Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual: For Everyone from Beginner to Pro

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Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual: For Everyone from Beginner to Pro

by Bobbi Brown, Debra Bergsma Otte (With), Sally Wadyka (With)

3.98 of 5 stars 3.98 · rating details · 700 ratings · 70 reviews

This is the book that Bobbi Brown's fans have been waiting for: her 25-plus years of makeup styling experience distilled into one complete, gorgeous book. Bobbi looks at everything from skincare basics to every aspect of facial makeup--from how to find the right color and type of foundation for any skin tone to how to apply every detail of eye makeup (Brows, Eye Liner, Eye...more

Hardcover, 232 pages

Published December 1st 2008 by Grand Central Life & Style (first published 2008)

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Mar 27, 2012 jerica rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebooks-nonfiction-i-have, vanity

This is a good basic manual for people who have basic make-up and skin care knowledge. It’s very easy to read and is filled with skin care and make-up tips (with pictures) that are very easy to understand and follow. This is your one stop manual for make-up tool & skin care shopping, to know which brush to use for what part of the face, to know which ingredients to look for in skin care products, to know which formulation of skin care or make-up to use for your skin type. I learned quite a b...more This is a good basic manual for people who have basic make-up and skin care knowledge. It’s very easy to read and is filled with skin care and make-up tips (with pictures) that are very easy to understand and follow. This is your one stop manual for make-up tool & skin care shopping, to know which brush to use for what part of the face, to know which ingredients to look for in skin care products, to know which formulation of skin care or make-up to use for your skin type. I learned quite a bit from this, and much more than I ever did while working for a beauty company. (Incidentally, that company’s founder is also listed near the end of the book as one of the historical people in the industry).

The book even has interesting tidbits like an historical make-up timeline and a brief summary of the contributions of memorable people in the industry. It amazed me to learn that make-up brands only started coming up because of a lack of products in the market (such as MAC was founded because the founders thought make-up in the market was too shimmery and was bad for photography; Make Up Forever was targeted for make-up artists who do film and television, etc) and each had their own niche–in the beginning, anyway. Now most make-up brands are just distinguished for their quality and price range.

It also has a section on how to be a professional make-up artist, with tips on building your own portfolio and what to do once you have it. There’s even a directory at the end of the book to get you started (limited to the US only).

A few cons are:

This manual is directed toward the Western market. Yes, there are Asian tips for every section BUT the model they used was East Asian. East Asian and South East Asians have very different skin colors, face structure and eye shape. This book sadly lacks tips for South East Asians, although it is a decent enough book for general tips and knowledge.

Undertones. I wish make-up experts would actually explain how to see undertones in a make-up color.

Bronzer heavy. This book is bronzer heavy–although that is what Bobbi Brown is famous for (as she repeatedly states herself in the book)–and again, that is targeted toward Westerners and make-up artists. In SEA, bronzers aren’t a big hit outside of the fashion and make-up industry.

I would definitely recommend this book to beginners and people who are interested in make-up artistry and people who’d like to go into the make-up career path.(less)

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Apr 10, 2010 Tam Herra rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: People interested in understanding what is in products and how they are used properly

Recommended to Tam by: The Indigo table I bumped into by mistake

Shelves: for-your-knowledge

I bought this book because I have recently been trying to master my own makeup looks.

This is the book for you if you are looking to know more about products and how they work on your face/body.

Lots of other reference books are divided by feature: large eyes, fair skin, brunette, slender mouth, etc. This is all well and good but for me I would only read that parts that apply to me and, therefore, much of the book is left untouched. This book is divided by product: moisturizers, eyeliner, lip colo...more I bought this book because I have recently been trying to master my own makeup looks.

This is the book for you if you are looking to know more about products and how they work on your face/body.

Lots of other reference books are divided by feature: large eyes, fair skin, brunette, slender mouth, etc. This is all well and good but for me I would only read that parts that apply to me and, therefore, much of the book is left untouched. This book is divided by product: moisturizers, eyeliner, lip colour, etc. It discusses what the products do, how they are suppose to be use, and what you are looking for when you buy them.

