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Pretty Iconic
‘Sali Hughes has created a universe filled with galaxies of beauty secrets’ Charlotte Tilbury
Packed full of wisdom from Britain’s most trusted beauty journalist, Pretty Iconic considers which much-hyped beauty buys are worth the buzz and who they are best suited for.
In Pretty Iconic Sali Hughes uses her witty, inclusive and discerning style to look at some of the most significant products in beauty – from treasured classics such as Chanel No 5, to life-changers such as Babyliss Big Hair, and the more recent releases from Charlotte Tilbury, Sunday Riley and others that are shaping the beauty industry today. Sali takes us from the evocative smell of Johnson’s baby lotion through to Simple Face wipes, NARS Orgasm and beyond, looking at the formative role beauty plays in our lives.
Packed full of wisdom from Britain’s most trusted beauty journalist, Pretty Iconic considers which much-hyped beauty buys are worth the buzz and who they are best suited for.
In Pretty Iconic Sali Hughes uses her witty, inclusive and discerning style to look at some of the most significant products in beauty – from treasured classics such as Chanel No 5, to life-changers such as Babyliss Big Hair, and the more recent releases from Charlotte Tilbury, Sunday Riley and others that are shaping the beauty industry today. Sali takes us from the evocative smell of Johnson’s baby lotion through to Simple Face wipes, NARS Orgasm and beyond, looking at the formative role beauty plays in our lives.
432 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2018
142 people are currently reading
1120 people want to read
About the author
Sali Hughes
13 books94 followersSali Hughes is a journalist, broadcaster, Guardian columnist and founder of the award-winning salihughesbeauty.com. A former magazine editor, she has written for many publications including Grazia, the Observer, Elle, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Stylist and Glamour. She is Contributing Editor on Red magazine and Beauty Editor on the Guardian. She is a consultant to major beauty and fashion brands, and lives with her two sons in Brighton.
Pretty Honest
, Sali’s first book, was published in 2014.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
November 20, 2016
Sali Hughes is a journalist who writes about a whole range of subjects including politics, film and women's issues and is also well-known for her beauty column in the Guardian and her own website, www.salihughesbeauty.com. Pretty Iconic is a pleasingly solid and chunky book of short essays about iconic beauty products.
Now, this would be a truly lovely read if it were entirely about the obvious candidates - Chanel No5, Crème de la Mer, Touche Éclat and so on - and indeed, all these products do make an appearance. They are written about with warmth, wit and insight and it's a joy to read about them. But where the real genius of this book lies is in the decision to include alongside them many, many more offbeat and less glamorous choices. Rimmel Hide The Blemish, Carmen heated rollers, Immac, Head & Shoulders and even the monstrous scrunchie ... they all turn up here, and they're all written about with every bit as much affection as Mac Ruby Woo lipstick and Eve Lom Hot Cloth Cleanser.
I'm sure not everybody feels the same way as I do about this stuff. I know not everyone is quite as nerdy as me about things you could buy in Boots in 1990, the nail polish Uma Thurman wore in Pulp Fiction or the specific Max Factor face powder worn by Hollywood icons of the 1950s*. But this book honestly moved me to tears. White Musk perfume and Morello Cherry Lip Balm took me instantly back to being 14 and spending my saved-up pocket money at The Body Shop with my friends during London shopping trips. My mum wore Rive Gauche in the 80s and I wear it myself now (and so should you; it will never not be good). I practically squeaked with excitement at the memory of Natrel Plus deodorant, which I made my dad buy me as part of the weekly shop from Tesco in my teens because the colour schemes of the different fragrances matched my bedroom. I wept at the observation that bath cubes have essentially died out with a generation of nans and if you don't cry at Sali's chapter on Old Spice and the memories of her grandad its scent still carries for her, or when she talks about the Revlon lipstick shade worn by her late friend Carey Lander, you probably aren't human. That said, there are plenty of chapters that made me laugh a lot too (Shaders & Toners and Girl's World spring to mind).
I saw yesterday that Nigel Slater, my favourite food writer of all time, was praising Pretty Iconic on Twitter. If you like the way Nigel Slater writes about food (and agree with him that food, whether it's an eye-wateringly expensive lobster or children's penny sweets, means so much more than something to eat) you will also like the way Sali Hughes writes about beauty. It's a very personal take on the subject and a very evocative one.
