Am I overly-knowledgable about skin or something? I read this whole book and don't feel like I really learned anything new. So I prefer to assume that I am a skin savant, and that this is not just another book filled with humdrum, recycled information. ( )

Sub-titled "Trade Secrets From a Top New York Dermatologist", you might think that this book is all about the Botox and surgical procedures, (or maybe it's just because I live on the Upper East Side in New York City, where you can't go a block without seeing someone who has had work done) but you'd be wrong.

Jaliman, a board-certified dermatologist, has written a very helpful book for everyone. She has 77 rules, short chapters that make her point, from 'Don't Waste Money on Expensive Cleansers- Spend It on Moisturizers, Sunscreens, and Anti-Aging Products Instead' to 'Lips, Eyes, and Hands Need Sun Protection, Too' to 'Clean Earrings Every Time You Put Them In'.

Each rule is followed by a short explanation; I like that you can use this book as a quick reference, and that Jaliman did not fill the book with unnecessary stuff; she gets right to the point. Although it is a short book, it contains so much useful information.

Among the useful things I learned:

Tanning beds increase the chance of melanoma by 75%! She believes they should be illegal.
Products should be bought in tubes or pumps; the contents deteriorate when exposed to air.
Don't get the nail gel at nail salons; it can cause neurological damage.
Humidifiers should be cleaned with equal parts vinegar and water every two weeks.
False eyelashes are bad- the glue can damage the skin and pulls out eyelashes.
Jaliman also names the best products to use; from cleansers to moisturizers to foundations to sunscreens to laundry detergent. Many of the products are available at drug and discount stores. I made a list of products she recommends for my skin type and keep it in my purse when I go shopping.

She has her own line of products but she does not include recommendations for them in this book; I think that shows character on her part and I appreciate that she didn't write this book as a sales tool for herself. It isn't all products, though; Dr. Jaliman does discuss procedures that can done in the dermatologist's office that can help.

At the end of the book is a 'resource section' with website addresses for all of the products that Dr. Jaliman recommends.

No matter what your age or issue- teenagers with acne, people with dry skin, people with sensitive skin, menopausal women- there is helpful information for everyone here. Think of it as your skin manual. ( )