Beauty Lab : How Science Is Changing the Way We Look

Gr 5-10--Despite its high-tech sounding subtitle, this look at teenage health and hygiene does not concentrate on gene manipulation or plastic surgery. Chapters on skin, eyes, teeth, fitness, and hair are introduced and paired with typical, but fictional, teenage health problems. The structure and function of each feature is described in detail and, in the case of eyes and teeth, accompanied by a clearly labeled diagram. Standard preventive measures and treatments are promoted for acne, solar skin damage, tooth decay and periodontal disease, vision problems, and dissatisfaction with hair. Warnings against smoking, junk food, bleaching teeth with over-the-counter products, and exposure to sunlight are mild but clear about their physical ramifications and effects on general health. Brief histories of practices and beliefs about beauty and health lead to descriptions of current practices. Interesting details such as why shampoos and conditioners make hair shiny and various techniques for removing unwanted hair keep this from being an ordinary teen-grooming advice handbook. A few tips on ways to avoid focusing on one's looks or judging others by their appearance end the main text. A one-page "activity section" describes experiments that can reveal how fast fingernails grow or how well one cleans teeth by ordinary brushing.

Ann G. Brouse, Big Flats Branch Library, NY

Copyright 1997 Cahners Business Information, Inc.