Make Up: Michelle Phan's Debut Book - Review

"Make Up: Your Life Guide to Beauty, Style, and Success – Online and Off" by Michelle Phan
(c) 2014 by Harmony Books
Title: Make Up: Your Life Guide to Beauty, Style, and Success – Online and Off
Author: Michelle Phan
Published: 2014 by Harmony Books

About the Book:
"Michelle Phan has believed in makeup since the first time she was allowed to try eyeliner. When she looked in the mirror and saw a transformed version of herself looking back, she fell in love with the sense of confidence that makeup could give her. Ever since she posted her first makeup tutorial on YouTube, she has dedicated herself to inspire millions by using makeup as a tool for transformation and self expression.

Now, Michelle has compiled all of her best wisdom into Make Up: Your Life Guide to Beauty, Style, and Success--Online and Off. From creating a gorgeous smoky eye to understanding contouring to developing an online persona, Michelle has advice to help you transform every facet of your life. Make Up is packed with Michelle’s trademark beauty and style tutorials, stories and pictures from her own life, and advice on the topics she is asked about most, including etiquette, career, entrepreneurship, and creativity. From the everyday (such as how to get glowing skin) to the big picture (such as how to turn your passion into a profession), Make Up is a practical and empowering resource to help anyone put their best face forward."

The Artist Librarian Review: Make Up: Your Life Guide to Beauty, Style, and Success – Online and Off is beauty guru Michelle Phan’s debut book. Part memoir, part “how-to” book, part advice book: it gives an inside look into her “Cinderella story” that turned her vlogging into a successful business along with etiquette, make up, and style tips that will make you feel as if you are watching her YouTube channel!

Though I had never heard of Michelle Phan when I first picked up this book, the name was familiar to my younger teenage sister who follows several similar vloggers on YouTube. Michelle chose to cover a variety of topics in this book such as skin care, make up, hair, your first job, and online etiquette. If you want to recreate a specific look or need a more detailed tutorial, one of her YouTube videos might be a better option. But if you’re just looking for a general overview, this is a good place to start. While I don’t consider myself a tomboy, make up is something I’ve only seriously delved into during the past year, so I felt that Michelle’s book was perfect for a “newbie” like myself. Her writing style is very conversational and easy to read –like she’s talking to a friend or a younger sister.

I also enjoyed learning about Michelle’s life as well. She came across as very relatable as she shared her story of transitioning from an insecure teenager searching for her identity, to the confident young entrepreneur she is today. As a second-generation Vietnamese American, her success is definitely based on her hard work and the values her family taught her. Though coming from a secular viewpoint, Michelle seems like a very classy, tasteful lady who hasn’t forgotten her roots and I agreed with most of her beauty and fashion advice. For example, she views make up as a way to express yourself artistically and to help provide confidence in appearance, but doesn’t believe it should cover up the “real” you.

Though a wordy title, Make Up: Your Life Guide to Beauty, Style, and Success – Online and Off describes the book perfectly: full of practical tips and wonderfully organized. Not to mention the high quality glossy pages and color photos of the book itself. I think teens and young adults would enjoy this book, along with anyone else interested in learning more about Michelle Phan and the world of an online beauty guru.

Note: There are a couple of photos of clothing that could be described as immodest, such as tops with deep v-necks or cutouts such the image on the book cover, but in contemporary fashion’s eye are still considered tasteful.

Do you have any favorite fashion or beauty vloggers or bloggers? Let me know in the comments!

*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through bloggingforbooks.org for review purposes* 

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