“Ageless Beauty is for all women and teens of multiple ethnicities who want to look great and take better care of their skin. Whether your skin color is chocolate, ivory, mocha, caramel or bronze, you should feel fabulous about yourself [and] look gorgeous every day…
Have fun learning how to bring out the attractive, appealing person you’ve dreamed about being. You’ll learn everything you want to know about skin, makeup, hairstyles and more…
YOU are awesome! YOU are wonderful! YOU were born beautiful! YOU are an Ageless Beauty!”
Excerpted from the Introduction (pgs. 2-3)
Given our blend of African, European and Native-American ancestry, black folks come in all shades and hues, and with a wide range of hair and skin types, too. Consequently, sisters can’t simply rely on the standard beauty products created for Caucasian women which fail to take into account the broad spectrum of black cosmetic needs.
Endeavoring to fill that void are Alfred Fornay and Yvonne Rose who have collaborated on an encyclopedic how-to tome addressing African-American concerns about everything from makeup and manicures to fragrances and facials. The accomplished authors are experts in the field, with Mr. Fornay being the former Manager of Ethnic Marketing at Clairol while Ms. Rose enjoyed a career as a model before serving as a fashion editor at several national publications.
The book shares both Do’s (“Drink 8 glasses of water daily.”) and Don’ts (“Don’t use petroleum jelly, cocoa butter, mineral oil or baby oil as a facial moisturizer.”), and a set of questions to determine your skin type, including “Does your skin feel greasy or slick?” and “What do your pores look like?”
Despite doling out definitive black beauty tips, the authors ultimately delve deeper than the superficial, such as a sobering reminder that “good looks must be accompanied by facial expressions that reveal warmth and sincere friendliness” because “a face that mirrors a warm and kindly personality has a vivacious quality far more desirable than mere beauty.”
Hear! Hear! Or should I say, See! See!
Ageless Beauty:
The Ultimate Skincare & Makeup Book for Women & Teens of Color
By Alfred Fornay and Yvonne Rose
Amber Books
Paperback
188 pages, Illustrated
ISBN: 0979097681
