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!!!
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!
Book Review: The Complete Book of Baby Bargains
This book was sent by the publisher for an editorial review. Mami’s Time Out was not compensated in any way for its review.
Since my son is now three, I definitely wish I had this book, The Complete Book of Baby Bargains: 1,000+ Best Ways to Save Money Every Day
This book is divided into parts, before the baby arrives (how to save money on maternity clothes), Feeding, Health and Hygiene, decorating the baby room, baby gear, and everything else you can think of. It’s nice to give the book a once over but also to keep as a resource when you need to purchase something.
There are some really good ideas such as “Sixteen ways to reuse glass baby food jars” and something as simple as tip #28: Bring your baby book to the hospital. The nurses can do your baby’s footprints and handprints in it when they do them for the birth certificate. This saves you time and the cost of buying an ink kit to do it yourself later. How genius is that! Yet I’ve never thought of it or my mami friends haven’t thought of it either.
The Complete Book of Baby Bargains: 1,000+ Best Ways to Save Money Every Day
You can purchase The Complete Book of Baby Bargains: 1,000+ Best Ways to Save Money Every Day
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!
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!
Book Review & Giveaway Amigas Fifteen Candles
*******ETA: This giveaway runs through July 17, 2010******Summertime is the best time for light reading. Something you can take with you to the beach or cottage. This book Amigas Fifteen Candles by Veronica Chambers is the perfect one to take with you. I love reading books by Latinas or the Latina Chick Lit types of books because they give you that little bit extra of culture by including Latina names for their characters or inserting a Spanish word here and there.
This book is set in Miami, FL and is about a new girl in town who is getting her Quinces organized by another. It may by a bit too young for some of you but it definitely is a refreshing read. Or a great read to give to a niece or younger sister.
When you pack that beach tote, definitely throw this book in here! Amigas Fifteen Candles is a quick read and fun summer book! Want to win one? Enter your info in the box below to win! This contest is only open to residents of the US. Also, this contest is open only to Mami’s Time Out subscribers. Suerte!
Product Review: Pantene Curly Series
I am in a love/hate relationship with my hair. I love the fact that I have the option to have it straight or curly. But I hate the dry and damaged part that comes with curly and the frizz that it sure to follow. I usually keep my hair straight when it’s “short”. I put it in quotes because it’s not really that short but it’s short for me. My hair is about shoulder length. It’s a cut I had to do for my hair disaster issues. But I hate the cut, hate the length I’m just beyond unhappy right now. But everyone loves my curls. Go figure. I always say that you want what you don’t have. It seems to be the straight haired chicas that give me the most compliments. But I’m trying to become friends with my curls 
and had the opportunity to try out this new Pantene line of products. Summer is the perfect time to let your natural hair hang out since it’s wash and go season.
First, what you do is go to the Pantene site for a Personal Consultation. After answering a few quick questions it tells you what the best line for you is. Mine was of course the Curly Hair Series which includes a shampoo and conditioner as well as a curling gel spray. There’s a whole lot of products to choose from including if you want to go from curly to straight. And they are all a very reasonable price.
Pantene is one of those products that you may leave to try new things but then come right back to it. You know what I mean? I’ve been using Pantene on and off for years. One good reason is that it works. And it’s inexpensive. I love the salon shampoo smell it’s got going on. When I tried it out my hair was already curly. I don’t even try to comb it out dry when it’s like that. It’s basically a rat’s nest. So I wash it first and after I’m getting ready to comb it, I barely needed to. I could have probably finger combed it and it would have worked fine. I was amazed! The spray gel said it would define without making it stiff or what I like to call…crunchy. It definitely worked and even after drying my hair looked great. Of course the gel seemed too light and I didn’t trust it to not make my hair afro puff up so I did add some Frizz Ease spray. It’s definitely worth checking out. This new Pantene line is like Pantene 2.0 
Book Review: Dad’s Pregnant Too!
