Beat Disappointment on Valentine’s Day

February 14, 2013 By Leave a Comment

This time of year, the internet is filled with gift guides and ideas on how to make this Valentine’s Day the most special one yet.  If you find yourself less than ecstatic this time of year, no worries- you are not alone.

I’ve found that this holiday  brings on an exceptional amount of pressure for everyone, single or not. People are either worried about what to purchase someone or worried they have no one to purchase for.

I’m here to tell you, Valentine’s Day is NOT the be it all, end all. Not to mention, you don’t have to celebrate the holiday with a significant other. I personally enjoy exchanging gifts with close friends and family.

If you are single, or that special someone has completely dropped the ball this year, don’t worry. You can have your own special celebration. Everyone will choose differently  based on personality, budget, etc. but here are some ideas on how to achieve a kick ass Valentine’s Day.

Go to the movies: I know some people will say this is a bad idea because a chick-flick can be a painful reminder that you are single or not getting a Hollywood fantasy- but I don’t. Sometimes it’s really nice to see romance played out on screen. I can be happy other people are happy… even if it’s a fictional story.

Celebrate Yourself: Buy that new item you’ve been looking at for weeks or go somewhere new. A restaurant, a Bookstore, a Cafe.  A change of view can do wonders and you will be happy you treated yourself the way you should :)

Chill with some Friends: And I don’t just mean an Anti-Valentine’s Day party.  But really go out and have fun. Hit the club, Hang out Downtown, whatever just get the hell out. I mean what’s worse than sitting around alone contemplating something that bothers you. Turn the day around and go have fun. If you’re a lady, gather your best girlfriends, put on something fun & sexy and go paint the town red. Who knows, by the end of the night you may not be single anymore ;P

Did I mention flowers make everyone happy? Go buy yourself some freaking awesome flowers.

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Megan Fox: A Poor, Beautiful Damsel.

January 17, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Every once in a while, something comes around that shocks and disgusts me. Today, it was Escquire magazine author Stephen Marche.

MeganFoxBeforeAndAfter

^^Megan Fox Before & After her Plastic Surgery^^

Marche wrote an article about Megan Fox and her difficulties as a very beautiful woman. Her face is perfectly symmetrical and bombshell beauties like her are becoming an antiquity.

[ Related: Women Who Kick Cinema Butt ]

According to Marche: “Women no longer need to be beautiful in order to express their talent.” Lena Dunham and Adele and Lady Gaga and Amy Adams are all perfectly plain, and they are all at the top of their field.”

[ Celebs Without Makeup or Photoshop ]

 First off: Who the hell is Stephen Marche to assume he is the authority on what beautiful is? Secondly: last time I checked, you didn’t need to look like Megan Fox to have a wonderful singing voice, an amazing performance on screen, OR to be beautiful for that matter.

But Marche feels we’ve lost something  “Because creativity is, was, and always will be sexual.”

So ladies, if you have one hair out of place or if you are not Megan Fox, just go ahead and throw in the towel.

[ French Elle uses Curvy Model on Cover ]

I realize this post is sounding very much like a rant (and basically, it is) but I decided that if word doesn’t get out about this, then people (like Stephen Marche) will continue having their shallow & small minded thoughts. Maybe he will stumble across my (or one of the many) articles on the topic and start living in 2013. Where women don’t live in a kitchen and are also allowed to vote.

Filed Under: Confidence, Opinion Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Makeup Love, Personal Update & The New Blog

January 15, 2013 By 2 Comments

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I’m not totally sure where to begin this post. Things have been hectic (as always) but i’ m feeling so good about 2013. I’ve been waiting a while for this year to come around. I won’t go into great detail about that, as I plan on posting more about it on the new blog: www.CortneySalerno.com.

The new blog isn’t necessarily “brand new”, but it’s been sitting idle while i’ve been brainstorming ideas. I hadn’t been completely sure what I wanted for the site specifically. Luckily i’ve got that question answered and we’re just fine tuning the design. CortneySalerno.com is going to be a database for all of my Projects & Blogs. CS.com is intended to be more “personal” and less edited. You can find out what is going on with me personally and what new venture i’m on to next.

