This is a fantastic account, by Ruth Brandon, of the scandalous history behind L’Oreal, the world’s largest beauty company controlled by the recently embattled billionaire Lilian Bettencourt. As you may recall, the modern cosmetics industry was significantly impacted by a Polish Jew and a Frenchman with Nazi ties: Helena Rubinstein and Eugene Schueller, respectively. This book tells how they each founded a skincare business, succeeded beyond their dreams and then fought to preserve their empires. The interesting thing here is the difference in vision between Rubinstein and Schueller. While her business was founded on home remedies and her personal charisma, his developed after numerous scientific tests and lab work in his hair-dye shop. Schueller emerged victorious, of course; Brandon uses the conflict to question the standards of beauty and the role politics and business play in that arena. A good read.