Photo: Courtesy of the retailer.

Welcome to Reading Lists, comprehensive book guides from the Strategist designed to make you an expert (or at least a fascinating dinner party companion) on hyperspecific or newsworthy subjects, like North Korea or wine. Here, we’ve found the best skin-care books, according to beauty brand founders, editors, and skin-care professionals.

For this primer on skin care, we consulted a range of enthusiasts who have made skin care and beauty their livelihood. Our informal panel includes Jean Godfrey-June, the executive beauty editor at Goop; Tara Foley, founder and CEO of green beauty emporium Follain; celebrity aesthetician Renee Rouleau; beauty editor and columnist Jane Larkworthy; Tata Harper, founder of Tata Harper Skincare; Victoria Tsai, founder of Tatcha and author of Pure Skin; Jina Kim, co-founder of Circumference; Kirsten Carriol, founder and CEO of Lanolips; Tara Pelletier, co-founder of Meow Meow Tweet; Jana Blankenship, founder of Captain Blankenship; and plastic surgeon Melissa Doft.

We asked each expert for a short list of their favorite and most essential skin care reads. The bulk of the ones recommended here were mentioned by at least two experts, but because the landscape of beauty books is vast, we added some of our own suggestions that were too good not to include, too.

The best all-around books on skin care

Pretty Iconic: A Personal Look at the Beauty Products That Changed the World, by Sali Hughes $30 now 30% off $21 Journalist and former beauty editor Sali Hughes got her start in beauty as an assistant to makeup artist Lynne Easton, eventually moving on to features writing and columns for publications like The Guardian. It’s unsurprising, then, that her book Pretty Iconic — which comes recommended by two experts — is thorough, chronicling over 200 skin care and beauty innovations of the past and present, from Nars’ Orgasm blush to Sunday Riley. Larkworthy calls it a “rather addictive” who’s-who of beauty heavyweights, “peppered with [Hughes’s] personal opinions, relatable memories and industry-wise facts.” It can be dangerous for beauty fanatics, though. Carriol — whose Lano 101 Ointment, full disclosure, was included in this book — says, “I have bought many things from this book, from AHA acids to eyelash glue. It’s great for people who want their research done for them.” $21 at Amazon Buy $21 at Amazon Buy

High Vibrational Beauty: Recipes & Rituals for Radical Self Care, by Kerrilynn Pamer and Cindy Diprima Morisse $28 now 36% off $18 This year’s High Vibrational Beauty is both a photo-laden coffee table skimmer and an informational primer: it was another popular choice suggested by two experts. Written by the founders of CAP Beauty — the wellness store and spa that sells adaptogen-heavy tea, mineral bath soaks, and probiotic powder — the book offers up plant-based wellness recipes and rituals, that come illustrated with lush food flat-lays and colorful spreads. The book, some would say, has a mood-altering effect. Blankenship calls it a “feast for the senses,” while Larkworthy says, “I feel my blood pressure decrease any time I leaf through this tome—from the comforting and clarifying tone with which they present each topic and chapter, to the empowering knowledge they impart, to the very chic still-lifes.” $18 at Amazon Buy $18 at Amazon Buy

Plant-Powered Beauty: The Essential Guide to Using Natural Ingredients for Health, Wellness, and Personal Skincare, by Amy Galper and Christina Daigneault $22 now 18% off $18 Three of our experts recommended Plant-Powered Beauty, a book for the DIY-er who wants to mix up skin, hair, and aromatherapy salves at home. It was co-authored by New York Institute of Aromatherapy founder Amy Galper, whom Foley calls “the foremost expert on essential oils” and who Doft considers a personal mentor for her own skin care line. The book contains over 50 DIY recipes, breaking down the benefits of each botanical ingredient involved. And there’s nothing too earthy that you’d actually have to scavenge for: “The easy-to-make recipes contain many ingredients that are probably already in your kitchen,” Blankenship says. “It is a celebration of the beauty and efficacy of plant-based ingredients.” $18 at Amazon Buy $18 at Amazon Buy

