Make the most of your drugstore makeup!
President, Live in Five Public Relations Great Article!
Craving some Clinique? Longing for a little Laura Mercier? Yearning for Yves Saint Laurent? Learn how to make your masstige (drugstore) makeup into prestique quality with affordable beauty finds. 
MATTIFY ON A BUDGET: Matte nails are a huge trend! Forget purchasing five new shades of a Chanel nail color in a matte finish, keep the hues you have in your arsenal and top it off with a top coat that mattifies the base color! Give those tried and true shades an update with this new finish. Essie Matte About You ($10, essie.com) and Rescue Beauty Lounge Matte Top Coat ($18, RescueBeauty.com) are great affordable options!
PUT A FOUNDATION ON YOUR BASE: Help your drugstore foundation stay put longer with a makeup finish. Skindinavia’s No More Shine diminishes oiliness and 10 Years Younger ($19, skindinavia.com) adds in hydration, which is great since a lot of the more inexpensive foundations are loaded with talc and mica which can be very drying on the skin.
CREASE NO MORE: Do those drugstore eyeshadow crease and fade by lunchtime? Standard drugstore eyeshadows tend to have less pigment than their department store counterparts, and thus have less staying powder and may apply more sheerly. Experiment with color on a budget, but amp up that drugstore shadow’s staying power with eyelid primers that will intensify your shadows hue and will last all day with no touch ups! The industry staple is Urban Decay’s Primer Potion ($18, sephora.com), but L’Oreal’s De-Crease Eyeshadow Base and Primer ($7.99 at drugstores) is a option, too! Another great tip? Choose inexpensive shadows developed for African American or darker skin tones. Pricier shadows with staying power have more pigment and darker skin tones naturally need more pigment. Inexpensive brands that cater to darker skin are the best beauty buy in the whole store because you get more pigment for your pennies!
LIP VENOM FOR LESS: Brush your lips after you are through brushing your teeth in the morning and a night and apply a thick coat of Carmex ($1.29 at drugstores). The menthol in the Carmex on the fresh lip skin plums your pucker better than any $20 venom and the results last just as long.
LUSHER LASHES: Mascara formulas may change, but the biggest qualifier for lush lashes is the mascara wand! Go ahead and pick up the iconic Maybelline Great Lash ($4.89 at drugstores) but dump that flimsy brush and replace it with a fab lash brush that will separate lashes and create a thick full effect! MAC offers one for $11 (maccosmetics.com) with high quality synthetic fibers which helps properly distribute the product without clumps and we also love the Suki Brow Lash Brush ($10.95 at skinbotanica.com) for its thickness and blendability!
Product Review: Patricia Wexler Intensive Night Reversal & Repair Creme
I know you ladies love your product reviews so here goes! I’ve been trying out the Patricia Wexler Intensive Night Reversal & Repair Creme for a few weeks. I’m always so afraid with skincare reviews due to my sensitive skin. But I figure I’d try it out and brave the consequences in the name of beauty! Plus, I do have my blemish potion that works great! Sold at Bath & Body Works, the Patricia Wexler Intensive Night Reversal & Repair Creme claims to do the following:
- Visibly lifts and diminishes lines by morning
- Speeds recovery from daily environmental damage
- Targets the appearance of deep expression lines and slackened skin
Now, I am in my last twenty (29!) but they say it’s never to early to start on your anti-aging skin care. And my skin has just been horrible lately especially with tone and texture. So I figure I’d give this a try. I must say I love it! At $42.50 it’s pricier than the other products at Bath & Body Works but it’s a good sized tub. And it’s so creamy that although it states “apply generously” I apply about the same as I would sunscreen or moisturizer. My skin is a bit on the oily side so I don’t do generous. But if your skin is normal or dry I say go for it with the generosity!
It has a light fragrance, nothing to get all excited about but hey, you’re only going to bed right? I have no breakouts from using this and my skin is definitely radiant and did I mention SOFT? I can’t believe it. Now I can’t say much about the products claims to diminish lines because I don’t have any just yet! On the site, the product has received a 4.2 out of 5 which is definitely not bad. It’s also received a 2008 Siempre Mujer Best of Beauty Awards. This is only one product in a line of products from Patricia Wexler. I definitely suggest you go to your nearest Bath & Body Works to try this one out for yourself! Stay bella!
Some Sunday Reading…
From Total Beauty: Easy ways to update your look for spring and Ten Habits of Perfect Skinned Women
Check out Latina’s Curly vs. Straight slideshow and Spring Cleaning on a Budget
Ms. Latina talks about entering in a great makeover contest!
New York Chica shares her must have beauty items.
DE from BeautyLogic shares the self tanners that work!
And for those of you who love giveaways…..
