Can A Facial Ruin Your Face?

The purpose of a basic facial is simple, its a multi-step skin treatment that involves cleansing, exfoliation, extraction and a mask. That my friends, is a basic facial and thats what I thought I was going to receive from a licensed Esthetician.

I had some breakouts on my cheek and I wanted a good extraction to help get rid of the impurities. This "facialist" was recommended to me as she is known to get every single blackhead and pimple out of your face. Unfortunately, what I received was some scaring and even more breakouts than I had in the first place. The sad thing is this all could have been avoided if I just went to my regular Esthetician who has extracted me many times, always leaving my skin better than she found it. The "she will squeeze the hell out of your face" sounded so appealing though... 

 Can a facial ruin your face? Absolutely it can. The main cause is trusting your face onto inexperienced hands but even licensed Estheticians can ruin your skin. In Esthetics school I learned that being "licensed' means that you paid thousands of dollars to get a certificate and you passed a test. However, in Esthetics school I came across so many of these woman that in all honesty did not deserve to graduate and be able to head out in the world with a license to ruin peoples face. I loved everyone in my class, but the truth is the truth and the truth and some of them should have chosen a different career (which some of them realized and did shortly after graduation) 

I want you to be clear that having a license does not make anyone an expert. What makes an Esthetician an expert is years of practice but most important is understanding moderation. Knowing what is ok to extract and when its best to leave alone is a true testament of a skilled Esthetician and always making sure that the skin is left better than it was when you found it. 

Another way your skin can get ruined by facials is by over treating it with harsh chemicals and peels. Beware of these Estheticians as well, you want to make sure that the two of you are crystal clear on what your goals are and a smart and safe way of achieving them. Facials can be very expensive, and I understand that you want to get the most out of your money, but trust me thats not the best approach to have when it comes to a facial. 

Last but not least DO NOT let anyone without a license touch your face... I know you are probably thinking "Steffany didn't you just say the whole licensed thing didn't matter?" Well it does, because that license will protect you. It is whats going to tell you that at the very least this person learned some basic sanitation. Having that knowledge will hopefully keep you from leaving there with an infection. 

My Dermatologist and I were speaking the other day and he was telling me how he had a patient come to him for a "pimple" that never healed after a facial. It wasn't a pimple at all, it was basal cell cancer. He also told me about patients with chemical burns that now have to spend thousands of dollars in laser treatment to correct the damage. 

My advise to all of you is simple, do your research and get multiple opinions. If you are dealing with breakouts on a regular basis start by addressing your health and or see a dermatologist. They are not exempt from making mistakes when treating you but the odds are less. Don't let the price of something be what convinces you to do a treatment, find a great Esthetician that will care for your skin and help you achieve your skin goals safely. 

To Be Continued...

Drugstore Skincare Product Of The Week: Nivea Moisturizing Body Wash Care Almond Oil Hibiscus Scent.

Nivea is one of my favorite brands for drugstore body care, their  body products are hydrating and just the perfect amount of scent. I started using the almond oil and hibiscus scent moisturizing body wash, and my skin loves it!  

It is formulated with Nivea's Hydra IQ Technology and Almond Oil, to intensely moisturize your skin, but without the greasy feel. Priced under $5, I have compared it to more expensive body washes and if not equally better its very close. 

What I like to do for extra dewy soft skin is to apply it with just my hands, like a lotion. Then I rinse it with cool to cold water. I pat dry my skin. I come out and hydrate with lotions and or oil to lock in the moisture. My skin has been so soft and hydrated this winter, I am so happy to have a budget friendly routine that works for my super dry skin. 

Sold: Target, Walmart

Price: $3.49

This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray Might Be The Solution To Your Sleepless Nights!

Shutting your brain down and going to sleep right away is a challenge that deserves attention. If you have been reading my blog for a while, then you know I have a hard time falling asleep. I wouldn't say I suffer from insomnia because its not all the time i cant fall asleep, it's definitely base on the amount of stress or lately its more from how excited I have been about life! 