I should also add that the book is beautifully designed with a lovely font that reminds me of the most stylish, classic glossy magazines and fantastic photography that correctly treats Mr Matey bubble bath with as much reverence as Sisley Black Rose Mask. If there is anyone in your life who is fascinated by beauty and grooming - men's or women's - then buy it for them now, or put it under the tree on Christmas morning.
*Creme Puff, obviously
Now, this would be a truly lovely read if it were entirely about the obvious candidates - Chanel No5, Crème de la Mer, Touche Éclat and so on - and indeed, all these products do make an appearance. They are written about with warmth, wit and insight and it's a joy to read about them. But where the real genius of this book lies is in the decision to include alongside them many, many more offbeat and less glamorous choices. Rimmel Hide The Blemish, Carmen heated rollers, Immac, Head & Shoulders and even the monstrous scrunchie ... they all turn up here, and they're all written about with every bit as much affection as Mac Ruby Woo lipstick and Eve Lom Hot Cloth Cleanser.
I'm sure not everybody feels the same way as I do about this stuff. I know not everyone is quite as nerdy as me about things you could buy in Boots in 1990, the nail polish Uma Thurman wore in Pulp Fiction or the specific Max Factor face powder worn by Hollywood icons of the 1950s*. But this book honestly moved me to tears. White Musk perfume and Morello Cherry Lip Balm took me instantly back to being 14 and spending my saved-up pocket money at The Body Shop with my friends during London shopping trips. My mum wore Rive Gauche in the 80s and I wear it myself now (and so should you; it will never not be good). I practically squeaked with excitement at the memory of Natrel Plus deodorant, which I made my dad buy me as part of the weekly shop from Tesco in my teens because the colour schemes of the different fragrances matched my bedroom. I wept at the observation that bath cubes have essentially died out with a generation of nans and if you don't cry at Sali's chapter on Old Spice and the memories of her grandad its scent still carries for her, or when she talks about the Revlon lipstick shade worn by her late friend Carey Lander, you probably aren't human. That said, there are plenty of chapters that made me laugh a lot too (Shaders & Toners and Girl's World spring to mind).
I saw yesterday that Nigel Slater, my favourite food writer of all time, was praising Pretty Iconic on Twitter. If you like the way Nigel Slater writes about food (and agree with him that food, whether it's an eye-wateringly expensive lobster or children's penny sweets, means so much more than something to eat) you will also like the way Sali Hughes writes about beauty. It's a very personal take on the subject and a very evocative one.
I should also add that the book is beautifully designed with a lovely font that reminds me of the most stylish, classic glossy magazines and fantastic photography that correctly treats Mr Matey bubble bath with as much reverence as Sisley Black Rose Mask. If there is anyone in your life who is fascinated by beauty and grooming - men's or women's - then buy it for them now, or put it under the tree on Christmas morning.
*Creme Puff, obviously
February 19, 2017
I bought this thinking I'd just dip in and out of it intermittently - essentially a pleasant coffee table book. I was so wrong! I read this like a novel. Each entry is its own joyous short story with Sali's memories triggering my own; re-living my childhood, teenage and present day moments through products. From Matey baths on Christmas Eve, coloured hair mascara at school discos, body shop strawberry lipbalm scented first dates right through to Philosykos job interviews and an ever present Liberty beauty hall obsession. More than simply shampoos, perfumes and eyeliners, it is through these products I can chart my own history, transport myself back to moments in time. Sali's writing is so inclusive it feels like you're involved in a dialogue with an old friend from the outset. A true work of art.
March 21, 2017
Enjoyed the book! Author's wording was great and I totally agree with majority of the products listed here!
Was it worth the money I paid for it? Definitely not
Too expensive for what you get
But judging from the ads / sponsored videos on youtube about this book they did spend quite a lot of money to advertise it and create a hype.
Was it worth the hype? No
Was it enjoyable? YES
Was it a good book? Hell yes
But it's really just too expensive. I bought into the hype and bought the book. I had fun but now I wish I would've just saved the money and bought something with more meat and something I'll reread time and time again. I am, after all, just a normal working class person who in actual reality cannot afford to buy most of the items listed in this book.
