Love, Lashes, and Lipstick

August 4, 2014
Celebrity makeup artist Roncal—known for her work with Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, and others—offers a hybrid memoir and lifestyle guide that sprinkles makeup tutorials throughout her effusive narration. As the daughter of a successful OB/GYN who “wore designer clothes under her white doctor’s coat and the highest heels to the office,” Roncal learned early on about the importance of beauty along with the need for a strong work ethic. The book begins with the launch of Roncal’s makeup line, Mally Beauty (first sold on QVC), followed by loosely chronological chapters that touch on subjects including: lessons from childhood, Roncal’s college years, the rise of her career, and her marriage. The make-up how-tos in the first half seem to be inserted haphazardly, though the tutorials and text are more effectively juxtaposed in later chapters. For example, “Beyoncé’s Ten-Minute Face” follows Roncal’s discussion of her first time meeting and working with Beyoncé. Though these tutorials are easy to understand, they are accompanied by illustrations rather than photos, which makes it difficult to see the true impact of each “look.” While Roncal’s celebrity stories and details of her glamorous career (jetting off to Tanzania for a photo shoot) have dishy appeal, the book will be best appreciated by Roncal’s fans. Color photos and illus.