I’m a Bibliophilic Beauty Editor—These 13 Chic Coffee Table Books Are Brimming With Inspo
Throughout my career as a beauty editor, there have been moments that have truly defined my experience. One of the most notable was trying out my first luxury perfume that I had grown up seeing in my mother’s bathroom, and another tugged on the heartstrings because it tapped into literature, one of my great loves. I had been given a book on Black Hollywood beauty for my birthday while living just minutes from the sign and the studio back lots some of my favorite beauty icons had seen as they made history on the silver screen. Not only did I draw endless inspiration from the looks found on the book’s pages, but I also learned about each of these individuals who inspired my style.
From then on, I began to hunt for beauty coffee table books that I could proudly display in my home. In the three apartments I’ve had since 2020, I’ve showcased my favorite beauty books on the wood, marble, and glass coffee tables that captured each of my eras. I’ve even contributed to one by Who What Wear in celebration of our Beauty Awards. Wondering about the books I can’t stop gushing over? Keep scrolling to discover the 13 I would buy if I didn’t already have them in my collection or on my list for the next trip to the bookstore.
(Image credit: Courtesy of Jamie Schneider)
The Best Beauty Coffee Table Books, Listed
The Ordinary
The Ordinary: Ingredients
The Ordinary: Ingredients takes a deep dive into the active ingredients in its formulas with intel from the scientists who created the brand. The Ordinary launched in 2016 with the mission to “reject the status quo in favor of authenticity and integrity,” and this book details exactly how they made it happen.
Aerin and Jane Lauder
Estée Lauder
Told through personal letters, family photographs, company archives, and more, Estée Lauder: A Beautiful Life is the inspiring story of businesswoman, matriarch, innovator, and visionary Estée Lauder as told by her granddaughters Aerin and Jane Lauder. In it, readers get an in-depth look at how Lauder succeeded in building her cosmetic empire while maintaining a fulfilling family life. The gorgeous book comes with a silk hardcover that’s designed to be seen.
Nichelle Gainer
Vintage Black Glamour
I received this one as a gift while living in Los Angeles a few years ago, and it resparked my love for Black Hollywood glamour. Serving as a true record of the beauty of some of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood during its golden era, Vintage Black Glamour shares rarely seen photographs of Black actors, models, writers, and entertainers alongside in-depth profiles on Eartha Kitt, Diana Ross, Josephine Baker, and more.
Michelle Wong
The Science of Beauty
As fun as shopping for new skincare products can be, the process tends to feel overwhelming when you’re not entirely sure what needs to be in your lineup. In her book The Science of Beauty, cosmetic chemist and content creator Michelle Wong, PhD, answers hundreds of frequently asked questions across the skincare and beauty space with helpful infographics and the latest research.
Laurence Benaïm
Guerlain
Guerlain has a long history in the world of fragrance, and its legendary Flacon Abeilles aka Bee Bottle has its own legacy. This book celebrates its 170th anniversary as a symbol of craftsmanship through illuminating text from author Laurence Benaïm combined with historical and contemporary imagery. It’s the perfect introduction to the perfume and cosmetic house for anyone who loves the brand or just loves a stunning fragrance.
If you ever wondered how Byredo creates its viral fragrances (many of which Who What Wear has written love letters to over the years), consider snagging this coffee table book for your collection. In it, Theresa Müller shares how creative director and former professional basketball player Ben Gorham launched Byredo in 2006, the unique philosophy behind the brand’s niche scents, its notable expansion into candles, and more.
Emily Oberg
The Sporty & Rich Wellness Book
Authored by Sporty & Rich founder Emily Oberg, the book has interviews, articles, and essays on health, skin, nutrition, fitness and more. It features advice from some of the health industry’s top experts, touching on everything from the importance of maintaining a balanced diet to landing on an effective skincare routine with some helpful basics. It also displays original imagery by Purienne and Yana Shept that demands to be seen.
You may have been told to eat your greens growing up to get stronger, but did you know that what you consume contributes to skin health? Eat Beautiful, authored by London-based makeup artist and beauty expert Wendy Rowe, explores what goes into nourishing your skin with over 70 delicious recipes and helpful beauty tips to keep the complexion glowing.
Anne Berest, Fabienne Reybaud, and Marion Vignal
Chanel 3-Book Slipcase
The only thing better than one gorgeous coffee table book is a set of three for $90. This updated trilogy by Chanel and Assouline celebrates the house with a slipcase set of three Mémoire volumes: Chanel Fashion, Chanel Jewelry and Watches, and Chanel Fragrance and Beauty authored by Anne Berest, Fabienne Reybaud, and Marion Vignal respectively. Each one demonstrates the heritage of the brand with eye-catching illustrations and photographs.
Gestalten and Kari Molvar
The New Beauty
Beauty, culture, and fashion will always be interconnected, and this relationship is explored in The New Beauty. In it, Kari Molvar takes a closer look at the history shared between the beauty industry and the rigid societal ideals that have continued to fuel consumer and brand behavior. Every page reveals another layer, exploring historical, scientific, and journalistic perspectives that trace the evolution of the beauty ideal.
Mihaela Noroc
The Atlas of Beauty
While not speaking to the beauty industry itself, The Atlas of Beauty by Mihaela Noroc is a collection of photographs of 500 women from more than 50 countries accompanied by their personal stories. Since 2013, Noroc has traveled the world with her camera to capture the diversity of the beauty that surrounds us, from the bustling markets of India to the equally lively streets of Harlem. I discovered Noroc’s work just after she began her photography project and keep this one permanently displayed on my coffee table.
Antigone Schilling
Guerlain
If you can’t get enough of Guerlain beauty, I recommend adding a second book from the brand to your coffee table. Author Antigone Schilling takes a close look at the brand’s nearly two hundred years of tradition and innovation using eye-catching sketches and illustrations. Its cover features one of the brand’s scents, but the book also explores its contributions to makeup and skincare.
In this New York Times best seller, makeup artist Lisa Eldridge explores the history of makeup, tracing its origins from Egyptian and classical roots to today and tomorrow with bright, inspiring imagery and larger-than-life industry stories from beauty founders, including Charles Revson, Elizabeth Arden, Estée Lauder, and Helena Rubinstein. I also love how this book focuses on the actual materials used to bring iconic beauty moments to life for icons like Marilyn Monroe and Amy Winehouse.
How I Chose
As with all of our buying guides at Who What Wear, we compile our edits based on original testing and expert recommendations. To round up the best beauty coffee table books on the market, I leaned on my background in beauty and literature as well as my firsthand experience with the book selection. As part of my research, I considered several factors, including presentation, expert contributions to the text, imagery, price point, and accessibility. I’m aware of how important these factors are for a wide range of preferences, so I made sure to list out all the helpful details. Of course, customer reviews were also kept in mind when creating this list.
Why Trust Who What Wear
At Who What Wear, we know that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all. Over the years, our editors have tested thousands of products—including skincare, makeup, haircare, and nails—while also working closely with trusted experts, like renowned dermatologists, celebrity makeup artists, and other leading industry insiders. Together, this ensures every guide is well-researched, inclusive, and relevant to you.
We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favorites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how, and what we’d truly recommend to our closest friends and family members.
