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How to Look Expensive: A Beauty Editor's Secrets to Getting Gorgeous without Breaking the Bank
Glamour's "Beauty Sleuth" reveals tricks of the trade to help you look fabulously high-end—in any economy.
Andrea Pomerantz Lustig has spent twenty years as a beauty editor, and her contact list is packed with the names of the most exclusive stylists in the business. In How to Look Expensive, she combines her own experience with highly coveted secrets she's learned from the experts to help readers achieve buttery highlights, luminous skin, flawless makeup, and more, all on a budget. Delivering red-carpet looks without putting readers in the red, tips
• How to get expensive-looking hair color at an inexpensive salon
• Superluxe DIY skincare cocktails for less than $20
• The cheap cosmetic secrets of expensive makeup artists
• Tips for princess-perfect skin on a pauper’s budget
• “Work Your Beauty Budget” sections that help you make the most of every dollar
With How to Look Expensive, every woman can afford to get gold-card gorgeous, and reap the self-confidence that comes with it.
Andrea Pomerantz Lustig has spent twenty years as a beauty editor, and her contact list is packed with the names of the most exclusive stylists in the business. In How to Look Expensive, she combines her own experience with highly coveted secrets she's learned from the experts to help readers achieve buttery highlights, luminous skin, flawless makeup, and more, all on a budget. Delivering red-carpet looks without putting readers in the red, tips
• How to get expensive-looking hair color at an inexpensive salon
• Superluxe DIY skincare cocktails for less than $20
• The cheap cosmetic secrets of expensive makeup artists
• Tips for princess-perfect skin on a pauper’s budget
• “Work Your Beauty Budget” sections that help you make the most of every dollar
With How to Look Expensive, every woman can afford to get gold-card gorgeous, and reap the self-confidence that comes with it.
223 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 7, 2012
200 people are currently reading
1730 people want to read
About the author
Andrea Pomerantz Lustig
1 book13 followersKnown around the offices of Glamour as the "Beauty Sleuth," thanks to the wildly popular beauty advice column and articles she wrote for the magazine for the last decade, as well as her BlackBerry bursting with the hottest beauty pros. She started Glamour.com's beauty blog and is cherished by Glamour readers for her fresh, original beauty tips, ideas, and solutions. Prior to becoming a contributing editor at Glamour, she was pioneer editor in chief at Sephora.com, and before that spent ten years as beauty and fitness director at Cosmopolitan. She regularly appears in the national media, on shows including The Early Show, Good Morning America, Today, Oprah, and Entertainment Tonight. Her beauty tips have appeared in Glamour, the New York Times, Women's Daily, Allure, and bloggers share her tips with their audiences regularly. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, she lives in New York City with her husband and three children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
October 4, 2012
3 stars, I guess. I was hoping for more style secrets and made one of the classic blunders (although, not as classic as (A)getting involved in land wars in Asia or (B) going against a Sicilian when DEATH is on the line): Not Reading the Cover. It's really not fair to expect style secrets out of a book by a BEAUTY EDITOR. That changed my initially disappointed viewpoint to a more-or-less satisfied one.
That being said, I felt a little let down at the lack of variety in recommendations. I think Ms. Lustig put what works for her, which may not work for someone with a different hair type or skin color. She definitely lets her brand loyalty flags fly: lots of Fekkai, lots of NARS, etc etc. I must be the only woman on the planet for whom the much-vaunted Nars Orgasm blush really does nothing. And I definitely prefer my own brand of tinted moisturizer to the one she recommends.
If you don't know much (or anything) about beauty - that is, if you NEVER read Allure, Glamour, In Style, Redbook, or any of those other magazines, or if you just don't care/live under a rock/are the natural type - this book might be helpful. Otherwise it just seems like a long column full of Ms. Lustig's favorites.
