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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

DIY Moisturizing Dry Hair Treatment with Coconut Oil

September 24, 2012 By Cortney Leave a Comment

I went down to my local oil shop a few days ago and browsed the isles. I was looking for something new to try out on my hair and skin. Preferably something moisturizing and protecting for the upcoming cold weather. The shop owner was very friendly and gave me an abundance of information on many of the oils. I decided to purchase some Virgin Coconut Oil seeing as the shop owner was a big fan and I had read many good reviews online about it.

Keep in mind if you don’t have a local oil shop, you can get yours online.

I’ve found this works Wonders for my hair:

Choose a night you are planning on taking a shower, and set aside 5 minutes for yourself. All you have to do is open your Virgin Coconut Oil and apply it evenly to your hair, using much less toward the top near your scalp. Be sure to brush through your hair afterward so you keep the oil in even increments.

I usually twist my hair and put it into a bun to keep my hair condensed with the oil. After that, I leave the oil in my hair for about an hour. You can do more or less time depending on your needs.

[ Try: DIY Skin Brightening Fruit Facial ]

Once i’m finished letting the oil set, I wash my hair as normal in the shower. After my hair dries, I notice a difference in my hair texture immediately. It also leaves a brilliant shine to my tresses, bringing out its natural colors.

(*If you have an oily scalp, I suggest you not put the oil on or near it. Stick to the bottom half of your strands.)

Filed Under: Beauty, Cortney Loves, Sheer Tagged With: At Home Beauty, Chemically Treated Hair, CosmeticsByCortney, Damaged Hair Repair, DIY Moisturizing Hair Treatment with Coconut Oil, Dry Hair, Fix Dry Hair, Hair Facial, Hair Mask, Hair Routine, How to Get Healthy Hair, Moisturize Dry Hair, Oily Hair, Replenish, Tangled Hair, Virgin Coconut Oil, Where to buy coconut oil

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

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

Harmful Chemicals found in Cosmetics

July 17, 2012 By Cortney Leave a Comment

Here at Cosmetics By Cortney, we love to advocate healthy beauty products. It can get a little confusing with most cosmetic companies claiming to be “Natural”, “Healthy”, and “Hypo-Allergenic”. Be sure to carefully read the labels on all of your beauty products and understand what they mean. Unfortunately cosmetic companies have very low standards that they are required to produce by, so it is up to us to decide what is healthy and what is not for ourselves.

For more information on ingredients in cosmetics, be sure to check out our Sheer page and feel free to Contact Us if you don’t see an ingredient you think we should have listed! We also have a Contact Tab to the left of this page

A few Harmful Ingredients commonly found in cosmetics:

Talc/ Talcum Powder:

A 1993 US National Toxicology Program report found that cosmetics grade talc, even though it contained no asbestos-like fibers, caused tumors in animals. There is an inextricable link between talc and asbestos, which virtually everyone knows causes cancer. In fact, the two are virtually chemically identical.

Synthetic Fragrances:

Perfumes and other products that produce a distinct scent may contain hundreds of chemicals to produce that scent.

We’ve mentioned this many times before, but you should always be cautious of anything that is very strongly scented. I always try to limit my perfume usage to special occasions.

In 1986, the National Academy of Sciences released a report saying 95% of chemicals used in fragrances are synthetic compounds derived from petroleum. These toxic chemicals are capable of causing birth defects, cancer, central nervous system disorders and allergic reactions. (Yikes!)

Sodium Fluoride:

The fluoride which is added to our toothpaste and water supply is a byproduct of the aluminum, steel, ceramic, phosphate fertilizer, and other chemical industries. It is usually added to toothpaste and soft city water in the forms sodium fluoride, sodium silica fluoride or hydrofluoric acid.

Fluoride has been said to weaken the human will by calcifying the pineal gland. The pineal gland (also called the “third eye”) is a small endocrine gland in the vertebrate brain. It produces the serotonin derivative melatonin, a hormone that affects the modulation of wake/sleep patterns and seasonal functions. Fluoride was used by the Nazis to sterilize inmates and make them docile.

How Often Do You Check the Labels on Your Cosmetics??

