Sephora vs. Ulta
I know…it’s like day seven of 30 of my #beautytimeout but since I’ve done so much shopping this summer I’ve got a lot to write about and update you on. First, Ulta just opened up two stores in my area within the last year. I am such a Sephora addict that I never really stepped foot in Ulta. Funny though, one is located by my house and the other by where I work. So it was only a matter of time I stopped in. And ADM/OMG!! If Sephora and Walgreens had a baby, it would be Ulta. Ulta is like Sephora’s cheaper cousin. What I love about Ulta is that you get things you can find at Sephora like Tarte and Philosphy but you also get things you find at drugstores like Rimmel and Herbal Essences. You can find so many brands in there including OPI, NYX (can’t wait to tell you all about that new obsession!!) and Frieda and Fekkhai. It really doesn’t get any better than this.
So to give you an idea….I can spend $100 easy at Sephora in one trip. Thankfully we only have one store and it’s in a mall located in an inconvenient place. I can buy about the same amount of products at Ulta and spend like $30-$40. So you know hubby’s really loving Ulta too! The only con about Ulta? I can actually step in on my lunch hour! And I have co-workers who’d be so down for that! Which makes this 30 days really hard! I’m almost twitching!!!
Beautify Your Bathroom!
While on my beauty break aka #beautytimeout I have been concentrating on other things such as cleaning up my medicine cabinet in my bathroom. Which by the way, is more full of beauty products than medicine. One of the things I love about my house is that it’s got some great storage. For example, in my upstairs bathroom, I have the medicine cabinet, a drawer in the cabinet under the sink and above my toilet, a huge cabinet. And they are all filled to the point of exploding. I even went and got a small tote that can go under my sink inside that cabinet to fill up with more goodies. Then I realized that it was just out of control. Does anyone need that much stuff? And since I am lucky enough to receive beauty products from companies who like to hear my thoughts I ask myself why do I buy so much stuff? I even give out beauty products to friends (one of my versions of cleaning stuff out) and I giveaway things on the blog (wait to see the goodies I’ve got in store for you guys!) So there shouldn’t be a need for all that. My bathroom started to rival that of a beauty warehouse. So I have purged products and medicine that were outdated (makeup goes bad too chicas!) and given things to friends that may need it. I have re-organized my medicine cabinet and it looks great. It’s got everything we all need (not just me!!) and I know I’m using all the products that are in there. Now to tackle the products in that other cabinet…..
What does your bathroom look like? Are you a beauty addict like me?
On A Beauty Break!
Well chicas, if you’re not following me on twitter you may have missed my announcement. I’m going on a beauty buying break! This means for the next 30 days (until September 20th) I won’t be buying any lip gloss, eye shadow, mascara or anything! This is going to be hard for me as the only thing I’m allowing myself to purchase is shampoo/conditioner and body wash.
So why the break you say? Well I have noticed that this summer my spending has been out of control. I have discovered new stores and purchasing products to do reviews yet I haven’t gotten around to post those reviews. Sad right?? So I’m going to use these 30 days to focus more on natural beauty (fitness, vitamins and such) and catch up on all these product reviews that I have laying around the house. I must say it’s going to be hard because I have friends and co-workers who are die hard beauty and fashion addicts. One of which I will be interviewing just for fun! I will be living vicariously through her shopping habits since I won’t be doing any of it. She’s the one who introduced the shopping bible to me. Trust me chicas, that bible works! Keeps you from buying things you may not need and identifies what you’re really lusting after.
But don’t worry, Gee will be here every Friday for her fabuloso Fashion Friday posts and I will still be perusing magazines and adding to that bible so you will see lots of posts from me! Also I’m happy to announce that I have been chosen to be a blog ambassador for Jennifer Lopez’s new fragrance, Love and Glamour! So check out my tweets as well as face book posts with the hashtag #loveandglamour!
Also, hubby just gave me my hashtag for my beauty break. #beautytimeout so don’t forget to check that out!
Daisy Fuentes Hair Spray Found!
