The best: Jemma Kidd's Make-up Masterclass

In my opinion, this is one of the best make-up books out there. It is more interesting than most of Bobbi Brown's books; more colourful, useful and easier to read (no grey text) than Nars' Makeup Your Mind; and the looks are much more achievable and not nearly as complicated as the ones by Rae Morris, Kevyn Aucoin and Scott Barnes.

Jemma Kidd's Make-up Masterclass is packed with beautiful pictures AND useful information. Yes, there is a lot of text! It is a great reference book, something you will want to refer back to again and again. You will learn a lot from this. 

In the first section, Beauty Basics, it gives you tips on skincare, enhancing beauty at all ages, and seasonal make-up. So in spring/summer, put away compact foundations and switch to a tinted moisturiser or a light liquid foundation applied sparingly, use powder mineral foundation if you have oily skin, keep brows in place with hairspray, stick to a neutral eyeshadow with a slight shimmer for daytime, replace black eyeliner with brown (or a bright colour!), use cream blush (looks more natural). Those were some of the tips for a 'light, long-lasting make-up' and there's more: bold colours for eyes, spring pastels, summer nights.

One of the best things about this book is that the step-by-step guides are actually comprehensible. It's also interesting to see different finishes of eyeshadow, for example, side-by-side (sheer, glitter, loose metallic pigment, gloss, frost, matte). And find out what the top ten looks for eyes and lips are. This is all in the section Make-up Masterclass.

The fun part is Get the Look.

Daytime looks: everyday gorgeous (for every skintone: porcelain, fair, olive, deep), daytime glamour, boardroom beauty, corporate to cocktails, blushing bride and yummy mummy.

Night-time looks: after-dark beauty (porcelain, fair, light olive, dark olive, deep), foxy and fabulous, red carpet glamour, dancing queen and big date.

Holiday looks: beach babe, beach to bar, wintry and wonderful, country life and frequent flyer.

What I really like is at the very back of the book. It's called "Jemma's favourite..." for skincare products, body products, make-up and tools, organic brands and products for problem skin. The brilliant thing is, they're not necessarily products from her own line! As I mentioned in my Laura Mercier haul post, the secret brightening powder is one of Jemma's favourites! How many of these products have you tried?