Again, there is some information that is not relevant to me, but now I know what exactly a moisturizing balm is and it is up to me to decide whether I feel it is the right product for my skin type (she also talks about the make up of different skin types, so I actually can figure out whether it is right for me or not).

So, the bottom line here is that this book does not tell you how to put your face together or what products/brands you should buy. Instead it uses a broad-brush approach and defines and discusses the uses for different products. You will learn a lot more about the beauty products on the shelves through this book and be able to read what's in the product and understand what it means or look at the colour and identify whether it is right for you - rather than just being directed to a certain brand or quad set and being told that is that you should use.

This book is for someone who wants to know more about the beauty industry (it even has a section at the back for being interested in becoming professionals, I'm not so I skipped over it). If you want to be able to evaluate different products by yourself and decide what is good for you, and have a deeper understanding of what is what, then this book if for you. If you want an easy guide that will tell you what products/brands to buy and how to make-up your face (more hand holding information), then this isn't your book. (less)

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May 27, 2010 Ally rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010

4.5 stars!!
Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual contains Bobbi Brown’s 25-plus years of being a makeup artist. It has over two hundred full colour photographs and step by step instructions including a ten step guide to perfect makeup that shows you how to apply your makeup within ten minutes.

Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual has everything a girl could ever want to know about makeup. It’s not just makeup she talks about though, she has chapter’s dedicated to brushes and other tools of the trade and skincare basics...more

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Sep 10, 2009 Wendi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Perfect for : Personal Use, Great gift for a girl getting into makeup (promotes positive self image), Professionals in beauty/makeup field

In a nutshell: I was amazed at the amount of information and detail contained in this book! I was never really taught about makeup, so this has provided me with a lot of practical and technical information that I wasn't previously aware of. From basic beauty equipment and the basics of skin care to the business of makeup and professional artistry, this book ha...more Perfect for : Personal Use, Great gift for a girl getting into makeup (promotes positive self image), Professionals in beauty/makeup field

In a nutshell: I was amazed at the amount of information and detail contained in this book! I was never really taught about makeup, so this has provided me with a lot of practical and technical information that I wasn't previously aware of. From basic beauty equipment and the basics of skin care to the business of makeup and professional artistry, this book has it all! The photographs are beautiful and help to show what the author is talking about, and the explanations are easy to understand. This is a beautiful book that would be great for someone wanting to learn more about makeup for themselves, or as a profession. It would also be a great book to have on-hand at a salon or spa.

Extended Review:
The information contained in the book covers just about everything I could ever think of pertaining to skin-care and makeup and then some. The colorful photographs serve to enhance the book by providing brilliant examples of what the author is talking about as well as how-to's with people actually showing how to apply what the author is explaining.

Content: The book progresses nicely through the following chapters: Makeup Artistry, Equipment, Skin, Face, Lips, Eyes, Ten-Step Guide to Perfect Makeup, Special Makeup Applications, Artistry, Essential Equipment for the Professional, Advanced Makeup Applications, Memorable Makeup Moments and Legends. It also contains a very helpful resource guide that provides Theatrical Makeup Stores, Makeup Artist Agencies, Creative Directories and Suggested Reading. As you can see, there is plenty of information designed both for the end-user (like me) as well as professionals!

Format: The chapters progress through the makeup application very nicely, with plenty of wonderful full-color photographs depicting both finished looks, and the steps to accomplish those finished looks (as well as products and colors).

Readability: Amazingly enough, with so much technical information throughout the book, it was written in a manner that was easy to read - even the harder artistry pages were easy to understand, if not easy to create for the novice!

Overall: A very complete book that is sure to teach everyone from the novice to the professional something about makeup in a way that is easy to understand and duplicate (hopefully! - I haven't tried ALL the examples).(less)

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Feb 11, 2013 Kiocci rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013

I have mixed feelings about this book: I think it's great for beginners, as it's full of tips and tricks, but at the same time if you want to go pro nearly a third of the book it's dedicated to how to break into the business. The problem is that if you're not interested at all into becoming a make-up artist you'll find a lot of useless information about different skin types, eye types, etc...and if you want to go pro the book isn't exhaustive at all! For instance It doesn't cover face shapes, no...more

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Jan 18, 2011 Kellea rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: makeup enthusiasts and artists