I wanted to write an apology to those of you whom I haven’t been able to respond to as of late. I still have your comments and messages, i’ve just been stretched SO thin lately.  I will be getting back to all of you shortly though- don’t give up on me <3

Keep up with me at: facebook/cosmeticsbycortney

For those of you that follow CBC’s YouTube, stay tuned for new videos in the following weeks. I’m going to have lots of new Beauty Reviews and I think a new giveaway announcement as well ;P

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Just a Personal Note From the Author

December 9, 2012 By 3 Comments

*This was my post from last week with a few additions. Life has been crazy…. u know how that goes! :)

If you’ve read any of my recent articles then you’ve probably seen my promises to post personal updates  here on Cosmetics By Cortney. I don’t usually like to make my life the main focus of my  beauty blog, but a post here and there couldn’t hurt. This might end up being a little long winded, so feel free to skip it if you wish- no offense taken! :)

I wanted to start off by thanking each and every one of you that stops by my blog. Whether you’ve been here once and read one review  or you stop by every day to check and see what’s new. I honestly appreciate all of you.

Right now i’m going through a lot of transitions and working to balance life and work. The same thing I imagine everyone else is trying to do. I had a fantastic Thanksgiving, more than I could have hoped for. One of my sisters flew here to visit and we had a great time catching up. Like most people we cooked (and consumed) way too much food. Good times as always. I hope you all had as great of a Thanksgiving as I did.

I was unfortunate enough to catch the flu this last Thursday, which was a major bummer. I had to miss work on Friday and I could barely walk on my own until Saturday due to my body aches. The sore throat and headaches were total torture and i’m still not completely over it! This was a good lesson for me though. I’m always running around trying to carry more than I should hold. This makeup-free weekend of relaxing and just trying to feel better has given me plenty of time to reflect on things. I’ve really gotta make more time for myself. I’m always telling everyone else to do it and I do TRY, but I seem to get side tracked somehow. Even the little things I used to do for myself have fallen to the wayside lately. Any tips are much appreciated on this matter!

On a brighter note, i’ ve been catching up on old episodes of one of my all-time-favorite t.v. shows: Frasier. I know this humor isn’t for everyone, but I find it hilarious! It never fails to make me smile. I’m smiling just thinking about it. Haha

The weather has been grey and cast over here in L.A. I couldn’t be happier! I have that reverse weather thing where i’ m cranky and unhappy on sunny days. Bummer for someone who lives in Los Angeles!

I guess that about raps up my update. If you want to see more of these, please comment or message me and let me know. XOXO

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What To Do if Your Boyfriend “Hates” When You Wear Makeup

November 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment


I know this is a common problem for many women. There are quite a few guys out there that say they “hate” makeup… Whether they have some notion that women who wear makeup are fake, or that only unattractive women wear makeup.. I have pretty much heard it all.

First of all, it’s your face and your wallet- so if you wanna wear makeup that is your choice. Obviously it wouldn’t be right for you to have to change your appearance just because of your BF’s preferences. With that being said, there are a few things you can do to get your boyfriend to be a little more makeup friendly and ease up on the comments about your makeup.

1) When he asks you something along the lines of “Why do you wear makeup” you can simply let him know that you enjoy the application process (much like an artist enjoys painting) and express your love for colors and texture. (It wouldn’t hurt to make a comparison to something similar that he likes- perhaps the rims on his car?)

2) If your boyfriend makes false accusations such as: “Fake Girls Wear Makeup” or “You Only Wear It Because you Feel Unattractive” I would go ahead and point out that you DO wear makeup, and ask him if he thinks you’re fake. (I’m not promoting World War 3 here, but I mean- come on!)

3) If your boyfriend sincerely prefers your face without makeup and requests it, maybe you could find some common ground and have an “All Natural” date day. This is similar to when women ask men to shave (or not, in some cases). Maybe he’s trying to play out a fantasy in his head. He can be Tarzan- you can be Jane :)

[ Related: How to Tell Your Skin Type ]

4) There are also the men that claim “They’ve never liked women who wear makeup” (Yeah, right). In this instance I would remind him how fond he is of you, and that you DO wear makeup. Next,  this is your opportunity to Google some images of his favorite female celebrities and point out exactly how much makeup they are wearing.

Although many men don’t understand what wearing makeup is actually about, most will see your side of things if you explain it correctly to them. This typically means being very logical or trying your best to speak their language.

Feel Free To Comment With any Tips of Your Own!

*Note: If you’re dating someone who causes you to have low self esteem or who is making rude remarks about your appearance, you need to shop around for a new man. We’re all beautiful. with or without makeup.

Filed Under: Beauty, Confidence, Opinion Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Women Who Kicked Major Cinema Ass this Year

September 2, 2012 By 3 Comments

This year, we have definitely took a turn away from the whole ‘Damsel in Distress- How Could I Ever Manage On My Own?’ attitude. For the majority of Cinema history, women have been portrayed as weak and in need of help in order to take care of themselves. As a Feminist, it gets frustrating to go to the movies when women are constantly either helpless or objectified. I wanted to take the time to praise the people who wrote/ directed content that portrayed women in a capable light.

