The average American spends approximately $588 on personal care products each year. People would like to know whether these expensive items work and whether they are safe to use. Cosmetic chemist Romanowski and the creators of thebeautybrains.com have compiled the most frequently asked questions from that website along with information about the history of cosmetics, how they work, and how cosmetic companies advertise. The Q&A format offers brief explanations with basic information about topics such as how hair dyes work, why lip balm seems to be addictive, and the pros and cons of products with fragrance. The authors include a list of other useful websites for further information, an explanation of cosmetic labels and how to read them, and references for each chapter.