I’ve received lots of emails from you chicas looking for this hairpray. Apparently this must be the shiznit and I have to check it out myself. You can find Daisy Fuentes Pro Hairspray
Product Review: Personal Microderm
This product was submitted for editorial review and Mami’s Time Out was in no way compensated for the review. You can always count on an honest review from Mami’s Time Out.
I must admit, when I opened the box I was a bit intimidated. I mean, we’ve all heard about microdermabrasion and visiting the spa or a dermatologist to get it done, but with my sensitive skin I just shied away from it. And when I saw that you had to plug it in in order to use it definitely intimidated me. I was afraid of having my face just beet red after one use.
So I waited until a Friday night just in case I did end up with this beet red affect after using the at home microdermabrasion. But I was pleasantly surprised! The Microderm is surprisingly easy to use, and NO RED MARKS! You know that’s a big deal. Also, even with my sensitive skin I think that it is ok to use twice a week. I do advise that you play the DVD prior to using it. I think it lessened the intimidation.
Besides the fact that it’s easy to use and didn’t make my face peel, I see an improvement on my face. I have been battling breakouts but I definitely see a change in the texture of my skin as well as it being smoother. My face would be perfect if these breakouts would just go away!!!
If you are concerned about anti-aging and restoring the smoothness and texture to your face this is definitely something for you. And although the price tag may be a bit steep for some at $179, I called around in my area and that’s about how much a spa charges you for one or two sessions of microdermabrasion. And you can do this at the comfort of your own home. And it’s small and portable so you can take it with you when you travel. Just so you get an idea, it’s smaller than my one inch hair iron. So I think it’s definitely worth it!
Have you tried this? Please share in the comments!
Product Review: REM Spring Hair Removal Tool
This product was sent for review by a firm representing REM Spring. Mami’s Time Out was not compensated for its review.
I received an interesting product in the mail the other day. REM Spring is a very interesting hair removal tool. Similar to plucking, it also includes a cream to help reduce the unwanted hair growth. REM Spring is specifically for facial hair, that is, chin and moustache. They advise against using it for eyebrows because due the shape of the product you can pull out your eyelashes. And I know no one wants that!
So after having my son, hormonal changes and birth control issues have definitely increased the amount of chin hair. I hate it and am constantly plucking. At least twice a week. I’m very sensitive about it so I’m constantly checking it out to make sure that I don’t have any unwanted hair. We all know that is not sexy!
The interesting part about this product is that since it’s like nothing out there (and I’ve used quite a bit of beauty tools over the years!) it takes a bit to get used to it and get it to work. The instructions are pretty easy to read but I didn’t think that it would actually work that way. Basically you take the spring and turn it into an upside down U shape. All you do is roll the ends of the spring between your thumb and forefinger and that’s it! The hair comes right off! It’s as painless as plucking but it can remove more than one hair at a time.
It also comes with this creme called Hair Nix that helps inhibit future hair growth. You add it to your chin after you finish using the hair removal tool and you’re done! I added a bit of the creme and to be honest I didn’t expect much of a difference. What I really hate about my chin hair is that as a Latina, it’s dark and very noticeable. And I’m not even 30 yet so I really have a major complex about my chin hair. So if you are in my boat, let me tell you. This creme really worked! In between I have used my tweezers from time to time but I definitely noticed a difference in the amount of hair and the thickness!
The only con is that although this product comes in it’s own carrying case, it is not as easy to slip in your purse like a pair of tweezers are. I do use a pretty decent size purse and I have a small makeup bag filled with lipglosses and a compact mirror. But the REM Spring tool would not fit in there. But honestly I don’t think I’d want to take it out of my house for fear something would happen to it. This thing rocks!
I’m sure you are wondering where you can get your little manicured hands on this! You can buy right off their web site for around $20! This is a product definitely worth checking out!