That being said, I felt a little let down at the lack of variety in recommendations. I think Ms. Lustig put what works for her, which may not work for someone with a different hair type or skin color. She definitely lets her brand loyalty flags fly: lots of Fekkai, lots of NARS, etc etc. I must be the only woman on the planet for whom the much-vaunted Nars Orgasm blush really does nothing. And I definitely prefer my own brand of tinted moisturizer to the one she recommends.
If you don't know much (or anything) about beauty - that is, if you NEVER read Allure, Glamour, In Style, Redbook, or any of those other magazines, or if you just don't care/live under a rock/are the natural type - this book might be helpful. Otherwise it just seems like a long column full of Ms. Lustig's favorites.
July 6, 2013
A few interesting tips but mostly what I should have expected from a Glamour columnist. I keep thinking I should care more about how I look, and I buy clothes that look nice and makeup that looks nice and then I wear my yoga pants and barely bother to wash my face, let alone add a layer of anti-wrinkle cream, a layer of moisturizer, a layer of sunscreen, a layer of foundation, some eye cream, some powder. I lose interest before I even get the fancy facial cleanser put back in the shower caddy. This book, for me, was not the triumph of hope over experience, but yet another exercise in over-reaching my natural inclination.
October 1, 2012
I bought this book knowing almost nothing about beauty and fashion, and I think I'm the intended audience. I already understood a lot of the concepts in this book, but I needed some very direct guidance (such as "buy this type of product, because it does this, and that matters because of this") because I just had absolutely no idea what half of the stuff out there is for or why I should care about it.
It's also seems like it would be a good book for someone who's in the habit of living beyond their means because there are a lot of tips on saving money if you're a high roller. It's a little less great if you're looking to spend next to nothing. But if you're going into it with a moderate budget, it's perfect.
I got this book because I want to look presentable for job interviews and I spent my junior high and high school years with my face in books and being a nerd on the internet so I have no clue about things like hair styling and make up. I knew the look I wanted to achieve, but I wasn't quit clear on how to get there. So this book was perfect for my needs. I now know more than I ever wanted to know.
It's also seems like it would be a good book for someone who's in the habit of living beyond their means because there are a lot of tips on saving money if you're a high roller. It's a little less great if you're looking to spend next to nothing. But if you're going into it with a moderate budget, it's perfect.
I got this book because I want to look presentable for job interviews and I spent my junior high and high school years with my face in books and being a nerd on the internet so I have no clue about things like hair styling and make up. I knew the look I wanted to achieve, but I wasn't quit clear on how to get there. So this book was perfect for my needs. I now know more than I ever wanted to know.
June 10, 2017
A little disappointed that all the tips were basically for white women...
September 22, 2013
When I first read "“Create your own brow board” I was like:
....So I don’t know what I actually expected...I just suppose this is really not my genre. I found this on my bookshelf, had bought it since it seduced me through pinterest. Alone based on the title I wish I could say, someone gave it to me as a gift. It’s not thatbad though, and I suppose that if you aren’t really sure of what and who you are it is really good. It just is as if this manual on beauty is for those who either now not to do with their time, or really have their priorities wrong.
However, it gives an interesting view on many beauty questions, and it certainly is right about some things as encouraging girls to be “more Paris France, than Paris Hilton”, which in general is quite a good idea (seriously)
....So I don’t know what I actually expected...I just suppose this is really not my genre. I found this on my bookshelf, had bought it since it seduced me through pinterest. Alone based on the title I wish I could say, someone gave it to me as a gift. It’s not thatbad though, and I suppose that if you aren’t really sure of what and who you are it is really good. It just is as if this manual on beauty is for those who either now not to do with their time, or really have their priorities wrong.
However, it gives an interesting view on many beauty questions, and it certainly is right about some things as encouraging girls to be “more Paris France, than Paris Hilton”, which in general is quite a good idea (seriously)
November 19, 2012
Anyone who's read a year's worth of Allure magazine or browsed the forums on makeupalley won't find anything new here. It's a solid guide to the uninitiated or otherwise uninterested who want to learn how to present themselves better, and it seemed well-researched, without any glaringly inaccurate missteps in terms of skincare science or current fashion. That said, all the information in the book can be easily procured for free online from the myriad helpful resources on blogs, message boards, and online review sections.
