Monday, July 26, 2010

BABUSHKA'S BEAUTY SECRETS: REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY ENDED
BABUSHKA'S BEAUTY SECRETS

OLD WORLD TIPS FOR A
GLAMOROUS NEW YOU
BY RAISA RUDER
AND SUSAN CAMPOS


ABOUT THE BOOK:

DON'T SPEND A FORTUNE TO LOOK FLAWLESS
Esthetician to the stars Raisa Ruder learned her time-tested beauty techniques from her Ukrainian grandmother (or babushka, as they say in the old country). Now everyone can discover the all-natural, better-than-botox secrets the Hollywood stars use to shine on the red carpet! Ruder reveals her sought-after beauty recipes that can fight wrinkles, plump lips, and eliminate crow's feet and acne, using inexpensive, everyday grocery items like eggs, honey, vegetable oil and strawberries (and a splash of vodka for freshness!).

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Raisa Ruder was a registered nurse in her native Ukraine when she decided to move to the United States fifteen years ago. For seven years she worked at the famed Anastasia salon doing eyebrows and facials until opening her own West Hollywood salon in 2005. She noticed the large amount of preservatives in American products and decided to introduce her Babushka's old world beauty recipes in her salon. She quickly became LA's go-to-girl. Her clients include: Madonna,Tyra Banks, Molly Simms, Ali Larter, Nicolette Sheridan and others.

Susan Campos is a broadcast and print journalist. She is a former anchor for the national weekend edition of Today. She's reported for Dateline and hosted numerous entertainment shows on MSNBC. She currently writes trend stories on beauty for The New York Times' "Styles" section and its T Magazine, and is a contributing editor for Radar Magazine.

MY REVIEW:

BABUSHKA’S BEAUTY SECRETS: OLD WORLD TIPS FOR A GLAMOROUS NEW YOU by Raisa Ruder and Susan Campos is an entertaining book for everyone who wants to save money, help the planet stay green, and beautify themselves all at the same time with easy to follow tips and ideas. The book’s ideas come from Ruder’s Ukrainian grandmother, or Bubushka as they are known in Ukraine. Ruder is an esthetician to many big name stars in Hollywood and she learned that these beauty practices have been used successfully over time.

The parts of the book are enjoyably presented in a quaint and convincing way and have several lists of advice to go by. The list of “Must-Have Tools” to have on hand include wash cloths, bottles, and measuring cups and spoons. To go along with that there is the top ten “Must-Have Ingredients” as well as the ‘wonder’ ingredient of vodka that gives ten things it can be used for practically other than for drinking.

The book also includes ways to save money and some recipes to make that are easy to follow and use. There are recipes for milk bubble baths and soap as well as how soufflés can be created to plump up the face for that important night on the town. I can’t make good soufflés to eat so doubt that is one I will try. Other recipes are a bit easier and included are for homemade remedies and beauty supplies that concentrate on your eyes, lips, hair, hands, feet, and your body. There is a chapter on waxing and shaving tips and even ideas about how to make your own shaving cream and how to get rid of ingrown hairs and prevent further growth.

In a chapter titled “One-Ingredient Wonders!” readers learn how they can use just one item to create a wonderful beauty secret. Think of blueberries or strawberries that make a mask for the face instead of botox and other expensive, dangerous remedies. I was even surprised the other day when my book buddy, Ms. M, the dog, came home from the groomer smelling like yummy blueberries only to find that she had been given a blueberry mask while there! Household leftovers like eggshells and coffee grounds can be used and that helps the environment as well as your looks as they are recycled into recipes!

A few of the remedies were not something I would try but to each his own. I thought about making my feet feel better after a long day of walking and standing in fancy dress heels. The remedy here is to rub Vick’s VapoRub on your feet and put on socks before getting in bed. I don’t think my feet could ever feel bad enough to want to put up with that smell nor would anyone else in my bedroom think it was a good idea…including Ms. M! I did like the idea of massaging the lips with a mixture of apple and butter for five minutes before bed. It wasn’t hard to do and they did feel much softer in the morning.
Mashed bananas are recommended for the dark circles under your eyes as well as scrubbing your body with a mixture of rolled oats, brown sugar, aloe, and lemon juice.

Vitamin E and olive oil are used in a myriad of ways including working on stretch marks. I did recently try the egg white facial mask and it did leave my skin tight and firm to the touch and came off very easily. On top of that, my husband got extra yolks in his scrambled eggs the next day! Overall, the books is well written with sound advice in an entertaining way that makes it an easy read as well as gives you some useful, inexpensive things to try.


GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO ANNA AND THE GOOD
PEOPLE AT HACHETTE BOOK GROUP,
I HAVE TWO COPIES OF THIS
HELPFUL, FUN BOOK TO GIVE AWAY



--U.S. AND CANADIAN RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES
---INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
IN CASE YOU WIN!
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE TO
COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE!
HOW TO ENTER:

+1 ENTRY:
COMMENT ON WHY YOU WANT TO WIN THIS BOOK AND WHAT BEAUTY SECRET YOU HOPE IT MIGHT TALK ABOUT

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON IF YOU FOLLOW MY BLOG AND HOW

+1 MORE ENTRY:
COMMENT ON IF YOU SUBSCRIBE VIA EMAIL TO MY BLOG


+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND COME BACK AND LEAVE A LINK

GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
6 PM, EST, AUGUST 9!

48 comments:

holdenj said...

I think with today's focus on eco friendly items, finding some everyday products to use in a different way would be great!
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

I am a GFC follower.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

what a lovely giveaway. Skin care for all seasons interests me. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I am an e-mail subscriber. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

Teresa said...

I agree with the previous poster, there are so many bad things in the products that we use. I look forward to some natural alternatives.

teresasreadingcorner at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

Hi! I think this book would be helpful and interesting at the same. I would like to learn about different ways and products of beauty. I hope they talk about witch hazel and its properties. :)

Connie
connie_bryant@hotmail.com

chey said...

I'm hoping to find some hair treatments.

chey127 at hotmail dot com

chey said...

I follow by gfc.

chey said...

I subscribe by yahoo reader.

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Pamela Keener said...

I love home recipes for beauty & would love to learn more.
I must say that to me growing up in a Slovak family I am really interested in this book. Also Babushka was referred to a scarf that you put on your head prior to entering church or perhaps that was just my Grammy's term.
Love & Hugs, Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I follow your blog via GFC & Google reader.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I subscribe via e-mail to Bookin with Bingo.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

+4 Swagbucks.
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Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Allison said...

I'd love an easy homemade face mask recipe!

allisonsbj3(at)gmail(dot)com

Allison said...

Blog follower (email)

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Allison said...

Email subscriber

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Melody said...

I need all the help I can get. I hope it talks about ance.

melodyj(at)gmail
(dot)com

Charleydog said...

I would like to win this book to find a secret to those lines around the mouth. Can't afford the $$ cosmetics.

Please enter my name in the giveaway for the book. Thanks!

pboylecharley AT hotmail DOT com

Amy said...

I would be interested in tips on skin care for women approaching menopause.

Amy said...

I follow your blog on Blogger

Unknown said...

I would love to win this book to learn natural beauty secrets as most products nowadays you have no idea what the ingredients are and how harmful they are to you. One secret I would love to learn is something about a homemade moisturizer.

thriftycanucks@gmail.com

Unknown said...

tweeted
http://twitter.com/thriftycanucks/status/19822678637

thriftycanucks@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I follow via GFC as Thrifty Canucks

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Unknown said...

I subscribe via email
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Unknown said...

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Shirley said...

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Anonymous said...

I want to enter this because I really need this book and have money for expensive cosmetics.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I am an e-mail subscriber to this blog.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I am a GFC follower of this blog.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Sarah said...

I would love to read this book and woulf love some tips on homemade beauty items:)

foxchick0323@live.com

Sarah said...

I follow via google

foxchick0323@live.com

Sarah said...

I am a email subscriber.

foxchick0323@live.com

Tooba said...

i tweeted the contest. http://twitter.com/Writaholic901
enter me please!!!!

Pam S (pams00) said...

I think finding eco friendly wallet friendly tips/solutions would be great. Would love something for breakouts and dark circles under the eyes.

Pam S
pams00 @ aol.com

Pam S (pams00) said...

GFC follower (pams00), twitter (pams00), facebook fan (Pamela Sinclair)

Pam S
pams00@aol.com

Pam S (pams00) said...

i also subscribe via email (lol so greatful u offer this option as I don't fair to well with the readers)

Pam S
pams00@aol.com

Pam S (pams00) said...

tweeted:
https://twitter.com/pams00/status/20447914574

Pam S
pams00@aol.com

Jolee said...

I would like to read this because it sounds like a cool reference for both inexpensive and readily available beauty care. joleehamlin [at] comcast [dot] net

Jolee said...

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Jolee said...

Follow on email too. joleehamlin [at] comcast [dot] net

Shirley said...

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Christine H said...

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Jeff said...

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degood said...

I want to win this book because I like the idea of using ingredients i have around the house instead of buying expensive chemical formulas that might not work anyway. I have really dry elbows so I wonder if there is somethign in the book that talks about how to soften them.

kerrie@mayansfamily.com

Andrea I said...

I'm interested in acne treatments.


andrea.infinger@gmail.com

Andrea I said...

GFC Follower

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Andrea I said...

Subscribe via e mail.

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