Anthony Logistics For Men Toner Pads [Review]

Some of you might be unfamiliar with Anthony Logistics. They are a Men’s Skincare Company but they also have products suitable for women.

Anthony Logistics Toner Pads

I wanted to start off by letting everyone know that I have used these in the past but am reviewing based on my Boyfriends experience. I used these regularly on his skin and wanted to share with my Male (& Female) readers.

As an FYI he has Normal/ Combo skin.

Review:

1) I used these about twice a day on him in addition to his regular skincare routine. I noticed that in many cases that was too often and dried his skin out. If you have oily skin, I assume you would be okay using this twice a day.

2) These were great at removing dirt and oil.  They also had a nice exfoliating affect.

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3) I felt that the price was reasonable for what you get. (60 generous sized pads)

4) After a few uses I did see noticeable results on very small bumps he had on his face. Not acne blemishes per-say.

5) He had no irritation from this product. Just some drying of the skin if used too much. Keeping in mind he does not have sensitive skin.

All in all, recommended!

Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Cleansing Pads [Reviewed]

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

AVEENO Positvely Radiant

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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.

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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.

What To Do if Your Boyfriend “Hates” When You Wear Makeup


I know this is a common problem for many women. There are quite a few guys out there that say they “hate” makeup… Whether they have some notion that women who wear makeup are fake, or that only unattractive women wear makeup.. I have pretty much heard it all.

First of all, it’s your face and your wallet- so if you wanna wear makeup that is your choice. Obviously it wouldn’t be right for you to have to change your appearance just because of your BF’s preferences. With that being said, there are a few things you can do to get your boyfriend to be a little more makeup friendly and ease up on the comments about your makeup.

1) When he asks you something along the lines of “Why do you wear makeup” you can simply let him know that you enjoy the application process (much like an artist enjoys painting) and express your love for colors and texture. (It wouldn’t hurt to make a comparison to something similar that he likes- perhaps the rims on his car?)

2) If your boyfriend makes false accusations such as: “Fake Girls Wear Makeup” or “You Only Wear It Because you Feel Unattractive” I would go ahead and point out that you DO wear makeup, and ask him if he thinks you’re fake. (I’m not promoting World War 3 here, but I mean- come on!)

3) If your boyfriend sincerely prefers your face without makeup and requests it, maybe you could find some common ground and have an “All Natural” date day. This is similar to when women ask men to shave (or not, in some cases). Maybe he’s trying to play out a fantasy in his head. He can be Tarzan- you can be Jane :)

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4) There are also the men that claim “They’ve never liked women who wear makeup” (Yeah, right). In this instance I would remind him how fond he is of you, and that you DO wear makeup. Next,  this is your opportunity to Google some images of his favorite female celebrities and point out exactly how much makeup they are wearing.

Although many men don’t understand what wearing makeup is actually about, most will see your side of things if you explain it correctly to them. This typically means being very logical or trying your best to speak their language.

Feel Free To Comment With any Tips of Your Own!

*Note: If you’re dating someone who causes you to have low self esteem or who is making rude remarks about your appearance, you need to shop around for a new man. We’re all beautiful. with or without makeup.

DIY Moisturizing Dry Hair Treatment with Coconut Oil

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.

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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.

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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.)

My August 2012 Birchbox

I’ve said it before and i’ll say it again: My Birchbox’s have always been a hit or miss. This month however, was definitely a hit.

My favorite item by far, was the Schick Hydro Silk razor. Aside from the fact that I was desperately needing a new razor, I haven’t ever tried the Schick brand before so this will be my first! This has 5 blades and a moisturizing serum surrounding them. The serum is supposed to provide comfort during shaving and help fight off that terrible dry skin post-shave. (Bonus: I received two coupons with the razor!)

A little added bonus in this BirchBox was a “Beauty School” Pamphlet complete with: Tips on how to read the label on cosmetics, 5 tips to a  better shave, a little guide for the different types of beauty brushes and more! This was a smart idea to include especially for beginning makeup users.

[Related: July 2012 BirchBox]

Probably the neatest thing I got this month was the Beauty Fixation Lipstick touch-up swabs. I received 24 in the little box and i’m really excited to try these out. One side  holds a serum to help touch-up lipstick/ lipgloss smudges and the other is empty. You just snap the little tip of the one with a red line on it and you’ll see the formula fill the opposite tip. Use that side to fix any smudges!

[Video: Kat Von D Mi Vida Loca Palette Review & Swatches]

The other three items I received in my BirchBox was a Gloss Moderne High-Gloss hair masque. This smells absolutely luxurious! :D super excited to try this out. I received a Brow Base by Sumita. This helps conceal stray hairs when you need to touch up on tweezing and also works to keep eyeshadows crease-free. Last but not least, I got a sample of the new Viva La Juicy La Fleur perfume. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the original Viva La Juicy but this one smells flirty & fabulous!

I Always Like To Know What Everyone Else gets in Their Monthly Beauty Boxes. Comment Below!

How To Get the Best Beauty Sleep

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!

 

*DIY* Fruit Facial Friday: Watermelon

Watermelon Fruit FacialWhat 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]


5 Quick Ways to Relax and Control Stress

Everyone knows life can be stressful. You may have lost your job recently, or are going through a tough personal time. Whatever the circumstance, you have to have methods of coping through stress. It’s important to remember that you’re strong and will get through the bad times. Here are 5 ways to relax quickly:

Tea: Drinking tea is a mild natural sedative. I can’t help but feel relaxed and centered after a nice cup of hot tea. Even when I was young, and I disliked the bitter taste of tea, it was still so soothing when I was sick or upset. If you find it tough to motivate yourself to have a cup, try giving yourself a simple goal: Just finish half a cup, and you can pour the rest out. You might have a good time discovering the different tea flavors out there.

Breath: This tends to get taken for granted quite often, but you can actually manipulate your body into relaxing. Try taking steady deep breaths with your stomach- not your chest. Human beings can build anxiety when they try to breath with just their chest. We use our stomach to breath when we are most relaxed.

Count: It might seem a bit silly to count out loud, but this can really help you get your emotions under control. Even counting silently in your head is beneficial. Sometimes we react to a situation out of surprise, before we can really put it into perspective. If you give yourself a moment to focus on something else, like counting, you might feel a little more rational about the situation.

Walk: Many people go on walks when they’re unhappy or anxious, but for those of you that don’t, you’re really missing out. When you get outside in the fresh air with the sun and the trees it creates an uplifting environment. You’d be surprised how much your mood will brighten after just 30 minutes.

Talk to Somebody: Having a shoulder to cry on or an ear that will listen can be really helpful in times of stress. Sometimes you just have to get what’s on your mind out in the open. If you think speaking to the person that is stressing you out could make problems worse, try talking to a close friend or family member. Just be sure to choose someone who is unbiased and who cares about your feelings. Choosing someone you trust is important because some people can take situations out of context or be overly judgmental. The last thing you need is someone riling you up more than you already are.

 

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Cortney Loves (Obliphica Oil by Amika)

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.

 

Content copyright Cosmetics by Cortney