Making Faces

"shows you how to do different make ups for different occasions, for you face, complexion, right tool to use, etc...easy to follow instructions."
~ Written on 2008-09-23

"If you've bought a beauty DIY book in the past decade you know that HALF the content invariably comprises the writer's flagrant self-promotion, while the other half, advertising for commercial products...often from the writer's own [or their friends'] brand lines. No so with 'MAKING FACES!' Almost every page offers realistic, achievable enhancements for real life women, using generic products.

Contrary to one silly review, you cannot "flip through this book at Barnes & Noble" because the SEEMINGLY trite techniques need to actually be performed by the ordinary woman to see the stunning but realistic transformations for herself. The kind that make you wonder just how ugly all those much-admired famous faces are without talent like Kevyn's propping them up. Additionally, the lone reviewer complaining of `lack of realism' joins the reviewer complaining of no step-by-step instructions, in making me question THEIR sense of reality. C'mon Girls! The same way we all translate & personalize Haute Couture into everyday skins; Aucoin's most dramatic techniques can also be simplified into everyday looks.

Most wonderful: Aucoin's [glossy photo] [step-by-step] transformations of unknown women into better, everyday versions of themselves; along with the startlingly, ATYPICAL dramatizations of many famous faces. All proving that TECHNIQUE can truly transform and hypnotize! MUST SEE: the glossy close-ups of Drew Barrymore as the 'Sophisticate,' Andy Macdowell into the Oriental 'Temptress' and Demi Moore as the 1920's 'Vamp,' among many other scintillating looks.

As for Kevyn Aucoin...genius! A generous, sensible, humanitarian genius at that! Read the mini-biographies of the people made-over; and Kevyn's common-sense advice [against kids wearing make-up; and pageants etc, etc] and you will appreciate the man as well as the artiste all the more.

Ironically, Aucoin's generosity in sharing this hard-earned experience, which other industry professionals keep so closely guarded(?), inspired such respect and trust in me...I actually went looking for his products. Now I'm a double Aucoin fan!

BUY THIS BOOK! Then ACTUALLY try, try, TRY the step-by-step techniques before reviewing the book...and by the end of your experimentation, you'd be wishing that he were straight and available! But...that's another book!"
~ Written on 2008-08-22

"OK. This is the first ever makeup book I bought -
and about one third of the photos in the book and
the techniques shared are practical AND useful for
the everyday person.

The other one third are more fashion-editorial,
and period-pieces kind of images supposedly for our
inspiration... but not quite so useful in daily life.

Now the other one third of the pictures in the book
are quite useless for me - because a) some are in black
and white photos!, b) some only show the profile of the
model so I don't know how she looks from the front,
c) some have strange effects - blurred, too much sparkle
dust all over the face, neck and shoulder, or fashion
runway type eye makeup that you'll never wear to work,
and not to be sexist but quite many shots of men dressed
up as women. Out of all these, I'd have to say that the
black and white photos are the most problematic for me -
because I haven't a clue what colors they are wearing!!!

Some of the before and after shots are quite shocking -
and really shows how much CAN be done with makeup - p.100 -

But once I started reading the step by step explanation
of how the makeup was actually applied to the face -
there wasn't much depth or detail -
just very general explanation of HOW they were applied -
so if you read a lot of fashion magazines, you might not be
so impressed with the text portion of the book -
I didn't learn much new techniques from this book -
not too much insight on the nitty-gritty of refining your skills -
(I got those from Rober Jones and Linda Mason later on) -
but the photos are inspiration enough... in most cases.

If you're a beginner in makeup application, the first chapter
of the book does a pretty good job of explaining the basics -
the different textures of makeup available are well photographed,
a range of brow and lip shapes are well presented visually -

but for contouring and learning to use makeup to enhance
your faceshape and eyeshapes - I recommend Robert Jones's book
"Makeup Makeovers".

This is a good book for comprehensive photogrphic sourcebook -
because it has a good collection of Hollywood actresses,
professional models, and also everday people's makeovers with
before and after photos.

Hope some of this helps...

"
~ Written on 2008-07-09

"Although this book is not the necessarily the best for cosmetic application instruction, the transformations that Kevyn Aucoin created are absolutely amazing and beautiful.
The first time I saw this book, I knew I had to have it.
Anyone who is a big makeup fan should have it. "
~ Written on 2008-07-03

"I bought this book and Face Forward for my 13 y.o. niece. I am a professional makeup artist and she has expressed an interest in makeup too. Anyway, she has really enjoyed them. They are great books to have for reference or just for fun and inspiration. Kevyn AuCoin is amazing."
~ Written on 2008-06-09