I received the This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray in my Winter 2017 FabFitFab box and it was heaven sent. I used it the same night and I really didn't bother to READ the bottle and sprayed it directly in my face instead of my pillow. Thank god it didn't cause any weird reaction and I have to say I actually enjoyed it. Now  since then I have been using it correctly, spraying it on my pillow and I love it! I recommended to anyone that has a hard time relaxing and getting themselves to sleep. 

The Description From The Website: 

Get a great night's sleep with our best-selling deep sleep pillow spray. Clinically proven to help you fall asleep faster and wake feeling more refreshed.

WHEN: use at bedtime to help reduce sleep anxiety and improve sleep quality.

HOW: our award-winning natural, aromatherapeutic Superblend of Lavender, Vetivert and Camomile calm both mind and body, soothing you to sleep.

WHY: when we sleep our skin cells repair and harmful toxins are removed, making sleep the ultimate beauty secret and first step in your skincare routine.

Suitable during pregnancy.

97% slept better

89% fell asleep faster

98% felt more refreshed in the morning

100% would recommend deep sleep pillow spray to a friend*

*In a study of 100 subjects and 100 ex-prescription users compared to no product.

Price: $29

Available: Thisworks.com

The Best Workout Clothes For Woman!

I got so many request that the next fitness post should be about workout clothes and here it is. The post will not be too long  because I mainly buy my fitness clothes from two places. The first one is Victoria's Secret Sport, they have the best sports bras in my opinion. Before having my breast reduction and even now they are great, they hold everything in place without squeezing them to the point of discomfort like others do. My favorite are the ones with front zipper since they are so much easier and comfortable to put on and take off.

The pants are also my favorites, the quality is great, stretchy but also form hugging. Below is the links to my favorites, they are having a sale right now for a sports bra and pants for $55 so you can save some money! 

The Knockout by Victoria Sport Front-Close Sport Bra

Knockout by Victoria Sport High-rise Tight

 The second store is TJ Max Or Marshall's, they carry so many brands and styles that there is something for everyone. My advise would be to always try it on before removing the tags. I have a bag full of workout pants to use when I paint or do outside work because they are so terrible for working out. I like my pants to be comfortable enough to wear all day without it loosing it's body hugging feel. 

As I progress in my fitness goals I like to treat my self with new workout clothes. I don't recommend going out and spending a bunch of money on clothes to end up not committing to your workout routine. Set a budget and look at new fitness gear a treat, something you have to earn!  

Briogeo Don't Despair Repair! Leave-in Mask Review!

Briogeo Don't Despair Repair is seriously a game changer for me. A leave-in mask that not only protects your hair from the styling tools but its also repairing. My hair is very damaged from when I bleached it all, which led me to cut and dye my hair black with the hopes that this would help "disguise" the damage. 

After just one time using this product I notice an immediate change to the feel and look of my hair. It feels softer, with more bounce, and shine. I will definitely keep using and I recommend it to anyone with hair! 

How To Use: Wash your hair as you would normally, skipping a mask tho..... Spray it evenly on your hair. 

My Tips: If you are air drying your hair, only apply it to your mid and ends of hair. This will help prevent "flat" hair look. 

What The Briogeo Website Say: 

WHO IT'S FOR:  For those with dry, damaged, and brittle hair that want an instant reparative treatment for healthy looking hair.

WHAT IT IS: A strengthening and reparative leave-in deep conditioner that provides repair benefits beyond an in-shower experience and produces healthy, stronger hair in between washes and heat styling. 

WHAT IT DOES:  The unique micro-encapsulated argan oil adheres to the surface of the hair and closes structural gaps on the hair shaft. The hair cuticle is restored, leaving hair stronger, healthier, and hydrated.

SAFE FOR:  Color treated, keratin treated, chemically-treated, and relaxed hair.

Price: $28

Available Here: Briogeo

Please Note: The product was sent to me to try, however the opinions are my own and this is not a sponsored post. 

Mask Of The Week: Aloette's Muddy Up Deep Cleansing Mud Masque!

I got the chance to try Aloette's muddy up mask and it's AWESOME, if you follow me on Instagram then you saw me try it live on my insta-story. As always I try everything before giving it a final review and this one was a hit. 