If you are truly interested in how to do your makeup RIGHT, then this is the book that will help you become an expert. Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual, by Bobbi Brown, the makeup guru extraordinaire, is the ultimate textbook for any makeup enthusiast or budding makeup artist. You definitely need to read this book from cover to cover, literally like a textbook, chapter by chapter so that you get the full extent of what she has to offer. From the proper tools to have in your arsenal, the types of stores...more

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Oct 04, 2012 Kate Jacobson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: personal-development, read-in-2012

Really enjoyed it! It's such a nice easy read, and it's written in a really personable way, so you feel like you're sitting down to a latte with Bobbi Brown herself. The style is so accessible, and it's not a difficult read in the slightest.
The information on skincare, including types of cleansers, moisturiser, toners, etc. was incredibly helpful and full of really useful information that I can't wait to use to supplement my current slightly mediocre beauty/skincare routine.
It is incredibly ae...more

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Nov 20, 2011 Denele rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: beauty

A thorough book about face care and makeup application. It is a great reference material for people from no experience to those looking to become a makeup artist. The beginning of the book covers skin care, the tools required (and optional items), and clear step by step instructions to achieve a natural, every day look. Among the different techniques are specific tips for different ethnicities which I thought was a nice touch. The last half of the book contains various chapters for people lookin...more

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Apr 07, 2010 Allison rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: type-grownup-books, genre-nonfiction, genre-health-beauty, read-2010

Really interesting, but waaaaaaay too complicated. I am for sure not wearing two shades of blush every day. Or any day. For claiming to be a pioneer of the "natural" look, she sure wants you to slap a lot of makeup on your face. She also seems to think "bronzer" and "natural look" are synonymous, but that is not my experience, and certainly not true for me.

However, the section on becoming a professional makeup artist was totally fascinating, as was the breakdown on what aspects add up to various...more

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Jan 30, 2013 Darcey rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: help, lifestyle, fashion

As someone who never grew up much with cosmetics and moved into an interest in it somewhat later in life, this book is a great boon: it explains in detail perhaps more necessary and appropriate for those who are interested in becoming professional makeup artists (and in fact, there are several chapters for that purpose), but is useful nonetheless. I would encourage anyone interested in learning about cosmetics to pick this up; it was particularly useful for me in using for reference in order to...more

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Jun 13, 2012 Michelle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

I was never one of those teenage girls that was obsessed with makeup which doesn't help me now that I'm an adult and want to dress my face up a bit. I came across this book while wandering around the bookstore. I've always been a fan of Bobbi Brown products and I like her natural looks. This is very practical and straightforward. It even includes notes for women of different ethnicities which is great being that I'm mixed and have "Asian Eyes." It also provides useful tips and info about general...more

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Mar 12, 2011 Marina Ouranitsas rated it 5 of 5 stars

A friend gave Bobbi Brown makeup book to me, she thought it would be useful to me because I want to be a makeup artist and it was. I learned a lot about technique and how to apply certain types of makeup. I normally don’t read nonfiction but I thought I would because its something I am interested in. One thing I found interesting was that some products don’t work the same if a different brush is used. She thought me a lot on skin tones and undertone, which is helpful information. I want to look...more

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Jan 22, 2012 Chrissy Do rated it 4 of 5 stars

A great book that teaches you the basics of makeup. Everything you need to know from eating healthy, skincare, what brushes to use and other extras. Bobbi Brown's method are all about enhancing your face and she prefers the natural approach. She suggests using natural colors to bring forth your inner beauty. The book also covers other topics on how to take makeup artistry to another level if you wish to go further and make it a career. Great tips here and there but not the book for you if you ar...more

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Feb 05, 2012 Ekaterina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-russian, studying-books, make-up