Was it worth the money I paid for it? Definitely not
Too expensive for what you get
But judging from the ads / sponsored videos on youtube about this book they did spend quite a lot of money to advertise it and create a hype.
Was it worth the hype? No
Was it enjoyable? YES
Was it a good book? Hell yes
But it's really just too expensive. I bought into the hype and bought the book. I had fun but now I wish I would've just saved the money and bought something with more meat and something I'll reread time and time again. I am, after all, just a normal working class person who in actual reality cannot afford to buy most of the items listed in this book.
February 23, 2022
Pretty Iconic is an insightful, fun book about beauty products and a delightful read. Every page offers a treat to the reader, from text to photography - it's simply spending. Sali Hughes knows beauty and writes about it knowledgeably, but with such passion and joie de vivre that the reader is simply swept away into this magical world of beauty products. This book is for every beauty lover out there, a true treat and at times a walk down memory lane.
March 3, 2018
I'm really torn between giving this book a 'Really Like' and just 'Ok', so I compromised with a 3 star rating of just 'Like'. On the one hand, I think Sali Hughes is a brilliant writer, and it's endlessly fun to read what she writes. It's fairly low commitment in that each product is only a page long, in essay format. I did enjoy reading about the history, and merit of using a Mason Pearson, boar-bristled hairbrush and inspired me to go and dig my own up (made in Japan, so not the one made in England), to rediscover why I enjoy said beauty product ever so much. That said, after flipping through pages upon pages of products. . . it got tedious. I found myself not being curious in any products anymore, because they are just that; products ! It's a double-edged sword. As much as I enjoy her writing, I don't think I can revere products in the same manner as her. Not only do I find some of the products she raves about, not worth the hype, but I think that beauty products are personal. What works for one person, may not necessarily work for the next.
February 7, 2017
This is a really delightful book. I knew I had to own it when I read a newspaper review that featured one of the products from the 'Rites of Passage' section - the Toni perm. How it took me back to watching my mother give herself a Toni perm - the rollers, the papers, that smell! The book is divided up into sections - 'The Icons', 'The Nostalgics', etc and is a really fun read. Loved finding Chanel No 5 here(wore it), Stratton compacts (I own 3!), Rive Gauche (wore it), Coty's L'Aimant (wore it), Anais Anais (wore it), 4711 (wore it - and so does Holly Golightly, in the book, I learned), and Tweed (Mom wore it), and Yardley French Lavendar (Mom wore it). Hair products, face creams, make up, devices, are all here - entirely nostalgic plus a section on 'Future Icons'. Now I wonder if I can order Max Factor's Creme Puff on Amazon?
November 26, 2016
A great read. Lots of the items discussed resonated with me and I was interested in lots of things I had never heard of. Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair is definitely what I'm saving my Boots points up for. Written with care & warmth. I liked the little touches of Sali's own personal experiences. I'm almost exactly the same age as her and also Welsh, and the mentions of pyjamas warming on the fireguard resonated and made me quite nostalgic.
November 12, 2016
What a fab book. So far I have only bought 3 of the products she mentions...
December 18, 2020
To begin with, this was the absolutely first audiobook in my life, so the impressions I have of the book are mixed with those on the entire “listen-to-the-book-rather-than-read-it” experience.
To sum it up, Pretty Iconic with its small vignettes on different beauty items was really ideal for listening to. I am quite sure I would not have finished the book, had I read it on paper. I have enjoyed Sali Hughes’ writing in the Guardian over the years but reading 200 short formulaic articles on beauty products is bound to get repetitive. And it did. Oddly the repetitivity came not so much from the descriptions of different products but from the way the author uses the same phrases and wordings when talking about her childhood and current life. Looks like she really wants you to get the idea that her background is... not posh? Maybe for a woman in the British context it matters more that you are totally self-made and don’t come from oodles of old money.
Being the same age as the author but coming from Eastern Europe, it was interesting to see the similarities (watching Beverly Hills and remembering bands with big hair) and also the differences (how everything landed here later than there, how a lack of things is relative). So what I enjoyed the most actually, was not the industry talk but the occasional glimpses into the life in the UK back in the 70s, 80s and the beginning of the 90s. And hearing Hughes read it out herself deffinitely added to the experience.