Attention, beauty mavens! Terra is giving away seasonal beauty bags to 100 lucky winners. All you have to do is sign up online by May 31, and you’ll be entered into the sweepstakes!
Beauty bag products may include:
Essie Nail Polish
Tan Towel Classic
St. Ives Apricot
Burt’s Bees Lip Balm
Pantene Shampoo
To enter, check out the web site!
Through Wednesday, March 31, 2010, parents can enter the Ragú® Recipe for a Good Start Contest at Recipeforagoodstart.com and submit their favorite original recipe using Ragú® pasta sauce and share your tips for giving kids a good start in life.
The top three finalists will compete in a live cook-off event in New York City in August 2010 and the grand prize contest winner will receive a $5,000 scholarship for his/her child.
The purpose of the contest is showcase mothers and their efforts in making sure their children get off to a good start in life.
Saturday Steal: Blush
I wear blush from time to time. Not enough to have a bag full or spend the big bucks on it. But I did try and use Nars Orgasm since it is known to be the best thing for most if not all skin tones. But if you don’t think blush is a big deal you may think twice before spending the $26 on it. Although mine has lasted me forever. But anyway I found a great steal at Sephora in place of this blush. It may be a better fit for the lighter chicas out there since it’s not as deep as the Orgasm. But you can wear this during the day I don’t advise night use of this blush. It’s Sephora’s Blush in Bronze Sensation #12. At half the price tag, this blush acheives a similar effect for $12!
PS: To shop…just click on one of the links! Don’t you just love beauty without breaking the bank? 
Stay bella!
Spring Makeup Color is…Coral!
Believe it or not, I’m excited about Coral being the trendy makeup color for spring. This color is very flattering on all skin tones and I’m sure you can find something that looks absolutely fab on you. Here are some of my picks. Stay Bella!
Nars Orgasm
Benefit Coralista
Bobbie Brown Cabana Corals
MAC Color me Coral
Essie Tart Deco
Product Review: Blemish Potion
This product was received for review by the makers of Blemish Potion. Mami’s Time Out has not been compensated in any way for this review.
I was very interested in this Blemish Potion which by the way I love. I’ve been trying different kinds of acne creams and they weren’t working too well for me at all. Either they did nothing for my pimple or they made my skin flake and get bright red.
The blemish potion is different from everything I’ve ever tried for a few reasons. One, it’s got a handy little applicator (almost like a nail polish brush without the brush at the end) so you don’t use your fingers to apply. This makes for more precise application right on the pimple. Also, it doubles as a cover up. It goes underneath your makeup and acts like a concealer. You apply twice a day once in the morning under makeup and once again at night. In the morning it’s still there fighting to dry out that pimple.
I love that it attacks the pimple without going overboard. For someone like me with sensitive skin, it just works great at drying out the pimple without giving you a harsh reaction. My pimple was noticeably smaller in a few days without any side effects. It comes in a few different tones, I used light and it was matched as concealer perfectly. You can find Blemish Potion at Amazon for $18. This gets a huge thumbs up from me!
Valentine’s Day Makeup Tips
Valentine’s Day makeup should be all about the lips according to celebrity makeup artist Christopher Drummond. If you have the prefect date this Valentine’s Day but still need the perfect makeover to look your best, here are Christopher’s tips for the perfect Valentine’s Day look:
- To feel more romantic, use naturally scented lip products.
- If you are hesitant to wear bright red lipstick, wear a soft red gloss instead
- Valentine’s Day is all about kissing the one you love. Be sure to keep your lips hydrated with shea butter. This natural ingredient keeps your lips smoother longer than petroleum.
- Use your lip liner on top of lipstick. This helps to avoid the oblivious line around the lips when your gloss comes off. Lining after your lip color also allows for easier application and blendability.
- For fuller lips, add shimmer (try: apply Christopher Drummond Beauty Relache Ice Eye Shadow to the inner lips to create the illusion of fullness)
Christopher Drummond Beauty offers an all-natural, petroleum-free, soft red lip gloss called “Lucious” that is perfect to wear on Valentine’s Day. The gloss contains the essential oil of blood orange, which gives it a light, refreshing citrus scent. It also contains castor oil, coconut oil, soybean oil and vitamin E.
Bad Beauty Deals from ShopSmart Magazine
Frizzy hair, skinny lips, skimpy lashes, lumpy thighs – for every dilemma, there’s a product that’s claimed to solve it. But many don’t, and lots of us have been suckered into buying stuff that doesn’t work. The March 2010 issue of ShopSmart, from the publishers of Consumer Reports, gives us the lowdown on bad beauty deals:
Lash Growers
Lash growers are regulated by the FDA as drugs. (Latisse is FDA approved, but ShopSmart doesn’t recommend it because of risks.) You’ll still see plenty of other “lash lengtheners” on the market though. Some have been issued warning letters by the FDA because they contain drugs.
