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ajfedde
New Member
 
Joined: 23 Nov 2003
Posts: 2
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Sun Nov 23, 2003 9:36 pm  |
I have recently picked up her latest "Don't go to the Cosmetics Counter without Me?" and now I am extremely confused. I am seeking to learn about what to put on my skin and what not to. I thought this book would make it clear to me, but now I am scared to try anything. I would like to know anyone's opinion on her and if what she says I should seriously consider. The thing that makes me wonder is she seems TOO critical. I would love to hear other people's opinion.
Thank you!!
AJ |
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Mon Nov 24, 2003 8:54 am |
Dear Ajfedde,
Here is my opinion of Paula Begoun.
First of all I think anyone who has their own skin care line should not be in the business of criticizing other skin care lines.
Second of all, I think that, as the saying goes, "the proof is in the pudding" meaning that many skin care products she has been critical of has, in fact. worked really well for me when I ignored her statement. I think she looks at things within a narrow minded "scientific" framework meaning this: because "scientifically speaking" (on paper) a skin care product or ingredient does not have the basis for working in reality, with human begings, these products and ingredients work wonderfully well.
All that being said, I would suggest you look at skin care lines for your particular skin type and try to get the opinions of people who have actually used these products rather than the "theoretical" opinion of Paula Begoun.
Hope this may somewhat be of help. |
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Caspers Mum
Moderator
Joined: 02 Nov 2002
Posts: 1694
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Mon Nov 24, 2003 4:19 pm |
I haven't read any of her recent publications, but having owned (I think) the 2nd Edition a few years back ... the woman confused me too! Especially when she'd "summarize" her favorite or recommended products at the end: there were too many listed, and often from product lines that she'd already complained about!
Having said that, I agree with the previous member's opinion. And if Cetaphil is P.G.'s favorite cleanser, then we know that the cleanser in her personal line of skincare is good for one thing: making P.G. money. Why buy her's if one can buy her favorite, cheaper cleansing product?! Duuuuh!:P
My own two-cents worth: would YOU take make-up or cosmetic advice from someone who wears brick-colored blush, that looks like racing-stripes?? She's always hated "frosty"/"shimmery" eye shadows. Well, no kidding: P.G.'s not exactly a candidate for wearing line-enhancing products like these anyways!
The moral of my response: to each, their own! |
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Mabsy
Moderator
Joined: 17 Aug 2003
Posts: 9644
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Mon Nov 24, 2003 6:32 pm |
I got the 4th edition a few years ago and was expecting that the book would point me to the perfect product. That didn't happen. I don't like the fact that she reviews products based on their ingredients only. I think this may have a some merit for people with very reactive skins but my skin is fairly 'tough' in that respect so her reviews are pretty much useless to me. There have been many products that she completely bagged that have worked really well for me. And, yeah, her comment on shimmery eyeshadow put me off as well. I LIKE shimmery eyeshadow.
I still think it's a useful book, it's a very handy product/price directory 
Mabsy |
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Tue Jun 13, 2006 5:39 am |
| Some of her reviews are very informative. But I don't know if I can trust her completely. She has her own line of product and I wonder if hers is as good as the others ones that she had negative comments on. |
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Tue Jun 13, 2006 5:49 am |
| I came upon her website the other day, and was very surprised that she had her own line of products. So I guess it made me take her site w/a grain of salt. |
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Tue Jun 13, 2006 5:49 am |
| I don't like her because she thinks her way is the ONLY way. When I think of Paula talking, I hear something like "The eye shadows from this line are fine... if you want to look like a combination clown/prostitute that took a dust-bath in glitter!!!" I like shimmer eye shadow. I like shimmer gloss. Drives me NUTS that she complains about them all the live long day because it isn't her preference. And people in glass houses... I've NEVER seen her makeup look good! |
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27, sensitive/reactive/acne prone skin, dark brown hair, blue eyes, possibly the palest woman alive... |
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Tue Jun 13, 2006 6:16 am |
| She lost all credibility in my eyes when she launched her own line and still continued to criticise all the other make-up and skin care lines. It is called «conflict of interests», I believe. |
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Mid 40's, normal to oily skin, blackheads, occasional breakouts |
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Tue Jun 13, 2006 7:31 am |
I read her book "The Beauty Bible" recently and look at her website from time to time but have not read her cosmetics counter book.
I think that she is very opinionated and tends to present her opinions as fact. There really is useful information in her books and on her website but she has obvious biases and dismisses anything that does not agree with her set points of view. I would actually recommend her book "The Beauty Bible" but with reservations. You really need to look at what she says with a healthy dose of skepticism and not just agree with what she says. I think that she can be a useful resource but that you need to look at other sources of information.
In reference to her product reviews, once you understand her biases and preferences her reviews make a little more sense. If you are looking for an objective review then she will not provide one. That being said, I do read her reviews and do often get usefull information from them.
Concerning her product line, I personally do not like her formulas. Too many silicones, too many ingredients and too liberal use of salicylic acid for me! I think that she is a marketing pro just like the cosmetics companies the she chastises. It seems that even her books have a marketing hook. She gives you some information but not enough information so that you could objectively rate products yourself. Since you don't have this information then you need to rely on her to rate products and so on..... |
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Tue Jun 13, 2006 7:52 am |
| manslayerliz wrote: |
| I don't like her because she thinks her way is the ONLY way. When I think of Paula talking, I hear something like "The eye shadows from this line are fine... if you want to look like a combination clown/prostitute that took a dust-bath in glitter!!!" I like shimmer eye shadow. I like shimmer gloss. Drives me NUTS that she complains about them all the live long day because it isn't her preference. And people in glass houses... I've NEVER seen her makeup look good! |
I've only just managed to stop laughing at this - my ridiculously stupid imagination is picturing a short-skirted, thigh high booted woman with enormously long feet, drenched in glitter, wearing a round red nose and a battery-operated twirly bowtie whilst she juggles.