Filed Under: Sheer Tagged With: Babies, Bad for Your Skin, Bad Ingredients in Beauty Products, Bad Ingredients in Cosmetics, Beauty Industries, Beauty Product Labels, Body, Clean, Cleanse, Cosmetics By Cortney, Face, FDA, Harmful Chemicals in Cosmetics, Harmful Ingredients List, Healthy, Hypo Allergenic, Natural, Not, Organic, Regulate Cosmetics, Reviews, Rosacea, Sensitive Skin, Sheer, Skincare, Summer, Test Results, Unhealthy, What ingredients are dangerous in cosmetics, What is Bad for your skin

DIY Fruit Facial Friday: Watermelon

July 6, 2012 By Cortney 3 Comments

What better month for a Watermelon fruit facial than July?! With all of the Watermelons i’ve seen at Picnics lately, I decided that was my sign to post a new Fruit Facial recipe on Cosmetics By Cortney. Aside from the wonderful hydrating properties of watermelon, Like most other fruits it also has Vitamin C. Watermelon will help cleanse your skin while delivering Vitamin A as well.

[ Remember!: I Highly Recommend Watching my Prep Video before trying any of my Fruit Facials ]

Recipe:

1/2 cup Watermelon

2 T-Spoons Grapeseed Oil

2 T-Spoons Honey

Add a Small Chunk (about 2 inches) of Banana as Desired

One benefit of this Fruit Facial is that you don’t need a blender! Just mash up your ingredients and stir well

[Related: Avocado Facial]

Filed Under: Fruit Facial Fridays, Sheer Tagged With: 2012, Banana, Beauty, CBC, CosmeticsByCortney, DIY, Do It Yourself, Face, Facial, Fruit, Fruit Facial Fridays, Fruit Mask, Glowing Skin, Grape Seed Oil, Grapeseed Oil, Healthy Skincare, Honey, How To, How To Get, July, Makeup, Natural, New, Organic, Skincare, Summer, Watermelon Fruit Facial, With Oils, Younger Looking Skin

10 Eco-Minded Labels Explained

April 19, 2012 By Cortney 4 Comments

It’s already tough to shop responsibly, given how widely words like “organic” and “natural” are thrown around. To make things even more complicated, though, there are also tons of ecological certifications products can get. They’re designed to tell consumers that a product is more ecologically friendly, but not all certifications are the same, and some are much more strict than others.

here are 10 common logos broken down to show what each of them means:

Natural Products Association Certification: The Natural Products Association certificationmeans:
- Any product labeled “natural” must be made with at least 95 percent natural ingredients – that is, from renewable resources found in nature. No petrochemicals are allowed.
- No parabens, SLS, chemical sunscreens, or phthalates.
- No animal testing.
- The packaging must be environmentally conscious and sustainable.
The NaTrue Label: The NaTrue label means that a product has been certified to contain only water, natural ingredients, and nature-derived ingredients.The label has three grades: Natural Cosmetics, Natural Cosmetics with Organic Ingredients, and Organic Cosmetics.
Whole Foods Premium Body Care: OK, so why is a store’s seal on the list? Because a lot of people shop at Whole Foods, and this seal promises that a product:
- Is free of parabens, SLS, and more than 250 other ingredients deemed unacceptable.
- Has no synthetic fragrances.
- Has minimal environmental impact in production, sourcing, and disposal.
Vegan Certification: This label means just what you’d think it does: no animal testing, no animal products. It doesn’t take a stance on parabens and other controversial ingredients.
The Leaping Bunny: Created by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics, theleaping bunny symbol shows that a product is made without animal testing at any stage of its development. It stands out from other “no animal testing” seals because all companies are independently audited to ensure adherence to the strict guidelines. If the audit fails, the company is no longer able to use the symbol.

Check it out: Personal Skincare Routines for $5!