The description of the product on Aloette's website: A Farm to Jar™ exclusive, Muddy Up is a deep cleansing mud masque that reduces the appearance of blackheads and enlarged pores while cleaning away dirt and debris. Formulated with soothing cucumber extract and pore-purifying pascalite clay from the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming, Muddy Up deep cleans to reveal brighter, tighter-looking skin in just one application! 

My take: It rocks! It felt so soothing and I could see my black heads and whiteheads coming up (ew) but also very satisfying. My skin immediately looked brighter, my pores looked smaller and it didn't feel dry or tight. I will be keeping this gem in my rotation and using it on the regular, check out both videos to see it work for yourself!

Product: Aloette Muddy Up

Price: $40

Website: www.aloette.com

PSA: This mask was sent to me to try and give my honest review, as always I only share and post about products I actually use and love. 

Remove Your Makeup With Confidence// Remueve Tu Maquillaje Con Conffianz!

I think we all know by now how much I love makeup...... what I don't like is washing my makeup off at the end of the day. It honestly feels like such a drag, start off with a wipe first, apply this super greasy "oil free" makeup remover, then use a cleanser to realize when I wipe my face with toner that I still have makeup in my skin. //Saben de sobra que me encanta maquillarme, lo que no saben es que detesto tener que removerme todo el maquillaje en las noche. Tengo que usar siempre mas de un producto para remover el maquillaje y no siempre consigo removerlo todo. 

When Conffianz a Latina inspired skincare brand, reached out to me and offered me to try out their cleanser I was cool with that, but when they told me I need to do a heavy Day Of The Day makeup look, and then remove it all using the cleanser I was intrigued. See it must be a really good cleanser if thats how they want to demonstrate the efficacy of their product. // Cuando fui contactada por Conffianz, una compañía latina con la oportunidad de tratar su limpiador facial inmediatamente obtuvieron mi atención. Aun me vi mas intrigada cuando me pidieron que me maquillara de Catrina para luego removerme todo el maquillaje solo usando el limpiador facial. 

I went ahead and did a Catrina look and well if you follow me on Instagram and saw my story, you know how "creative" I got with it. I used a lot of blacks and red, from oil based to water based water proof makeup. I decided to go all in and see what this cleanser can do. // Cree un look de Catrina usando tonos negros, rojos, blancos todo de alta calidad y aprueba de agua. Quercia ver si verdaderamente este limpiador hace lo qui promete.

Conffianz really impressed me, I removed half of my face first and was left in awe to see how well it removed all that caked in heavy makeup! I was left even more impressed when I wiped my face with a clean tissue soaked in toner and my face was perfectly clean. // Quede mas que impresionada con la eficcaz con la que Conffianz limpiador de rostra limpio mi cara. Sin utilizar aqua, y solo tres algodones me removi todo el maquillaje y mi rostra quedo impecablemente limpio! Observe el video para que lo vean en accion. 

Watch the video to see how amazing this cleanser works and then go ahead and buy yourself this great cleanser using the code "DIADEMUERTOS30" on their website www.conffianz.com and save 30% off!// Visiten a la pagina de Conffianz www.coffianz.com y utilicen el codigo "DIADEMUERTOS30" para que ahorren 30% en su compra. 

What Makes This Cleanser So good// Que Hace Este Limpiador Facial Tan Bueno? 

• Facial Cleanser gently removes makeup, oil and other impurities while conditioning and smoothing the skin. Key natural ingredients such as Ginger, Aloe, Sweet Almond and Citrus Extracts nourish the skin while leaving it clean and ready to face the world!// El Limpiador Facial remueve toda impureza y maquillaje al mismo tiempo que acondiciona y suaviza tu piel. Los ingredientes clave son el jengibre, el aloe, la almendra dulce y extractos cítricos.

• Conffianz products contain a combination of natural and pharmaceutical ingredients to provide maximum results. // Los productos Conffianz contienen una combinación de ingredientes naturales y farmacéuticos que porveen máximos resultados.

• A portion of all sales goes back into Latin community scholarships. // Una porción de las ventas es destinada a la comunidad hispana – contamos con nuestra ‘Inexplicablemente Bella Scholarship’ la cual es para las latinas que quieren cumplir su sueño de ir a la universidad.

