It’s no secret that women have identity issues. Fashion changes by the week and beauty is becoming defined in narrower and narrower terms. Wholesome beauty is being replaced by plastic and women are left trying to get themselves out of the widening “ugly” category. The first section of Beauty Secrets from the Bible explores this problem while encouraging women to develop their relationship with God—the source of true beauty. Readers are encouraged to understand what Biblical beauty means.
While researching ancient beauty rituals for a novel, Ginger Garrett found out that our ancestors loved makeup just as much as we do. Nefertiti and Cleopatra were famous Egyptian queens noted for their beauty. And who can forget the legendary of Queen Esther that won her the crown?
Garrett explores the ancient culture of beauty, offering healthy alternatives to the chemical-laden products that are sold today. Breaking the ingredients into easy to understand terms, she shows just what is being put into modern cosmetics. Many modern products contain chemicals that can actually cause the problem that they are advertised to fix! The ancient products that Garrett explains how to make are all safe, user-friendly and inexpensive.
I found this book to be very eye-opening. For years, I had heard about what was in makeup bottles but dismissed it as folk lore. After reading Beauty Secrets, I was challenged to start thinking about what I put on my skin. Instead of slathering lotions that contain harsh chemicals to “moisturize” my face, I’m starting to reach for the aloe vera. Instead of doing on a crash diet after the holidays, I’m eating until I’m satisfied (not full) so that I won’t have to worry about gaining a few extra pounds.
While Garrett avoids being preachy, she does make many good points about our modern ideals on beauty. The appendix offers websites for readers who want to put some of these recipes into practice. Most of the ingredients can be found at the local grocery store or Wal-Mart.
I would highly recommend this book to any woman who has ever felt “ugly”. True beauty comes from within and this book is a gentle reminder of that oft forgotten fact.
Review By:
Caitlin Muir
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