To sum it up, Pretty Iconic with its small vignettes on different beauty items was really ideal for listening to. I am quite sure I would not have finished the book, had I read it on paper. I have enjoyed Sali Hughes’ writing in the Guardian over the years but reading 200 short formulaic articles on beauty products is bound to get repetitive. And it did. Oddly the repetitivity came not so much from the descriptions of different products but from the way the author uses the same phrases and wordings when talking about her childhood and current life. Looks like she really wants you to get the idea that her background is... not posh? Maybe for a woman in the British context it matters more that you are totally self-made and don’t come from oodles of old money.
Being the same age as the author but coming from Eastern Europe, it was interesting to see the similarities (watching Beverly Hills and remembering bands with big hair) and also the differences (how everything landed here later than there, how a lack of things is relative). So what I enjoyed the most actually, was not the industry talk but the occasional glimpses into the life in the UK back in the 70s, 80s and the beginning of the 90s. And hearing Hughes read it out herself deffinitely added to the experience.
March 11, 2017
I loved this book - as other readers have said, it's not just a list of beauty products and their benefits, but a look back at their socio-cultural context too, together with element of Sali's own autobiography. I loved reading about the products that featured in my teenage years: Impulse body sprays, my mother's Anais Anais perfume, Lush bath bombs, but also about the 'gamechangers' that have intrigued me: Escentric Molecule 01 which everyone but the wearer can smell. Her 'future icons' - Charlotte Tilbury eyeshadow quads, Frederic Malle L'Eau D'Hiver, Urban Decay Naked palette - have found their way onto my shopping lists too. Her writing is engaging and witty - I didn't dip into the book but made my way through it cover to cover, not peeking to see which products were coming up - and I'm sure I'll read this book again and again, and buy it for my friends.
June 19, 2023
Sali Hughes's writing is always a treat. This is such a nice coffee-table book to have. It's informative and a trip down memory lane with many of the iconic beauty products featured. I picked up some beauty tricks but also some interesting stories about the creation and boom of these products.
August 10, 2019
One of my beauty bibles - I love this book and will continue to reread it, stocking up on more of the iconic beauty products mentioned
January 2, 2020
A quick, light read to start off 2020. (Bought in the 99p Kindle sale).
March 22, 2020
I didn't have too many expectations for this book and I was pleasantly surprised! Not only did I discover and learn so much about makeup products, Sali's writing style is deeply personal, evocative, and at times cheeky. I enjoyed her unfiltered take on the products that inspired trends and are icons in their own right. Finished the book in 3 days as it was so engrossing. If you like makeup, and can be a nerd about it, pick this book up.
October 13, 2023
Now I wanna buy a lot of makeup
September 19, 2021
Just as superficial as the rest of her books and honestly no better. I read this as it was free on a book app and honestly, it was a big waste of time.
2*
2*
November 29, 2021
I do like beauty products and know as much about makeup as hours spent watching youtube tutorials can teach one, but I still didn't expect to like this as much as I did. That rare holy trinity of nonfiction writing - well researched and original information, clear yet engaging writing style, and that certain something in the personality and opinions of the author that makes the book feel like it's narrated by a good friend - all united in a genuinely enjoyable book that I found myself repeatedly wishing was longer. I particularly loved the author's descriptions of smell which are perfectly evocative but never esoterically vague - I much prefer knowing a perfume has a faint undertone of cough syrup than that it is ephemeral and sophisticated. The format with little chunks of information on individual products should by rights become repetitive after a while - and it never does. And audio shouldn't be the right format for this book and yet I loved listening to the author's voice (and later cheated and looked up the illustrations in the ebook version).
November 2, 2019
Absolutely loved it. A look at beauty products that can truly be called iconic, from the nostalgic to the current, along with personal stories from Sali that resonated with me, as someone who also grew up in the 70's/80's with an interest in beauty, cosmetics and perfume.
If you remember bath night once a week with Mr Matey, bath cubes, Old Spice or taking your first tentative steps into beauty in Woolworths with your pocket money then you need to read this. At times incredibly moving, it bought me to tears at several points but also made me laugh and lost me in my own memories.
Mine arrived on the day of publication but I've been rationing myself to a few pages at a time so as not to finish it too quickly. A book that should really have been on my Christmas list but I couldn't wait that long to read it!
