mommypalooza™ ~ a daily dose of mommy mayhem.

5 Ways To Save Big on Maternity Wear

Me, at 38 weeks pregnant!

Man, oh man, the past three and a half weeks have been so crazy busy adjusting to a new schedule with a newborn in the house, but I am feeling so amazingly blessed to have had such a great pregnancy and birthing experience.

{Beauty Review}: #BeautifulInsideOut with Neutrogena this Spring

Is it spring yet where you live?  Well, here in the midwest it is anything BUT spring-like!  Recently I attended my son's soccer game where most of the spectators were in winter coats.  Yes, winter coats in April!  I am SO done with this winter weather and ready for some sunshine and heat.

Thanks to Neutrogena, I've recently been able to experience some kind of springtime fun with a few of their best-selling and newest beauty products.

{review}: L'Oreal Paris Magic BB Cream

I was recently provided with a full-size sample of the new L'Oréal Paris Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream to incorporate into my regular beauty routine.  I have to say I was a bit skeptical at first because I am not one who wears a lot of heavy makeup and my skin tends to feel heavy and weighed the more "stuff"  I layer onto it.

With that said, I started using the BB Cream after my moisturizer each day and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised with the results.  Check it out for yourself . . .

 

I would love to hear your feedback on what you think of this BB Cream.  Let me know in the comments!  

{Disclosure:  I received free product in exchange for this review, however all opinions are those of my own. No one is the boss of me!}

{giveaway}: A Good Smile is So Important - Crest #PiroposTraducidos

We've all heard them - piropos {a.k.a., compliments / pick-up lines} from admirers near and far.  You know, the ones that make you roll your eyes.  Ones like, "I must be in heaven because I'm looking at an angel!".

 While I can't say that my hubs ever used any cute or funny piropos while we were dating, I can tell you that his smile was and is still certainly very important. 

 

My Fresh Skin Secrets with Neutrogena #FreshSkin

While Autumn & Fall are not necessarily my busiest time of year {I would actually say Summer is!}, they are certainly my most stressful!  I don't do well in cold weather - physically or emotionally.  Blame it on the good 'ol Texas gal in me, but without sunshine and warm air touching my skin, I get a bit moody.  But not only does the cooler weather mess with my senses, it also does a number on my skin.  I feel like it's necessary to exfoliate more often and just take better care of my skin during these months.  {The foaming scrub from Neutrogena is GREAT for exfoliating, by the way!}

At the end of the day, it's easy to put off taking care of my skin because I'm too tired.  And with all of my pregnancy horomones, I feel like my skin is being better to me than usual, but I still strive to make an effort to make my skin care a priority. I've never been one to worry about aging -- not because I know it hasn't {and will continue to} happened to me, but because -- WHO CARES?!  All of my lines, spots and imperfections have been earned and I just try and make the most of them.

What I love about the Neutrogena fresh skin care line is that the steps are easy and quite frankly the SMELL of these products is amazing!!  Exactly what you'd expect when you hear the words "fresh skin care".  The Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit line features ingredients that are powerful in treating acne, but I love that they don’t smell harsh. The products treat breakouts and prevent blackheads while delivering a refreshing blast of 100% naturally derived grapefruit extract and vitamin C.  I also like that the products are easily accessible and found at local drug stores everywhere. 

With great products like these, I add in a great eye gel / cream and day & night moisturizers and I am set!  Every busy mom can appreciate a no-fuss fresh skin care routine like this. To learn more about the Neutrogena line of fresh skin care products, visit them here.

What are your favorite ways you maintain a fresh skin care routine?

{Disclosure: This post is compensated and in collaboration with Neutrogena and Latina Blogger Connect. All opinions are my own.  No one is the boss of me.}

Celebrate your skin this season and beyond. #BestOfMe

It's funny how many of us at the end of the winter doldrums start to think about the warmer months and baring skin, that we immediately start some resolutions that we should really be focused on all year long.  One of those resolutions is taking better care of our skin.  I know that for me I have been very aware of my skin's health ever since I was a lot younger.  It's not that I've been concerned necessarily with looking younger but more that I wanted to feel good about my aging skin.

For me, one of the most important things I do every day is protect my skin with and SPF moisturizer.  It's just something I feel good about doing.  I've recently tried Neutrogena Rapid Tone Repair and have found it to be a lightweight silky moisturizer that absorbs quickly into my skin.  It is clinically proven to help fade the look of dark spots, and discoloration.  I think it's so important to remember that protection from the sun is not only a summer thing!

