Caudalie Peche de Vigne Shower Gel

April 17, 2013 By Cortney Leave a Comment

Caudalie Peche de Vigne Shower Gel

It’s not very often that I find a natural shower gel that I really like. Typically I run down the ingredients list and am very disappointed by the Sulfates/ Detergents/ Additives and Preservatives. Remember anyone can say they are “natural”

Caudalie’s Peche de Vine shower gel was impressive. I decided to go with a standard list of Pro’s and Cons for you to view.

Pros:

This actually is a natural shower gel. I would say at least 97-99%
I loved the smell of this. I was confused by some of the negative reviews I read on Sephora regarding the scent, BUT everyone likes different scents. For me, this was wonderful. I loved the peach smell and it reminded me a little more of a peach candy than a fruit. For the duration of me using this (until it was gone), the smell did not change in any way.
Great packaging with pretty colors
Although the lather was minimal on this product (expected with a natural/ healthy gel), I still got some lather out of it and enjoyed using it.(If you need extreme lather with a body wash, I would not recommend this for you.)
I feel this was more moisturizing to my skin than other shower gel’s I have used in the past.

Cons:

Unfortunately this did not last as long as I would have liked. When I shower I like to use a generous amount of product. It would be great if they would make it larger than 5.7 ounces.
If you want extreme lather, then this is not for you. I however, loved it.
This is just me nitpicking, but the first ingredient is water. I’m always happiest when the first ingredient is a type of oil or moisturizer. (Typically cosmetic companies list ingredients in order of size… i.e. The largest ingredient is first. Leading you to believe this is more water than anything else).
There is fragrance in this, so if you are REALLY sensitive to fragrance in your products- this is not for you. Still a very natural product though.

Filed Under: No Slider, Reviews, Sheer, Skincare Tagged With: Aloe Juice, Aloe Vera, Caudalie Peche de Vigne Shower Gel, cosmeticbycortney.com, Fragrance, HypoAllergenic, Loves, Natural, Natural Shower gels, Orange, Peach, Plant Based, Pros Cons List, Scented, Sheer, Shower Gel Reviews, Soap, Soap Free

Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Cleansing Pads [Reviewed]

April 16, 2013 By Cortney 1 Comment

I’m surprised I haven’t reviewed these sooner, but you know what they say. Better late than never.

[ RELATED: Natural Pore Treatments DIY ]

Most people who purchase Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Cleansing Pads won’t be disappointed. However, I wanted to start off by saying that after PROLONGED use (every day for months) I did notice slight irritation on my skin.

The reason I am still giving this a very positive review is because (A) I think that anyone without extremely sensitive skin would be fine using these all the time and (B) Because I did like the product and was able to use it without any issues for quite some time.

[ RELATED: DIY Moisturizing Hair Treatment ]

I used these in both the morning and sometimes at night before applying my moisturizer. These have a nice lather to them and they DO leave your skin looking radiant. After one use.The pads have little ridges (not too rough) that help exfoliate your skin as well.

I was very happy with the results. This worked much better than other brightening products i’ve used in the past. Products that were much more money BTW.

Filed Under: Reviews, Skincare Tagged With: Aveen Products, Aveeno Positively Radiant Cleansing Pads, Aveeno Product Reviews, Best Brighteners, Better Skin, Brightener, Brighter Skin, Cleanser, Cleansing Pads, CosmeticsByCortney, Face, Get Brighter Skin, Green, http://www.cosmeticsbycortney.com, Makeup Remover, Reviews, Safe, Sensitive Skin, Skincare, younger skin, Youthful skin

Johnson’s Melt Away Stress Lavender & Chamomile Lotion Review

November 28, 2012 By Cortney Leave a Comment

Recently, i’ve been looking for different ways to de-stress. Life has been pretty busy lately. My hours at work have increased and the blog has been taking up most of my time not spent at the office. I have the tendency to neglect myself when I have a lot of other things to focus on. My at-home Fruit Facials always help, but I wanted to find quicker ways to help relieve stress & tension when I feel it.

I always enjoy trying new lotions and recently have been getting into using a hand cream more regularly. While Johnson’s “Melt Away Stress” is a body lotion, I actually enjoy using it on my hands. Although it isn’t thick like a hand cream, I REALLY enjoy the scent. Just like the bottle says, it does help me unwind and feel at ease. I keep a small bottle by my desk at work so I can take a mini break and give my hands a little pampering.