Sephora Now Offers Makeup Services
You could always get a free consultation on any type of skincare issue or makeup question at your local Sephora store. But now they are also offering a 45-60 minute makeup session for that big or not so big event. For the weddings, showers and whatever you may have to go to this summer, this could be a life saver! You can always try out a new look at anytime and purchase the makeup to recreate at home. The only catch with this session is that you have to purchase at least $50 of makeup. But as beautiful as you’re going to look, I’m sure the $50 won’t be a problem. Stay bella!
Product Review: Bremen Emergency Zit Stick
This product was sent for editorial review. Mami’s Time Out was not compensated in any way for this review. You can always count on an honest review by Mami’s Time Out.
I have been having a tough time with my skin. Bad for me but good for you guys because that means more product reviews! I just hate this part of summer. My face just gets more acne prone and it also could be a drawback from switching to a new form of birth control…..
But I digress! I instantly loved the way Bremen Emergency Zit Stick looked. I am a sucker for packaging and this is pretty clever. Similar to the size of a lip gloss, the Emergency Zit Stick has an applicator that helps with more targeted application. It also goes on clear and is small enough to throw in your purse in case you have that zit!
The only drawback is that it does work on those gross whiteheads but not on the ones that don’t come to a head like the ones I’m recently breaking out with. But the one whitehead I did have was gone in about 24 hours! I love when a product does what it says! Without all the caking and drying that can happen with other products. Also, no peeling or redness. Works really well on the skin.
You can find this at Sephora for $21 and is skincare challenge eligible.
Product Review: Caress Velvet Bliss Body Wash
This product was received for review by a firm representing Caress. Mami’s Time Out has not been compensated for its review. You can always count on an honest review from Mami’s Time Out.
This product smells amazing! I love Caress and have reviewed the products before. They smell great, packaged great and best of all don’t make my sensitive skin break out. The Velvet Bliss Body Wash is a very smooth soap smelling of blackberry and vanilla. Sometimes as mami’s we only get those ten or fifteen minutes of quiet in the bathroom. If we’re lucky! Am I right?! So I love to consentirme while in the bathroom. This product is definitely worth checking out for some yummy bathroom time. I love all of Caress line of products and this is a good one for summer!
I have an extra soap bar to give away! Who wants it? Leave me a comment to be entered into the giveaway! Stay cool and bella chicas!
Summer Beauty under $20!
You all know my absolute love affair with MAC. But for those of you would like to keep beautiful without breaking the bank, this post is for you! I’ve been playing around with different brands and different types of makeup. Poor hubby but I say it’s for the blog. 
It’s for me too I love playing with makeup! Any way you will see some posts in the next few weeks where I’ve been reviewing drug store brands. Because it’s always not all about the higher end brands right!! Those are fun too but definitely experimenting with the cheaper brands is not out of the question.
So since we are smack dab in the middle of summer… and what a hot summer it is!!… I have been looking for lighter versions of my makeup. Even in the weekend, I really don’t want to pile it on like I’m going to work. But I also HATE leaving my house bare faced. It’s not a diva thing either (well not mostly!) but with this sun you really have to protect your face. Anti-aging is serious chicas! And since I hate putting on sunscreen yet don’t want to be totally without makeup…my solution is tinted moisturizer. Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it! Here are the products I’ve used to get a summertime glow:
1. Hard Candy Sheer Envy Tinted Moisturizer in Medium I got this at Walmart for $8. It has an SPF of 15. Did you know Walmart now carries Hard Candy? I thought this was only in stores like Sephora. There was a great selection of stuff at my local Walmart. Of course I was with the boys so I couldn’t look much….
2. Ulta cheekcolor in Afterglow You can buy this online or in stores. They were having a sale usually goes for $6 but I picked this up for $3.
3. Glam Eyes Mascara for $6 I previously wrote a review for this product and have been using it ever since.
Just add your favorite gloss and you’re done! All for less than $20! So what do you think? Do you change up your makeup routine for summer?
Also, if you don’t like the extra dewy look I’m sporting in the picture ( I dont think I like it much either but it was sooooo hot that day!) you can add a mattifier. Stay tuned for a post on mattifiers!
