I love beauty (obv). And I love to read (I'm a total book nerd). So you won't need much explanation when I say that I get super-psyched about beauty books.

Yep, even though beauty blogs—like this one you're reading right here!—are amazing at providing instant intel on the latest and greatest, there's something about the tactile experience of sitting down and cracking open a book that makes me feel all warm 'n fuzzy. I love knowing they're there and that I can flip through their pages at any time for help. (See? Nerd.)

From makeup how-to's to face mask recipes to which vitamins to take for glowing skin, I've found it all in my growing collection. If you happen to be literary keener like me—or if you're just looking for some new tips—here are five of my favourite reads.  <!--more-->
<h2>Beauty: Pure + Simple by Kristen Ma</h2>
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong><a href="http://beautyeditor.ca/wp-content/uploads/BeautyPureSimple.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-19378" src="http://beautyeditor.ca/wp-content/uploads/BeautyPureSimple.jpg" alt="Beauty: Pure and Simple" width="500" height="500" /></a></strong></p>
This book is amaze. The author is <a href="http://beautyeditor.ca/tag/kristen-ma/">Kristen Ma</a>, co-owner of the Toronto spa chain Pure + Simple (which also sells fantastic natural products like <a href="http://beautyeditor.ca/2010/07/28/reader-question-how-do-i-stop-my-sunscreen-or-any-other-skin-product-from-balling-up-and-pilling-on-my-face/">this sunscreen</a> and <a href="http://beautyeditor.ca/2011/06/02/reader-question-if-im-supposed-to-re-apply-sunscreen-every-two-hours-eeks-how-do-i-dewit-without-mucking-up-my-makeup/">this mineral powder</a>). Michelle also profiled Kristen <a href="http://beautyeditor.ca/2010/05/05/babe-in-the-biz-pure-simples-kristen-ma/">here</a>. In this book, she gives us tons of useful information about Ayurveda, a 5,000-year-old Indian system of traditional medicine, and how it relates to our health and beauty. She once suffered from acne and only until she started learning about holistic treatments and addressing the underlying causes of her symptoms did she experience relief. If you want the goods on natural beauty care, this is your book!

<strong>Buy it now</strong>: <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Beauty-Pure-Simple-Kristen-Ma/dp/1552788385?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1318598839&amp;sr=1-1&amp;_encoding=UTF8&amp;tag=beautyeca-20&amp;linkCode=ur2&amp;camp=15121&amp;creative=330641" target="_blank">$18.77 at Amazon.ca</a>
<h2>Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual: For Everyone from Beginner to Pro by Bobbi Brown</h2>
<strong><a href="http://beautyeditor.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bobbi-Brown-Makeup-Manual.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-19376" src="http://beautyeditor.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bobbi-Brown-Makeup-Manual.jpg" alt="Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual" width="340" height="400" /></a></strong>

I heart <a href="http://beautyeditor.ca/tag/bobbi-brown/">Bobbi Brown</a>, and this beautiful book is one of my faves because it separates info into "Basics" and "Artistry" (<em>très </em>helpful for novices like <em>moi</em>). The Basics section covers loads of info, from tools, skincare and lip tips to a 10-step guide to achieving perfect makeup. There's also an amazing skincare glossary and a section on how to choose the right foundation and blush (<a href="http://beautyeditor.ca/2010/11/22/no-offense-but-youre-probably-making-one-of-these-7-mistakes-with-your-foundation/">Eagle offenders</a> may want to pay special attention).

