Things I Love Thursday

Enjoy!

It's Time To Be Happy http://www.cosmeticsbycortney.com

It is time.

Things I Love Thursdays

This dress is fabulous

Dream Closet

I would be so happy if I was this organized. That shoe case is so nice!

Not a Single Damn. Things I Love Thursdays.

I do not know the source for this. But it is hilarious. I want this framed and in my house.

Rainbow Fruit

Flavor

Things I Love Thursday

I miss Disneyland. There is no other word for it: Magical.

How To Choose an Outfit (The Man’s Guide)

How to Choose an Outfit (A Man's Guide)

I know that for many men, choosing an outfit can be difficult. Our society spends so much time focusing on women’s fashion, that men can feel a little confused and maybe even left out. Just keep in mind, there are plenty of options available for men to choose from. If you’re feeling like your closet is a bit sparse, splurge on a few new wardrobe choices for yourself. This is a gift that will keep on giving.

Consider These Things when Choosing an Outfit For The Day:

[  Related: Why Men Should Practice Good Skincare  ]

1) What is the Weather like today?

If it’s a chilly day out, be sure to wear long pants, a jacket and a nice scarf to go with the ensemble. Also, I highly recommend gloves and maybe even a trapper hat- if you’re feeling adventurous.

2) Who will I run into?

If  you’re going out and about to run errands such as washing the car and going to the grocery store, you probably don’t want to wear a blazer and dress pants. Just keep in mind, you never know who you might run in to; A business colleague, a beautiful woman? One must always be prepared. Just remember you’ll want to look presentable; Just in case.

3) What do Women Want?

I’ll be honest, women can be just as superficial as men when it comes to noticing a potential mate. You like a girl with curves? Perhaps a tight skirt with some nice long legs? Well I have news for you: We like those well fitted (not skinny) jeans and some broad shoulders with that nice button up shirt. When we are picking a man out of the line up, you’ll want to stand out.

4) How Important is it for you to look Professional?

Are you currently job hunting? Or looking for prospective clients? A nice outfit can go a long way when trying to make a positive and memorable first impression.

For those of you boggled by the fashion world, don’t worry. Once you get the hang of it, picking out clothes will be a fun experience. If you’re stumped for ideas, or need a little inspiration- Feel free to check out my Pinterest boards specifically for Men’s fashion.

If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to comment below or email me directly.

Top Five Lipstick Shades for Winter

If you were ever in the mood to go bold with your Lipstick Color- Now is the time. Winter is a great season to show off the solid colors in your wardrobe and use contrasting lipstick colors to match. If you’re a little apprehensive about wearing bold lipstick shades, I recommend reading: Everyone Can Wear Red Lipstick- Even You!  

Below are the Top 5 Lipstick Shades to wear during the Winter and Fall Months. Although there are so many beautiful colors to choose from, i’ve narrowed it down to just five. Don’t forget- if you want long lasting lipstick, be sure to use a good Lip Primer

[ RELATED: Top 5 Lipstick Shades for Spring ]

Be sure to comment if you have any additions you feel deserved to make the list!

Cranberry

 Cranberry and Burgundy shades are fantastic for this time of year. Striking against any skin tone, this color will bring a lovely “pop” to any face. I recommend wearing long lashes and subtle eyeliner with this lipstick color.

Browns

Brown shades of lipstick are often under rated. Many people gravitate toward Nude and Tan colors, but browns are a great addition to any face. Bonus: This color looks great for more “natural” looks too.

Shimmery Pinks

Don’t be fooled. Not all Winter Lipstick colors are Dark or Matte. Shimmery Pinks are beautiful, especially when paired with a creamy shimmer blush. I can’t help but think of a Winter Wonderland when I see shades like the one above.

[ More Makeup Love: Here ]

Gold:

Over the years, Gold has gotten a bad rap. Women either think it doesn’t match their skin tone or they think it’s too flirty/too bright/ too something or another. But i’m here to tell you- it’s just fine! Gold is an excellent “highlighting” color and can be played up or down, depending on your outfit and preferences.

Black

The Winter and Fall months are by FAR the best times to wear black lipstick (In my humble opinion). You can even layer it over a deep red lipstick like the one shown above. FYI you will change your look dramatically depending on what color eyeshadow you wear, so play around and see what you like.

Thanks so much for stopping by the CBC! Here are the Top 5 Lipstick Shades for Winter & Fall. I hope you enjoyed!

Avoid These Summer Beauty Mistakes

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?