It has been so refreshing to see some Heroines on the big screen in 2012!

Here are some of my favorites:

Kate Beckinsale:

I’ve already adored this woman since I first saw Underworld in theatres. She played Selene, a Death Dealer in the Vampire world exceptionally well. I hoped she would reprise more action roles in the future. And then my wish was granted. Kate Beckinsale played the role of Lori in the movie Total Recall. This was one of my favorite movies this summer and this is largely in part due to her. Kate’s action scenes were awesome- she did more than compete with Colin Farrell. Aside from that, she does a fantastic job at playing the bad guy. Lycans’ and Spys’ alike: You’ve been warned.

Anne Hathaway:

I’ve watched my share of Anne Hathaway movies. The first I ever saw of her was in the Princess Diaries. Anyone who has seen those movies, knows she has come a long way since. I’m not going to lie, when I first heard she would be playing Selena Kyle/ Cat Woman I was  pretty disappointed. I hadn’t seen her in hardly any gritty roles and I just didn’t think she would play a very good villain. After seeing The Dark Knight Rises I saw in a  whole new light. This woman could spit out incredibly sassy one-liners, kick ass, and still have every hair in place with her eyeliner flawless. Anne Hathaway is definitely cat like if i’ve ever seen it!

Oh and big thanks to Christopher Nolan for making her Strong and Sexy without making her an object. Some writers/ directors haven’t quite grasped this concept yet.

Scarlett Johansson:

I was already familiar with Scarlett Johansson as The Black Widow but again, I wasn’t THAT excited. It was great to see a female lead in the Tony Stark world of Iron Man but for whatever reason she didn’t sell it to me. I was MUCH more impressed with her performance in The Avengers. Her action shots seemed much more precise and honed. To top it off her personality was much more realistic. I actually believed that she felt confident in the Avengers- as opposed to hoping it looked that way.

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Feminists Don’t Wear Makeup and Other Misconceptions

August 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I’ve been studying feminism for a  few years now and i’ve been a feminist my entire life. It’s amazing the sort of things you hear from people in regards to Feminism. Here are some of my favorites:

“All Feminists are Lesbians.”

 “Feminists Don’t Wear Makeup.”

“If You Practice Feminism, Then You Burn Your Bras.” 

“If You’re a Feminist, That Means You Hate Men.”

“Men Can’t Be Feminists.”

“We Want MORE than Men.”

“Feminism is Obsolete.” 

“Feminist Men Are Always Gay.”

The above quotes  take the cake on the subject of ignorance. Feminists don’t want to take over the world, Force your children into homosexuality, or dominate the Male sex.

[Related: Celebrity Photos Without Photoshop]

Being a Feminist is about the choice to make your own decisions; *Respecting yourself. It’s about being Separate but Equal to Men. It’s about believing you should make the same amount of money as your male co-worker for doing the same work. Last but not least, Feminism is about being comfortable with who you are and what you look like. We are all individuals, not cookie cutters. We are all beautiful.

If I wanna wear lipstick and purple eyeshadow, that’s my choice. If I don’t wanna wear a damn thing on my face, that’s still my choice. It doesn’t make me less of a Feminist, in fact- it’s what MAKES me a Feminist :)

[Related: Levi Jeans Outrageous Definition of a Size Curvy]

When you Really Think About the Facts, Feminism isn’t very radical. It’s just realistic.

As the Author of this beauty blog, I want my readers to know how much I support Feminism. It’s an important subject to me and i’d be happy to discuss the topic or answer any questions. Just use that little “contact” tab to the left on the homepage or message me via Facebook.

XOXO

Cortney

  

Filed Under: Confidence, Opinion Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Avoid These Summer Beauty Mistakes

July 10, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Wet and Wild:

Under no circumstances should you jump into a body of water with makeup on unless it is all water-proof. Aside from looking like a member of KISS, you’re likely to have burning and irritation in your eyes from your mascara. This is a big no-no.

Over-Moisturizing:

We all know that less is usually more in the beauty world. But when it comes to skincare products don’t feel the need to add 3 layers of everything. Just remember to reapply your sunblock as needed and continue with your normal amount of moisturizer. If you’re not careful- you could end up sweating it out all day.

