by Susie Galvez (Author), Chico Hayasaki (Illustrator)
Perfect HairBuy it at Amazon

Perfect FaceBuy it at Amazon

Perfect BodyBuy it at Amazon

Perfect MakeupBuy it at Amazon

    Yes, it would be great to have a full-fledged beauty makeover any time we feel the need, but there are times when there s no time for anything more than a quick fix. Beauty guru Susie Galvez comes to the rescue with the Ooh la la! series of fun little books called: Perfect Hair, Perfect Face, Perfect Body, and Perfect Makeup.

    "No one is too busy for beauty, says esthetician, makeup artist, and day spa owner Susie Galvez. " In fact, being beautiful isn't just about how you look, it's about how you feel. So making an effort to look good can actually energize you and help you de-stress. Think of it as an investment in your well-being. And it's a myth that you have to spend hours preening in front of a mirror to be beautiful-you can take small, five-minute beauty steps here and there that have a big, all-day-long impact."

     Galvez proves her point with her new Ooh la la! series of gift books from London's MQ Publications Limited. These small, 6 x 6 inch books feature sleek metallic covers and are packed with easy, bite-sized beauty tips that will appeal to even the busiest woman. (Cost of each book is US $14.95 / UK 6.99 / CAN $17.95).

    PERFECT HAIR

    From Ooh la la! perfect hair, Galvez offers this tip: To revive flat hair between shampooing, roll hair on Velcro rollers, mist ever so slightly with water, and put a large shower cap on top. Shower as usual. The steam from the shower will help set the style and give the hair extra volume. Blow-dry the rollers for just a minute or two until dry. Take the rollers out and vavoom . . . volume!

    PERFECT FACE

    In Ooh la la! perfect face Galvez advises: Even if you cannot go for a facial as much as you would like, plan on having at least two-one at the end of winter and one at the end of summer. A good, professional facial will remove the seasons from your face. It will take off the extra dead skin cells that these seasons bring, as well as prepare the skin for a new day. If your skin is screaming, "I'm sensitive," "I'm chapped," or "I'm irritated," here is the perfect cure.  Make a pot of chamomile tea.  Cool and pour into an ice cube tray.  Take out a frozen cube, wrap in cotton gauze, and rub gently around the face for five minutes.  Then take a cotton ball soaked in milk and press over the entire facial area for five minutes. The skin will be calm and de-stressed.  This treatment is also excellent for post-waxing sensitivities.

    PERFECT BODY

    In Ooh la la! perfect body, Susie tells how to keep knees, elbows, and skin on the heels in the softest condition and free from discoloration: make some lemon "aid." By squeezing the juice from a lemon into two tablespoons of sugar. Apply the mixture to heels, elbows, and knees. Allow it to work for two to three minutes. Gently rub off with a warm washcloth, pat dry, and add a dab of moisturizer. Areas will feel silky smooth and look more even in color.

    PERFECT MAKEUP

    In Ooh la la! perfect makeup, Galvez offers this tip: A mauve/brown lip color is a great neutral and universal hue. It works well on almost everyone so it is a perfect handbag or travel bag staple. If desperate, you can actually use it as blush by applying a little dab on the cheeks. It also works well as a soft eye shadow in an emergency.

    PAMPER YOURSELF REGULARLY

    Galvez suggests that women try a different quick and easy beauty tip from one of her books at least once a week. "When you take a few minutes out of your hectic routine to pamper yourself, you're proclaiming to the world, 'I count. I deserve to look and feel my best.' And you're also proclaiming it to yourself. We women feel that we have to take care of everyone else, and in the process we neglect us. But if we don't feel good about ourselves, we can't be good wives, mothers, employees, bosses, or friends. So beauty is as much about your psychological and emotional health as it is about flawless eye shadow and polished toenails. To read more about Susie Galvez and her books, visit www.susiegalvez.com