If you remember bath night once a week with Mr Matey, bath cubes, Old Spice or taking your first tentative steps into beauty in Woolworths with your pocket money then you need to read this. At times incredibly moving, it bought me to tears at several points but also made me laugh and lost me in my own memories.
Mine arrived on the day of publication but I've been rationing myself to a few pages at a time so as not to finish it too quickly. A book that should really have been on my Christmas list but I couldn't wait that long to read it!
December 27, 2017
She’s done it again. I gobbled this Christmas present up faster than all the chocolate in the house. It’s a wonderful, nostalgic trip down memory lane as well as a guide to the future. Beauty writing at its most emotional.
December 17, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. It's a treasure trove of beauty products from the past and present. I had a lovely trip down memory lane, and I even bought a few products that were missing from my beauty arsenal. My favorite part was when she said the scent of Shalimar could bring her to tears because her mother wore it, and I know that feeling of longing for a time gone by.
April 10, 2025
I just love flicking through this and reminiscing on so many iconic beauty products. It’s a little slice of beauty history and a whole lot of nostalgia. I will always love this book.
February 7, 2017
Hands up, I don’t tend to read beauty books, beauty blog posts, in fact anything about beauty (although I am a fan of India Knight’s beauty articles for The Sunday Times’ Style magazine). However, this book was recommended to me and, as I am a sucker for a good-looking book (pun intended), I thought I would indulge myself.
And I am so glad I did. I came to Pretty Iconic: A Personal Look at the Beauty Products That Changed the World with absolutely no expectations; I had not read any of Sali Hughes‘s writing before (apologies to all you beauty fans out there, I refer you to my previous comment about not reading beauty stuff), and wasn’t sure what I would find.
What I found was an absolute gem of a book. Not only is Hughes incredibly informed and passionate about beauty products and very good at explaining why they do what they do, she is also knowledgeable about the products’ history and what inspired them to be created in the first place. And I really like her writing style.
I didn’t think that I have a lot of make-up and unguents on my bathroom shelf, so I was surprised tofind that I did in fact own, or have used in the past, many of the products that Hughes recommends in her book. And it was interesting to get a better understanding of ‘why’ a particular product works so well for me.
Split into sections: The Icons; The Nostalgics; The Gamechangers; The Rites of Passage; The Future Icons, there is something for everyone here. Some of Hughes’ anecdotes within The Nostalgics section made me laugh out loud. I am the same age as Hughes and experienced a similar beauty rite of passage to hers so her mentions of LouLou and AnaisAnais perfume (who doesn’t remember that extraordinary turquoise and merlot angular bottle?) and banana clips and scrunchies made me smile and cringe in equal measure. I was also pleased to see that I am not the only one to remember the joy of the Cosmetics-To-Go catalogue (now Lush).
There are over 200 products featured in this book; it’s designed to be picked up and flicked through, but it is so well-written and so interesting that I read it straight through practically in one sitting.
Even if you have no interest in beauty products, I promise that you will enjoy dipping into this book. It is well-written, informative, interesting, and beautifully designed. And for any woman born in the UK in the mid to late ’70s, it is a wonderful trip down memory lane. In fact, I’m off to track down some Papier Poudre sheets right now…
And I am so glad I did. I came to Pretty Iconic: A Personal Look at the Beauty Products That Changed the World with absolutely no expectations; I had not read any of Sali Hughes‘s writing before (apologies to all you beauty fans out there, I refer you to my previous comment about not reading beauty stuff), and wasn’t sure what I would find.
What I found was an absolute gem of a book. Not only is Hughes incredibly informed and passionate about beauty products and very good at explaining why they do what they do, she is also knowledgeable about the products’ history and what inspired them to be created in the first place. And I really like her writing style.
I didn’t think that I have a lot of make-up and unguents on my bathroom shelf, so I was surprised tofind that I did in fact own, or have used in the past, many of the products that Hughes recommends in her book. And it was interesting to get a better understanding of ‘why’ a particular product works so well for me.
