Dr. and Mrs. Guinea Pig Present The Only Guide You'll Ever Need to the Best Anti-Aging Treatments

A comprehensive self-help guide that gives readers the lowdown on the full spectrum of options for maintaining a youthful appearance.

Plastic surgeon Terry Dubrow (The Acne Cure, 2003) of E!’s TV series Botched and Good Work, and his wife, Heather, an actress and cast member of Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Orange County, offer a comprehensive beauty and anti-aging manual. The book progresses from the least to most drastic approaches to enhancing one’s appearance. Early chapters, for example, offer preventative and reparative advice on makeup, hair care, and skin care; one explains the common ingredients in skin care products, detailing the conditions for which each is suited. From there, the focus shifts to noninvasive aesthetic treatments, such as facials and dermal fillers, and then to plastic surgery. The book clearly outlines the benefits and limitations of each procedure and offers detailed suggestions about choosing a doctor and what to expect during recovery. The final section synthesizes the preceding information to address specific conditions or concerns, ranking topical and nonsurgical treatments according to efficacy and risk. This guide assumes that readers will be familiar with both authors as television personalities and benefits from a conversational, approachable prose style. The information presented is clear and concise and will be valuable to anyone looking to treat or prevent the telltale signs of growing older. The authors advocate a pared-down approach to makeup, but the early sections might have been strengthened by some basic tutorials in this area, including photos or illustrations. Still, the book’s candid discussion of which well-known products and procedures simply don’t work is useful, as are its product recommendations, which range from drugstore bargains to high-end merchandise. It even includes several lesser-known Korean and Japanese brands now available stateside, highlighting an emerging trend in beauty and skin care. Overall, the Dubrows present a refreshing, less-is-more perspective on maintaining a youthful appearance and have crafted a solid information resource.

A useful, accessible primer for readers hoping to keep themselves looking their best.