Paula Begoun

Paula Beth Begoun (born November 14, 1953), also known as "The Cosmetics Cop", is an American talk radio host, author, and businesswoman. She is the founder of Paula's Choice and Beginning Press Publishing.Beginning Press Publishing
/ref>

Career

Begoun was born in suburban Chicago, Illinois. As a child, Begoun suffered from acne and eczema. She studied science at Northern Illinois University before moving to Washington D.C. in 1978 to work as a professional makeup artist and esthetician. Begoun then relocated to Washington, and opened her own cosmetics stores in Seattle in 1981, adding a business partner a short time later. In 1982, KIRO-TV in Seattle, Washington offered Begoun a consumer/feature reporter position, where she began reporting on the beauty industry as an investigative journalist. At that time she began working on her first book, ''Blue Eyeshadow Should be Illegal''.

Begoun had sold her business shares to her partner in 1984, and at the end of 1985 she self-published ''Blue Eye Shadow Should Be Illegal''.Self-Publishing-Hall-of-Fame-Bs Self Publishers Hall of Fame: The Bs: Blue Eyeshadow Should be Illegal, 1st ed. 1985
/ref> The book gained national attention, and resulted in the first of many appearances for Begoun on ''The Oprah Winfrey Show''. She also began writing a syndicated column titled "Dear Paula," and received thousands of letters from women across the nation asking for specific information on various beauty products.NT Times Daily News: Dear Paula Column
Augusta Chronicle: Dear Paula Column
/ref> These requests inspired Begoun to write ''Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me''. The first edition was published in 1992.

In 2008, Begoun created Beautypedia.com, an online version of ''Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me''. The site is a product review database that claims to cover over 45,000 products from more than 300 brands.

In the early 1990s, Begoun began work with a team of cosmetic chemists to develop her own line of cosmetics and skin-care products. She claims that her products offer results based on published, peer-reviewed research, and that her extensive research of the cosmetic industry provided her with the expertise necessary to develop these formulations.
/ref> In 1995, Begoun began selling her products online. This has led some consumers to question the objectivity of her product reviews. As counter to these concerns, Begoun claims that Paula's Choice is one of the only companies that recommends products other than their own.

Begoun remains a consultant for dermatologists, plastic surgeons, major cosmetics companies, news and industry insiders.The Denver Post, December 12, 2009: Fashion's look-back decade
/ref>LA Times, June 13, 2010: Brush Up at the Makeup Counter
/ref>Salon, January 18, 2010: Hype in a Jar
/ref> She positions herself as an internationally recognized authority and consumer advocate for the cosmetics and hair-care industries, and routinely appears on news and talk shows, including ''CNN, CNN: Live From the Headlines Show Transcripts, June 17, 2003
/ref> Oprah,The Oprah Winfrey Show, November 11, 2008
/ref> The Dr. Oz Show,The Dr. Oz Show, May 10, 2010
/ref>'' and '' The View.The View, Nov. 11, 2008
, November 2008''Nellie Cashman Business Women of the Year

Writing

Begoun is a self-published author of 18 books on the beauty industry, most notably ''Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me'', ''The Original Beauty Bible'' and ''Blue Eyeshadow Should Be Illegal''. Her books have received international recognition,NT Times Daily News: Dear Paula Column
/ref>

/ref> have sold nearly three million copies, and have been translated into eight languages.Paula Begoun: The Cosmetic Cop
/ref>

Radio show

Previously, Begoun has run a podcast with topics centered on cosmetics, skin and hair care. The show also covered current beauty industry news, "myth-busting", best and worst products, and hosts special guests including dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons.Paula's Radio Show
/ref> Listeners are invited to call in with questions for Begoun or her co-hosts, and each show includes product giveaways to callers. As of 2013, the radio show is on an indefinite hiatus.

Publications

*''The Best Places to Kiss in Northern California''
*''The Best Places to Kiss in Southern California''
*''The Best Places to Kiss in The Northwest''
*''The Best Places to Kiss in New York City''
*''Blue Eyeshadow Should Be Illegal'' (1985)
*''Blue Eyeshadow Should Absolutely Be Illegal'' (1991)
*''The Beauty Bible'' (1997)
*''The Complete Beauty Bible'' (2004)
*''The Original Beauty Bible: Skin Care Facts for Ageless Beauty'' (2009)
*''Don't Go Shopping for Hair Care Products Without Me'' (1st edition 1995; final edition 2004)
*''Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me'' (1st Edition, 1991; currently in its 9th edition, 2012)
*''The Best Skin of Your Life Starts Here: Busting Beauty Myths so You Know What to Use And Why'' (2015)
*''40 Beauty Myths Busted: What Really Works for Clear, Younger-Looking Skin'' (2018)

References

External links

Paula's Choice, Inc. Website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Begoun, Paula
American publishing chief executives
American cosmetics businesspeople
American talk radio hosts
American radio DJs
American women radio hosts
American women chief executives
Living people
Businesspeople from Illinois
Businesspeople from Washington, D.C.
Writers from Chicago
1953 births
21st-century American women