Staging Your Comeback: A Complete Beauty Revival for Women over 45

This book gives one A LOT to read!

It is not something you can leaf rapidly through.

The author has been there, done that , and got the t/shirt (as the saying goes) a gadjillion times. He understands each generation from Baby-boomers onward.

He even has included the concerns spoken by a client, and the response he gives to clarify WHY something works.

I too, for example, become concerned about foundation settling into my 76 year old wrinkles. His answer is spot-on-try it for yourself.

I felt that the book gives an amazing lot for the price. The full colour pictures and layout cost a lot more to produce (how do I know: yours truly has a degree in digital graphic design) but the author kept the price modest in spite of that.

If you want quick, fast, down and dirty (“Just the facts, ma’am style), then this isn’t for you.

If you want the bestest thing you can get to a Christopher Hopkins makeover, and are willing to put in the work on your end, this is the way.

The author does not give specific brand names of cosmetics. Which, when one thinks about it, is better because what works for one person could be a disaster for another.

This is where it requires dome work on the reader’s part.

I found a YouTube video of the author’s (at the time) 76 year old mother starting from scratch and putting on her makeup very useful.

Nature was very, very good to Joann Hopkins, his mother! But age takes its toll on all sooner or later. In the video I learned the brands of cosmetics that Joann Hopkins uses. I found that information useful as a sort of jumping off place…a place to start, because we live far out in the country and depend upon Internet purchases. So it helps to know what brand I’d like to start with and only have to work on getting a colour right.

But this book is much more than the face. It helped me discover my personality types (2, although others may have more) and how that translate into the fashion look I am most comfortable and happy with.

For me, 76 years young, yet just emerging from a long, dark and difficult life, and grateful to still be here, I needed a way to discover who I am and a way to move forward.

Prior to receiving the book and reading major parts of it (I am not doing a cover-to-cover, but instead looking up what I want to know as I go along and finding out who I am, the look I prefer to project, and which direction I want to now proceed in) was daunting. Now I have a GOOD and fun to read guide.

Several years ago, I saw Christopher on the Oprah show, making over women over 45. At the time, I was not over 45:-), so while the makeovers were completely amazing, I did not personalize the idea of it. However, I did think these women were fresh, pulled together and exhibited a confidence that conveyed their attitude of signature style and youthfulness. "What a wonderful idea, to help older women look their best" I thought to myself. Now that I am knocking on 45, I have recently felt some haggardness...I felt matronly...while I still had opportunities to dress up and I was never without makeup, I had pretty much resigned myself to the idea that the days that someone might look at me as sparkling and attractive were over. I still had my personality, and wisdom had come with my age, I felt, but people would have to find out all that as they got to know me.

THEN came along Staging Your Comeback. I loved this book, because so much of it I could relate to. There are...issues....with getting older. You look in the mirror and you are you, but you are a more tired looking you. A paler you...a more grandmotherly looking you. Ugh. Christopher acknowledges that there are things about us that make us look older, but the awesome thing is that he has solutions to many of these issues. You CAN have fresh and current looking makeup. You CAN use your hair to lift your face to look more youthful. You CAN reign in a style that shows your personality on the outside, so that people can sense who you are on a first meeting. You CAN figure out what types of clothing are best for you and what undergarments you need to make them look stunning. And it will all look appropriate.

I have to confess that I read the book several times, and then was presented with the opportunity to go to ReVamp salon. I am telling you this, because while that was a wonderful, magical experience, many many many of the things they did there were in the book. Christopher really does share his knowledge of age defying tips and if you read the book and employ them, they will work. And he relates in person just like he does in the book. He is totally authentic, sympathetic, encouraging and proactive to your best look. It is his passion and it is evident in person and in the book. I am telling you this because a trip to ReVamp will take some cash (although so well worth it) but if you cannot fund such an adventure, the book will guide you.

Another thing that stands Christopher Hopkins and his book apart from all the rest is that on his website, The Makeover Guy, there is a tab for advice. If you have a question relating to something you have read in the book and you ask him in that advice area, he will answer you. That is huge to me, as sometimes I did have questions. He also is on facebook, and you can be his friend and see makeovers that he has done recently. Mine was Me Again if you are interested in seeing it.

Get the book....it is in paperback and not very expensive. Take the quiz, read the book cover to cover and get inspiration from the before-and-afters. You will feel empowered. Then take the sections and read them carefully...there is so much there I had to read it several times and got new advice each time I read it. Try what he says. You will see amazing results. I cannot recommend this book strongly enough if you are feeling trapped in your look from 1987 and feel washed out and somewhat hopeless and are afraid you will try to be current and just look like a joke. It is truly a miracle.

(I can’t address the content until I vent about the horrible graphic design of this book)

The design of this book is so busy and distracting and soooo over the top that it was really hard to read. The super outdated fonts and folded/rolled up page corners and buttons and dots and drop shadows and make up containers with fluffy trite quotes in white and makeup brushes and the same photo of Christopher on nearly every page! Why am I picky? Because I am a graphic designer! And this book is a perfect example of what not to do when designing a book.

