Every woman in my circle cops to a fascination with the science-meets-self-care world of serums, masks and exfoliants. That said, I feel desperate for a trail guide when I walk into Sephora. Enter Fresh Face, which defines skin care as integral to well-being. Mandi Nyambi lays out routines for different skin types, concerns and situations. (A few favorites are “When You’re on a 14-Hour Flight,” “Broke B*itch” and “After a Day of Mansplaining.”) She introduces the cutting-edge concept of the microbiome, “the ecosystem of microorganisms . . . that live in and around the surface of the skin,” noting that bacteria can in fact be your buddies when it comes to a clear complexion. My 11-year-old wrinkled her nose at this idea, but I suspect this book will be a useful tool for her in years to come.
Valiant Women is a vital and engrossing attempt to correct the record and rightfully celebrate the achievements of female veterans of World War II.
