Beauty Book Review: Palette

In our internet age, we are flooded with skincare advice and product recommendations. As a WOC, I have discovered most of these recommendations do NOT work on me. The body wash people love? It’s going to irritate my skin. The makeup going viral on TikTok? It’s going to make me look like a clown. Don’t get me started on hair care. If I could get refunded for all the products that didn’t work on my 4c hair, I’d be rich 😭 . Navigating the world of beauty with melanated skin IS a challenge. It can be so difficult to find great products that work for us. This is why beauty editor Funmi Fetto wrote her book Palette. The book offers skin, hair and makeup product recommendations specifically for melanated skin. 

Palette takes readers for a pleasant journey through the confusing land of beauty.  Tagged the “Black Beauty Bible”, it’s full of helpful advice for those who read it. Here are my major takeaways from the book: 

1. There are beauty products on the market that work for you. If you are not satisfied with a product, keep looking. 

2. Every woman’s skincare routine should include a liquid exfoliator, vitamin C serum, and sunscreen. 

3. You should leave your facial cleanser on your face for about 2 minutes before washing it off. This gives the product more time to work and absorb excess facial oil. 

   
   

My only complaint is that Palette is slightly outdated. The book was initially published in 2019. Since then, there have been an influx of new brands and products for melanted skin. I hope Funmi writes a second edition of Palette where she includes new recommendations. Despite this, I think the book is highly relevant and insightful. If you are a WOC interested in skincare, I would definitely recommend picking up this book. It’s full of helpful information and a pleasant read. 

Thank you Funmi for writing such a wonderful, informative book. I love that the book includes the history of different brands and your experiences working with them. I really hope you give us a part 2 soon! It was wonderful to hear a Black woman talk about spending money on skincare. I realize now that it’s ok to aspire to buy nice things. It’s ok to spend money on yourself. It’s ok to love self care despite lacking significant discretionary income. Just because you don’t have it now doesn’t mean you won’t be able to afford it in the future. Congrats on an excellent book, Funmi. Wishing you the best! 💙 💙💙