About Face: Amazing Transformations Using the Secrets of the Top Celebrity Makeup Artist [Paperback]

Scott Barnes may indeed be an amazing make-up artist, but I found the book a bit disappointing. The description for the book states, "Part One focuses on dramatic makeovers of real women with a twist: each woman comes in looking the best she thinks she can look. The author then deconstructs and debunks their look taking them from attractive to amazing." In the first set of makeovers four out of five were models. In total, nine of the "real" women were models, and two more have worked in television. Yes, models are obviously real women, but not the kind I expected in this book. I expected the everyday women to be made over, not just the five that were in the book. And, except for some lipstick or gloss and perhaps eye shadow it didn't look like they were wearing much make-up to begin with by the look of their skin and under-eye circles. Certainly, they did not present themselves as the best they could make themselves up on their own. Nor was the book in sections as mentioned. My favorite "real women" make-over was Katherine. Barnes took her from the everyday women to a beautiful women who reminded me of Julia Roberts. Throughout the book several actresses spoke about their experiences with Barnes. The remainder of the book did provide some interesting and useful information.

I am a sucker for transformations. I love seeing the ugly duckling turn into the beautiful swan. The more drastic the transformation, the better.

The premise of this book is that real women, looking their best, would be redone by master make-up artist Scott Barnes. The women are "real" in so far as they exist but they are far from average in looks. The bulk are models or otherwise in fashion or show business. Like most models on assignment, they are bare faced when they arrive for their transformation. I doubt that is how they look their best unless it is the best they look when biking to their Pilates classes.

That being said, some of the make overs are amazing. Katherine went from pretty to polished and professional. Danielle went from everyday to exotic. The remainder are standard model shots, unmade up to smoldering eyes and pouty mouths. However, sometimes the transformation is different not better. Lauren,a beach bunny type is morphed into an ice queen. Different, perhaps. Better, not really. Others, Louisa and Linda were unimpressive. And then there was Elizabeth the only senior citizen in the bunch. She was also the only one who looked like she took some time with her makeup before shot As for the after, well her makeup was beautiful. perhaps it was the full front shot, but I thought she looked better before.

The photographs are gorgeous and the transformations are displayed photographically, step by step. Note that the text instructions do not always correspond to the photo. This book assumes a certain degree of experience with makeup application. If you are lacking that, there are many fine books on makeup application including the classic Way Bandy, also check out Robert Jones and Jemma Kidd.

The text of the book is forgettable. Included
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ are gushy essays to and from celebrities including Jennifer Lopez, Mariska Hargitay, Judith Light and Kim Kardashian(why?). There are also interviews with the models that are totally inane. IN the center the author interview two doctors about skin care and skin cancer. The author lost his brother to skin cancer. Included is an interview with a teenager who has stage 3 melanoma and her mother. Again the detail was lacking and I found the mother insensitive when she said that her daughter was not one of those people who fried herself or used tanning beds. Most people I know who use tanning bed and still fry themselves are young teenage girls. I don't think people who do not appreciate the risk should be condemned to die of a terrible disease and this woman's statement was ignorant.

I enjoyed looking at the pictures in this book. I have begun using some of his techniques, ie, putting on highlighter and concealer before the rest of the makeup and relying more on brushes for application. The man is an artist with an appreciation of light and color. His emphasis is on bringing out the best of each of the models as opposed to changing them. This book was refreshingly devoid of the hide your big nose, draw over your thin lips and make your face a perfect oval mentality. Still,it would have been better had the models been everyday people of different ages not associated with fashion or show biz. As it was they were pretty ducklings who turned into prettier ducklings.

I could tell by the cover what type of book this was going to be. See J.lo on the cover..she dosent look like that in real life with even the best make-up! its all air brushing. A peak inside reveals mostly white women( I think i saw one Asian woman, and an Ethiopian woman, and a Brazillian woman..ooh exotic!) with their faces covered in contour powder. Its not real women make up..its photo shoot make up...so just be warned..the women get make overs and the end photo is with them covered in this make-up and digitally enhanced and modified..i quickly put the book down...

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