I am so last minute with this but this could be a great gift idea for those Dad to be’s this Father’s Day (which is tomorrow!!) or at any time for a Dad to be. Dad’s Pregnant Too
· A guide to the different types of expectant fathers, from the Do-It-All to the Me-Too, and the Getting Fat to the Two-For-the-Price-of-Two
· A rundown on how to spoil your pregnant partner, from massaging wherever she’ll let you touch to the babymoon and push presents
· How to navigate the baby superstore and limit your purchases to two car seats and a stroller that should go 55 mph, given the price tag
· And everything in between, from the baby’s development to the body and mind of a pregnant woman to sex during pregnancy!
Here’s an excerpt from the book:
Tip #15
The In-Awe Expectant Father: Words Can’t Describe It (But I’ll Try)
THE TIP:
It’s a feeling like nothing you’ve ever experienced before.
THE STORY:
Seeing the baby come out of my wife was surreal and mind-numbing. The image was too much for me to comprehend—it was sensory overload. It wasn’t until a few hours after the birth, when everyone had been taken care of, that I had a chance to hold my daughter. My wife was sleeping, and we were alone. That’s when the switch was flipped. It was a feeling I had never experienced before. I was awestruck by the pregnancy, by the birth, and by the delivery. But the love a father feels for his child blew me away. It’s a feeling that never goes away.
—Me, daughter 22 months, 21 weeks pregnant
We had a C-section, and I got to spend time with Jack before Emily did; it’s not how I wished it. He opened his eyes and he looked at me, and I said, “Hi Jack.” And he looked at me like he knew that was his name. It was the most magical moment.
—Jeff (son 9 months)
I thought of including a blank page for this tip because there are no words to describe the feeling of going through the expectant father experience. But a book with blank pages isn’t a good book. So, here’s my best attempt.
Being an expectant father will leave you in awe. It will excite, exhaust, intimidate, embarrass, intrigue, surprise, scare, shock, and delight you all at once. The adventure will stir untapped emotions. It will leave you feeling something you’ve never felt or experienced before.
It’s as if there’s something programmed into our DNA that’s activated during this process. And when the switch is flipped and it happens, the world will change forever. It’s an emotional state so powerful and all-consuming that there are no words for it.
Don’t worry about not feeling it right away. It will happen, but when it happens will vary. It could be immediately after the birth, or an hour, a day, a week, or a few months later—but it will happen. It’s not something you need to force. No matter the heaviness or happiness of the moments leading up to the birth, it will all be worth it. The adrenaline rush of fatherhood is better than any drug—once the initial surge
It’s like a Darwinian switch flipped in my brain. I went from reluctant father to head-over-heels committed dad in a heartbeat.
—Eric (daughter 15 months)
I was in awe when I saw the ultrasound of our baby and the heartbeat—that is when I knew it was for real.
—Kevin (18 weeks pregnant)
subsides, the feeling lingers forever. It’s what bonds us to the baby.
From conception to coming home, the whole journey is exhilarating, exhausting, and awe-inspiring. It’s something you’ll probably want to do again and again. And while you might in fact do it again and again, savor the first time—the first is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Enjoy the adventure ahead.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
You won’t believe what you see, hear, and feel.
Dad’s Pregnant Too
Product Review: Clarins Intesive Brightening Smoothing Serum
This product was sent for review by a Public Relations firm on behalf of Clarins. I have not been compensated for its review. You can always count on an honest review from Mami’s Time Out.
I’ve been busy with these product reviews huh? LOL. As we get older our skin needs change. We are all unique with unique skin issues. Right now I am starting to get more aware of anti-aging solutions as well as still battling my adult acne. Throw in sensitive skin and you’ve got a mess waiting to happen!
I wanted to try the Brightening Smoothing Serum due to trying to firm up my skin as well as make it more even toned. Here are some of the product features:
Minimizes the appearance of dark spots and helps prevent their reappearance.
- - Helps firm facial features, smoothes away fine lines.
- - Illuminates the complexion, restores healthy-looking glow to skin.
- Dermatologist tested, non-comedogenic.
After a few weeks of use I did notice a bit of a difference. I am still battling breakouts so that didn’t change. If you have the same concern as I do about adult acne but not about anti-aging then this product may not be for you. Although it has been said that you are never too young to start anti-aging skin care. You can find it at Sephora for $68. You can get free shipping and it’s also skin care challenge eligible.
