Book Reviews | Beauty and Fashion Tech

Fitness Friday Book Review: The Nonrunner’s Marathon guide for Women

Awhile back I got this crazy idea of running the Chicago Marathon. I ran a marathon around 18 years ago and said I would never do it again, so I don’t know what got into me other than perhaps a desire to make my butt smaller (and achy in the process).

I signed up for a training class, but I also decided to take a look at a few training guides. In the process, I stumbled upon a wonderful book that is not so much a standard training guide as it is a funny and motivational read. The Nonrunner’s Marathon Guide for Women: Get Off Your Butt and On with Your Training, by Dawn Dais, is for those who really are nonrunners, or perhaps reluctant runners, who are training for their first marathon. In this guide, the author shares her experiences running a marathon with a sarcastic wit that is a joy to read.

The book provides plenty of basic training advice, but it isn’t your standard guide, and it really probably shouldn’t stand alone as your only training guide. Read it instead for the more real world, this is how your body is going to ache but keep going anyway, type of advice. Also read it for some laughs and to know that there is someone else out there who really knows how you feel after you have dragged your butt out of bed at 6am on a Saturday for an 18 mile run. I just recently came across the website for the book, which also provides some information about the book and author.

For an excellent companion guide, that really is a full training program and guide, check out The Non-Runner’s Marathon Trainer, which is based on a very successful university course for first time marathoners. That one is a more standard guide that won’t leave you laughing, but it will give you plenty of useful information.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Paula Begoun’s Best Inexpensive Regular Mascaras

Paula Begoun, known for the book Don’t Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me, has a great article up on her website: Recession Proof Beauty, The Best Inexpensive Products. This week for Mascara Monday, I thought I would feature her picks. Here they are:

Best Inexpensive Regular Mascaras

NYC (New York Color) Curling Mascara ($2.99)

Rimmel Volume Flash Instant Thickening Mascara ($6.29)

Max Factor Volume Couture Mascara ($5.99)

Best Inexpensive Waterproof Mascaras

Maybelline New York Define-A-Lash Lengthening Mascara Waterproof ($5.99) (pictured)

Jane Max Lash² Waterproof ($4.99)

Cover Girl Professional Waterproof Mascara ($4.99)

Of these, I have only tried Jane Max Lash and Maybelline’s Define-A-Lash. I was happy with both. Each also makes a similar version that is not waterproof.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Contest! Win a set of Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Control Products and the Book Confidence is Queen-the Four Keys to Ultimate Beauty Through Positive Thinking

Congrats to Kandice, comment number 19, on winning this contest! An email is on the way to you!

Everyone could use a bit of stress control, so Beauty and Fashion Tech is happy to hold a reader giveaway for the items described below:

A Confidence Inspiring Book: Neutrogena spokesperson and former Miss USA, Susie Castillo, recently published Confidence is Queen: The Four Keys to Ultimate Beauty Through Positive Thinking. In the book, Casillo writes about her experiences growing up and shares the lessons she has learned about positive thinking. I flipped through it and it looks like a pretty good motivational read. It also is getting good reviews on Amazon.com.

Products from the Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Control Line: This line aims to help you gain confidence by making acne one less stress. The items in this giveaway are:

· Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Control 3-in-1 Hydrating Acne Treatment: A water-based acne treatment, with an ultra light formula that it is absorbed quickly and without a greasy residue, while also absorbing excess surface oil. The treatment contains MicroClear™ to boost the delivery of 2% salicylic acid to reach the source of acne. The treatment is infused with a cucumber scent.

· Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Control Power-Clear Scrub: This scrub softens skin, while microbeads massage and exfoliate. Containing the new MicroClear™ technology, it dissolves oil to reduce shine and utilizes 2% salicylic acid to fight breakouts. It is scented with green tea and cucumber.

· Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Control Triple-Action Toner: This multi-tasking toner is formulated with MicroClear™ technology and has a cucumber scent.

To enter, leave a comment before the beginning of Thursday, September 11 (midnight between Wed. and Thur.), stating why you would like to read Susie Castillo’s book and/or why you would like to try any of the items from the Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne stress Control line. You must answer one of those questions in order to be entered. Just saying “hi” won’t cut it! One entry per household please. Duplicate entries will be disqualified. On September 11, I will randomly select a winner, who will be notified here and by email. Failure to respond within 7 days will result in the prize being redrawn.

Promotional/spam comments entries will be deleted per the comment policy. Please don’t use your website as your user name or include promotional or commercial links in the text, it violates the comment policy.

Popularity: 5% [?]

The New Science of Perfect Skin by Daniel Yarosh, PH.D.

Daniel Yarosh, Ph.D. is a thirty-year veteran of the beauty business who comes from the development end of the industry. Among his accomplishments are the invention of new ingredients for brands such as Estee Lauder, L’Oreal, and Shiseido. Now he has an excellent book out, The New Science of Perfect Skin: Understanding Skin Care Myths and Miracles For Radiant Skin at Any Age, along with an accompanying skin care line, Remergent, from his laboratory, AGI Dermatics.

