The French Beauty Solution by Mathilde Thomas

Today has turned out to be pretty gloomy outside (where’s the snow!), which makes it a perfect day to stay inside and curl up with a good book. There could not be a better time to introduce you to one of my favorite books of the years: Mathilde Thomas’ The French Beauty Solution. Be prepared to be inspired and soak up loads of beauty knowledge.

I love Mathilde Thomas’ way of writing, it feels like you’re chatting with a friend and everything feels effortless making it a super pleasant read. The book contains loads of skincare, beauty and health knowledge to approach beauty the French way. Now I read a lot about the subject and I have French roots so most of the information was not new to me, but the way it was presented made it feel fresh and fun. It actually inspires and motivates you to really take care of yourself and your skin. I also love how it really focuses on skincare to make you look your best instead of relying on loads of makeup. The tips are all about common sense, so you don’t have to be scared of crazy routine or applying weird things on your face, it’s all sensible.

Honestly, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed reading The French Beauty Solution and I think most would enjoy the way it is written. It is actually more about a lifestyle than skincare and I believe it might provide you with the little boost of motivation you need to start taking better care of yourself. After all, we all want to be healthy and having beautiful skin is a pretty great bonus. You can easily peruse the book for specific information or simply settle down and enjoy it cover to cover.

You can find Mathilde Thomas’ The French Beauty Solution in most bookstores, iBooks and Amazon. You can also read more about it here.

The New Health Rules by Doctor Frank Lipman

Last week, I mentioned a few books I was reading and today I wanted to share a more in depth review of one of my favorites. The New Health Rules by Doctor Frank Lipman has become a favorite of mine and I was blown away by how great such a small book could be.

This book is divided into sections that each give rules, which are more like tips and advice, on how to improve your health using food as well as other small lifestyle changes. Now you might already know some of them, but I found the whole thing quite informative and super interesting. It’s written in a way that is not pushy, but it still manages to get the point across and gives you the motivation to make the effort to be healthier.

Each tip is quite short and direct, so this is a quick and easy read. I love how each page has a different tip so you can easily pick one at random daily and try to apply the advice. That way you can start to develop good habits and start living a better lifestyle. Also there are loads of pictures accompanying each piece of advice making them livelier. The photography is truly inspiring and stunning, it is the perfect coffee table book. I think The New Health Rules would also make a great present for anyone, after all don’t we all want to be healthier and have more energy?

You can buy Doctor Frank Lipman’s The New Health Rules in bookstores, on Amazon and iBooks.

Disclamer: I am not a health specialist/doctor and before making any changes in your diet/lifestyle you should speak with your physician. I wrote this review purely because I found the book inspirational and it does make interesting points you can discuss with your physician to see if they would work for you. 

Feed Your Face by Doctor Jessica Wu

I love reading and I love skincare, so what better than a book on skincare to unwind at night. That being said not all books on the topic are great, some are too preachy and others don’t really offer any new or useful information. Well, Feed Your Face: Younger, Smoother Skin and a Beautiful Body in 28 Delicious Days by Doctor Jessica Wu is nothing if not informative and fun.

I found this to be really enjoyable to read, the author is never preachy, and I feel like I actually learnt something instead of re-reading the same information for the thousandth time. Jessica Wu is a dermatologist so she obviously knows what she is talking about. Each chapter goes into different skin issues, from eczema to acne and wrinkles, explaining their causes, but also giving you advice on how to deal with them.

What makes this book different from others however is that it focuses on food, showing the link between what we eat and our skin. Thus for each section she talks about different things you can include in your diet to help you improve and hopefully solve your skin issues. The book also includes a meal plan (great for inspiration) and a list of healthier options in popular restaurant if you have to eat fast food. Lastly you will find product recommendations throughout the book and an informative section on in office treatments and procedures doctors can perform to help your skin (if this is something you are into/considering).

I loved how Feed Your Face motivates you to have a healthier lifestyle while making it about something we care about (our face) instead of focusing on all the things you have to cut out or being very strict and restrictive. I think most people can learn from this and as they say “knowledge is power”, so you will basically have all the necessary tools to get better skin and improve your health at the same time. The multitude of sections make it an easy ready and I liked that it is written in a simple way, it does not get lost in too many details or scientific terms, but it is not something written for kids either. Overall this is a must-have book and something useful you can always turn to when in need.

Doctor Jessica Wu’s book Feed Your Face is available in most bookstores and you can find it on Amazon and iBooks. For more information on Jessica Wu and her book, you can visit her website here. 

Favorite Summer Read: Sophie Kinsella and Shopaholic to the Stars

With the summer in full swing (hello heatwave!!), I thought it would be the perfect time to talk about my favorite summer read. Whether you are going on an exotic vacation or enjoying your own home, this is the best time to unwind with a good book and leave the rest behind. After all that’s what holidays are for, right?

My all-time favorite summer author is Sophie Kinsella. All of her books are super fun and lighthearted, perfect to decompress. She somehow manages to always make me laugh (usually out loud) and reading the adventures and unbelievable situations she puts her characters through always brighten my day. This makes her books perfect to read on the beach and let me assure you that they make long-haul flights go by much faster.

I am currently making my way through Shopaholic to the Stars, the latest installment in the Shopaholic series and it is as good as usual. I’ve actually been reading it for a while, using it as my “travel” book or when I need a little pick-me-up from day to day life.

Other favorites I would recommend from Sophie Kinsella include: I’ve Got Your Number, Remember Me, Can you Keep a Secret and the entire Shopaholic series. If you are looking for a fun new read, head over to her website for the full list of her work and extracts from the books. Everything can be found in bookstores and on Amazon in both hardcover and paperback.

What are your favorite summer reads? I would love to know! 

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.