We all know that with summer's end that sometimes our skin's health can take a backseat for a while.  But, it's time to celebrate our skin year-round and not feel the need to hide behind layers of makeup on a daily basis. 

To learn more about Neutrogena and how they're celebrating skin health, connect with them on Facebook!  And, tell me, what is your #1 way to celebrate your skin's health?

{Disclosure:  I have been compensated by Latina Bloggers Connect & Neutrogena in exchange for sharing my thoughts about skin health with you.  All opinions expressed are my own. No one is the boss of me!}

{Giveaway}: A winning smile can make all the difference. #WinningSmile #CrestSponsored

It's one of the first things I notice when I meet someone -- their smile.  It's the universal gesture for happiness.  Your smile is one of the most important accessories you will ever showcase!  And although a winning smile can certainly come from within, it helps if it is also projected on the outside for the world to see. 

A healthy, winning smile is something that exudes confidence, poise, and self-worth.  It can be a person's most viable personal asset and should be well-taken care of.  After all, our smile must last us our entire life!  And with it being front-and-center of almost every aspect of our daily life, it must be something that is preserved.

Recently I was given the opportunity to try a few products from the P&G Oral Care line.  P&G believes that every day is full of opportunities to open up to the world and that the more confident you are in the health of your mouth, the more you open up to the world around you. I couldn't agree with this notion more.  A healthy mouth and smile leads to a healthy overall person.  They offer a comprehensive line-up of toothpastes, rinse, toothbrushes and floss and provides consumers (like me!) with innovative, targeted solutions designed to meet specific oral care needs, including the Crest 3D White, Crest & Oral-B Complete and Crest Pro-Health product portfolios.

And now I'm so thrilled to be able to offer one of YOU the chance to experience a #WinningSmile with #CrestSponsored product as well!  One lucky reader will receive a Crest Complete Deep Clean Prize Pack which includes ALL the items in the line!  So, go to the giveaway widget below and enter today!

{Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a test drive campaign by Latina Mom Bloggers on behalf of Crest and Oral-B and received product samples to facilitate my candid review. Latina Mom Bloggers sent me a promotional gift to thank me for taking the time to participate. However, all opinions expressed are my own.}

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Beautify your skin with lanolin

I was first introduced to the use of lanolin when I became a mother almost 9 years ago.  I read various books and information on breastfeeding my child and of course lanolin was referenced because it has long been known as very effective for treating chapped or sore nipples of mothers who breastfeed.  

Well, over the past year or so I've discovered several other uses for lanolin. The waxy properties it has make it excellent for using on your skin in ways you may not have thought of.  Here are a few of my favorite ways I like to use lanolin to tackle my biggest beauty blunders:

• Use on dry elbows, heels, and knees for extreme hydration.  Since I live in the midwest, where we typically experience all four seasons, I can't tell you how dry and cracked the backs of my hands and knuckles seem to get in the winter.  Typical hand lotions don't usually help much either.  And even though I try and wear gloves as much as possible, when I'm toting three kids and their gear around, it sometimes just isn't feasible.  What has been effective though is using a dab of lanolin on the really dry and rough parts of my hands at night before I go to bed.  By morning, my hands are usually softer and smoother than the day before!  You can also do this on your knees and heel area.  Rub it onto your heels and cover with socks before bed and you'll wake up to skin that appears softer and smoother.
• Use to treat areas that are affected by razorburn.  Yes, this is true! Try a dab of lanolin on underarm areas and bikini lines when other lotions or treatments just don't live up to the job.  Because lanolin is wax-based and not oil-based, it will treat the skin so much better!
• Use on chapped lips.  This is a great alternative to lip balm, especially for kids!  When my boys have chapped lips {which they tend to get a lot during the summer}, I will dab a bit of lanolin around their lip area and they always wake up with healed lips!
• Use on cuts that have healed but are still tender and itchy.  With 3 boys in the house, it seems like someone always has an "owie" in the house.  My kids get random scratches and cuts as their running around the house or outside.  Sometimes, even as those minor wounds heal, they complain that their skin is still itchy around the wound site.  I use lanolin to smooth over the area and not only does it help with hydrating that part of the skin, but it takes away the itch!

I hope these uses for lanolin have given you some insight on how helpful it can be to have in your mommy medicine cabinet!  You can typcially find 100% pure lanolin in containers or tubes at just about any pharmacy or health foods store.  It is also sold in tubes found in the baby care aisle of retail stores.  What's even better about it is that a little goes a very long way!  I have had the same tube of lanolin for a little over a year now and we seem to use it pretty regularly year-round.