Split into sections: The Icons; The Nostalgics; The Gamechangers; The Rites of Passage; The Future Icons, there is something for everyone here. Some of Hughes’ anecdotes within The Nostalgics section made me laugh out loud. I am the same age as Hughes and experienced a similar beauty rite of passage to hers so her mentions of LouLou and AnaisAnais perfume (who doesn’t remember that extraordinary turquoise and merlot angular bottle?) and banana clips and scrunchies made me smile and cringe in equal measure. I was also pleased to see that I am not the only one to remember the joy of the Cosmetics-To-Go catalogue (now Lush).
There are over 200 products featured in this book; it’s designed to be picked up and flicked through, but it is so well-written and so interesting that I read it straight through practically in one sitting.
Even if you have no interest in beauty products, I promise that you will enjoy dipping into this book. It is well-written, informative, interesting, and beautifully designed. And for any woman born in the UK in the mid to late ’70s, it is a wonderful trip down memory lane. In fact, I’m off to track down some Papier Poudre sheets right now…
December 18, 2023
Love.
Love.
Love.
I can honestly say I have never bought a book like this before. I remember clearly escaping a torrential Melbourne wintery downpour late one evening. I sought refuge in Readings (Carlton), my favourite bookstore. I was immediately taken by the cover that jumped out at me on the discount table. I had a quick flick through the 420 pages and immediately justified buying it (less than the cost of a magazine).
Fabulous photography and beautifully typeset, this is a fabulous read for women of all ages. No matter how interested in beauty products you are, you’ll find plenty to devour, and build a mental shopping list of must try products - from cheap and cheerful to luxe. For me, this was a nostalgic walk down memory lane.
Whilst I am very fond of high end skincare and makeup, particularly those that have stood the test of time, I am also fascinated by products with cult status that quite literally make me wretch (*Angel perfume).
Do yourself a favour and grab this 2016 book if you can find it!
Being an Aussie, I was unfamiliar with author Sali Hughes, but now I feel like she was one of my teenage besties!
With honest and interesting reviews on over 200 *iconic* beauty products, I guarantee you will have heard of many of them. Reading through this each night, with a big smile on my face, I enjoyed EVERY page. Invoking memories of childhood beach holidays (glorious coconut scented tanning oil), Granny’s expensive beauty products, cheap teen ‘cool’ makeup to iconic marketing campaigns - this book had all the feels. It was like rereading an high school diary or looking through family photo albums through the generations.
Pretty Iconic makes me realise the power of advertising and just how much clever marketing and product placement influences buying decisions.
I am, after all, a beauty product tragic.
I would have denied this vehemently a week ago!
Now for some international online shopping!
I NEED a Kent handmade comb to match my treasured Mason Pearson brush.
And where can I find quality 1980s bath oil beads?
It’s so nice to find products online now that ship to Australia - much better than waiting for a friend or relative to go overseas.
Fun, hey!
Thank you Sali Hughes for such a delightful read.
I’ll treasure this book for a long time.
Love.
Love.
I can honestly say I have never bought a book like this before. I remember clearly escaping a torrential Melbourne wintery downpour late one evening. I sought refuge in Readings (Carlton), my favourite bookstore. I was immediately taken by the cover that jumped out at me on the discount table. I had a quick flick through the 420 pages and immediately justified buying it (less than the cost of a magazine).
Fabulous photography and beautifully typeset, this is a fabulous read for women of all ages. No matter how interested in beauty products you are, you’ll find plenty to devour, and build a mental shopping list of must try products - from cheap and cheerful to luxe. For me, this was a nostalgic walk down memory lane.
Whilst I am very fond of high end skincare and makeup, particularly those that have stood the test of time, I am also fascinated by products with cult status that quite literally make me wretch (*Angel perfume).
Do yourself a favour and grab this 2016 book if you can find it!
Being an Aussie, I was unfamiliar with author Sali Hughes, but now I feel like she was one of my teenage besties!
With honest and interesting reviews on over 200 *iconic* beauty products, I guarantee you will have heard of many of them. Reading through this each night, with a big smile on my face, I enjoyed EVERY page. Invoking memories of childhood beach holidays (glorious coconut scented tanning oil), Granny’s expensive beauty products, cheap teen ‘cool’ makeup to iconic marketing campaigns - this book had all the feels. It was like rereading an high school diary or looking through family photo albums through the generations.
Pretty Iconic makes me realise the power of advertising and just how much clever marketing and product placement influences buying decisions.
I am, after all, a beauty product tragic.
I would have denied this vehemently a week ago!
