This Month's Featured Book is
The Lowdown on Facelifts & Other Wrinkle Remedies by Wendy Lewis.
Wendy is one of the foremost beauty and independent cosmetic surgery consultants on both sides of the Atlanic.
This is the book for all women who want to look the best they can for as long as they can. But you wouldn't know this when you pick it up. There is a natural reluctance by women - and mostly British women - to admit to having had, or even thought about, cosmetic surgery.
If that's you, don't be put off by the title of this book. It's not about dashing to a plastic surgeon and disappearing for two months until the scars have healed. Although the final chapters do cover cosmetic - plastic - surgery, there is so much more to this book than that. It is fascinating, immensely readable and utterly must-have. Even if you didn't know you wanted to learn about skin-care, having read this, you will.
Wendy Lewis, an American by birth who spends a considerable amount of time in the UK, is an independent consultant and specialist in aesthetic surgery. She writes a weekly beauty column in ES magazine for The London Standard and is renowned as the beauty guru of her generation. The lowdown is, if she doesn't know about it, it's not worth knowing about.
She also entertains. Her writing style is humorous without being superficial. The information is easy to absorb and once started, this book is difficult to put down.
"Ageing Gracefully is for Cabernet" is the title of the opening chapter and oh, how we agree.
The book travels in stages, from basic skincare, to minor treatments, through to full-blown, general anaesthetic operations. But the journey is smooth and well-judged and with such an authoritative guide, it's simple to follow.
She starts with the basics. There is lots of information about diet, proper foods and how to avoid stress (all damaging for skin). We learn what harms our skin most - smoking and drinking - and what we can do to prevent ageing every day and with very little effort, before we even leave the house.
There are fascinating tips about cleansing, moisturising and using a sunblock. Did you know that every woman owns around 50 items of skincare and make-up? No, nor did I. But I raced to the bathroom to count and she was right.
She focuses on what will help women most, devoting chapters to working out what skin type you actually are and what is the best course of action for your particular skin type. She shares with us an enormous amount of information about what creams to choose and why. We learn what to look for when choosing and helpfully divides the products into sensible bands:
A) luxury
B) expensive but worth it
C) budget price but does the job.
It's the sort of information you long for and can never find every time you venture into the cosmetics department. She even translates the Latin terms on jar labels and tells us which 'Active ingredients' we should look out for on a scale of 1-5. And we're not talking obscure brands that only surface in some mega-money store in London. The names mentioned are all familiar: Clarins; Lancôme - even Boots No. 7.
An extremely useful question and answer section helps you evaluate your needs before you venture out to buy, giving every reader the confidence to find - eventually - the products that will truly serve them.
Without hectoring she fills us in with all the common sense advice - to stay out of the sun, eat carrots; (Beta ceratone); drink lots of water - and with brutal precision she pinpoints the four stages of age-defiance. They are: prevention; protection; reversal; maintenance; then with omnipotent mercy, goes on to explain the steps.
We have explanations of most minor treatments such as Botox injections and liposuction. All fear is dispelled as she moves, step by step through the procedures and the results a patient can expect, then she introduces by degrees an incredibly matter of fact appraisal of a startling variety of face-lifts.
I've never read so much about different incisions, procedures and techniques without feeling slightly queasy. Here there is no fear, as her many lists include 'How to judge your surgeon'; 'What questions to ask your doctor'; and a priceless 'Countdown to surgery." There is even a guide to the length of time you should allow for convalescence. The mystery - stigma even - is removed.
All this information is backed up by countless testimonials and quotes from experts and celebrities adding credence not found in most other beauty books.
The book concludes with a series of invaluable indexes, including a list of societies and their web sites, the best, most recognised cosmetic surgeons; and a glossary of technical terms and a brief explanation in down-to-earth English of what they all mean.
Most encouragingly, Wendy Lewis recognises in print that "The Internet is becoming Beauty's greatest Equalizer" demonstrating that via the Internet, the mystery shrouding the beauty industry will slowly but surely be unravelled. This is something that we all believe at i4beauty.
It's a wonderful read. This book is intelligently written for the discerning woman. It has certainly converted at least one rational cynic!
"A brilliant new book packed full of insider advice" Harpers & Queen
International beauty consultant Wendy Lewis gives the lowdown on every available treatment, from anti-ageing creams to face peels, from laser treatment to surgery: everything from how long it lasts, to how much it costs, to where you can get it. With over 15 years in the industry, her impartial and expert advice will help you to make an informed and educated decision about all the available options.
The book contains a wealth of useful tips and tricks from experts in anti-ageing technology from around the world. Little known facts and statistics, real-life case studies and anecdotes, a glossary of medical terms and a resource guide make this book the must-have guide to cosmetic enhancement for women of all ages and skin types.
Wendy Lewis is an independent beauty consultant and a true insider to the world of cosmetic surgery. She writes a weekly column in the Evening Standard magazine and is quoted in all the top glossy magazines.
A warm hearted and informative book
I found this book to be quite useful and the information helped guide me through my search. It is hard to get reliable advice, and the author presents things in easy to understand terms. She has a vast amount of knowledge and experience. When I tried to get an appointment with her, she was booked up for 4 months, so I thought I would buy the book first. I'm glad I did. A reader from BathA must-read for any woman who owns a mirror.
Funny and poignant, this book is a very personal journey from the author's unique perspective. She has seen it all, and heard it all before, and it feels like a girlfriend giving you her insights and impartial advice. Loved it! A reader from New York City, NYA wonderful resource!
I dove right into it. I enjoyed her sense of humor mixed in with the sobering facts. This book is a really worthwhile read. I don't think there is anything else like it out there - and I've been looking. It gives the details without the usual false promises you get on the internet and in adverts. A reader from SomersetLots of great pointers and very down-to-earth
I was glad to see the surgeon who did my eye tuck in this book. I had gone to see 3 consultant plastic surgeons, or so I thought. This book really sorts it all out for you. There was noone for me to ask when I had it done. None of my friends had done anything and my husband didn't want to hear about it. I finally did find a good surgeon, and I'm really pleased with the results. After reading this book, I feel more ready to do something more with the guidance of this book. A reader from NSW, AustraliaSimply amazing. I'm so glad I found it.
This was just what the 'doctor' ordered...I have a BIG birthday coming up, and I've wanted to do something about my heavy eyelids and chin forever. After reading this book, I think I have the courage to start looking for a plastic surgeon. The writing is wonderfully warm and friendly - a really fun read. Thank you, thank you. A reader from Brussels, Belgium.Best beauty book I've ever read. Worth twice the price.
I really enjoyed reading through this interesting and amusing book on all the latest beauty treatments. The information was presented in an eary to read style with just the right amount of detail, not too much or too little. I think I know everything I ever need to about how to fight the ageing process now. A reader from DevonWonderfully written and incredibly funny.
I loved this little book so much that I had to buy one for my sister and another for my cousin. She really understands the British female mentality. We needed a book like this to knock some sense into us. I am so glad I found it before I had anything done. Now I feel honestly prepared and know what to expect and how much it should all cost. A reader from Chelsea, London.
