Customer Reviews

Making Faces

5 star:		(54)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I own this book and Face Forward and I love them both. Both books are filled with beautiful pictures of beautiful people - most are celebrities but some are regular folk, just like you and me - and the way he's able to transform these everyday people is inspiring. Having said that, I wouldn't recommend this book as a learning tool if you are unfamiliar with makeup. I find that in many of his descriptions of the look, he has missed steps. Also, much of the makeup in both his books is theatrical and not really for the every day look. That's not to say they can't be tweaked but I have found that over the years, the more I've learned about makeup, the more useful this book as been but I didn't find it particularly helpful in teaching me about makeup.
It is a beautiful coffee table book and it's fun to flip through the pages with friends and talk about the looks (and dream of achieving them). There are better 'teaching' books out there but there are few more inspiring than Aucoin's.

I love playing with new looks and colors and this book is the perfect tool on how to make it easy and fun while getting professional looking results. It will help you discover exciting new looks you never dreamed of and the full potential of every makeup tool you own. The instructions on how to accomplish every look in the book are clearly illustrated step-by-step, making them extremely easy to follow. The advice given by the author comes alive with his own funny anecdotes on discovering and experimenting with makeup.
This book is extremely well organized into three sections. The first one covers the basics of what you need to know about each part of your face, how to apply makeup to each, which tools to use and how to enhance and get the most benefit from your strongest features. The second one shows you makeovers done on ordinary people that look like you and me. It includes before and after pictures that show the impact of well-applied makeup on every kind of skin and color combination. The third section is the most impressive part of the book. It shows known celebrities made up like other celebrities that have established iconic looks over the years. (Look for Lisa Marie-Presley as Marilyn Monroe and Isabella Rosellini as Barbra Streisand).
This book also includes a few male makeup techniques, from the conservative (using concealer and powder) to the adventurous (using eyeliner and eyeshadow) to the extremist (using everything from powder and blush to lipstick and a wig).
Although there are three or four extreme looks in this book that I don't think I will ever try, all of the rest can be applied just as they are or with slight modifications. The great advice, easy to follow instructions, funny anecdotes, if not the great photographs alone, make this book a must buy for anyone who uses makeup regularly or sporadically. It's so rewarding that you won't be disappointed.
I recommend buying Beauty: The New Basics by Rona Berg along with this book to complement the makeup knowledge with the best advice on skin care, hair care and beauty products that's available on a printed format.
--Reviewed by M. E. Volmar

This is one of those books you buy on Amazon because of the high recommendations and appreciate for the amazing illustrations as well as the information within. The makeover transformations of celebrities is astounding, especially when you realize that it doesn't really matter how you look without makeup, but that you can look fabulous with the right application. Kevyn Aucion uses color and style, rather than specific cosmetics, to create whatever personna he sees for each woman. A great "picture book" and an excellent reference!

This is THE essential guide to make-up. It includes all the basics and then demonstrates how you combine these into the most amazing faces. From beginner to expert you need this book. I have owned this book for years and it is well loved. So much so that this year I bought a copy for my niece and she loves it too.

Très bon livre, une bonne référence à avoir! C'est des trucs indémodable, par contre j'aurais aimé en savoir plus sur les maquillages pour les films HD et ce livre est malheureusement trop vieux.

Kevyn Aucoin is a genius. He's inspired me so much with his unique talent and amazing artwork. He is able to glam up anyone, turn men into women, turn the ordinary into the extraordinary, bring back faces from the past, as fresh and young as they once were, and add shadow, texture, and non-existent features. There has never been anyone in makeup more dedicated, driven and talented than Aucoin. The books he wrote immortalize his work, and even if you are not into makeup, this book is more than worth a look, because of the sheer artistic approach that Aucoin has to makeup.

If your looking for a teenage makeup book, this wouldn't be my first recommendation. This book was more about the history of makeup and had a few makeovers in it, but it wasn't really what i was lookin for; a book with makeup instructions and tips of teenagers, but this book was really for an older person

I found the photos facinating and I enjoyed Kevyn's writing style - very honest! If I'm not mistaken, his beautiful sister Carla is on Alley Mc Beal (Billy's new secretary). If not, the girl sure looks like Carla! After I read about 3 chapters I got a hold of my tweezers and followed his suggestions and made an easy and noticeable improvement. I look forward to reading the other chapters !

I absolutely adore this book. I have his other book, Face Forward and I love them. This man knows how to do the best makeup in the biz! I even copied a look in this book on a friend. In this book, there are before and after pictures of everyday people that really show how you can make a huge difference, with just some strategically placed cosmetics. This book is also good for anyone who would perform on a stage. Check it out, you won't regret it.

out of all of Kevyn's make up books I consider this one his best because it is the most basic. it gives the reader lots of background about his childhood and his close relationship with his sister. Kevyn passed away a year ago suddenly... but through this book we are all able to see what a caring, creative and generous man he was. Not only is it an ennjoyable read, (his stories are always heartwarming) but also a very useful and easy to read guide on the complex world of beauty.