Your Beauty Mark: The Ultimate Guide to Eccentric Glamour

I am going to preface this with saying that I absolutely adore Dita Von Teese and I will likely gladly give my money over to whatever she puts out. She only signs her name to products of amazing quality, so I know I won't be disappointed (and I haven't been thus far!). Also, I first learned of Dita when I was a teenager, grappling with my own identity and the potential of what I could become. I latched onto Dita because she was a self-professed creation of glamour and class, rising from the ashes of her former self--blonde Heather Sweet from rural Michigan. I thought to myself, "If this is what she can do, then why can't I?" It didn't hurt that she personified a modern-day pinup look that I injected into my own life from the time I first laid eyes on a Bettie Page art rendering. I have long been fascinated by Dita Von Teese for so many reasons, not the least of which is how she crafts her signature look on a daily basis. As she points out in every interview I've ever read or seen of her, she is almost 100% DIY. She does her own hair and makeup almost all the time (save for the rare instance she gives herself over to the hands of a true artist and professional on a photo shoot), she serves as her own stylist rather than employing someone for the role, and she even dyes her own hair using box color. BOX COLOR, people! Amazing. So when I learned that she was putting out a book where she laid her secrets bare, I preordered that bad boy and waited for true wisdom to appear on my doorstep. I was not disappointed. This book is part-History book, part-memoir, and part-beauty bible. It covers such a wide range of topics, from hair to makeup to body modifications to diet and exercise. There are some area where I wish she would go into further detail, but honestly it's a matter of laziness because I can easily look up more information elsewhere. I'm just happy to have not a glimpse, but a real look into her world and routines. Not to mention the gorgeous photos scattered throughout! It took me two weeks to read this book, not because of its heftiness--it measured in at roughly 400 pages!!--but because I wanted to savor the experience. I would draw a bath, pour a glass of wine, light some candles, and read for about 45 minutes. I soaked in the bubble bath AND the knowledge that was pouring out this book ;) Seriously, though, I can't say enough good things about this book. To top it off, it's a BEAUTIFUL book that would look at home on any coffee table or vanity.

I really enjoyed every moment of this book, and instead of reading bits and pieces here and there, actually found myself reading this in its entirety, beginning to end. This was no small feat, at nearly 400 pages. I loved how packed this book was and spent a blissful couple of weeks reading some every evening. Highlights for me: tidbits about old Hollywood starlets and beauty rituals throughout time. There were interesting bios of current artists who Dita knows personally. I enjoyed learning about several of them and their own personal messages about style. I also appreciated how comprehensive this book felt! Dita really covered just about everything I could have asked for. I felt the only item noticeably absent was clothing...she seems to have set herself up to write a book on fashion somewhere down the line. Though, never fear, she does cover a bit on lingerie: bras, stockings, corsets, heels etc. I'm looking forward to trying out the exercises outlined in this book, and felt that the tutorials throughout the book included detailed instructions with good photos. I was happy to find specific brands called out, as I have been intensely curious on what specific beauty products she uses. Much to my dismay though, the one beauty item I really wanted specifics on, her favored eye shadow brands and palettes were never mentioned. She does give color guides for her choice of shades, she just doesn't list specific brands. There are great specifics given on her favorite red lipsticks, eyeliners, box hair-color, etc., though. In part I believe I enjoyed this book so much because I love Dita's overall aesthetic, and it matches up well with my own. I've been dying my own hair black for years and received much criticism for it not looking natural (though plenty of compliments, too), but Dita has reminded me how important it is to please yourself, not others. Highlights and ballyage aren't for everyone! Fake tans, skin bronzer, nude lips and white jeans just don't match everyone's style. The take-away here is not to trash anyone for their particular beauty choices, I think, but to encourage everyone to embrace what makes you, uniquely you! (Though that doesn't mean you are stuck with what you were born with!) I'm not going to start setting my hair in rollers every day quite yet... that's still for special occasions!... but I do find I am taking more pride in my appearance, and am enjoying a renewed sense of indulging my girli-ness. I believe that the overall voice heard here is that of Rose Apodaca, serving as Dita's interpreter, and initially I found her writing to be not as clear and concise as I usually prefer. However, once I got used to her voice, I really enjoyed myself. The personality of these two ladies feels as though it really comes through here. If you love all things beauty, I really believe you'll find this book worth every penny! I'm already looking forward to starting a second reading...

I finally gave in and ordered myself a copy. I checked this book out from the library years ago and absolutely loved it. Dita put a lot of work into this project and every detail in this book. It has lots of useful information in it and the photography throughout the book is absolutely stunning.

ボリュームたっぷりの大満足な写真集。ただし、他の方が書かれている様に、how to本ではなく、ditaの美しい写真集。ただ、写真だけではなく、英語の解説もいっぱい載っているので、しっかり読み込めばditaに少し近づけるかも⁉︎

Equisite book, full of great information! Love it and highly recommend!

Regalo para mi novia. Estoy enamoradísima de este libro y de Dita Von Teese, es genial como explica su vida, trucos y con unas imágenes impresionantes. Explica de todo y con mucho detalle, con fotos de ella del paso a paso: como se maquilla, como se peina, qué ejercicios hace.... Además explica un poco la historia detrás de cada detalle, en quien o qué está inspirado. Podría decir mil porqués para comprar este libro pero resumiendo: Si te gusta Dita Von Teese o la moda de los años 40, te enamorará. La tapa interior es preciosa!

Absolutely stunning book. Don’t think twice if you’re into glamour or a Dita fan. Packed with all of the beauty secret’s & beautiful photos.

Superbe livre de Dita, rempli de conseils, de magnifiques photos et d'anecdotes d'icônes glamour. Contrairement à ce que l'on pourrait s'imaginer, le livre n'a pas pour objectif de nous donner des conseils pour ressembler à Dita sinon des conseils pour développer notre propre style, c'est cela que j'ai beaucoup aimé. NB: L'anglais utilisé est plutôt riche donc je conseille à ceux qui ne sont pas à l'aise avec l'anglais de se munir d'un dictionnaire bilingue.