Книга рассказывает о макияже в общем, то есть основы основ. Я бы не сказала, что она направлена на профессионалов, так как профессионал должен это все знать. Она рассчитана на тех, кто хочет стать профессионалом, ну или как минимум начать знакомство с макияжем.
Для начала в книге рассказывается о коже, как за ней ухаживать и т.п.,далее идет разбор полетов по продуктам, что и как использовать: кисти для макияжа, тональные основы, корректоры, румяна, базовый макияж глаз (тени, подводка, ресницы). В...more Книга рассказывает о макияже в общем, то есть основы основ. Я бы не сказала, что она направлена на профессионалов, так как профессионал должен это все знать. Она рассчитана на тех, кто хочет стать профессионалом, ну или как минимум начать знакомство с макияжем.
Для начала в книге рассказывается о коже, как за ней ухаживать и т.п.,далее идет разбор полетов по продуктам, что и как использовать: кисти для макияжа, тональные основы, корректоры, румяна, базовый макияж глаз (тени, подводка, ресницы). Все в общих чертах.
Если другие книги как правило рассказывают о техниках нанесения теней для разных форм глаз или коррекции определенных форм лица, показывая те или иные схемы или разбирая цветовые типы внешности, и рассчитаны на "осведомленного" пользователя, то эта книга как раз должна быть прочитанной самой первой из всех этих, потому как она дает именно базовые знания, в том числе и о некоторых типах макияжа, приводя общие советы и рекомендации (свадебный и anti-age макияжы).

Лично для меня, как начинающего визажиста, были интересны главы об уходе за кожей, потому как в других подобных книгах эта информация сводилась к минимуму, ровно как и информация о работе визажистом...Бобби Браун хоть и не написала сверхмного об этом, но достаточно для самостоятельной работы. Вообще в книжке множество полезных советов и идей.

Вот если бы были отдельные главы со схемами и видами коррекции, то цены бы книге не было, можно было бы обойтись одной книгой, поэтому ставлю 4 звезды вместо 5ти.(less)

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Jun 28, 2009 Sandy rated it 5 of 5 stars

A superb, original and innovative manual filled with many facts, tips, guides and information on everything from beauty to skincare to makeup looks. I love how Brown covers many types of skin tones and uses that as a basis for lots of different products (like foundation and cleansers, for example). It's great to have as a manual to consult for insight on everything I am interested in to things I didn't even know (and should), but now do thanks to this excellent guide from Bobbi Brown. Extremely...more

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Oct 13, 2010 Martina Villarreal rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'm in my thirties and I've never worn make-up before so I bought this book as a how to. I found it to be so-so. It was informative and taught me the basics of applying make-up, so in that way it was quite informative. I even liked the pictures in the "professional make-up artist" section. However, the "natural" make-up that she does to me looks rather ugly. I bought a book of carmindy's afterwords and I liked that book much better. The finished projects in her books look so much better to me.

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Mar 06, 2012 Huy rated it 5 of 5 stars

So this is one of the first books that anyone interested in the world of beauty should consider. The sequence of the book definitely is good for beginners because of the image heavy step by step guides that are given for the book. I would not recommend this to advanced Makeup artists or those who know what they are doing with their makeup because it is mainly about the basics and where to begin. The two sections of the book are divided into the Basics and Artistry. The basics have great tips for...more

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Jan 23, 2013 Autumn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Pretty, pretty pictures!

Really, that's why I picked this up; I love Bobbi and has thought that she was pretty awesome since I was a little girl raiding the beauty section in the library. (Back then, I had absolutely no use for makeup-- I just loved the pictures! What can I say, a love of the arts has always been within me.)

There wasn't a lot that applied to me, personally, but eventually, if it does, I won't be completely lost.
Good book about the basics of beauty.

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Dec 22, 2010 Yadira rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book! Everything I needed to know is in this book. It can even be used as a textbook. I really like how everything is explained in detail and it was so easy to understand. I recommend this book to anyone who is pursuing a career as a makeup artist (it even has a chapter on how to network and start your career) or to anyone that just want to improve their skills in applying makeup to themselves. This book is really worth the investment.

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Jan 19, 2013 Vanessa rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: makeup-beauty-fashion

If I didn't discover Jemma Kidd then this probably would have been THE source because of the lack of other options. I like how Brown provides explanations as to WHY some looks won't turn out and she proposes solutions, but this still wasn't enough for me. It's just too general and there is too much emphasis on foundations, highlighting, and contouring. I don't get enough looks (which is what I'm looking for) but this is definitely far better than most makeup available for sure. And not to mentio...more

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Nov 04, 2012 Charlotte rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: People hoping to become a makeup artist

This book was absolutely amazing. If you love beauty then you will love this book! Bobbi Brown knows what she is talking about as she is an accomplished professional makeup artist. This book did teach me how to apply makeup but mainly it talked about becoming a makeup artist and more tips about how to get into the beauty business. If you're looking for something on how to apply makeup I would suggest Teenage Beauty by Bobbi Brown.

