To quote Paris Is Burning, reading is fundamental. To contribute our part, BeautyMatter gathered a list of new and upcoming publications that offer a deeper dive into the industry, from the evolution of aesthetics to fragrance history.
Skincare for Your Soul by Jude Chao, Mango Publishing Skincare as self-care isn’t a new concept, but Jude Chao, author of the blog Fifty Shades of Snail, and who is proclaimed as the “reigning queen of skincare,” brings in her own perspective on how to make beauty work for you beyond the product. Packaged in a beautifully illustrated hardcover, Skincare for Your Soul is a straightforward and accessible, K-beauty-inspired guide to crafting your own skincare routine, and managing stress, anxiety, and depression in the process.
The Scent of Empires: Chanel No. 5 and Red Moscow by Karl Schlögel, Polity Books Politics meets perfumes in historian Karl Schlögel’s recounting of 20th-century fragrance icons Chanel No. 5 and Red Moscow. The story for both begins in Tsarist Russia, where two French perfumers, Auguste Michel and Ernest Beaux, crafted fragrances in honour of Catherine the Great for the Romanov dynasty’s 300th anniversary. Beaux fled Russia during the Russian Revolution to France where he presented Coco Chanel with what was to become one of the best-selling fragrances of all time. Michel stayed and launched his version as Red Moscow for the Revolution’s 10th anniversary. Schlögel’s writing goes beyond the mere product and is a captivating historical account of the personal lives and political intrigue surrounding two perfumery legends.
The New Beauty: A Modern Look at Beauty, Culture, and Fashion by Kari Molvar, Gestalten A visual exploration of human beautification throughout history, this book is penned by The New York Times, Vogue, and The Wall Street Journal contributor Molvar. She traces the evolution of the beauty ideal, challenging gender through makeup, and the link between hairstyling and community building, to name a few. The publication includes interviews with the likes of Gucci’s global makeup artist Thomas de Kluyver, and Peter Philips, creative director of Christian Dior Makeup.
Beauty and the Best by Susan Routledge and Andrew Priestley, Writing Matters Publishing Owner of award-winning salon Finishing Touch Health & Beauty Clinic, international business consultant, and founder of the Beauty Directors Club, Susan Routledge sat down with 22 beauty success stories to offer their insight and advice to others pursuing a career in the industry. Contributors include movie makeup artist Katt Philipps, Mary Haworth Beauty Culture director Verity Davies, and skin specialist Jill Yvette Painter.
All Made Up: The Power and Pitfalls of Beauty Culture, from Cleopatra to Kim Kardashian by Rae Nudson, Beacon Press .Beauty, fashion, and pop-culture writer Rae Nudson takes a deep dive into the cultural impact of makeup, both on a personal and wider societal level in this upcoming summer release. Profiling famous women throughout history, from gay liberation activist Marsha P. Johnson to entrepreneur Madam C.J. Walker, Nudson unpacks the racial undertones of beauty standards, traces the shaping of identity through cosmetics, and highlights all the underlying factors which indicate that our relationship to makeup may be personal, but never fully independent.