Wonder whether there's much of a call for that kind of thing? 
BTW I like shimmer eyeshadow too, no matter what Paula Thingummy says. |
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Tue Jun 13, 2006 10:28 am |
She sells her own product line, yet criticizes others, which I think really down plays her credibility.
Many products she never liked have worked awesome for me.
Also, she never used to like any shimmer products, ect., yet she released some items in her own line with shimmer?? To each their own . |
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Tue Jun 13, 2006 3:24 pm |
I stopped listening to her after I bought Isadora Strawberry Liptreat (not the Liptreat Color) which she described as utterly colorless that turned my lips NEON FROSTY PINK.
Liar.
Thank you, Walgreens, for your fabulous return policy! |
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25, very fair, dry/sensitive, mild rosacea, otherwise good skin!  |
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Tue Jun 13, 2006 7:03 pm |
| Harmonster wrote: |
I stopped listening to her after I bought Isadora Strawberry Liptreat (not the Liptreat Color) which she described as utterly colorless that turned my lips NEON FROSTY PINK.
Liar.
Thank you, Walgreens, for your fabulous return policy! |
LMAO! |
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36, skin in a "new" phase? Oil/break-out free but now having bouts of sensitivity and surface dehydration. |
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Tue Jun 13, 2006 8:22 pm |
Whenever I search for ingredients definitions, her one eventually manages to creep into the google search results.
As a member has said, she seems very critical and disapproving of many ingredients, esp natural ones, because they dont have scientific backing.
I for one am allergic to most of the chemical ingredients that she uses in her products. |
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Wed Jun 14, 2006 5:14 am |
| Paula B.: "This product would be almost perfect, except for the fact that it contains aloe. People have been using aloe for years to treat burns and skin irritations, yet they have been doing it with NO SCIENTIFIC BACKING! Natural does NOT mean better! I will consider buying this product after they reformulate and remove the aloe!" |
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27, sensitive/reactive/acne prone skin, dark brown hair, blue eyes, possibly the palest woman alive... |
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Wed Jun 14, 2006 10:12 am |
| manslayerliz wrote: |
| Paula B.: "This product would be almost perfect, except for the fact that it contains aloe. People have been using aloe for years to treat burns and skin irritations, yet they have been doing it with NO SCIENTIFIC BACKING! Natural does NOT mean better! I will consider buying this product after they reformulate and remove the aloe!" |
...
She has a hole in her head. |
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25, very fair, dry/sensitive, mild rosacea, otherwise good skin! |
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Wed Jun 14, 2006 10:24 am |
| LOL, ok, well, maybe she didn't actually say that about aloe, but it's the kind of thing she always says about botanicals and natural ingredients. I for one like natural ingredients... |
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27, sensitive/reactive/acne prone skin, dark brown hair, blue eyes, possibly the palest woman alive... |
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Wed Jun 14, 2006 12:02 pm |
I agree if she has her own skincare line then she shouldn't be criticizing other lines. I've used some of her products and I wasn't impresse. The Nongreasy moisturizer made my skin shiney. Forget about the antioxident serum!! To much silicone.
That's the main ingredient in her products...silicone!  |
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Wed Jun 14, 2006 12:03 pm |
I agree if she has her own skincare line then she shouldn't be criticizing other lines. I've used some of her products and I wasn't impresse. The Nongreasy moisturizer made my skin shiney. Forget about the antioxident serum!! To much silicone.
That's the main ingredient in her products...silicone! |
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Wed Jun 14, 2006 5:22 pm |
| Personally I think she talks way too much and her face is too tight. Her book does make a good door stopper though. |
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Thu Jun 15, 2006 8:46 pm |
| I've been somewhat interested in what she's had to say, but I've always taken it with a grain of salt. I did buy some of her products and couldn't use them ... they had a really bad smell! And I can't stand how she just hates anything with shimmer ... I LOVE shimmer! How can shimmer be wrong when it's so right. |
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Fri Jun 16, 2006 11:00 pm |
| Unless Paula has actually used a product, I would treat her comments as worthless. My experience did not match up with her comments at all--so I completely ignore what she has to say. I have much more faith in the women who post at EDS as they have nothing to gain by sharing their experiences. |
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Fri Jun 16, 2006 11:36 pm |
| Moonstarr wrote: |
| How can shimmer be wrong when it's so right. |
At 45 yrs old shimmer is really really wrong for me, but I can remember when it was right! |
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Sun Jun 18, 2006 11:02 am |
| Looks like I'm the odd person out. I like PB's product line and her books. But I see no mention of anyone reading the 2nd edition of The Beauty Bible. In this book she explains how she critiques product lines, what works and what doesn't. Or just go to her website's home page and she gives a good bio there. It makes no difference to me whether she has her own product line...in fact I'm glad! |
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Sun Jun 18, 2006 11:52 am |
Don't worry, SusieQ, you are not the only one who likes her products.
I posted a while back that I really love her skin care line, although I am not crazy about her make up products (colors are too bold for me). While I may not always agree with her write-ups about other products, I know it's just one person's opinion (or more than one, as she has people who do research for her) and of course I am entitled to try the product and formulate my own opinion if I am interested in it.
I also value the opinions I read on boards like this one, although I may not agree with everything people have written about a product. It's just a matter of educating myself and Paula is one of many resources available for evaluating different products. |
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