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May 05, 2011 Sara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Great beauty instructional manual. I just recently started experimenting with different kinds of makeup and have oftentimes found myself completely bewildered at the department store/drug store trying to figure out what product is for what and the like. After reading this, I have a very good understanding of what products I should try and which ones I can totally skip. The illustrations are great to follow too. A beauty must have!

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Mar 22, 2009 Stephanie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Good manual for beginners. Some of the explanations could be better (ie: blending, smokey, applying false eyelashes). She just assumes that everyone will be able to accomplish these looks with minimal direction. Someone could learn all of this information in 10 minutes at a make-up counter in a department store. However, I really appreciated some of the tips and the eye shadow table that corresponds to eye color.

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Aug 12, 2012 Eileen Ramos rated it 5 of 5 stars

If you're a fan of Bobbi brown's work and make up brand, this book is a great buy! It is a great guide in teaching you how to put on make up and at the same time a good handbook for Bobbi Brown's products. What i love about Bobbi Brown is her philosophy in uniqueness and diversity of each faces and which type of make up will fit based on it. This book also has tips to make you get into artistry. Enjoy!

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Mar 15, 2013 Karen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: nonfiction

I wear very little makeup and now that I've discovered the magic of BB cream, it might be a while before I incorporate more complicated techniques into my routine. Bobbi's tutorial on eyeliner application was a godsend, though, and the photography is beautiful. I will also reference the sections on skin type-appropriate cleansers and moisturizers the next time I need to replenish my stock.

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Feb 05, 2009 Bobbie Crawford-McCoy rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: For Makeup Artists and women who wear makeup

Shelves: books-that-i-own, all-reviews, non-fiction-reviews

Makeup Manual
Written By: Bobbi Brown
Published By: Springboard Press, an imprint of Grand Central Publishing, 2008, First Edition, 232 pages, hardcover
ISBN 978-0446581349

Makeup Manual is a really user friendly and easy to understand. It is also a very detailed manual which gives hint and tips about beautifying yourself and others. With a focus on the makeup artist’s side of things, this book also has a lot of great tips for those of us at home who are just looking for useful, everyday instruction...more

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Apr 14, 2013 Nichole rated it 5 of 5 stars

I don't know how to apply makeup properly and I'm just starting to learn the basics. Bobbi Brown's Makeup Manual showed me the ropes on makeup 101, from proper skin care to detailed application of foundations and smoky eyes. I love how intricate this manual is and it's not a difficult read. Totally recommend it, not just for makeup artists but to women everywhere.

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Aug 29, 2011 Bianca ♥ rated it 5 of 5 stars

LOVED THIS BOOK. I wanted more things in the Professional category because that's why I bought this book, not for the begging part although I enjoyed that too and there were a couple of tips and tricks I didn't know there.
I really liked the LIFESTYLE section and it's so amazing that there's at least one beauty book that has this.

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Jan 12, 2013 Erica rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ever since I had my daughter that and age I've felt the need to actually learn and put more effort into looking my best. This helped me understand the basics of make up and skin care even tho I know much already it's nice to have a reference form and understand why certain make up applications are a bad idea

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Dec 19, 2008 Faith rated it 5 of 5 stars

Got this book for $17 and change at Costco versus $30+ at the regular book stores. Almost any book about makeup excites me, and it really is for everyone, from beginner to pro. Very basic application to the history of makeup. Read an extended version of my review here: http://faithbmakeup.blogspot.com/.

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About Bobbi Brown

In addition to running her company, Bobbi continues to pursue her craft by creating the runway looks for New York Fashion Week. A permanent fixture backstage, she works with the industry’s best designers including Rachel Roy, J. Mendel, Erin Fetherston, Tory Burch and Cynthia Rowley.

Bobbi often does how-to segments on The Today Show and The Oprah Winfrey Show, and her advice can be found in syndic...more

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