Vintage Ads Show No Love for Skinny Girls

If you can believe it, there was a time when being slender wasn’t marketed in a positive light. Once upon a time there were ads all over telling women that they can gain weight and be sexy just like those naturally curvy girls. It’s interesting to look at some of these ads because we are just now coming to a point where Curvy women are shown on the covers of magazines. I hope someday the media can find a balance that accepts everyone as beautiful.

Have a Gander at These Vintage Ads Promoting Weight Gain!:

        Be Sure to Comment with Your Thoughts!

Newest Pins by CortneyLoves

Everyone seemed to like the last Pinterest update I did, so I decided another post was in order! Here are some of my latest finds on Pinterest.

This site is so addicting! 

cosmeticsbycortney summer fashion

Ruffle One Shoulder Swimsuit

ZaZen Porsche by Rinspeed

My latest “Classy Man” entry. Men really need to embrace their inner Classy Man.

I want a bow like this really bad! It really dresses up a bun :D Hair <3

Everything about this picture is fun. I pinned this to Sunglasses

I’m so in love with Chiffon. It’s such a romantic fabric… and yes, fabric can be classified as romantic. Summer Fashion

Don’t forget to comment and tell me your favorite pin! 

*DON’T MISS:

DIORSHOW Extase Reviewed

Hydrate You Skin from the Inside

Cure Oily Skin

Recent Pinterest Pins by CortneyLoves

It’s no secret how obsessed I am with Pinterest; That website is like a visual wonderland for all things pretty and/ or interesting. I decided that I wanted to do regular updates for pins I find particularly exceptional starting today!

If you’d like to follow me, click here. Or if you need an invite, please provide me with your email address using the “contact tab” or any social media outlets on the front page of CBC.

Pictured Below: Matt Bomer’s stylish suit can be found in The Classy Man, This beautiful River is in Explore , The Gamblers Eye Luv U, The Table Clock Book is in Apartment Decor, Awesome Accessories in Spring Fashion, This amazing dress is in Prom, and last but not least: Party Girl

Matt Bomer Cortney Loves Pinterest

CortneyLoves Pinterest ExplorePinterest CortneyLoves Makeup Liptionary CosmeticsCortney Loves Pinterst Book Clock Apartment DecorPInterest Spring Fashion Cortney Loves AccessoriesCortney Loves Pinterest Prom DressesCortney Loves Pinterest Party GirlCortney Loves Pinterest Party Girl

Stars Who Said “NO” to Photoshop

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 Blanchettwho 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

 

How To Use Pinterest to Promote Business & Increase Brand Awareness

 

 

 

In my last article: Pinterest Explained. What is Pinterest and How do I use it? I described in detail how to set up your profile and I went over step by step instructions for how to “pin” something. I also included the general idea of Pinterest, how to use the site and why it’s so addicting.

Now that you know the basics, we can go over how and why to use Pinterest to promote business and increase brand awareness.

 

 

-Who can use their own photos as pins and benefit. Why?

  • Online Shop Owners: This is a great way to show people your product and grow your clientele base. Be sure to take clear- well lit photos that display your item nicely. A small business can quickly become a large brand.
  • Bloggers: When you post photos to your blog this is one of the first things people notice when visiting. Pin those photos to drive traffic to your site and get the conversation going about your articles. Someone will wanna know the story  behind that interesting pin!
  • Photographers: This is pretty obvious- but show off your awesome skills! There are many people on Pinterest getting married or hosting another event and looking for great photographers. Show them what you can do!
  • Travel Agents & Vacation Planners: show people all of the wonderful places they could be traveling.
  •  Models (experienced and aspiring): Show off your awesome portfolio with Pinterest. Let everyone see how many different looks you can achieve and confidently display your previous work experience.
  • Everyone!: If you’ve got something you want people to know about, display it in your pinboards on Pinterest.com.

-Use your pin description wisely:   This is an excellent opportunity to let everyone know: What is available, How much your product costs, If it’s on sale, How much you charge for services, If your product is cruelty free, eco friendly, etc. Be sure to put your website or social media link in your description. This is a way for people to start recognizing your company and your brand!

-Use your Pinterest profile to your Business Advantage: Make sure your profile picture is a recognizable one. Weather it be your business logo or the photo you associate with your other Media Outlets (Twitter,etc.). It should be clear to everyone who you are. Your profile displays all of your public Pin-Boards. Be sure to use that to your benefit.

 

A Pinterest pin can spread like a virus. I can’t tell you how many pins I see on the front page of Pinterest with multiple hundreds of ‘Re-Pins’ and ‘Likes’ within a short time span. Your goal should be to get your pins up for everyone to see! If you’d like an invite to Pinterest, just go to my Contact Page and email your chosen email address and I will invite you! :D

Content copyright Cosmetics by Cortney