Goop Clean Beauty, by the editors of Goop $30 now 73% off $8 This Gwyneth Paltrow book, which was recommended by two of our experts, taps Goop’s network of experts and editors for detox recipes, skin care and hair advice, plus fitness routines (there’s one specifically for “tech-necks”). Goop certainly has its critics, but Larkworthy says, “No matter where you fall on the GP applause-meter (to Yoni or not to Yoni?) this book is undeniably enticing.” And despite her yoga-shunning, red meat-eating habits, she still finds it an insightful read: “I’ve dog-eared about every other recipe and hear myself utter ‘Huh’ just about every time I turn the page.” Godfrey-June’s a bit biased since she had a hand in the book, but suggests it for the person who’s truly confounded on how to lead a non-toxic lifestyle: “There’s hardly a product on the market that isn’t labeled with ‘natural’ stickers all over it. This book sets out some standards to live by.” $8 at Amazon Buy $8 at Amazon Buy

An Atlas of Natural Beauty: Botanical Ingredients for Retaining and Enhancing Beauty, by Victoire de Taillac and Ramdane Touhami $27 now 26% off $20 An illustrated coffee-table book for a skincare person or a budding botanist, this one takes an encyclopedic look at beauty-enhancing botanicals — apricot oil, jojoba, jasmine, argan oil, and many more — and their many uses. An Atlas of Natural Beauty was written by the founders of Paris’s famous apothecary L’Officine Universelle Buly and released this past November (so it would make a timely holiday gift). It earned high praise from Larkworthy, who deems the book “just as chic as their iconic beauty boutique” and “a must-have for any beauty-curious person who can’t resist a DIY recipe or a gorgeous font.” In addition to being a beautiful book, Kim finds it informative, too: “Understanding the root of how your skincare products work through their ingredients is often more important than your routine itself. This book is a beautiful exploration of the many powerful natural ingredients that are used in beauty today.” $20 at Amazon Buy $20 at Amazon Buy

Renegade Beauty: Reveal and Revive Your Natural Radiance–Beauty Secrets, Solutions, and Preparations, by Nadine Artemis $26 now 23% off $20 Renegade Beauty, written by essential oil guru Nadine Artemis, also topped our list: it’s all about simplifying your self-care routine by turning to nature, and makes specific plant-based recommendations for treating skin conditions like keratosis pilaris. “Poetic and full of wisdom, Artemis’s writing is passionate and she is the perfect guide to take you to the heart of botanical beauty,” says Blankenship. And the book’s breadth — which covers topics like diet, dental care, and general body care — really impressed Foley, who deems it “one of the best books yet on holistic beauty.” $20 at Amazon Buy $20 at Amazon Buy

Additional picks from our experts

Eat Beautiful: Food and Recipes to Nourish Your Skin from the Inside Out, by Wendy Rowe $30 now 37% off $19 Wendy Rowe’s a makeup artist — her clients include Cara Delevingne and Sienna Miller, who writes the foreword for the book — but she’s also skilled in the kitchen. Her new book, Eat Beautiful, is a collection of recipes of sumptuous, skin-enhancing foods like banana popsicles and quinoa salad, plus a skin care guide: ingredients like pomegranates are highlighted for their skin benefits, and the book also shares recipes for DIY masks, scrubs, and cleansers. It’s been praised by fashion friends like Cristopher Bailey and Victoria Beckham, and even by skin care experts like Tsai, who says: “Eat Beautiful reminds us that our skin is simply our body’s largest organ, and reflects our diets as well as our lifestyles, sleep habits, and more.” $19 at Amazon Buy $19 at Amazon Buy

Ageless Beauty the French Way: Secrets from Three Generations of French Beauty Editors, by Clemence von Meuffling $27 now 15% off $23 And if you’ve always been mystified by how French women look so well-preserved, Clemence von Meuffling, who earned her stripes at major French beauty houses like Puig and Dior, divulges some family secrets in her new book, Ageless Beauty the French Way. Her pedigree comes in handy here: both her mother and grandmother were former beauty editors at French Vogue, and they offer their own advice spanning skincare, beauty, and hair. This was Harper’s only book recommendation: “I adore author Clemence von Mueffling and feel this book is such a treasure. French women are so effortless, but to look so effortless takes time! It’s a super easy and enjoyable read.” $23 at Amazon Buy $23 at Amazon Buy

get the strategist newsletter Actually good deals, smart shopping advice, and exclusive discounts. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Terms & Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us.

The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.

Every editorial product is independently selected. If you buy something through our links, New York may earn an affiliate commission.