Naomi B. (tripleguess) reviewed Cosmo's Sexiest Beauty Secrets: The Ultimate Guide to Looking Gorgeous on + 48 more book reviews
I was hoping for a more practical handbook of beauty techniques. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that something put out by "Cosmo" is flippant and shallow, full of "tips" rather than real techniques. For instance, if you really do have chronic acne, I don't think two pages of eight punkily type-set "eat less greasy food"-level advice suffices.
I picked up one useful "tip" here; massage moisturizing cream into the face for several seconds instead of smearing it on briefly and then leaving it to sit on top. The rest is, I guess, too glitz for me. Is it really necessary to look like a call girl to attract male attention? If so, maybe I'd be better off without attention from that kind of male. I have no desire to expose my cleavage (ha! what there is of it, though I honestly don't think that's the issue) in order to look "daring" -- or should I say "easy"? Nor do I think it's necessary to shave all the way up to the inner thighs -- or higher -- ouch! It's too bad that the "men don't like it" line is used so heavily to get women to do (perhaps uncomfortable) things they wouldn't normally do. Are natural lashes, natural lips, unmade-up breasts so horrible? Isn't it okay for a woman to spruce herself up because she wants to look good, and not because she's intent on seducing some guy?
Also, who has the time or privacy to mix up a custom lotion, spread it on, and then soak somewhere naked for 15-20 minutes? I live with six other people, half of them male (whom I most assuredly do not want seeing me without clothes), and if I insisted on tying up the bathroom that long there would be a riot. No room in the house is safe from the "I just need a clean towel, the cat barfed all over mine" barge-in. But I don't think most Americans live with their families anymore, so maybe that's just me. I also can't imagine using good orange juice on my feet. That stuff's expensive, even in California! I'd rather drink it.
There's also some rather vulgar language ("ingrown hair is a b----"), which lessens the book's appeal.
I picked up one useful "tip" here; massage moisturizing cream into the face for several seconds instead of smearing it on briefly and then leaving it to sit on top. The rest is, I guess, too glitz for me. Is it really necessary to look like a call girl to attract male attention? If so, maybe I'd be better off without attention from that kind of male. I have no desire to expose my cleavage (ha! what there is of it, though I honestly don't think that's the issue) in order to look "daring" -- or should I say "easy"? Nor do I think it's necessary to shave all the way up to the inner thighs -- or higher -- ouch! It's too bad that the "men don't like it" line is used so heavily to get women to do (perhaps uncomfortable) things they wouldn't normally do. Are natural lashes, natural lips, unmade-up breasts so horrible? Isn't it okay for a woman to spruce herself up because she wants to look good, and not because she's intent on seducing some guy?
Also, who has the time or privacy to mix up a custom lotion, spread it on, and then soak somewhere naked for 15-20 minutes? I live with six other people, half of them male (whom I most assuredly do not want seeing me without clothes), and if I insisted on tying up the bathroom that long there would be a riot. No room in the house is safe from the "I just need a clean towel, the cat barfed all over mine" barge-in. But I don't think most Americans live with their families anymore, so maybe that's just me. I also can't imagine using good orange juice on my feet. That stuff's expensive, even in California! I'd rather drink it.
There's also some rather vulgar language ("ingrown hair is a b----"), which lessens the book's appeal.
