Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for a honest review. I promise my review is 100% accurate to me.

Reminds me of old school film strips in the best possible ways. I found it informative and the advice is age appropriate. I do wish there were more images as some people are visual learners and may not get as much out of the book.

This was a great guide to applying makeup for beginners. I know barely anything about makeup and always struggled with how to apply it. It turns out I was using the wrong things and method of application for my skin type and tone. There is a lot to learn about face shape and details of makeup application. I liked the way it was organized from first layer to last. I like how it explained the purpose of each kind of makeup and which to buy based on your skin tone, type, and what look you are trying to achieve. The application instructions were very thorough and easy to understand. The only thing I think would have helped is putting pictures of eye shape and face shape to help get a better idea of what shape yours actually is. Overall I highly recommend this book for those wanting to learn more about makeup. This is like a makeup bible!!

Admittedly, I was not very impressed. This is a book about learning how to do makeup - a very visual activity. Yet there are no illustrations or photographs to explain the points made. In fact, there are only unrelated stock photos (e.g., of someone using a face mask in the section about makeup powders).

The tone is supposed to be friendly - each chapter tries to personalize the experience by pretending they are giving you a knowledgeable bestie who explains the process. But it comes across as fake - as in a trip to uncanny valley. By the third chapter, it was a cringe fest that was hard not to wince at while reading - an overidealized version of how women speak? Even odder, the intended audience is professional 20+ year olds and not teens.

There are some ok tips in there but so much was hard to understand without photos. E.g., a point about drawing a triangle under your eye for concealer making all the difference was VERY hard to follow or understand. Some photos showing before and after would have made all the difference.

There are better books out there to understand how to do makeup. This felt too much like an inexpensive attempt to put a quick product out there. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

I’m pretty sure this book was written by AI. It’s a very strange book where each chapter starts with a few paragraph story about a young woman who recently broke up with her boyfriend and has a new job in makeup. She knows nothing about the subject and some employee will come up to her and comment on something she’s done wrong and then give encouragement and a few words of wisdom. Then there will be lists of information in bullet points.

The little intro paragraphs remind me of a cross between bad porn dialog and Magic Treehouse children’s chapter books. Ivy is invariably mortified and embarrassed at how she’s done some makeup area like her blush and then one of the mentors teases her with lips curled up in a knowing smile and is exactly what Ivy needs right now.

There are virtually no photos or illustrations, which makeup books absolutely need. There are a few stock photos but they’re not even of makeup looks or related to the sections they’re in. The end section gives a list of web references exactly the way AI does when you give it a prompt to write something and give references.

I would recommend reading a sample of the book to see if it’s a good fit for you.

I read a digital ARC of this book via netgalley.

Whether you’re a total novice or just in need of a refresher, Makeup Tips for Beginners by Eddy Twice is a super approachable and surprisingly comprehensive guide. While it’s geared toward preteens just starting to explore makeup, I found it really helpful as a more mature makeup user looking to brush up on techniques and correct old habits ( and remind me to wash my makeup brushes!)

The format is one of my favorite things about this book — each chapter starts with a little narrative about a beginner making common makeup mistakes, and then an expert swoops in to offer tips and corrections. It made the whole thing feel friendly and non-judgmental, like getting advice from a big sister or a kind pro at a makeup counter. The rest of the chapter is bullet points making for quick easy reading.

One of the highlights for me was the section on face shapes and skin tones. After uploading some photos into an AI tool and learning I have a cool tone and oval face shape, I was able to zoom in on the most relevant tips. I appreciated the product layering guidance (sunscreen comes last!), and the advice on powders, concealers, and how to blend, contour and where to add bronzer.

If you’re intimidated by YouTube tutorials, too old for TikTok or just want a no-fuss, back-to-basics guide with a fun and encouraging tone, this is a great pick. It would make a great gift for a young makeup enthusiast, but honestly, there’s value here for anyone looking to refine their routine.

This beginner’s guide is like getting advice from a calm, encouraging friend who genuinely wants you to feel confident in your own skin. Inspired by The Makeup Girl, it’s more than just a how-to—it’s a gentle reminder that makeup is about enhancing what’s already there, not hiding it.

The step-by-step breakdown is super easy to follow, even if you’ve never picked up a brush in your life. From figuring out the basics to nailing the application, Eddy keeps things simple and approachable. It's not heavy on product-pushing or overwhelming jargon, which I appreciated.

Would I recommend it to a pro? Probably not. But for beginners or anyone feeling lost in the beauty aisle? Absolutely. Bonus points for the empowering tone that makes it feel less about perfection and more about play.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This non fiction book presents itself as the definitive guide to makeup for absolute beginners. It is aimed at empowering young adults with the knowledge to confidently decide what type of makeup makes them confident. Interwoven through the tips is the story of a young woman starting work at a makeup company, taken from a romance novel written by the same author.

The book starts by presenting the different makeup tools and their uses and defining some basic terminology. The first chapter delves into skin types and skincare routines. Chapter 2 focuses on foundation, chapter 3 is about concealer, chapter 4 talks about powder, chapter 5 deals with blush, chapter 6 is on bronzer and contour, chapter 7 talks about highlight and glow, chapter 8 is about eyebrows, chapter 9 is on eye shadow, chapter 10 focuses on eyeliner, chapter 11 is about mascara, chapter 12 deals with lip colour. Chapter 13 focuses on putting it all together, with an easy daytime makeup routine. Chapter 14 presents some special occasion makeup looks. Finally, chapter 15 deals with makeup care and maintenance All the chapters start with a scene from the novel then present the product, tips, do's and don'ts and advice for teen skin.

I found the advice in this book to be very well presented and think it would be very helpful to teens interested in wearing makeup but not sure where to start. I personally didn't find that the scenes from the novel added anything to the book, but perhaps they might feel more relatable to a teen.

A recommended read for teens looking for makeup advice or people wanting to learn basic makeup skills.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was intrigued by a makeup guidebook, but this was not at all what I expected. It seemed to feature quotes from another book that inspired this guidebook, and it read very oddly. Without pictures, it was hard to follow what exactly was being recommended most of the time.