Benefits:

1) Wonderful Scent. While it won’t linger on your hands for very long- every time I use it, my brain gets happy. I think it is the chamomile undertones that give it that extra relaxing vibe.

2) Absorbs quickly. I don’t have that sticky feeling after using this.

3) Packaging. It’s actually pretty simple but I only have one other purple lotion bottle and I love having two now. Also, the little quotes and story on the bottle inspires nice imagery.

4) Long Lasting: I feel that my hands are kept moisturized throughout the day. However, I do like to use this more than once just to help de-stress.

Cons:

1) The only thing I really have to say is that it does not moisturize my body or my hands to the extent other lotions have. Keeping in mind that with the price however, I feel this definitely does it’s job and is very relaxing.

2) Okay, I have something else to say. I wanted to make sure I let everyone know that this lotion does contain at least 3 different types of Parabens (listed on the bottle). Therefore, it does not make the cut into my Sheer section here at CosmeticsByCortney. I do not experience any skin irritation when I use this on my hands.

Filed Under: No Slider, Reviews, Skincare Tagged With: 2012, best lotions, Body, Body Butter, body care, chamomile, CosmeticsByCortney.com, cuticle, de-stress, feel better, Hand Cream, Hands, How To, how to moisturize dry skin, johnson and johnson, johnsons body care, johnsons melt away stress lavender and chamomile lotion review, Lavender, Lotion, luxurious, Manicure, melt away stress, pamper, Products, Relax, relaxing, Review, school, Skincare, There are parabens in this product as of 11/20 2012, unwind, ways to de-stress at work

Too Faced Lip Insurance Review

November 4, 2012 By Cortney 1 Comment

As important as our favorite makeup products are, many of them wouldn’t be quite as note-worthy if we weren’t using them with the proper primers. There are many Lip Primers on the market now a days at many different price ranges, but I decided I wanted to share with you my thoughts on the Too Faced Lip Insurance primer.

[ Related: Top 5 Lipstick Shades for Spring ]

Pros:

Light Milky Color- does not effect lip product color.
Long Lasting
A Little Goes a long Way
Reasonably priced considering the length of time this should last you. You can usually find this for about $19.00

Cons:

Does feel slightly uncomfortable after you apply it to your lips; Chalky/ Dry/ etc.

Allin all, I rate this an A+ and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good lip primer.

Filed Under: Beauty, No Slider, Reviews Tagged With: 2012, Beauty, Best Lipstick, Best Makeup Products, Cosmetics, Cosmetics By Cortney, Face, How to Make Lipstick Long Lasting, Lip Products, Lipstick, Makeup, Primer, Smudge Proof, Too Faced Lip Insurance, Top 5 Lipstick Shades for Spring, Water Proof

Carol’s Daughter Monoi Oil Repairing Hair Mask

September 1, 2012 By Cortney 1 Comment

I recently reviewed the Monoi Oil Shampoo and Conditioner from Carol’s Daughter, and decided to review the Repairing mask too. Please keep in mind that although Carol’s Daughter markets their brand toward curly hair, their products work great on straight hair too

Monoi Oil Repairing Mask:

In order to fortify fine, fragile or chemically treated hair- it requires major nourishment. This can be found in the Monoi Repairing Hair Mask by Carol’s Daughter. Along with the rejuvenating Monoi Oil – a repairing Tahitian blend of the Tiare Gardenia Flower and Coprah Coconut Oil – is rebuilding Bamboo Water and protective Hydrolyzed Silk.

This mask works wonderfully with the Carol’s Daughter Monoi Shampoo & Conditioner. I’ve been using this for over a year now and it works wonders. I always use this mask when my hair needs that extra boost to keep it healthy and happy in times of stress (or increased hot tool use!)