January 3, 2019
Got this from the library yesterday and read it in about 1 sitting, so it's a very easy read. The unfortunate thing is that this book was published in 2012, and it already feels very dated. There is almost nothing for women of color. The beauty "secrets" are now super basic ("Use highlighter to accent your cheekbones") or straight-up obnoxious: "Split ends and greasy roots do not look expensive. Expensive hair is shiny and healthy." Well, like, no shit, but who doesn't have split ends? Pfffft.
The thing is, this was written by a Glamour magazine editor in 2012, and it very much reads that way. It's general beauty tips for the masses, compiled into a book. As far as beauty books go, my personal opinion is that they really only work if they're ascribing a very specific style- like drag makeup, natural makeup, pin-up makeup, etc. While these might have been more illuminating in 2012, I didn't get anything from this book a few days into 2019. 1.5 stars.
(PS The quotes above are paraphrased, I don't have the book in front of me. I promise that's the general gist of it though.)
The thing is, this was written by a Glamour magazine editor in 2012, and it very much reads that way. It's general beauty tips for the masses, compiled into a book. As far as beauty books go, my personal opinion is that they really only work if they're ascribing a very specific style- like drag makeup, natural makeup, pin-up makeup, etc. While these might have been more illuminating in 2012, I didn't get anything from this book a few days into 2019. 1.5 stars.
(PS The quotes above are paraphrased, I don't have the book in front of me. I promise that's the general gist of it though.)
April 16, 2013
Somehow I thought this was a fashion book (didn't pay attention to the subtitle), so was startled to find it's an entire book about hair, skin, and makeup.
Uh, wow.
It reminds me that there are people (actresses, celebrities) whose full-time job is looking good. The rest of us get by on what we have time and money for, plus whatever God gave us naturally. So the book was a useful reminder of my priorities. Or in this case, the lack of them. It is not that I don't at all care, I just don't care as much as Lustig does. And given my non-beauty-centric profession, I don't have to.
Uh, wow.
It reminds me that there are people (actresses, celebrities) whose full-time job is looking good. The rest of us get by on what we have time and money for, plus whatever God gave us naturally. So the book was a useful reminder of my priorities. Or in this case, the lack of them. It is not that I don't at all care, I just don't care as much as Lustig does. And given my non-beauty-centric profession, I don't have to.
September 30, 2014
Don't buy this. Don't. Just go to Pinterest, which is also in the Reference and Inspiration section. I cannot believe I paid $6 for a used copy of this junk. Every single topic that is discussed in here is on Pinterest. And better explained on Pinterest to boot!
I have dark brown hair and this book tells me to bleach my hair (at least around my face) and to wear bronzer. "If your hair is raven, almost black: You can lighten it a shade or two to take the edge off..." The option for a simple clear gloss was lost inside of all the bleach enthusiasts.
Instead of helping me to focus on makeup skills to help bring out my beauty, this reads as a newspaper. I was bombarded with Stylists to go to and how clients annoyed them. (For real, example on page 20) Book an appointment with ____ practically every page ended my patience.
Nothing in here was new or inspired. Waste of 40 minutes of my life!
I have dark brown hair and this book tells me to bleach my hair (at least around my face) and to wear bronzer. "If your hair is raven, almost black: You can lighten it a shade or two to take the edge off..." The option for a simple clear gloss was lost inside of all the bleach enthusiasts.
Instead of helping me to focus on makeup skills to help bring out my beauty, this reads as a newspaper. I was bombarded with Stylists to go to and how clients annoyed them. (For real, example on page 20) Book an appointment with ____ practically every page ended my patience.
Nothing in here was new or inspired. Waste of 40 minutes of my life!