Now for some international online shopping!
I NEED a Kent handmade comb to match my treasured Mason Pearson brush.
And where can I find quality 1980s bath oil beads?
It’s so nice to find products online now that ship to Australia - much better than waiting for a friend or relative to go overseas.
Fun, hey!
Thank you Sali Hughes for such a delightful read.
I’ll treasure this book for a long time.
October 23, 2018
A fabulous look at the products that shaped a fellow 40 something
Sali Hughes does beauty. She knows everything about beauty, and everyone in the beauty business. She knows that every Saturday, thousands of women turn to her beauty column in the Guardian. They hang on her every word, and so does the industry.
We hang on Sali’s every word because she is funny, knowledgeable, and never forgets that beauty is precious. Beauty products marks the passage of our lives, from spot cream to creme de la mer. People choose to see or ignore us on the basis of how we look, whether we are teenagers or senior citizens. And Sali knows that we don’t have time or money to mess about. We want results, and to present the best possible version of ourselves.
And that is what Sali celebrates in this book. Sali’s roughly my age, and she documents our generation’s lives in products: the best of the new crop circa 2016, and the products she saved up for or pinched from her mum when she was growing up or running away, or starting out as a journalist.
Part memoir, part guide to the best beauty products of the last century, it is a funny, insightful, joyful look at a life lived through beauty. It includes lovely anecdotes: the power of a perfect red lipstick when her friend Carey was terminally ill, and how Revlon got her enough so everyone at Carey’s funeral could take her signature red lipstick home. There are many more.
It is, in every way, a beautiful book. If you love beauty, you really will love this book.
Sali Hughes does beauty. She knows everything about beauty, and everyone in the beauty business. She knows that every Saturday, thousands of women turn to her beauty column in the Guardian. They hang on her every word, and so does the industry.
We hang on Sali’s every word because she is funny, knowledgeable, and never forgets that beauty is precious. Beauty products marks the passage of our lives, from spot cream to creme de la mer. People choose to see or ignore us on the basis of how we look, whether we are teenagers or senior citizens. And Sali knows that we don’t have time or money to mess about. We want results, and to present the best possible version of ourselves.
And that is what Sali celebrates in this book. Sali’s roughly my age, and she documents our generation’s lives in products: the best of the new crop circa 2016, and the products she saved up for or pinched from her mum when she was growing up or running away, or starting out as a journalist.
Part memoir, part guide to the best beauty products of the last century, it is a funny, insightful, joyful look at a life lived through beauty. It includes lovely anecdotes: the power of a perfect red lipstick when her friend Carey was terminally ill, and how Revlon got her enough so everyone at Carey’s funeral could take her signature red lipstick home. There are many more.
It is, in every way, a beautiful book. If you love beauty, you really will love this book.
June 5, 2022
This book features not only an almost encyclopaedic array of beauty products from past and present, but it’s accompanied by Sali’s down to earth and witty text. Some of the featured products brought back a lot of memories for me, anyone else have a hair disaster after using Sun-In or lament the loss of the little pots of Bourjois eye shadow and blusher?
Some other reviewers have commented on the original price of the book (I picked my copy up second hand), but I would argue that even at full price, it is worth every penny for Sali’s advice alone, you’re getting expert advice and tips from a well renowned pro for a snip!
It’s worth noting that this isn’t a list of the author’s favourite products, in fact, some of the items featured are not her favourites at all, but as she explains, they are included because they ignite memories, created a buzz and were stand alone products of their time.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading about Matey bubble bath, Vosene shampoo and Constance Carroll pressed powder amongst others!
Some other reviewers have commented on the original price of the book (I picked my copy up second hand), but I would argue that even at full price, it is worth every penny for Sali’s advice alone, you’re getting expert advice and tips from a well renowned pro for a snip!
It’s worth noting that this isn’t a list of the author’s favourite products, in fact, some of the items featured are not her favourites at all, but as she explains, they are included because they ignite memories, created a buzz and were stand alone products of their time.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading about Matey bubble bath, Vosene shampoo and Constance Carroll pressed powder amongst others!