ShopSmart says Stick with mascara. Lancôme Définicils, $24, was top-rated in their last test.
Hair Smoothers
Ads for Brazilian Keratin Treatment (BKT), a popular salon technique, claim that it leaves hair smooth and healthy-looking for months. But a main ingredient in BKT is formaldehyde, a probable carcinogen that is not banned by the FDA in hair straighteners.
ShopSmart says Try a straightening iron. They like Revlon Perfect Heat Ceramic RVST2001C, $30.
Lip Plumpers
The results for lip plumpers were unimpressive for increasing lip volume, though some, including products from Clinique and DuWop, temporarily smoothed lip lines a little.
ShopSmart says Try makeup tricks instead. Line your lips with pencil just outside your natural lip line, then dot highlighter just above the upper lip and just below the lower lip. If you want a more permanent pout, see a cosmetic surgeon for temporary injections.
Scar Eliminators
No product can completely eliminate a scar or stretch marks.
ShopSmart says See a dermatologist. Certain laser treatments can reduce redness and smooth skin so scars are less noticeable.
Bust Boosters
There are no ingredients that have been scientifically proven to enhance or firm the bust.
ShopSmart says Use a moisturizer or bust cream if your décolletage needs softening. Or try a push-up bra or bra inserts, aka “chicken cutlets.”
Under-Eye-Circle Erasers
Many products promise to erase under-eye circle, but they’re hard to treat due to enlarged veins and very thin skin under the eyes.
ShopSmart says Some eye creams with caffeine can offer temporary help for puffiness. If the problem is allergy-related, try antihistamines or topical hydrocortisone cream. You can also see your dermatologist for cosmetic surgery.
Double-Chin Slimmer
A $20 infomercial gadget called the Neckline Slimmer promises to eliminate a double chin with resistance exercise, but the device mainly exercises neck-flexor muscles that have nothing to do with a double chin.
ShopSmart says Try losing some weight or see a cosmetic surgeon. A scarf might also do the trick.
Get Your Chocolate Fix This Valentine’s Day
Please note that Mami’s Time Out has not received this product for review and has not been endorsed in any way to promote this product.
If you are trying to watch that waist line here’s a fun alternative for chocolate. Instead of indulging in a box of chocolates, indulge in some chocolate beauty products for your hair!
Restore hair’s natural velvety shine and splendor with nuATT’s Chocolat Special
Chocolat Creamy Shampoo: Specially formulated with Cocoa Butter and Brazil Nut oils, Chocolat Creamy Shampoo gently cleanses while moisturizing and protecting the hair shaft from further damage caused by sunlight and chemical treatments. Awaken your senses to the irresistible chocolat fragrance of Chocolat Creamy Shampoo.
Chocolate Shake
Chocolate Cream Mask
Antifrizz Therma Active Chocolate
All products are less than $10 which is great for you beauties on a budget! Stay bella!
Product Review: Covergirl Clean Makeup
This product was received for review from Fleishman-Hillard on behalf of Covergirl. Mami’s Time Out has not been paid for this review. You can always count on an honest review from Mami’s Time Out.
You know how they say that a scent can bring back memories? I don’t know who “they” are but they are pretty smart! Covergirl has revamped their makeup but it has the same fragrance. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it right? But when I opened the product to try it on it took me back to the days when my Mami used to get her makeup done in the bathroom and I used to sit on the toilet and watch her. In her glory days, my Mami used to get dressed up to the nines just to go to work. She always owned her own beauty salon and on Saturdays she would work in heels with her hair and makeup done. To her it was the image she was portraying about her business.
But I digress. See how scent can really take you back! That was like 20 years ago. Covergirl is obviously a great product since it’s been around for so long. As well as being so affordable! I received both a liquid and powder formula. I am more partial to liquid than powder so I tried that. The liquid had great coverage besides that great scent. The foundation didn’t match that well but that could be easily fixed. The only problem is that the range of skin tones vary from store to store and what one store carries another one might not. With my sensitive skin there aren’t that many drug store products that I can use. Thankfully, Covergirl is one of the products I can use. They are really targeting minorities with a rainbow of skin tones and using celebrities such as Dania Ramirez and Queen Latifah to promote the product.
They are also giving back!
COVERGIRL Clean Makeup transforms you into your most beautiful you without breaking your wallet. The same is true of the COVERGIRL Clean Makeup for Clean Water Campaign: It delivers clean drinking water to needy areas around the world, transforming lives for mere pennies a day. It’s a beautiful thing! Check out www.covergirl.com/cleanforclean and enter to help provide safe drinking to children in need and also learn more about the COVERGIRL Clean Makeup for Clean Water Campaign.