This full 4c book designed to look like it’s printed with burgundy navy and warm grey?? Uh hello 1986– Enough already!!!

The information is really good and Christopher Hopkins is a genius with his makeovers but leave book design to the professionals- yeah yeah I know CH is a veritable renaissance man but just no.

It’s totally distracting to try and read. I can read only a few pages at a time or my eyes start spinning like googly eyes!

As far as the content- his ideas are mostly very good. His transformations are fabulous- The self help Pep talk pages are -Odd. But I get it we’re staging our comeback.

Determining your body type is very helpful.

But I’d like to see him address—-Color!!! What color am I? How do I choose clothes and hair color Etc that will look good with my coloring? He spends a lot of time on body images and types but not enough on face shape and what hair styles would work with what shape.

Not everyone can go an have a makeover with Christopher-Which is where he discusses face shape, and hair color and silhouettes —so sharing that kind of info would have made for a more memorable and meaningful book.

The before and after photos at the back are spectacular- (I’d spent so much time oohing and ahhhing that my man had to come look and he was blown away by the changes!)

Also I think that maintenance and upkeep tips for these makeovers would be helpful-

I know that as a silver haired gal- color upkeep got to be outrageously expensive- $125 every 4 weeks to maintain that perfect color!?! Yeah no thanks.

Anyway- if you’re a Makeover Guy fan - as I am (really I am!) Grab a copy to support the man- And try to look past the uber- busy design and copy-intensive book. The before and after photos and body image charts are great.

All in all- his YouTube channel is great- This book- not so much. A redesign and some really good editing would up this Book’s game by miles!

Ladies my age will recall workbooks for school. There were textbooks and workbooks to compliment our lessons. That is precisely what Mr. Hopkins has created! I am forever grateful.

When I was young I went to school with a lot of girls who were sent to Cotillion Preparatory. Classes spanned several years and Etiquette classes included honing one's image/looks to be stylish and exude confidence. It was a rite of passage. One of my best friends showed me a book she was required to read - Eileen Ford's Book of Model Beauty. I bought a copy for myself and tried to do the best I could on my own. I also used to go to the big department stores when the makeup counters had professional makeup artists come to town. The sessions were very rushed and the aim was really to sell products, not help any of us be our best. But I tried to glean I could from each expert.

My mom mentioned a book to me years ago. She had seen it at her library and thought I might like it. She and I are veracious readers. For years now I have watched Mr. Hopkin's YouTube videos and wished I could have him help me. I happened to see his segment about his book AND something clicked. That book looked familiar. WHY? Well, it was book Mom had mentioned years ago! I got it as a B-Day gift this year and am thrilled Mr. Hopkins wrote a book! It feels like the perfect bookend to Eileen Ford's book I read as a young lady. And the book is a wonderful option for people like me who will never be able to fly to his brick and mortar business in Minnesota. It is timeless and overflowing with wise counsel. It is not the type of book offering fads or pushing a particular product line, this is a true Beauty Book by a gifted artist. Such books are extremely rare! I think it would be fantastic if someone devised workshop classes for older gals around this book! I am just thrilled Mr. Hopkins made the time to write this!

At last, someone realized that women over the age of 45 can still be pretty, beautiful, and perhaps even glamorous. Enter Christopher Hopkins, makeup guru to stars and now to women like me, who want to be the best we possibly can. From makeup to nails, to hair and appropriate fashion, Christopher shows us the do's and do not's for our Second Act. With his impeccable artistic eye, as well as his vast experience, he examines the flaws we face as mature women and shows us how to deftly correct them. Not only does he show us how to correct our flaws, but he gives us tips on these issues that provide us a renewed awareness and sense of self-esteem.

I have pored over STAGING YOUR COMEBACK from the moment it arrived, underlining, highlighting, placing asterisks throughout the book, and I'm still not done. I have paused to try out a new makeup tip, and then gazed with near wonder at the result. "Incredible," I actually said aloud. I have also embraced my naturally curly hair, which I had continually straightened throughout my first act. Voila! Yes, it looks great.

Women of any age can benefit from the tips provided by Christopher Hopkins, but it is marvelous to have positive reinforcement that even though we may be over 45, beauty can still be attained gracefully. I encourage all women to buy this book by Christopher Hopkins. Keep it close to your makeup caddy. With almost 300 pages of tips, plus pages for notes on your own "comeback routine," you will want this as your daily reference guide.

I purchased this book hoping for specific advice about keeping my look current as an aging woman; I hope to remain attractive and interesting to other people as I age and also avoid the dreaded "matron" label!

I'm super satisfied - there are many age-specific ideas that have improved my overall appearance from head to toes... including the importance of updating my makeup routine as I age (i.e. more emphasis on eyes and less on lips; the importance of eye liner and mascara for aging ladies) updating hair color and style, finding flattering clothing shapes, going for softer colors and wearing body shaper undergarments, elongating the hands by choosing neutral nail color, etc.

