Beauty pro division

Simply say, “The Beauty Bible” and everyone knows I am talking about Paula Begoun. I recently was able to interview Paula, also known for her other best sellers: Don’t Go To The Cosmetics Counter Without Me and Don’t Go Shopping For Hair Care Products Without Me. Paula Begoun is also a syndicated columnist of “Dear Paula,” a column that can be found throughout newspapers in the US and the creator and innovative force behind her product line, “Paula’s Choice.”

When you first began to challenge the cosmetics industry, were you met with much resistance by them, or did they give off the attitude that you were simply one individual who didn't pose much of a threat?
I have always found the resistance the same, some people in the industry love my work and others think I don’t know what I’m talking about. In the long run, I don’t pose much of a threat, but that’s always true for an iconoclast.

As time went on and your books became best sellers (and you--a force to be reckoned with), did you notice that the brands you were challenging for false claims began to change the wording in their advertising?
No, if anything things have gotten worse. Cosmetic companies don’t even care what the FDA does, because by the time anyone notices, the next advertising campaign or product launch replaced the previous one.

In the beginning, were you surprised by the amount of women responding to you? Are you still surprised that it continues today?
I’m always surprised how many women know my work. Selling over 2 million books is really great for the ego. What saddens me, is when I feel nothing has changed and women are still wasting lots of money on misleading advertising claims.

You said (on your website) that Paula's Choice and your challenging of the cosmetic industry began as a personal quest. Do you now feel like an advocate for all women discerning fact from fiction in product claims?
It still feels like a personal quest, I find myself wanting to know more all the time. Being an advocate for myself, and having turned that into a business is a wonderful way to earn a living.

What makes Paula's Choice products stand out among its competitors?
It depends on who the competitor is. There are some really bad products on the market and in those instances my products are stellar with state of the art ingredients, air tight packaging (to keep the beneficial ingredients stable), and elegant formulations. But there are also brilliant products out there that are truly excellent and I feel strongly my products compete beautifully (and almost always, mine are far less expensive).