Neglecting Your Feet:

It’s kind of funny that mankind was built to walk upright, but our tootsies are one of the most sensitive spots on our body. Be sure to give them extra love and attention during the summer. Between sweating in your sneakers and drying out in your flip-flops, it’s a hard life for a pair feet. Be sure to find a nice foot lotion and give yourself a daily massage. You’ll feel like a princess almost immediately ;P

Caked-On Powder:

While this is really a beauty no no for any time of year, this is especially common in the Summer months. Many women try to over-compensate for their oily complexion by adding extra powder to their face- but this is not the solution. If you are worried about excess oil production or over sweating, try purchasing some oil blotting pads. These can be found for a few dollars at your local convenience stores and also at Sephora for a little more money (around $8.00). Use these a few times a day to gently remove the excess oil and sweat without messing up your makeup. If you over do the powder, you will end up looking like a China Doll gone wrong.

Over Tanning:

We’ve all heard it before. But over-tanning is not “in” anymore… one could argue it never was. Aside from looking like you might be from another planet of little orange men, this is unsafe for your skin. Keep healthy this summer and use a sunblock. Ask your Dermatologist how much sun exposure is safe each day.

What is your Biggest Beauty Mistake?

Filed Under: Beauty, Opinion Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Stars Who Said “NO” to Photoshop

April 17, 2012 By 4 Comments

How nice it is to see some wonderful celebrities who are more than comfortable with how they look un-retouched. Recently there were some fantastic photos released showing stars photoshop free. A few names shown were:

  • Cate Blanchett, who in my opinion looks so distinguished. I hope to pull that off at 42.
  • Taylor Swift, who appeared unretouched and 100% makeup free in People Magazine’s 2008 “100 Most Beautiful People” Issue. As if we needed another reason to love this beautiful girl.
  • Britney Spears, who is a long time face of Candies was very unhappy about the retouching done to her photos. To show how proud she was of her body, and how unrealistic ads can be, she requested the original photos be released. Check them out side by side below. You really have to pay close attention to her legs to see a barely-there difference anyway.
  • Kim Kardashian, When Complex accidentally posted an unretouched photo of her to their website, readers immediately trashed Kim for having a little cellulite. Complex replaced the photo, but Kim posted the original to her website. “So what: I have a little cellulite,” she wrote on her blog. “What curvy girl doesn’t?”

Despite certain media outlets (like Redbook magazine) insisting that their retouching of a Faith Hill photo was “completely in line with industry standards”. As if that were the point! There have been many stars who were unhappy to see their photos tinkered with.

Why do we all need to look like a Barbie doll? In the real world, who wants to resemble plastic?

In a previous article, we celebrated Elle Magazine  for featuring plus size model Tara Lynn on the front cover (typically unheard of for the majority of magazines). With changes like these on the rise, it would seem many of us are making a huge leap in the right direction. Taylor Swift No Photoshop

Kim KardashianBritney Spears No PhotoshopSee: Levi Jeans thinks they know what
“Curvy” is 

And: Top 5 Lipstick Shades for Spring

Also: Latest Fruit Facial: Skin Perk

 

Filed Under: Confidence, News, Opinion Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Sexy Prom Dresses Banned from High Schools

March 30, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Schools all over are placing new restrictions on their dress code for prom. Administrators are concerned over the increase in provocative attire over the years. They feel that girls in the High School age range should dress more “appropriately” and with more… respect. This new announcement has been met with many positive reviews. Parents and Administration alike are blaming t.v. shows such as Dancing With The Stars for the increase of sexy attire.

I have to say that we’ve been pushing the limit on “over sexualized” for years now. Although, I will mention that some of the photos shown aren’t quite as bad as I was expecting. To be completely honest, every girl wants to feel beautiful at prom. While I do agree that women are WAY overly sexualized to an insane degree in the media, I don’t see anything wrong with showing  a little skin on prom night. I.E: Strapless Gowns or Dresses with Slits around mid-lower thigh level. It’s a whole different ball game if we are talking about a thin, tight dress that only extends to the very bottom of a girls butt or one that has less coverage than a bikini on top.

Girls- particularly those in High School  have so much in their face constantly reminding them that they need to exude a sexy or sexual image… I can see why they would feel a desire to wear a skimpy dress. It’s up to the parents, older siblings, and close mentors of teenage girls to promote a positive and healthy self image  and show girls how easy it is to be sexy without being sexual.

Hopefully the administrative staff of these schools will play fair. Many times administrators will go over-board with rules to the point of it being ridiculous. As i’ve stated above, I don’t think that a dress should be banned because it is strapless… just use common sense people.

 

See: Top 5 Lipstick Shades for Spring

*Be sure to check out my: Pinterest Pinboard for Prom Dresses

See: My latest On-The-Go Fruit Facial

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