PLUS, No Parabens, No Petroleum, No Mineral Oil, No Artificial Colors

Filed Under: Beauty, No Slider, Reviews, Sheer Tagged With: Best Hair Masks, Best Hair Masks for Dry Hair, Best Hair Products, Best Hair Products for Curly Hair, Carol's Daughter Monoi Oil Reparing Hair Mask, Carol's Daughter Products, Chemically Treated Hair, Cosmetics By Cortney, Extreme Conditioenr, Hair Maks List, Hair Products for Curly Hair, Hair Treatment, How to make hair healthy, How to Repair Damaged Hair, Treatment

Carol’s Daughter Monoi Oil Shampoo & Conditioner Review

September 1, 2012 By Cortney 1 Comment

For those of you that don’t know, Monoi Oil is a fantastic conditioner. Leaving hair silky and much more manageable. I noticed a difference in the health and appearance of my hair in just one use. Also check out the Monoi Oil Repairing Hair Mask by Carol’s Daughter.Oh and don’t be fooled, this set works perfectly on straight hair

Monoi Oil Shampoo:

I loved this shampoo because it left my hair with a beautiful shine and feeling like silk. The Hibiscus Extract helps with detangling which I always need because the length of my hair is so long. I also recommend this if you hair is short but generally hard to manage. This also has Coconut Surfactant to help cleanse. All in all, I hadn’t found a new shampoo that rivaled my regular routine one in years prior to the Carol’s Daughter Monoi Oil Shampoo.

Monoi Oil Conditioner:

To be perfectly honest, this is one of the best conditioners i’ve ever used on my hair. Just like in the shampoo, Monoi Oil condtions your hair leaving it so soft. The Bamboo Water and B5 strengthens your hair, replenishing it and helping fortify distressed hair against snaps and breakage.

[VIDEO: Amika Oil Hair Treatment]

[Related: Monoi Oil Repairing Hair Mask]

About:

The Carol’s Daughter line has a wide array of products. Everything from shampoos and conditioners to fragrance. Their mission is to create high-quality hair, body and skincare products, made with natural ingredients. I’ve been using their products for at least a year now. It’s amazing I haven’t reviewed this set sooner.

A Little History:

Founder Lisa Price began working on the products for her line in the 1980′s. In her free time she made organic beauty products in her kitchen, including pure oils such as sweet almond, jojoba, and soy. In 1993 her experimentation led to a mail-order and online business. This was followed by her first store opening in Brooklyn in 1999.

Filed Under: Beauty, Reviews, Sheer Tagged With: Bamboo Water, Beauty, Best Hair Routine, Carol's Daughter Monoi Oil Shampoo and Conditioner Review, carols daughter, carols daughter product reviews, Conditioner, Cortney Loves, Cosmetics By Cortney, Fix hair, Hair Care, Hair Health, Hair Mask, Hair Treatment, Healthy hair, Hibiscus Extract, How to make my hair healthy, How to make your hair healthy, Monoi Oil, Oils for Hair, Repair Breakage in Hair, Repair Hair, Scalp, Shampoo, Strengthen hair, Works in one use

Too Faced Starry Eyed Liquid Eyeliner Review

August 12, 2012 By Cortney 2 Comments

For those of you unfamiliar with the Too Faced makeup brand, you’re in for a fantastic new discovery. Not only are they on the list of companies that do not test on animals (according to PETA) but they have a fantastic assortment of glamorous products fit for a glitter queen.

While I was sifting through my makeup collection today, I came across these eyeliners and realized I had never shared my thoughts on them with you. I’ve been using these glitter eyeliners for about 4 years now and I absolutely adore them! You can wear just a little silver or gold to create a minimalist look or you can do layers with pink or blue to create a very dramatic effect. These are long lasting and i’ve only ever had one incident where they irritated my eyes. (but I accidentally rubbed my eye, so it was more of a user error! lol)

You can purchase these eyeliners here.

Comment and Tell Me What Your Favorite Eyeliner Is!

Filed Under: Beauty, Reviews Tagged With: 2012, Aqua, Best Eyeliners, Better Than False Lashes, Blue, CBC, Color, Cosmetics, Cosmetics By Cortney, Eye Makeup, Glitter, Glitter Eyeliner, Glitter Liner, Gold, Green, Not Tested on Animals, Pink, Silver, Smurf Collection, Too Faced, Too Faced Starry Eyed Eyeliner Review

Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual: Reviewed

July 23, 2012 By Cortney 2 Comments

For the first time on Cosmetics By Cortney I’m featuring a book review:The Bobbi Brown Makeup Maual will be helpful to anyone practicing makeup. As the book states, it was written for everyone from beginner to pro.