<strong>Buy it now</strong>: <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Bobbi-Brown-Makeup-Manual-Everyone/dp/0446581356?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1318599128&amp;sr=8-2&amp;_encoding=UTF8&amp;tag=beautyeca-20&amp;linkCode=ur2&amp;camp=15121&amp;creative=330641" target="_blank">$16.05 at Amazon.ca</a>
<h2>Organic Body Care Recipes: 175 Homemade Herbal Formulas for Glowing Skin &amp; a Vibrant Self by Stephanie Tourles</h2>
<strong class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-19416"><a href="http://beautyeditor.ca/wp-content/uploads/Organic-Body-Care-Recipes.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-19416" src="http://beautyeditor.ca/wp-content/uploads/Organic-Body-Care-Recipes.jpg" alt="Organic Body Care Recipes" width="320" height="341" /></a></strong>

<a href="http://beautyeditor.ca/tag/stephanie-tourles/">Stephanie Tourles</a> is a licensed esthetician, herbalist and aromatherapist, and I'm totally obsessed with all of her fab natural recipes. Cleansers, toners, serums, body oils, bath soaks and scrubs—this book's got it all. I received it as a Christmas present a few years ago, and since then have gone nuts whipping up my own body butters and hair rinses (and you know I love me some <a href="http://beautyeditor.ca/2011/08/23/ever-made-your-own-face-mask-whip-up-these-budget-friendly-beauty-treatments-to-get-glowing-the-natural-way-no-birkenstocks-required/">DIY face masks</a>).

<strong>Buy it now</strong>: <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Organic-Body-Care-Recipes-Homemade/dp/1580176763?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1318599315&amp;sr=1-1&amp;_encoding=UTF8&amp;tag=beautyeca-20&amp;linkCode=ur2&amp;camp=15121&amp;creative=330641" target="_blank">$16.57 at Amazon.ca</a>
<h2>Best in Beauty: An Ultimate Guide to Makeup and Skincare Techniques, Tools and Products by Riku Campo</h2>
<strong><a href="http://beautyeditor.ca/wp-content/uploads/Best-in-Beauty.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-19396" src="http://beautyeditor.ca/wp-content/uploads/Best-in-Beauty.jpg" alt="Best in Beauty" width="375" height="500" /></a></strong><strong></strong>

This book came out last summer and I simply couldn't resist it. The cover drew me in and the gorgeous layout and photography inside got me hooked. <a href="http://beautyeditor.ca/tag/riku-campo/">Riku Campo</a> is an international makeup artist and hairstylist and divulges all the best makeup, techniques and tools—plus, he shares a fab hangover cure to keep you looking fresh the morning after (not that you or I would ever need such a thing).

<strong>Buy it now</strong>: <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Best-Beauty-Ultimate-Skincare-Techniques/dp/1439148252?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1318605870&amp;sr=8-2&amp;_encoding=UTF8&amp;tag=beautyeca-20&amp;linkCode=ur2&amp;camp=15121&amp;creative=330641" target="_blank">$21.41 at Amazon.ca</a>
<h2>Eat, Drink and Be Gorgeous: A Nutritionist's Guide to Living Well While Living it Up by Esther Blum</h2>
<strong><a href="http://beautyeditor.ca/wp-content/uploads/Eat-Dink-and-Be-Gorgeous.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-19397" src="http://beautyeditor.ca/wp-content/uploads/Eat-Dink-and-Be-Gorgeous.jpg" alt="Eat, Drink, and Be Gorgeous" width="460" height="460" /></a></strong>

OMG. Who doesn't want to "live well while living it up?!" I have so many bookmarks and dog-eared pages in this book, from sections on "eating gorgeous" to "drinking gorgeous" (for example, instead of a Cosmo, try a Pomegranate martini). There are also chapters devoted to banishing PMS and low energy, including an awesome Q&amp;A section. This little book is indispensable!

<strong>Buy it now</strong>: <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Eat-Drink-Be-Gorgeous-Nutritionists/dp/0811855406?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1318606065&amp;sr=1-1&amp;_encoding=UTF8&amp;tag=beautyeca-20&amp;linkCode=ur2&amp;camp=15121&amp;creative=330641" target="_blank">$15.64 at Amazon.ca</a>

<strong><em>Elizabeth Oborne is a Vancouver-based writer and holistic nutritionist. Follow her on Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/elizabethedits" target="_blank">@elizabethedits</a>.</em></strong>

Tell us:

Do you collect beauty books?
Have you read any of these ones?
What are the top tomes in YOUR beauty library?