Have you discovered any other uses for lanolin for health and beauty?  I'd love to know! 

 

 

{Disclosure: I was compensated for this post as a member of Clever Girls Collective. All the opinions expressed here are my own.  No one is the boss of me.}

Dare to bare summer arms in 3 easy steps.

It's no surprise that being a native Texas gal, summer is my favorite season.  I am all for baring summer skin {and toes} during the season that celebrates the sun.  One of the key elements to feeling comfortable in your own baring your own skin involves your armpits.  Yep, I know...not exactly a pretty subject, but Dove Clear Tone Deodorant is working hard to make it prettier!  Dove's new Clear Tone deodorant is designed and clinically proven to reduce the appearance of dark armpits and to promote a more even skin tone.

And speaking of skin tone, there are three basic beauty rituals I incorporate each summer to help make sure my bare skin is in optimal condition for summer tanks, swimwear, and of course, strapless sundresses. 

1.  Exfoliate - this by far is the single most important part of my routine.  In my post last week, I talked about how important it is to your beauty regimen.  I usually use an in-shower body scrub or exfoliator on my arms and shoulder area to encourage new skin cell growth and to avoid the dull, dry skin look.

2.  Hydrate - Once I have exfoliated my skin I use my favorite moisturizer. I will say I am pretty picky about lotions and moisturizers, so be sure and experiment with different brands and types to find one that suits your skin well.  I prefer a body lotion rather than a thick cream because I don't like greasiness, but that's just me.

3.  Enhance - This is where the fun comes in!  So now that my arms are exfoliated and hydrated, I love to use a shimmer type powder or even bronzer all over my bared skin.  This is best applied after clothing so you can apply it exactly where you want it.  This just gives a nice glow to your arms and will reflect nicely when you are out in the sun.

What are your best style + beauty tips for baring summer skin?

{Disclosure: I was compensated for this post as a member of Clever Girls Collective. All the opinions expressed here are my own.  No one is the boss of me.}

 

Beauty 101: Just about anything can {and should be} exfoliated.

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I admit - I'm a product junkie.  I will try just about any brand and type of style and beauty product at least once.  But, when it comes to deodorant, I never settle for just any old brand.

A while back while attending the Hispanicize conference in Miami, I met the lovely peeps from Dove at the beauty lounge they hosted during the event.

When I visited their scrumptious little area, I was pleasantly surprised to learn about one of their newest product developments.

Dove was educating conference attendees about their newest exciting product - Dove Clear Tone Deodorant.  This product is of particular interest to me, as a Hispanic woman, as Latinas we all struggle with darker underarm hair and uneven skin tone.  I know.  Not exactly a great picture I've just put into your head, but hey, I'm just keeping it real.  It's just genetic.  Dove's new Clear Tone deodorant is designed and clinically proven to reduce the appearance of dark armpits and to promote a more even skin tone.

The cool thing is that the Dove reps shared some tips me on increasing the effectiveness of their product.  One of the things the esthetician talked about was keeping the armpit area properly exfoliated so that new, healthy skin cells are always exposed at the surface.  I have been this product since mid-April when I received several samples for my own personal use and I must say that I do notice a bit of a difference in not only the way that my armpit area looks, but in how it doesn't feel dry or razor-burned.  I definitely believe that exfoliation plays a huge part in how effective this deodorant is because to me, it is the single best thing you can do for your skin.

Here are some quick and easy ways you can incorporate exfoliation into your regular beauty routine to help avoid beauty disasters!

• Take your favorite scrub / mask and use it as a treatment all over your lip area and in the skin around your mouth and lips.  Let it set for a few minutes before taking a warm washcloth and wiping it off.  Then, treat your lips with your favorite lip balm and enjoy the velvety and perfectly exfoliated lips you now have!
• Instead of simply rinsing your cleanser from your face with water, take a washcloth and use it to gently exfoliate and wipe your cleanser off.  Sometimes the gentle fibers of the washcloth provide great exfoliation for your face without needing to use additional products.
• Make the most of your exfoliating scrubs by using them on your elbows, knees, and ankles especially in summertime when you're baring more skin with summer fashions.  Just because you purchase a facial exfoliator, doesn't mean you have to limit yourself to using it solely on your facial skin.

So do you have any beauty tips about exfoliation you have found particularly useful?  I'd love to hear them!  I look forward to exchanging more beauty tips and tricks with you soon!

 

 

 

{Disclosure:: I was compensated for this post as a member of Clever Girls Collective. All the opinions expressed here are my own.  No one is the boss of me.}