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

5 Shaving Cream Substitutes (that you already own)

November 12, 2012 By Cortney 1 Comment

Don’t panic if you wake up Monday morning and realize you are completely out of shaving cream. There are plenty of products you can use in place of shaving cream.

These Substitutes will work for the ladies and the gentlemen! Beware though, you might just decide to switch out your regular shaving cream for these products instead ;P

I have heard wonders about using Olive Oil for a shaving oil. This cooking ingredient leaves your skin feeling silky and soft. I would definitely use a generous amount to avoid razor burn and test this on a small patch of skin first.

Your Hair Conditioner can work as an excellent shaving cream stand in. I absolutely love to use it on my legs and recently my boyfriend even used it to shave his face. He said it worked really well.

Shampoo: Although I would definitely go for the Conditioner before the shampoo, this will do the job too. It will foam up much more than the conditioner but I would rather trade for the silky feeling afterward.

[ RELATED: DIY Moisturizing Hair Treatment ]

Baby Oil: I’ve heard this works better on your face than the Olive Oil. I can’t verify that, but either oil will work. I know this leaves a lovely shine and silky feel on the legs though!

Lotion: This product has almost the exact same properties as any shaving cream. I will advise you though, be careful not to get any cuts or nicks when shaving with lotion. It might burn a bit.

Please be sure to comment and let me know if you had any additions to this list!

Filed Under: Beauty, Men's Skincare, No Slider, Skincare Tagged With: $5, Baby Oil, Beauty, Conditioner, DIY Shaving Cream, Face, legs, Lotion, Men's Skincare, Olive Oil, Products, ran out of shaving cream, Razor, Shampoo, Shave Oil, Shaving Cream Substitutes, Shaving Gel, Shaving Oil, Shaving Products found in home, Skincare, Test First, under arms, What to do if i'm out of shave cream

DIY Peel Off Mask

November 5, 2012 By Cortney 1 Comment

Although many of you follow my DIY Fruit Facials, this is the first time I have posted a recipe for a Peel Off Mask. I’m constantly on the look out for new Do-It-Yourself skin treatments. Be sure to “Like” my Facebook so you’ll be the first to view new recipes!

First off, in case you’re new to the world of DIY you should be aware of the big benefits to making your own skincare recipes. When you make something yourself, you gain the relief of knowing exactly what you’re putting on your skin. You can skip out on those additives and preservatives. Another great benefit of DIY is you almost always save money. I can’t think of a time I spent more money on one of my Fruit Facials than on something i’ve purchased at my local beauty store.

[ RELATED: Do-It-Yourself Dry Hair Treatment ]

DIY Peel Off Mask:

1) Beat the white of an egg

2) Apply the egg white on your face and neck. Be sure to avoid the eye and mouth areas. (use a generous amount, but there is no need to apply a heap of egg white)

3) Take a thin tissue, place it gently over your egg white brushed face. Pat gently one by one to cover fully. (In some cases you will need a double layer)

4) Apply another layer of egg white over tissue and leave it on to dry.

[ Try: Get Rid of Dark Circles ]

5) When completely dry, gently peel-off the tissue in an upward direction from the face– Take a look at all of the black heads and yucky stuff on the tissue!

6) Wash off your face with luke warm water and apply a gentle moisturizer.

Ta-Da! Now you can bask in the glory of your fantastic results! Be sure to comment and let me know what you think of this DIY Peel mask <3

Filed Under: Beauty, Fruit Facial Fridays, Skincare Tagged With: 2012, 2013, At home recipes, Beautiful, Beauty, Beauty Recipes, Cosmetics By Cortney, DIY, Do It Yourself, Egg, Exfoliant, Exfoliate, Face, Facial, Fruit Facial, Get Rid of Dark Circles, How to get perfect skin, How to get soft skin, How to make your own face peel, make your own, Makeup, Mask, Over The Counter, Peel Off Mask, pinterest/ cortneyloves, Products, Scrub, Skincare, Tissue, Why DIY

How To Get Rid of Dark Circles

August 11, 2012 By Cortney Leave a Comment

It’s always a bummer to stay up late on a Friday night and wake up on Saturday morning with thick black rims under your eyes. But a full 8/ 9 hours of sleep isn’t enough to erase those dark circles, according to Charlotte Clark, a dermatologist in New York City. It may help diminish their appearance some, but to get rid of circles for good you have to first find the source.

Why They Appear:

The main reason is due to genetics. If you inherit fair or thin skin under the eyes, it’s more obvious when blood pools there (many times because of slower circulation due to lack of sleep). This accumulation causes fragile capillaries to stretch and leak. (Lovely isn’t it?)
Age is another factor. Over time, skin loses collagen and becomes thinner, so veins show through more prominently. Sunbathing speeds up this process by breaking down collagen and mottling skin color.
Seasonal Allergies are to blame for many people. “They trigger the release of histamines in the body, which in turn inflame blood vessels and cause swelling,” says Ranella Hirsch, a dermatologist in Boston. To determine why YOUR circles happen, gently stretch the skin under your eyes. If that area becomes darker, the circles are probably due to genetics or aging. If the color doesn’t change, UV rays or allergies are probably the cause.

[Related: How To Get The Best Beauty Sleep]

How To Get Rid Of Dark Circles:

– Double up on pillows at night to stop blood from building up under your eyes. In the a.m., apply a cold compress (Like the One Shown Above) for about five minutes to constrict the blood vessels, says Jeannette Graf, an associate clinical professor of dermatology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, in New York City. (You can get an eye mask for about $7.00 at most Target stores)

– Use An Eye Cream with Caffeine, which helps constrict vessels.

