Face Forward by Kevyn Aucoin, Donald F. Reuter Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Face Forward
Book Review: From Book Description of PB Edition
Summary: 4 Stars
Book Description
"Makeup should be fun, not fascist," celebrity makeup artist KevynAucoin avers in Face Forward, his third book. One of the most adoredstylists among fashionistas, entertainment divas, and high-society jet setters,Southern-born Aucoin arrived on the New York fashion scene in the early '80s, aperiod he ridicules for its '50s-era conservatism and McCarthyistus-against-them values. His career since has been motivated by the feel-goodideals of acceptance, diversity, and self-love, and the vain world of beauty haseagerly participated in his vision. While one may puzzle on how it is he findsfulfillment in an industry known for its superficiality and elitism, Aucoin'swords are nonetheless infectious and the touches of his brushes inspired.Conceived as an exploration of the past, present, and future of beauty, FaceForward is an ingenious showcase of the transformative, creativepossibilities of makeup, with portraits of everyone from Julia Roberts to SharonStone, Martha Stewart to his mother, Thelma. His crafted visages range fromminimal-application makeovers of friends to elaborate re-creations of suchHollywood icons as Audrey Hepburn (Calista Flockhart), James Dean (GwynethPaltrow), and Veronica Lake (shockingly, Martha Stewart) and such pop-culturepersonalities as Cher (socialite Alexandra von Furstenberg) and Siouxsie Sioux(Winona Ryder). The final pages present his ideas for looks to come, such as"Explorer," Mary J. Blige covered in eggplant body makeup with a rainbow ofmetallic eye shadows over her eyes and thickly glossed red lips; "Floralia," afreckled Lucy Liu resembling a sprite from A Midsummer's Night Dream; and"Venusian de Milo," Sharon Stone as an orange-haired, one-breast-baring sci-fifemme fatale. Throughout, Aucoin augments an already colorful book withstep-by-step instruction, chatty commentary on each look and model, and riffs onsuch topics as friendship, politics (he repeatedly applauds the ClintonAdministration for embracing diversity in the '90s), and the environment."Appreciating (even highlighting) individuality is one of the great things aboutmakeup," asserts Aucoin, and Face Forward is a dazzling testament tothat belief. For those who see the fun of makeup and are eager to experimentwith the virtually unlimited possibilities of it, this book is a boon.--Rebecca Wright
Book Review: Great book on makeup
Summary: 5 Stars
I got this book after finding it in a library. I have a houseful of teenage and soon-to-be teenage daughters who are all very interested in makeup although they haven't started yet. It doesn't waste too much time with the absolute basics of applying makeup but is very useful on different "looks" and how makeup can be used to achieve desired effects. There are a couple of male and transgender makeup jobs which some might find shocking. For more practical advice on how to apply makeup I also got them his other book, Making Faces.Book Review: Great book!
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased this book for my daughter-in-law who is in cosmetics and sales and she said it was a great book. She picked up a lot of tips to use in her profession.Book Review: fast shipping, great condition
Summary: 5 Stars
I waited until the last minute to order this before Christmas. It arrived quickly and was in perfect condition. If only all of the Christmas shopping had been that easy?!Book Review: not descript enough to be helpful
Summary: 3 Stars
I wanted to do my make-up like famous african american women, but although Kevin SHOWS in pictures how to thin down the nose, lighten out the skin tone, and other artful concealments, he never mentions these steps in the written descriptions. All the descriptions seem to generally be the same steps, page after page. He is phenomenal in his transformations, but does a poor job explaining EXACTLY how to do them ourselves. The pictures are beautiful, though.