[See the Video here Including Photos!]

I found this book so helpful because of the attention to detail. There are so many looks in this book to try out along with step by step instructions and how-to’s. When I first opened this book, I was instantly hooked because of the beautiful pictures. If you hadn’t already guessed, i’m obsessed with color so this was a must have

Aside from the visual appeal, the photos help a lot when you are trying to duplicate a look or purchase the right item.

Below you’ll find some of my favorites features for Beginners and Pros:

For Beginners:

Tools: Extensive information on what tools to use and what they do

Makeup Kits: Everything from your everyday makeup bag to your gym bag

Shopping for Supplies: What to purchase and how to shop for it

Care & Maintenance: Keep those tools in pristine condition

Skincare Basics: Learn your skin type and how to take care of it

Face Prep for Makeup: Get ready for application

Skin Conditions

Makeup for Teens: Age appropriate makeup

[Related: How To Take Care of Your Skin Type]

For Pros:

Breaking Into the Business

Special Makeup Applications

Bridal/ Special Occasion Makeup: Appropriate makeup for all types of events

Advanced Makeup Applications: Learn how to perfect those elusive makeup looks you see in magazines

Working with Celebrities: A guide for working in the big leagues

Makeup for Magazines: Need I say more?

History of Makeup: Useful and interesting for many reasons

I hope you’ll give this book a try. Please comment below with a book you especially like ;D

Filed Under: Reviews

St. Ives Daily Hydrating Body Lotion Review

July 21, 2012 By Cortney 1 Comment

I purchase lotion like most girls purchase nail polish. This might be surprising considering how sensitive my skin is, but I love to use lotion and i’ve been shopping for natural brands for years now.

I was at my local CVS store a few weeks ago and decided to take a gander in the skincare isle. It’s always nice when you can find drugstore brands you like for a fraction of the high-end brand cost. With the large selection there I sifted through many brands. Everything from Aveeno to Dove.

[Related: How-To Stay Hydrated this Summer]

I came across this St. Ives lotion and decided to give it a try. It has Vitamin E and had a fairly natural ingredients list compared to the other brands. As a bonus the bottle was 21oz and less money than many other, more expensive brands. Here’s what I thought about this:

Pros:

This lotion is formulated without Parabens or Phthalates
Does not contain Animal Ingredients
The bottle contains 20% Post-Consumer Recycled Material
I had no rash or break-outs when using this lotion
Has a nice, light floral scent

Cons:

None so far

Filed Under: No Slider, Reviews, Sheer, Skincare Tagged With: Beauty, Best Body Lotion, Body, Body Butter, Cosmetics By Cortney, Daily Hydrating, Follow me on Pinterest! :D, Hydration, Lotion, Lotion for Summer, Lotion for Winter, Lotion Reviews, Lotion without Paraben, Natural, No parabens, Not Tested on Animals, Organic, Paraben Free, Phthalate Free, Recycled Bottle, Reviews, Skincare, St Ives, St Ives Daily Hydrating Lotion Review, Vitamin E

DIORSHOW EXTASE Mascara: REVIEWED

June 24, 2012 By Cortney 1 Comment

I’ve been super busy with work lately, but I was able to try out this mascara last week. Although I do like the original Diorshow mascara, it never made my favorites list. I’m happy to report that EXTASE had a much bigger impact on me.

Here’s Why:

The innovative wand has wonderful tiers for extra lengthening power.
It also includes duo fibers: Black Elastomer Fibers brush out and define the lashes for panoramic fringe and Gold Nylon Fibers to hold and deposit formula.
This mascara was especially good with length. It did add some volume but the length was really something to brag about.
Long Lasting. Even without a mascara primer.
Very minimal “shedding” and “smearing” throughout the day.
Non-Clumping (just don’t wait too long between applying layers)

With the list above, I would definitely say this mascara is worth a try. It is a little on the expensive side (currently $28.50 at Sephora.com) but I was impressed with it and will most likely purchase again.

I hope you found this review helpful! Don’t forget to comment and tell me your favorite mascara!

Another Highly Recommended Mascara: Here

Top 5 Lipstick Shades: Here