[Related: Makeup-Free Celebrities!]

– Also: Arnica-based creams (found at many health-food stores), are considered to have anti-inflammatory properties and may reduce the appearance of darkness. Eye creams with green tea or grapeseed oil help strengthen capillary walls

– For Allergy-Induced Circles: consider taking an over-the-counter antihistamine before allergies begin to abate shadows.

[Related: Beauty Product Labels Explained]

– If Thin Skin is the Issue: Use a collagen-building cream. “One of my top go-to ingredients is retinol,” says Hirsch. “It helps increase collagen production” (one product to try is ROC Multi-Correxion Eye Treatment, $25 at drugstores). Vitamin C also encourages production and can help brighten skin tone. And wear sunscreen daily, says Hirsch, or you’ll cancel out the benefits from any of these treatments.

Filed Under: Beauty, Skincare Tagged With: Beauty, Beauty Product Labels Explained, Beauty Sleep, CBC, Cold Compress, Cosmetics By Cortney, Dark Circles, Dermatology, DIY, Eye Cream, Eye Gel Mask, Eye Mask, Facial, Fruit Facial, Get Rid of Dark Circles, How To, How To Get Rid of Dark Circles, Makeup Free Celebrities, Mask for Dark Circles, Pink, Puffy Eyes, Retinol, Sheer, Skincare, Take Away Dark Circles Under Eyes, Under Eye Circles

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

How To Get the Best Beauty Sleep

July 8, 2012 By Cortney Leave a Comment

If there’s one thing most women are lacking in, it’s sleep. We are either not getting enough or it’s generally pour quality. I’m the first to admit that I look MUCH fresher (and healthier) when i’m practicing good sleeping habits. Here are some ways to improve your beauty sleep:

Darkness:

One thing many people don’t realize is how much light can disrupt your sleep. Even a night light in the corner of the room can throw off your sleep cycle. Be sure your curtains are shut nice and tight so no light filters in and turn off even the smallest lamps and televisions.

Relax:

While this is often times better said than done, it will make a big difference to your peepers. When you go to sleep stressed, you toss and turn and mess with your REM cycle. Try taking a hot bath before bed or drinking a nice cup of hot tea (one of my favorite tricks). Depending on your personal beliefs, it helps many people to talk to God before they go to sleep. You can also download some nice meditations from iTunes to help you relax into shut-eye.

Use an Eye Mask:

Not like the ones you get in a facial. For $10 or less you can find a nice mask that helps cool down the skin around your eyes. This helps firm up the skin and also increase circulation. (Can anyone say “Bye Bye” to dark circles?). You’ll be surprised at how nice it feels to go into bed after using the cool mask and wake up with refreshed peepers.

Be Consistent:

Going to sleep and waking up at the same time will help you tremendously. This will build a natural timer in your body so those of you night owls will have an easier time turning in. Continuity helps your body to know exactly how much time it has to perform each essential task during sleep.

I hope you found these tips useful! Be sure to comment with your tips to getting good shut-eye!

Filed Under: Beauty, Skincare Tagged With: Beauty, Beauty Sleep, Benefits of Sleep, Best beauty Sleep, CBC, CosmeticsByCortney, CosmeticsByCortney.com, Dark Circles, Eyes, Get the Best Sleep, How to Fix Dark Circles, How to get good beauty sleep, How To Get the Best Beauty Sleep, Is Beauty Sleep Important?, Makeup, Skincare, Techniques, Why is Beauty Sleep Important

The Best Ways to Stay Hydrated this Summer

June 11, 2012 By Cortney 2 Comments

If there’s one thing we can all agree on: it’s how important staying hydrated is to our skin and body. While we need to replenish year round, this is especially important in the hot summer months. Keep reading for the best ways to hydrate.

Drink Water: Obvious? Yes. Unfortunately the majority of the population is lacking in this essential powerhouse for hydration.
Avoid Salt: While it can be argued that the human body needs salt, most people get the recommended amount of salt with their regular diet. This additive will suck the hydration right out of your body. Be sure to avoid those pesky temptations that will only hinder you from achieving a healthy body and face like: Cheeseburgers, Pizza, and Soda.
Stock Up on Fruit: Yep, you heard me right. Fill that fridge up with all of your favorite fruits this summer. This is a delicious and easy way to get water into your system; Particularly pleasant for those of us that have a hard time gulping down numerous glasses of water a day. *Bonus: Fruit is always on deal this time of year.

Also: Fix Oily Skin

&&: Newest Nail Trend for 2012

Filed Under: Skincare Tagged With: Avoid Salt, Best Ways to Hydrate, Body, CBC, Cosmetics By Cortney, Diet, Face, Follow My Pinterest, Food, Fruit, How to Stay Hydrated, Juice, Nails, New Ways to Stay Hydrated, Nutrition, Oily Skin, Skin, Spring, Stay Hydrated, Summer, System, Tips, Tips to Hydrate Skin, Tricks, Water

Celebrities Without Makeup

May 7, 2012 By Cortney Leave a Comment

As a follow up to “Stars Who Said “No” to Photoshop” I decided to post these images of celebrities without makeup. I think it’s really important that we all realize celebrities are just people. They might have haircuts that cost hundreds of dollars per trim and a makeup artist on call for emergencies, but if you take away the foundation and the styling products- they typically look just like you and me. People are beautiful because of the characteristics that make them different, not for how well they can blend their foundation.

Check Out These Celebs Without Makeup and see for yourself!:

(Pictured: Lady Gaga, Shakira, Zoe Saldana, Eva Longoria)

Don’t Miss: Cure Oily Skin And: Nicki Minaj New Fragrance