpt: 'The Beauty Buyble'

ByABC News via logo
October 31, 2006, 3:27 PM

Nov. 1, 2006 — -- "The Beauty Buyble," created by Paula Conway and Maureen Regan, is a beauty guidebook that lists the top products in different categories (hair, body, face) and splits them up by cost (low, medium, high and outrageous).

The book, which will be released annually, comes in a box with samples of some of the top beauty products listed.

You can read an excerpt of "The Beauty Buyble" below.

Introduction

Tormented by mascara that clumps? Driven witless with lipstick that's gone in anhour? Whipsawed with confusion over finding the right blow-dryer? Honey, look nofurther, "The Beauty Buyble" has arrived!

Call us the Nader's Raiders of the beauty industry -- this is a beauty shakedown! We plumped our lips, tweezed our eyebrows, sampled every false eyelash, polished our toes and fingernails what seemed like a thousand times, shampooed, conditioned, rinsed, and then started over again. We waxed, fluffed, brushed, smoothed, sprayed, spritzed, glossed, whitened, and moisturized until we emptied every bottle and squeezed every tube.

Then, we talked to the experts who create the looks for magazine covers and red carpet events and make the celebrities look like, well, celebrities. And after all this, we blackmailed beauty editors everywhere for their opinions and coerced a huge posse of real women (including our husbands) until they couldn't stomach another lip balm. The pets were spared only because we don't believe in animal testing.

We organized all products into three price categories -- High, Medium, and Low -- and then added one more category if the price was truly Outrageous.

If the quality of one or two clearly stands out, regardless of category, we label them Authors' Picks. These are the products we love the most despite the votes from the experts.

We also let you know which products we love, make us happy, give us warm fuzzy feelings, and which we use ourselves. Quality products are not just about how much they cost, and the best in a category can be a low-cost product.

Also, if there is no really good quality product within a certain price category, there might not be a High, Medium, or Low product recommended. It's all about getting you the best in each category, and if there is no quality product in the class, we don't do you the disservice of telling you the best of what we think is a shabby lot.

So how did we set about choosing products for this book? Did we just sit around the veranda sipping margaritas, taking in pedicures, and soaking in backrubs from the pool boys while we discussed the merits of the various products? Unfortunately, no.

Did we use a very scientific method of throwing all the names into a hat and picking three? Again, no, although it would have made our lives a lot easier and would have made writing this book a much faster process.

No, we went to great lengths interviewing experts who want to be named, insiders who demand to remain anonymous, and our intrepid testing team of real women from coast to coast and even tested the products ourselves to find the standout.

So here you have it: the best beauty products for 2007. But before you begin, you must hold your mascara tube high, repeat and swear by The Beauty Buyble Ten Commandments:

1. This is THE Beauty Buyble, you shall have no other publications before it.
2. Be true to your own beauty; rely not on beauty counter makeovers for your look.
3. You shall not take Chanel's name in vain.
4. Remember the body and keep it moisturized daily.
5. Honor your roots; 1/4 inch and get thee some color.
6. Never leave the house without wearing an SPF of 15 or greater.
7. Cheat not on your hairstylist or colorist -- they always know.
8. You shall not use lipstick as rouge -- you're not fooling anyone.
9. Cleanliness is next to godliness -- never go to bed with your makeup on.
10. You shall not covet your best friend's Beauty Buyble; buy your own!

Shampoos

Selecting the right shampoo for your hair is like winning the Oscar. Your scalp will shout out "You like me, you really like me!"

Without a good shampoo, your hair is just, well, poo. And nobody wants a head full of poo after all (our friends at Devachan will explain later in this chapter).

Eva Scrivo, Dove Hair Care Creative Consultant and New York City salon owner, offers the following tips on the subject of shampoo:

SHAMPOO QUICK TIP: Celebrity stylist Oscar Blandi, who creates stylish, sexy cuts for Ashley Judd, Sandra Bullock, and Reese Witherspoon, says, "You should always shampoo with medium temperature water; not too hot, not too cold. It may take a bit longer to rinse, but harsh temperatures will stress your hair out. Rinse with cool water to lock the product under the cuticle."

Dry Hair Shampoos

Your hair and scalp are as dry as the Sahara and you don't have a clue what to do. The answer, my friend, isn't blowin' in the wind. No, ma'am. Dry hair needs body, reinforcement, and protection.

HIGH Fresh Rice Shampoo ($24)

www.fresh.com

This shampoo gives super creamy lather a new definition -- it's like a day spa for overworked, dry hair. Hair heaven is yours with this shampoo, oh, and the exotic Asian pear and persimmon are positively intoxicating scents for your head.

HIGH Shampoo di Jasmine Smoothing Shampoo ($20)
www.oscarblandi.com
This shampoo is ultragentle, moisture rich, and compatible for hair that is color-treated. The creamy texture contains avocado oil and nettle extract to add shine. This is a superb and highly recommended product for all hair types and is a savior for dry hair.