November 29, 2012
The title should be: Look healthy: skin, hair, and makeup.
February 5, 2013
This is a nice idea for a book and I really like Andrea Pomerantz Lustig. She's very even in recommending beauty products and services in a wide range of price points. That being said, a lot of her product choices do not work for me. I totally agree with reviewer Minna about Nars Orgasm. There are now two women on earth for whom this product does nothing (actually, it does something for me - it makes me look oddly goldish and cheap).
I have dark brown hair, brown eyes with grey rims and pale skin with a blue undertone and live in the Midwest. Highlights are not going to happen in any way but frightening with my hair and soft brown eyeliner and coral lipstick of any kind make me look washed out.
While many of the product recommendations won't work for me, the advice to keep it simple is always good. And I'm keeping a running list of new moisturizers and eye creams to try.
I have dark brown hair, brown eyes with grey rims and pale skin with a blue undertone and live in the Midwest. Highlights are not going to happen in any way but frightening with my hair and soft brown eyeliner and coral lipstick of any kind make me look washed out.
While many of the product recommendations won't work for me, the advice to keep it simple is always good. And I'm keeping a running list of new moisturizers and eye creams to try.
June 12, 2020
It’s merely a shopping list and a shopping list that boils down to “If you’re poor, go to Target, if you’re sitting on some cash, go to Sephora”. Genuinely felt void of the tips and tricks promised in its premise and the Kindle edition is so poorly laid out and designed that it just makes an exaggerated Cosmo article an obstacle course to finish.
If you’re looking for something that actually does what this book promised to do, save yourself some anguish and pick up a copy of Dita von Teese’s Your Beauty Mark. You’ll feel polished and put together after rather than ripped off and trying to find where your eyeballs went after they rolled so hard they popped out of your damned head.
If you’re looking for something that actually does what this book promised to do, save yourself some anguish and pick up a copy of Dita von Teese’s Your Beauty Mark. You’ll feel polished and put together after rather than ripped off and trying to find where your eyeballs went after they rolled so hard they popped out of your damned head.
July 21, 2024
Written in 2012, so.. not surprisingly, it’s quite dated and not very inclusive. Curly hair refers to like, 2b at most and even then she tells you to straighten it before styling. There’s like one black woman in the whole book and it’s Chanel Iman. Body hair is a pet peeve. Idk why she is telling people to apply retinol in the daytime. The book may be old but 14 year old me was definitely browsing /r/skincareaddiction even back then.
Some of her points were surprisingly ahead of the curve tho, like predicting the incoming popularity of lash extensions & importance of nails in beauty trends to come.
Anyway, it was a fun & easy, superficial read! Just what a girl needs sometimes
Some of her points were surprisingly ahead of the curve tho, like predicting the incoming popularity of lash extensions & importance of nails in beauty trends to come.
Anyway, it was a fun & easy, superficial read! Just what a girl needs sometimes
September 21, 2012
Meh. I like the author's column in "Glamour", and I'd recommend sticking to that versus this book of rehashed beauty tips. I did learn one or two new tricks, but overall this just seems like a glorified beauty editorial.
It isn't a bad read, but I wouldn't spend money on it- maybe check it out from the library if you're interested.
It isn't a bad read, but I wouldn't spend money on it- maybe check it out from the library if you're interested.
November 13, 2012
A lot of hype that this book didn't live up to. I expected more from the blurb and the introduction but it wasn't anything shattering or groundbreaking. A lot of product pushing. Generally a waste of time.
March 16, 2018
Same old advice you've seen in every magazine since the beginning of time. The writing is flowery...definitely just filling pages.
September 5, 2022
Loved it! This is truly a MUST READ for anyone who is interested in beauty, fashion & all of the above! So do yourself a favor and learn everything this book has to offer! Xoxo, Veronica T
February 7, 2021
I love this sort of topic, how to look good, what beauty secrets do I need to know to improve my overall look; however, this book felt like an extended blog post and American-ised at that.
