How to Look Expensive by Andrea Pomerantz Lustig

You know that feeling when you have just found something you think would make the perfect gift, like a book you know others would greatly enjoy? Well I have just that kind of thing for you today. I received Andrea Pomerantz Lustig’s book: How to Look Expensive for Christmas 2 years ago and I still think it is a perfect gift for any beauty and style lover.

First of all, it looks gorgeous! It contains beautiful illustrations by Dallas Shaw that elevate the book to something you want to own simply for its beauty. It looks expensive and definitely not like a kid’s book. However just because it is beautiful does not mean it does not have substance. Each chapter focuses on way to look more expensive, which really means how to achieve a chic and sophisticated appearance from head to toe. You will find tons of tips and tricks on makeup, skincare, hair and fashion that will benefit both knowledgeable beauty experts and those first entering the beauty realm.

The thing I liked the most about the book though were the recommendations from Lustig. From cleansers to curling irons and perfumes, she covers a wide array of products to help you look more put together easily. I have not been disappointed by any of the products I bought following her advice. The cover says this is “a beauty editor’s secrets to getting gorgeous without breaking the bank” and I think it could not be more true. I find it rare for beauty books to be super insightful, but Lustig managed to do just that while still making it feel like you are reading a fun beauty column that will get you the results you hope for. 

This is a truly lovely book that many would enjoy and its chic design makes it perfect to also use as decoration. You can get Andrea Pomerantz Lustig’s How to Look Expensive from many bookstores, Amazon and you can find more details about it on Lustig’s website. 

Bethenny Frankel Skinnygirl Solutions

I don’t really watch reality television so when I first saw Bethenny Frankel’s books on Amazon, I had no idea who she was. It’s only after stumbling on her talk show one afternoon that I learnt more about her. I was drawn to her no-nonsense attitude and I found her quite funny, so I decided to order the book Skinnygirl Solutions on the off-chance it might prove useful and entertaining.

First of all, this is not a diet book, the whole Skinnygirl concept is Frankel’s brand and while the book does offer tips on healthy and mindful eating, it’s not some sort of crazy diet plan that will make you lose weight. What you’ll actually get is a series of advice divided into sections such as organisation, travel, beauty and career. 

Surprisingly, I really enjoyed this book, some of the advice was not new to me but I did learn a few things and I thought the career/business section was quite useful. It made a great bedtime read, since each chapter is divided into subsections and you don’t get too caught up in it like you would a novel. It was well written and you could feel Frankel’s personality through the words, it was very direct and to the point. The personal anecdotes were also quite funny and added a nice touch to the book.

All in all, this was a fun book that taught me a few tricks while keeping me entertained. I think it’s definitely worth checking out, it might surprise you. You can find Bethenny Frankel’s Skinnygirl Solutions at any bookstore and on Amazon.