I will cover the Remergent line in a few weeks. For now, I want to focus on what I think is one of the best beauty books to come along in a great while—at least as far as skin care and anti-aging is concerned. The book provides a thorough and accurate overview of everything a person needs to know about skin, from protecting it, to treating its problems.

From the get go, Yaraosh tells it like it is, with early chapters on “Cutting Through the Hype,” and a glossary of product ingredients. He then painstakingly breaks down cosmetic products into chapters with explanations of what to avoid and why, and what to focus on for the best results. Each chapter includes specific product recommendations by brand across various levels of cost. Yarosh also provides a wealth of information on skin cancer and sun care, along with antioxidants and wrinkle treatments, including descriptions of various lasers and injections. The book also contains skin care regimes for men and children. Throughout the book, Yarosh does a nice job of recommending products that will do double duty by addressing multiple skin conditions at once—something I am quite a fan of.

Overall, The New Science of Perfect Skin is a book with a great deal of information, written for the everyday consumer. Wonderfully informative, to the point, and easy to read, it is a book that you can pick up, understand, and learn from without any specific scientific background. If you do have some background, you will find it to be a well informed and handy reference tool.

I recommend The New Science of Perfect Skin for any person who is concerned about skin care and who seeks to separate the products that have the most chance of success from those that are unlikely to work. Isn’t that most of us?

Popularity: 2% [?]

New E-Book! Leon’s Anti-Aging Beauty Secrets

A fellow Splendicity beauty writer has come out with a really great e-book full of all natural anti-aging secrets and recipes. Leon’s Anti-Aging Beauty Secrets by Leon Rao is full of information, from suggestions for an anti-aging diet, to recipes for various skin care serums and lotions.

The diet chapter contains some great information and chart of antioxidant foods that I found quite handy. There is also neat list of various ethnic anti-aging foods. But what really shines are the multitude of recipes in this book. There is a section on Ayervedic recipes and then additional chapters coving cleansers, toners, masks, exfoliators, serums and more. There is even a recipe for lip balm and a chapter dedicated to an eyebrow and eyelash booster.

Throughout the book, Leon explains the purpose of the ingredients and provide clear direction for each recipe. For the do-it-yourself makeup and skin care fanatic, this book is a must have.

The e-book is 60 pages in color pdf format and is now available for $15—a great price for the wealth of information provided. Visit the purchase page to view chapter summaries and order.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Ten Years Thinner by Christine Lydon, MD. One Month Later Review

It has been about 5 weeks since I finished the six week Ten Years Thinner diet and exercise plan. So here is my promised update.

I spent plenty of time cheating lately by having wine or beer with dinner and going out to eat a bit more. But I otherwise eat fairly well and according to the plan. I also lost 2 more pounds over the past 5 weeks, while my measurements stayed about the same.

I still do the exercise plan a couple of times each week, but have replaced it on other days with a more traditional weight program at the gym, dance class, yoga, and some intervals on the cross trainer. I like the program in the book, but I also like to have a bit more variation and I enjoy the gym. So I do the book program on days when I need to be at home or don’t feel up to going to the gym.

Overall, a month or so out, I still feel that the Ten Year’s Thinner program is a good choice. It provides a nice guide and solid program to jump start weight loss and leave the dieter with a solid foundation when the six weeks are finished. So I give it a big thumbs up!

Jump to: PreDiet Writeup

Week One Recap
Week Two Recap
Week Three Recap
Week Four Recap
Week Five Recap
Week Six Recap

Comparison shop for diet books and plans

Popularity: 2% [?]

Ten Year’s Thinner by Christine Lydon, MD: Week Six

I now have week six of the Ten Years Thinner diet and exercise plan done, which marks the end of the formal program laid out by the book. Of course, that doesn’t mean that I get to return my old ways. But it will mark the end of my weekly updates. I will post back in a month with a final follow up.

I had a pretty good final week. Despite a bit of cheating by having wine with dinner a few times, I lost 2 more pounds and found that I have also gone down a full clothing size. I did not have any measurable changes in inches this week. Here are the totals:

Total weight lost in week six: 2 pounds

Total weight lost through six weeks: 12 pounds

Total inches off so far: Thigh 1 3/4, Hips 1 1/2, Stomach 2 3/4, Arm 1/2, Chest 4.

The six week experience has been good. I still feel that the Ten Year’s Thinner program is a good choice for both weight loss and general fitness. The diet is effective and builds good eating habits, while also being fairly flexible once the initial few weeks are finished.

The exercise program is a great alternative for those who do not, or cannot, go to a gym. It also is easily adaptable for varying levels of fitness. However, those who are already fairly fit may find themselves adding extra exercises or cardio time to the program. I have settled into adding a couple of interval training cardio sessions and a heavier weight routine at the gym each week. I also add several gluteal and thigh exercises to the end of the home program.

I will post something again in four weeks to report on the longer term effects of the program.

Jump to:

PreDiet Writeup
Week One Recap
Week Two Recap
Week Three Recap
Week Four Recap
Week Five Recap
One Month After the End Review

Comparison shop for diet books and plans