Most of the tips can be found for free on the internet, and I was instantly turned off, when one of the suggestions for clearer skin was to use Bioré Ultra Deep Cleansing Pore Strips, as anyone working in the Beauty industry should know, these absolutely ruin your skin, and make your pores enlarged further exasperating the issue of Blackheads.
Further, the book had two categories for skin types (oily or dry and aging), which is neither helpful nor informative.
Ultimately, I didn't learn anything new, and the look was very specific to movie star-esque, hence the low rating.
Most of the tips can be found for free on the internet, and I was instantly turned off, when one of the suggestions for clearer skin was to use Bioré Ultra Deep Cleansing Pore Strips, as anyone working in the Beauty industry should know, these absolutely ruin your skin, and make your pores enlarged further exasperating the issue of Blackheads.
Further, the book had two categories for skin types (oily or dry and aging), which is neither helpful nor informative.
Ultimately, I didn't learn anything new, and the look was very specific to movie star-esque, hence the low rating.
October 10, 2012
This book was recommended to me by a fellow product/fashion junkie. Maybe she thought I needed the help? Anyway the content isn't revolutionary and it's yet another case of should've stayed a blog/magazine article. She tries too hard with the different types of women - while that might apply to hairstyles brows for glamour girl are not really different from upper east side. There were some good product recommendations I guess and one cool mascara tip. I felt like 99% of it I already practice/know. Silly book.
December 3, 2014
Every young woman should read this book! Andrea Pomerantz Lustig is a genius! She provides so many great tips and ways to spend money while maintaining what's important. She keeps her advice simple, real, and most importantly, she focuses on self confidence and true care for your body rather than sending forth a materialistic message.
I highly recommend this book to any woman that cares about her well being and how she presents herself. I plan to give a copy to each of my younger cousins as they go off to college.
Huge props!
I highly recommend this book to any woman that cares about her well being and how she presents herself. I plan to give a copy to each of my younger cousins as they go off to college.
Huge props!
February 19, 2013
I think I liked this book so much because 1) I know nothing about beauty, and 2) philosophically, the author thinks a lot like me.
Basic premise: you'll look your best when you enhance what you already are. Do this by keeping clean, healthy, and keeping your hair/makeup/clothes becoming.
The author's commitment to understatement, priority of life over your beauty regimen, and love of white shirts resonates with me.
Basic premise: you'll look your best when you enhance what you already are. Do this by keeping clean, healthy, and keeping your hair/makeup/clothes becoming.
The author's commitment to understatement, priority of life over your beauty regimen, and love of white shirts resonates with me.
May 20, 2018
Not sure what I was expecting, but no real groundbreaking tips, mostly things you have heard before. And since I live in a tiny town in "normal" USA not LA or NY, I cant really use a pretty good handful of her advice. No such thing as a waxing salon in a 100 mile radius lol. The basic takeaway I got was that to look expensive, just try. Do something to improve your grooming and appearance, but do not veer into the territory of OVER-trying, then you loop back around.
October 30, 2012
This book should really be titles "How to look like a Celebrity." Nonetheless, there is some really good information in here about how to look like your best self. Not all of it is applicable to everyone, I think there are some good things to take away from it.
April 29, 2013
DISAPPOINTING, Almost everything in this book was obvious and i already knew most of this, she kind of categorized things and organized them thats all, i was really hoping for more.. If u watch fashion shows and movies Do NOT buy this book u know it all,,
January 28, 2013
Terrible. Lists of products the author likes.
February 24, 2013
Dumb book
March 18, 2013
You can get better tips and tricks in 20 minutes on the internet. (especially pinterest.com and Beautypedia.com)
May 4, 2013
Saw this on Pinterest and thought I would find some great tips.... Not so much.
July 13, 2013
Limited. Waste of my time and money.
January 7, 2014
You can get all this crap in a couple Cosmopolitans.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews