First time writing an actual book review. Kinda weird, I must admit. My mind was all over the place, thinking about how to do this. Not sure if this is the right way, but again, we learn most things in life through trial and error. So, screw it.
This book review, won’t be a classic book review, per se. I didn’t follow the standard format. I approached this book as if it were a puzzle, where I’m trying to find out if there are any pieces missing. Hope you’ll like it! Now, Let’s dive into Caroline Hirons’ – ” SKin care – The ultimate no-nonsense guide” book review! 😊
The general appearance
When you look at the book’s cover, you can see it has a semi-matte finish, with spot gloss UV varnish over some sections. The book is published by Harper Collins UK, a worldly Renowned publishing company. made with FSC-certified paper, while printed and bound in Italy by Rotolito. The font is bold and a good size. if you’re a long-sighted person, reading won’t strain your eyes as much. (Tested by my mom, as I’m just like my height – A short-sighted woman 🤓)
Liking the fact that this book’s cover design is quite androgynous. The overall colour combo (white, yellow, and black, with a splash of camo) is quite refreshing and universally appealing. Why am I pointing this out?
Well, it’s very common for authors and their publishers to opt for a ‘beauty book’ cover design, consisting of :
- lighter colours (often shades of pink, salmon, or peach);
- soft, cursive lettering;
- portrait of a (usually) younger, white female;
Personally, I’m not a big fan of such designs. They’re exclusive, stereotypical, repetitive, and boring. Luckily, you don’t have that here. The book cover reflects its author’s aesthetics to a tee. Also, colour/pattern contrasting designs, definitely grab more attention on a bookstore shelf.
As a person who needs music or visuals, in order to focus better, this book is very appealing to me. It’s not just a page, upon a page, of plain text. My dad (a mechanical engineer by profession 👷🏻♂️) always says – Books without pictures are crap. 😁 And, I most definitely agree.😁 Visually, there’s a nice balance in this book. It’s not like a boring old Uni book in Constitutional Law (#oldtrauma), nor does it look like a scrapbook. It gives me that, ‘I can teach you stuff, but I’m also fun, kind of vibe. So, I dig it.
Another thing I like – the pictures aren’t overly edited. From what I can tell, mostly saturation, lighting, and the basics (which is often rare in beauty-related books). You can actually see Caroline’s skin texture, and fine lines, everything is still there. She wasn’t retouched to oblivion. (didn’t expect that really, she’s not about that life). There is also a nice selection of clinical pictures, which I’ve only seen in medical books so far. That is also quite refreshing (though the pictures themselves aren’t).
Speaking of the book’s language
If English is your second language, I would say, this book would probably be OK if your English proficiency level is around B1 (lower intermediate). Do take this with a grain of salt, as every person is different.
She didn’t go overboard with medical terminology, so it’s quite easy to follow. Whenever there were language differences (between UK & US English), as some words/terms have different meanings, she kindly pointed them out, avoiding possible confusion among readers. She didn’t use a lot of UK slang either, so you are good in that department as well.
If you’re working on improving your English skills, the book is written in a more casual form, so it’s great for practice. You can always use Google translate(or any other online dictionary), to look up unknown words/phrases, or if you get the Kindle (or any other) eBook version, you probably have that option built-in, saving you some time.
Dissecting the book
The book starts with us getting to know a bit more about Caroline Hirons. She answers the basic ” when, where, why, how” questions, regarding her career, especially when it comes to the beauty industry. Following the prologue, she starts drawing us into the realm of skincare, starting off with the basics – What’s our skin, and how it actually works? Some would say it’s too basic, but with the whole “toxins enter your bloodstream through nasty skincare products” worldwide craze, this is a good starting point.
The book has several sections, with each part in a different colour: yellow, blue, orange, pink, and green. Here’s a quick essence rundown by each section :
YELLOW
The first chapter covers the more technical side of things. You get to learn about the most fundamental – Having a good morning and evening skincare routine. She walks you through every step, what you should or shouldn’t do. Explains general rules and techniques when it comes to applying products. A detailed explanation of double cleansing. You even get several “step-by-step” instructions, from Caroline herself, which are a nice touch. Everything is really simple and easy to follow. Along the way, she also explains how to adapt your routines, depending on the season, if you’re traveling, or even exercising. There’s an explanation about the roles of a dermatologist and an aesthetician, and also just how much your diet can be the savior or provocateur of havoc.
BLUE
This is the “let’s get medical”, part. The section is more like a classic cosmetology book. In great detail (with clinical pictures) she explains the difference between skin types and skin conditions, which are often mixed up. It covers a lot of conditions, starting from acne and spots, Rosacea, eczema, pigmentation, and milia, to perioral dermatitis and psoriasis, with several more I struggle to pronounce, though I had Latin in school 😅. She also emphasizes the importance of consulting with a good doctor, someone specialized in the problem at hand.
ORANGE
Talks about different life periods and what each life stage brings with it, regarding our skin and its aging. From puberty and pregnancy to perimenopause and menopause. There’s talk about illnesses as well, such as PCOS and cancer (chemotherapy). In this part, I wish she had mentioned radiation as well, as it’s also a form of therapy that often goes hand in hand with chemo. For example, my mom is a 64y/o cancer patient in Remission, and her skin was more affected by radiation than chemo.
Do like the fact that she also Acknowledged, that people sometimes aren’t physically or mentally capable of an extensive skincare routine, so she gave advice on such life moments as well.
PINK
Explains which products are necessary for your skincare kit/ routine, based on your age. She covers every decade (up to your 90s). There’s a detailed explanation regarding each product you use, and extensive info on SPF, vitamin A, and acids. She also shared her opinion on sheet masks and electronic cleansing brushes, among other things. Also, In every chapter, you’ll find a part where she debunks different skin myths and a little text box with specific product recommendations.
GREEN
Here we have the ‘ I’m sick and tired of the beauty industry’s marketing bullshit ‘ chapter. She explains the meaning behind a lot of terms that brands love to use when advertising a new product, such as hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, natural, organic, etc. There’s also talk about the infamous paraben battue and ‘clean beauty’.
Overall, the book never had that ‘ know-it-all’ tone (which happens sometimes with such books), and she early on pointed out that, if you like a certain product, and it works for you, you should keep using it (even though she maybe hates it). Except for wipes. Forget wipes.
Is Anything missing?
Unfortunately, it didn’t cover some very important topics in much detail. There’s no detailed explanation of how these skincare routines should differ if you’re dark-skinned. In the beginning, she gave a brief explanation regarding the skin’s difference in composition and texture, but I find it insufficient information. In better words, what are the routine differences – If someone is other than Caucasian? Is there maybe something they should use more/less? (Maybe I’m a pale Slav from the mountains of Caucasus, but others aren’t). I’ve read that Caucasian and Asian skin have similarities, but there is a difference compared to African and Hispanic skin, especially when it comes to aging. She also just brushes over her segments about cancer patients, infants, and maternity. Also, no mention of maskne (the book was written prior to the pandemic, so that was expected).
Is this the book for you?
It really depends on your general familiarity with the topic of skin care. If you’re just starting to get into skin care, then, this is an excellent book to learn the fundamentals. If you’re already quite knowledgeable on the topic, then, there isn’t a lot in this book that will tickle your fancy. This is a back-to-basics kind of book, with a good balance between, a laid-back approach and a more ‘don’t fuck around with your skin’, kind of tone. All in all, it’s as if you took Caroline’s whole blog, and transformed it into a book.
The book targets an average consumer or someone who has no idea what they’re doing and needs help. Personally, I’m an average consumer, in her early thirties, so I check that box. If you’re someone who’s just getting into skin care, or If you have a friend or family member, who really wants to get their skincare shit together, this is a great, Beginner friendly book.
I ordered my copy via Book Depository last summer, and it was around 24€ at the time (the price will drop now as the 2nd edition is out).
Well, that’s it for today.! The next post will be covering the second edition, ‘SKincare: The New Edit’ — so stay tuned! Have a great week my wonderful internet people! 🤗
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*Important Note* my pictures were approved by Morwenna Loughman, CH's Literary agent @ Bev James Management (to avoid copyright issues).
I bought these products with my own money, all opinions are solely my own. I’m not affiliated with the mentioned brands or companies. Keep in mind that I’m not a dermatologist, chemist, or pharmacist. Also, what worked for my skin, won’t necessarily work for yours. For further information, please visit my Disclaimer page.