April 24, 2020
Super well-written complete with allusions to French literature, entertaining, and educational. I'm not the type of person to read beauty blogs or magazines, though I do appreciate good quality products and like to take care of my skin with an array of masks, peels, and serums. However, I bought this book because it's hard to know which beauty products are actually worthwhile when there are soooo many claiming to work the same exact wonders out there, and I'm tired of having to test things out and learn by trial and error when someone has already done all the work (the writer writes in true journalistic fashion and claims to receive around 2000 products a year to test). While reading this, I took many notes of which products to try and look forward to comparing reviews on the Sephora website. I appreciate that the writer also provides alternative product options for people with different skin and hair types than hers, as well as bargain options.
May 19, 2020
Sali Hughes is one of the last remaining beauty editors that I still trust not to be swayed by PR packages, gimmicks and trends. She is the best of her class in terms of authenticity, consistency, ethics and expertise. She has ample experience working in the beauty industry, and therefore isn't as easily swayed by the latest fads and flashy brands. Further, she has impeccable taste and an appreciation from craftsmanship, quality and heritage at a time when the young thing line up to replace our beloved brands.
This book is THE handbook to take with you to the department store, the definitive guide to the best of the best (or the notorious!). From fragrance to skincare, makeup to hair care, gadgets and body products, the book covers them all. Published relatively recently, it is up-to-date and features upcoming brands that are only now starting to take off.
If I could, I would buy each item on Sali's lists and mark them off one by one.
This book is THE handbook to take with you to the department store, the definitive guide to the best of the best (or the notorious!). From fragrance to skincare, makeup to hair care, gadgets and body products, the book covers them all. Published relatively recently, it is up-to-date and features upcoming brands that are only now starting to take off.
If I could, I would buy each item on Sali's lists and mark them off one by one.
March 21, 2022
The joy of reading this book lies in the author's descriptive writing. I loved how she described the scent of perfume and the bright, bold shades of lipstick. The way she wrote down the memories of her childhood intermingled with the products found at her local drugstore also resonated with me because they were vivid, enchanting and fun. But I wish that there were more pictures. Some products just had articles with no pictures so I had no idea how they looked like. This inconsistency reduced my enjoyment of reading somewhat.
Also, I did not recognize many of the brands so this reduced my ability to relate to this book. It's a book about beauty written from a British standpoint so if you are British, you may be able to recognize certain products and enjoy this book even more.
For a beauty lover, I probably won't recommend it because of the lack of photos and illustrations for a number of products. At this price, you could get better coffee table books.
Also, I did not recognize many of the brands so this reduced my ability to relate to this book. It's a book about beauty written from a British standpoint so if you are British, you may be able to recognize certain products and enjoy this book even more.
For a beauty lover, I probably won't recommend it because of the lack of photos and illustrations for a number of products. At this price, you could get better coffee table books.
March 11, 2018
No one writes about beauty quite like Sali Hughes. I was a late adopter to the beauty world in general and didn't start using make up any sort of regularity until my late twenties. However Hughes writes about beauty in a way which makes me want to try everything she recommends, which is such a rarity for me. Often I'm not quite sold just because someone says I should give it a go. But I also enjoy that Hughes writes about products in a way that seems really honest and not just PR spin. A lot of beauty editors have a firm rule of never speaking badly about a product but Hughes speaks up if she doesn't see the fuss about something or if she thinks something is a bad idea or problematic. I also likes that she calls companies out for not being inclusive to people of color. We need more beauty editors like her.
June 30, 2019
I really really enjoyed this book. Sali Hughes is a beauty writer, with a regular column in The Guardian. In this book, she talked about iconic beauty products - past, present, and future - and what made them so special. A lot of it is her opinion, of course, but it was still interesting to read about how a lot of the products had come to be recognizable to almost everyone. Her commentary was also enjoyable, since she is honest in her opinions, but then she backed up her thoughts in reasonable ways.
Some of the products are clearly only ones that had been/are available in England, but most were recognizable. And some were like being reminded of old friends you forgot existed - Bonne Bell Lip Smackers, or Yardley products to name a couple.
The chapters are short and each deals with an individual product. I had fun reading this book.
Some of the products are clearly only ones that had been/are available in England, but most were recognizable. And some were like being reminded of old friends you forgot existed - Bonne Bell Lip Smackers, or Yardley products to name a couple.
The chapters are short and each deals with an individual product. I had fun reading this book.
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