Drop-Dead Gorgeous: Protecting Yourself from the Hidden Dangers of Cosmetics

by Kim Erickson

Our preoccupation with beauty is a fascination that the cosmetic industry has parlayed into a 28 billion dollar a year industry. They offer products that claim to deliver youthful skin and luxurious... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0658017934
• ISBN13: 9780658017933
• Release Date: March 2002
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Companies
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

5 Stars!

I really liked this book. It has a lot of information on why certain products are bad and alternative products you can buy. I also tried many of the recipes you can make on your own and have had great success with all of them! Definitely worth buying!

Great Eye-Opener

Anyone that uses any beauty products must read this book!

Toxic vs. Healthy: Choose Your Beauty Products

Drop-Dead Gorgeous provides the beginning of a journey to protect your health from corporate-owned/manufactured beauty products that expose consumers to cancer-causing chemicals. At issue is the desire to enhance beauty with cosmetics versus toxic contamination to the individual as well as the environment. Well-researched by environmental journalist, Kim Erickson, the book presents the shocking information of the chemical poisoning of consumers by a large percentage of products sold by the beauty industry. In a succinct manner, Drop-Dead Gorgeous allows for the full impact of the facts without the drudgery of technical jargon. Happily, the majority of the book does not linger in the serious and potentially overwhelming condition of the cosmetics counter; Erickson quickly moves to solutions and arranges her selection of options harmoniously. As the Founder/Director of HerbNetwork.com, I have the opportunity to read and review a large volume of Natural Beauty Books. Drop-Dead Gorgeous offers simple recipes, having an average of three-five ingredients, creating user-friendly, natural products including shampoos, rinse, hair colors, skin creams and bath oils. Delightfully, Erickson continues with her logic since she does not stop with just recipes! She offers a shopping guide! Because frankly, how many women (or men) have time to create their own kitchen cosmetics? Each section of the book relates to a specific body area. Looking at hair care, for example, this chapter contains background information on problems such as dandruff or hazardous shampoo ingredients as well as solutions that include a listing of recipes for shampoos, conditioners, natural colors/dyes, dandruff treatments, rinses, styling gels and even hair spray! The smart shopping guide allows busy women ( & men) to choose healthful products off the shelves of the beauty sections of their local stores. The listing includes beauty manufacturing companies as well as an index of applicable products. This feature allows the reader to put their new awareness into action immediately! Once you have read Drop-Dead Gorgeous, there is no going back to ignorant consumerism in the beauty department of your local store. If you are so inclined, Erickson provides information to become an activist regarding this industry. Sample protest letters as well as addresses of some dominate beauty industry companies simplify the process of confronting the immoral corporations with the issues facing 21st century beauty product consumers and how your intention to boycott their products impacts their bottom-line. If you prefer upbeat letter writing or you want to have a greater selection of beauty products, you will be pleased to find a listing of Environmentally-friendly non-corporate companies that produce a variety of natural products. I confidently recommend Kim Erickson's Drop-Dead Gorgeous for anyone who has ever washed his or her hair.

overdue, and excellent

There is a ton of useful and interesting information in this book (albeit alarming! how can i look at my make-up drawer the same way?) Not only is the reader given insights into just what the heck some of those funky chemical names on your foundation jar really are and what they can do to you, but there's a good mix of history, and most especially lots of practical "recipes" for homemade concoctions that do just as well or better as the high-priced and toxic gunk out there. I've tried two of the recipes already and really like them! Plus, my bio-tech-oriented husband says that the science/research behind this book appears quite sound. Though some of this material may sound familiar to better-read watchdogs of the world of cosmetics, this book stands out for its breadth and depth of material in one place. It's clear the author didn't want to just jump on a bashing bandwagon, but cares about what people do to their bodies. (And, understands the desire to look good!) Not a "light" read by any means, but buy it and learn a lot! Better yet, give some to your gal pals - they'll thank you for the wake-up call.

This is a book I'll use for years to come!

All those chemicals listed on the itty-bitty labels are suppose to inform consumers - hah! This book really tells you what's in your cosmetics and how they can be hazardous to your health. Packed with healthy, natural alternatives like cosmetic recipes and smart shopping lists, the book is a terrific resource for natural beauty, not only for myself, but for my teenage daughter.