And: Origins Frothy Face Wash Review

Source: 10 Eco-Minded Labels to Know

Filed Under: Beauty, Men's Skincare, Nutrition, Sheer, Skincare Tagged With: Animal Tested, Beauty Product Labels Explained, Boscia, Caudalie, Certification, Chemical Sunscreens, Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics, Cosmetics Labels Explained, Earth Friendly, Eco Friendly, Green, How to Know, Ingredients, Labels on Makeup, Leaping Bunny, Nature-derived ingredients, no, No animal products, No animal testing, Not Animal Tested, Only Water, Organic, Paraben Free, Peta, Plants, Pthalate Free, Recyle, Reuseable, Seal, Skincare products, SLS, Symbol, synthetic, The NaTrue Label, Vegan, What Do the Labels on Beauty Products Mean, What Do The Labels on Cosmetics mean?, Whole Foods

DIY Fruit Facial Friday: On The Go

March 20, 2012 By Cortney 3 Comments

I’m happy to announce: Fruit Facial Fridays are back by popular demand! Unfortunately YouTube has been having some (very inconvenient) technical difficulties so this Fruit Facial Friday is being posted on Tuesday instead of last Friday

Why do an at home Fruit Facial?:

When you do your own Fruit Facials, you can be sure that you are only using the best ingredients on your skin. NO additives, Nothing Artificial, Just Sheer ingredients. I’ve sworn by my Fruit Facials for years. I have different ones for all skin types and you can check back every Friday to see new ones. I honestly think these do more for my skin than any store-bought product i’ve ever tried. And the best part is that most of my ingredients are VERY affordable. Once you try these, you will fall in love. Your friends will all be asking why you have such amazing skin

The great thing about this Fruit Facial is that it is designed with the busy girl (or guy!) in mind. You don’t need a blender , you don’t have to heat anything up, and you only need 3 ingredients! Suitable for all skin types. Just follow a few simple steps and you’re good to go!

To see the video click here. Or here to see past Fruit Facial Fridays.

Be sure to watch my video on how to prep your skin before one of my Fruit Facials.

What You Will Need:

A bowl to mix ingredients
Measuring spoons
A fork or any mashing/ mixing tool

Ingredients:

1 Teaspoon Olive Oil
1/2 Teaspoon honey
About 2 inches of a ripe banana.

Instructions:

Mash up banana in your bowl of choice until you have a chunky paste. It doesn’t have to be perfectly smooth.
Add 1 Teaspoon Olive Oil
Next add 1/2 Teaspoon honey
Mix until well blended.
Immediately apply your Fruit Facial to a small patch of your (clean, makeup free) face. Wait for about 5 minutes to make sure that you don’t have any bad reactions to the facial (Occasionally people will have reactions to even the most natural ingredients, so it’s important to follow this step).
Next, gently apply the fruit facial to the rest of your face and neck area.
Leave on for about 10-15 minutes (or even 5 if you’re in a big hurry)
Gently rinse your face with luke warm water until the Fruit Facial mixture is completely gone. Pat dry.

It’s really amazing to see how well these work to repair and improve skin.

Please comment and let me know how you liked your Fruit Facial!

Filed Under: Beauty, Fruit Facial Fridays, Sheer, Skincare Tagged With: Acne, Additive Free, At Home Facial, Beauty, CBC, Check Out My Youtube for more!, Cosmetics By Cortney, DIY Fruit Facial Friday On The Go, Eco Friendly, Elasticity, Exfoliate, Fix Skin Problems, Fruit Facial, Good for the planet, Good Ingredients, Green, Healthy, How To, Improve Skin, Mask, Men's, Moisturize, Natural, Organic, Paraben Free, Pthalate Free, Sheer, Shrink Pores, Skin Care, Skincare, Sleepover Ideas, Try This!

Cortney Loves (Obliphica Oil by Amika)

February 18, 2012 By Cortney Leave a Comment

Although I explained a lot of details in the video Cortney Loves (Obliphica), I decided to add some more details in an article.

Amika has a fantastic product here. You can use this on dry or damp hair. Pure Obliphica Oil never fails to leave my hair silky and shiny.

The more technical and lengthened name for Obliphica is Sea Buckthorn Berry. This oil accompanies omega 7 and vitamin c to hydrate and provide nourishment. This is great for repairing coarse, damaged, and thick hair types. Amika’s wonderful Obliphica oil is free of Parbens, Silicone, and Sulfates.

Ingredients: Mineral oil, Hippophae rhamnoides (Obliphica) oil, Argania spinosa (Argan) kernel oil, Tocopheryl acetate, Fragrance, Panthenol, Sunset yellow

*Free of animal derived ingredients and all products from this line are NOT tested on animals.