The suggestions are exactly what I hoped to find - after having the book for many months I find myself returning to it from time to time and adopting more ideas that I missed on previous readings. The suggestions are effective and so simple to adopt - many times I've thought "gee, that seems so obvious, why didn't I already know it?" I am very grateful this jewel-book is in my bookcase!

I highly recommend it to others who desire a common-sense, how-to primer on looking one's best as an aging woman. Those who are looking for avant-garde, earth-shaking, new and unusual ideas will likely be disappointed... the book's ideas seem so simple and yet, they work extremely well!

Now I notice middle-aged and older "matrons" who are getting it wrong and feel sad for them.

If you want to attract people to your look and increase your confidence about your image as you age, this book has many helpful tips for you!

Overall, its a good book. Some of the makeovers were a bit staged. (One person admitted to buying a dowdy skirt to complete the look for her "before" photo.) I didn't like that so many of the women were given blonde hair, it's a harsh process to keep asking your hair to endure. I think it would have been better to find creative ways to work with the gray, such as low lights or blonde highlights. Something that might not need so much upkeep when roots grow back. In this economy we have to find ways to conserve!

I thought the chapter on how to find the right kind of clothes to work with your body type was very helpful. It reinforced many things I already knew and gave me some additional insights. He also has good advice on how to talk to your hair stylist and how to approach makeup basics.

I think what bothered me the most was that he seemed to be in love with himself. His photos are all over the book. It just didn't sit well with me and gave the book a little bit of a "hokey" feel. For these reasons, I could only give the book 3 stars.

I am just over 40, but really felt like I was in a style rut. This book was incredible and really illustrated brilliantly how certain choices can make the difference between looking frumpy and looking fabulous. I do NOT agree with other reviewers that the author over-promoted himself. Quite the contrary! Also, many women would tend to disregard style comments out of sheer stubbornness and fear of change, but when they know the author's background and his level of success in the field, they may feel more confident following his advice.

Personally, I have held onto my very long, mid-back length hair for 15+ years for many reasons. 1) My ex husband used to shriek at the thought of me trimming even an inch. 2) I believed that my face was too fat to have shorter hair. 3) I believed shorter hair would be more limiting, style wise. 4) I believed that long hair made me look younger. After reading this book, and going over and over it in my mind, I got some photos together and took them to my stylist. We then cut my hair to be similar to Hayden Panieterre's new hair cut, and it looks AMAZING on me! Men stare at me all the time, and I feel lighter, prettier, and more stylish. I also do my makeup every morning, and learned a lot of techniques on how to apply it from this book. Trust me, I've been a girl for a long time and have always loved makeup. But there is always more to learn, especially if you have been doing the same thing for many years.

I also went through my closet and took out what doesn't work, and found the things that do work. I even choose better jewelry to fit my style and my features.

Now, I'm going to pass this book to my mother and pray she stops teasing her hair and lacquering it with 10 layers of hairspray into a helmet.

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I bought this book after seeing some of the amazing beauty transformations created by the Makeover Guy on YouTube.

The book is great for lots of reasons. It helps us to look at ourselves in a non judgemental and honest way so that we can make the best of ourselves by drawing attention to our best features and minimising the bits we don't want to draw attention to. A great help to avoid expensive impulse buys that really don't flatter us.

Not so much about vanity as it is about self care and self respect. and making the best of ourselves. So many women spend their lives caring for others that there is often not much time or energy left for themselves which can leave us feeling dull and frumpy especially as we age. The Makeover guy genuinely cares for women and it shines through in the women who have been helped to recover lost bloom under the skilled hands of the team he works with. A lovely book and one I will refer to always.

Yes! I meant that. I am not over 45 and I love the wonderful concepts and strategies Christopher offers. Amazing. Why? Because all of us can use any perspective of diving into our beauty and pleasure... after all, it is a journey, unique and colorful that is so magnificent to explore.

An informative and enjoyable read that I could not put down for days. I loved the very engaging quiz and the various case studies that also visually demonstrated his teachings. Christopher's honest, objective and at times heartfelt advice is welcome and so refreshing. Often I laughed out loud on reading his prouncements, as I could completely understand them. I learned so much and have been able to make immediate changes to how I present myself. I feel so much better as I am caring for myself and making myself a priority.

Perhaps one of the best books I've ever read on the topic of makeover in mature ladies. One really gets one's money worth. So many excellent tips , with full détails, on makeover in every possible aspect. Of course, lots of pages over hairdos, but also the way to good grooming, to presentation. Over 300 pages of clearly presented, captivating pièces of advice, and inspiring pictures. I bought it for one of my friends and she followed the tips and had her hair cut and coloured, her make-up changed, her wardrobe also, and now she's so happy and getting lots of compliments at work and even in the street .

I definintely recommend it. Also lots of funny examples and Christopher's got humour and knows his job to perfection.