"Accept and enjoy themselves as they are"? Probably not. "Tolerate", maybe.

If they (men and women) don't like something about themselves, they might be forced to delay the cosmetic surgery/treatment, but they sure as heck ain't gonna "settle" for what they look like now. Especially not when Photoshop and airbrushing is taken so far by the media. No one wants to be themselves anymore, they want to be THE BEST.

They won't go for invasive cosmetic surgery, but they'll be getting more fillers and injections that cost less. Restylane, Collagen, Botox...those are the lipsticks of our generation's recession.

That's rich, coming from a makeup blog. Unintended irony, I'm sure, but still.

"Especially not when Photoshop and airbrushing is taken so far by the media. No one wants to be themselves anymore, they want to be THE BEST."

Some of us don't consider how people look photoshopped "the best". I'm sure people who are into that kind of thing will still want it, but it's not appealing to everyone. And this isn't unintended irony for a beauty blog. Beauty blogging doesn't always equal the promotion of botox,plastic surgery, collagen injections and whatever else people do to themselves. Kind of a rude response....

Francoisehardly: Obviously there are going to be Au Natural ladies who will not accept the Photoshop standard and that the "they" I refer to are those who intended to get plastic surgery. We are talking about a general trend here, and I assumed (wrongly, perhaps, seeing your response) that those who are not into this kind of thing would see that the post is not about them. See it as something similar to a "get-off-my-comment" rant that generalizes kids. I guess I must preface every one of my comments with "of course there are exceptions".

But seriously, how many accept body hair on body (except lashes, brows and hair on head) anymore? How many are totally okay with their cellulite? How many are looking for wrinkle-reducing solutions? For Pete's sake, the university-aged guys around me hardly see arm hair or cellulite as acceptable anymore. I find it difficult to believe that the women and men (if not ALL, than at least most) are not influenced by the media and do not see it as some kind of standard.

"Beauty blogging doesn't always equal the promotion of botox,plastic surgery, collagen injections and whatever else people do to themselves."
You'll notice I never suggested as much. Would you argue that focusing on makeup, grooming, hair removal, appearance and generally accepted standards of feminine beauty helps to promote people to "accept and enjoy who they are"? Because that's what I balked at. Now, feminist deconstruction of society's expectations has /no place/ on a makeup blog, but yes, I do see unintended irony in that remark. Or a case of the pot and the kettle.

Oh poor plastic surgeons, making less money, all while people are losing their jobs and homes, not only in the US but all over the world as a consequence of the financial crisis.I´m sure they´ll manage, somehow. Sorry, i may come off as b*tch, but seriously, the fact that there are less cosmetic surgeries and procedures done is hardly worrisome, in my humble opinion. End rant.

I think the "you can't be a feminist and still wear lipstick" argument is so second-wave.