REVIEW: The Makeup Mandate

Ever felt frustrated putting on makeup? Felt overwhelmed with decisions on what products to buy, which are good for you and which aren't? If you find yourself in a dilemma like that, reach out for books that will help guide you and make the makeup world fun!

A book i find extremely useful is called The Makeup Mandate. It is created and written by australian makeup artist Cassandra Rae Ferguson. She specifically created and design this book "to take the myth and mystery out of makeup application, without being dictatorial.

Who is Cassandra?
Cassandra Rae Ferguson is a Freelance Makeup Artist and Beauty Editor with a wealth of knowledge and experience. She has worked with some of Australia's best fashion designers, stylists, filmographers and photographers in the Fashion, Television/Film and Bridal Industries. In addition, Cassandra has been consulted for her expert advice in fashion and bridal magazines, ezines and women's forums. Cassandra studies Makeup Artistry in Sydney, before gaining experience throughout Australia. She currently lives and works in Sydney, Australia.

♥ The Makeup Mandate ♥

This book offers a ton of information to help you create different makeup looks that match you features and accentuate your natural beauty, while you enjoy and have fun with the experience. It's basically like a makeup course that contains expert advice, trade tips, secrets and step-by-step instructions. In many other makeup books, it assumes you already know the basics, but this is easy and comprehensible for beginners and its applies easily to everyone. In the book, Cassandra pays little attention to the labels and stereotypes. She encourages the reader to discover their own style, rather than just following trends dictated by others. The Makeup Mandate offers plenty of useful information to readers of all ages, ethnicity and lifestyles.

My personal opinion...
I think its an amazing book. It's written very clearly and simple. She offers some very helpful hints and ideas that you can use to make other entire makeup experience fun. Cassandra has sketches included that would make it easier to understand her description. There are pictures of products she mentions (eg, brushes, tools, etc.) that help the reader understand better. It offers alot of detailed information that is stretched out in about 22 chapters.
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What do the chapters talk about?

1. Introduction is talking about the madate ideology.
2. Second chapter is letting you discover your style. It's called Fun,Not Forceful.
3. Tools Of The Trade offers a basic checklist of equipment that makeup artists often use. She goes on explaining in detail what each product is used for in a kit and offers helpful tips.
4. Face Facts focuses on facial structure. She basically gives you a "map" to the face, so you can learn to follow instructions later on in the book.
5. Skin Deep is the chapter that talks about preparing your skin for makeup - very important step.
6. First Base helps guide you through every form of foundation and powder application, including tips and tricks.
7. Shape up explains in great detail each facial shape, pictures of models and sketches included, so you know how and what parts of your face to contour and highlight.
8. Light And Shade teaches you tips on how to highlight and contour your face to make it look natural.
9. Blushing Beauty helps you enhance your cheeks. She talks about various types of blushes (powder, creams. etc) and ways to make them look natural and gorgeous.
10. The Eyes Have It. This chapter helps you define your eyes, depending on the type of eyes you have. This chapter is very detailed and includes sketches of different eye shapes and sizes. It goes on talking about eyeshadows and everything that includes eye makeup and eyebrows and eyelashes.
11. Pucker Up focuses on the low-down on lips. She offers suggestions and hints that are very helpful when it comes to various lip shapes and enhancing what you have.
12. Balancing Act helps with eye and lip combination. It offers advice and suggestions on how to balance eye and lip makeup to make enhance your unique features. (pictures included)
13. Tint Test talks about color in makeup. It teaches you to be more confident when it comes to be more dearing and wear more colorful makeup. I personally think this is the most helpful chapter that really explains in detail everything you need to know about using color.
14. Come To The Surface simply explains the texture of makeup.
15. Money Talk and it talks about Makeup on a Budget. She kindly gives you advice on what makeup is necesarry to spend more money on than others. This list is very helpful if your on a tight budget and don't know where to spend your money on more.
16. Speedy Recovery talks about makeup on the go. This chapter gives you ideas on which products you can use to still achieve amazing looks when your time is stretched.
17. Use By gives you information of the life expectancy of makeup. This guide is very helpful to know how long you can use your products for.
18. Advanced Adornment is about makeup for mature faces. I think adding this chapter in the book is extremely useful and thoughtful. All makeup books offer modern day makeup for young girls, so this is very nice to have for the more mature ladies.
19. Fountain Of Youth focuses on makeup for young girls, which basically tells you that less is more for teen makeup.
20. A Man's World is focused (obviously) on makeup for men. I think this is extremely useful if you plan to be involved in television/film makeup industry. It's basic, but useful.
21. Perfection V's Picturesque is a very nice chapter talking about your natural beauty and giving you a boost of confidence.
22. Makeup Method gives you step-by-step guides. It offers details of different makeup looks and ways to achieve them. Includes list of what you need, steps, picture and sketches.

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Additional Information
Cassandra Rae Ferguson has two additional books which are Makeup Mandate or Myth? ($9.95) or The Makeup Artists Mandate ($14.95). I think they're very affordable, especially for the amount of great information that you get. The one i mentioned in this post, The Makeup Mandate is $14.95.
You can check out her website www.cassandraraeferguson.com.au
Or visit her blog called Makeup Eutopia

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Disclaimer: I was contacted by Cassandra Rae Ferguson and sent a free ebook copy of her first book to review.
My opinion is honest and true about what i think of it.