Book Review-Babushka's Beauty Secrets by Raisa Ruder and Susan Campos

Title: Babushka's Beauty Secrets
Author: Raisa Ruder and Susan Campos
Publisher: Wellness Central-A division of Hachette Books
Pub Date: 2010
ISBN: 978-0-446-55586-9
Pages: 183
I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.


Synopsis:
Don't spend a fortune to look flawless. Esthetician to the stars Raisa Ruder learned her time-tested beauty techniques from her Ukrainian grandmother (or babushka, as they say in the old country). Now everyone can discover the all-natural, better-than-Botox secrets the Hollywood stars use to shine on the red carpet! Ruder reveals her sought-after beauty recipes that can fight wrinkles, give you plump lips, and eliminate crow's feet and acne-all by using inexpensive, everyday grocery items like eggs, honey, vegetable oil, and strawberries (and a splash of vodka for freshness!). At last, by popular demand, Raisa Ruder opens up her babushka's secret pantry and shares her most amazing and effective beauty advice.

*Skin saving souffles-whipped up wonders that shrink pores, brighten skin, and diminish lines.
*Must have mustard wrap-an invigorating treatment that smoothes the thighs and reduces the appearance of cellulite.
*Hot hair-a cayenne pepper blend that leaves locks silky, soft, and full.
*Pedi pure-a soothing, smoothing foot scrub made with vitamine E and lavender oil.
*Lustrous lashes-a simple castor oil serum that thickens and lengthens.
*Perfect pucker-a moisturizing mask to light up your lips.


About the Authors:
As a child in the Ukraine, Raisa Ruder would whip up natural recipes with her grandmother and marvel at the results they'd produce. After noticing all the preservatives in products in America, she decided to introduce her recipes to the States and has quickly become the go-to girl in Hollywood. On any given day, Raisa Ruder's Beverly Hills salon reveals the ecofriendly glamour so sought out in Tinseltown today. Wrapped in a chic white organic cotton apron, she throws together ingredients with the confidence and passion reminiscent of Julia Child. Only in this case, Ruder is cooking up souffles for the skin, rather then the dinner table.

Susan Campos met Raisa Ruder when she was writing a story about green beauty. She immediately loved Raya's beauty regime and a few years later they decided to do a book together. Susan worked as an anchor/reporter in a number of television markets throughout the United States. She then joined NBC News, where she anchored the national weekend edition of The Today Show, reported for NBC, and hosted a number of enterainment shows for MSNBC. She now lives in Los Angeles with her son and writes trend stories for The ew York Times, The Hiffington Post, as well as a number of other publications. Susan also has a blog called Beauty Undercover.
www.beautyundercover.com


My review:
I really liked this book. It was a quick read and gave insight into how to take care of your skin and hair without spending a fortune. Ruder covers everything from acne, fine lines, adding body to your hair, to whipping up your own self tanner. It was refreshing to read about homemade remedies that came from her grandmother and the "old country" as there were ingredients I would have never thought of using on my skin or hair. The book not only contains recipes but old wisdom passed down from her grandmother. I recommend this book to everyone and thinkn that all will find it is a great tool in revigorating their skin, hair, and bodies.

I wanted to include one of the recipes in the book to give all a taste of what they were like. I decided on this one as it is summer and everyone wants to look good in that bathing suit.


This is the perfect body scrub to use before getting into a bathing suit.

Oat Couture
*2 tablespoons rolled oats, ground
*2 teaspoons brown sugar
*2 tablespoons aloe vera
*1 teaspoon lemon juice

Put the rolled oats in the blender and grind into a very fine powder. Place the powder in a small mixing bowl. Add the brown sugar and lemon juice. Mix well. Now add the aloe vera and stir to form a paste. Be sure there are no lumps. Dampen the skin and massage the paste onto it. Rinse with warm water.

I would love to hear from anyone that tries this or any of the other recipes in the book to see what they think. I know I can't wait to try them all.