• Conffianz products are recommended by dermatologist// Los Productos Conffianz son recomendados por dermatologos. 

• Winner of the 2014 Latina Beauty Award from Latina Magazine// Conffianz ganó en 2014 el Latina Beauty Award de Latina Magazine

• Products sold as a kit or individually at www.conffianz.com and Walmart// Lo pueden comprar en Walmart on en linea en www.conffianz.com. 

FTC: Sponsored by Coffianz.  I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my viewers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission guidelines concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising.

I Used Carbon Coco To Whiten My Teeth And This Is My Results!

I know by now we have all heard by now about the efficiency of charcoal to whiten teeth. However I had never used it before so this is my review.  I was sent a little package from Carbon Coco to try and give my honest opinion to my readers!

A description From their Website:  

Made from 100% certified organic coconut shell charcoal, Carbon Coco not only brightens your smile, but also improves your overall mouth health.Our medical grade activated charcoal powder removes toxins, stains, and plaque from your teeth through a process called adsorption, in which activated charcoal binds with these particles and flushes them out of your teeth and mouth.The super finely milled polish won’t damage your enamel or gums and also contains bentonite clay, a natural ingredient that helps remineralise teeth plus a hint of lemon myrtle, which has gentle and non-acidic antibacterial properties.

How do I use it?

Wet brush in small and dip into the carbon, gentle circles (no need to brush hard!) for 2-3 minutes. Rinse, then brush with Carbon Coco toothpaste for 3 minutes. This is best used before bedtime to allow residue (if any) to dislodge overnight.

My Review

I have been using Carbon Coco for five days in a row now and I'm ready to give my review. I used it as recommended and can say it works! Its definitely not an overnight thing were you will get instant results but every day my teeth look whiter. 

       The Pros:                                            The Cons: 

         All natural                                              Messy 

        No Sensitivity                                 Time Consuming   

I have to say, the charcoal can get messy, when opening the jar no matter how careful I was there was always fallout on the sink. Also it takes about 7 minutes to the whole process and add 5-15 minutes if you add the oil pulling which I did not receive to try and review. 

That being said I prefer to use this versus other methods that make my teeth sensitive and only targets the color. Carbon Coco has so many more added benefits that really gets me excited about brushing my teeth! 

Product: Carbon Coco 
Price: $59.90
Website: Carboncoco.com

 I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my viewers. This review is not sponsored by Carbon Coco but they did send me the products to try and give my honest opinion. 

I Got To Try Dermablend New Flawless Creator Foundation Drops And These Are My Thoughts!

I get so excited to try new makeup, will I love it?, will I hate it?, will this product become a holy grail? These are all questions going thru my head right before the product touches my skin. I know, I know it just makeup but well makeup is a very important thing in my life. I got to try Dermablends new foundation and I'm just going to cut thru the chase and tell you I LOVE IT! I was so relieved, yes relieved when I applied this foundation looked in the mirror and saw perfection. I could end this review right here and leave it at that but I'll tell you more details about why its AMAZING.....

Heres some important details about Dermablends Flawless Creator Foundation Drops: 

• Contains 33% concentrated pigments for weightless, customizable coverage anyone can wear.
• Uniquely silky texture is blendable, buildable and customizable.
• Multi-use: water-free and oil-free foundation formula for seamless blendability when used alone or mixed with skincare.
• Flawless Creator is formulated without parabens and is a vegan formula: no animal-derived ingredients or by-products.

I loved it because of all that and it simply made my skin look perfect, even my grandmother commented how great my skin looked. The wearability is like no other foundation I own, the first day I used it I wore it for 16 hours, yes you read that correctly 16!!! I looked at the mirror right before I jumped in the shower and to my surprise my face was still on, even my highlight was still barely but showing. Thats a big deal for us makeup lovers, especially for me, a mother of four two of them under two that are constantly touching my face, I'm kissing them all day, I sweat a lot, I have combination skin that starts to get oilier by mid day. These are all factors that play against the longevity and quality of my makeup, but on this day it was not even an issue. 

As I demonstrated on this video I mixed it with my favorite sunscreen, my idea behind this was to make it more of a bb cream, and then I applied it solo on the areas I wanted to contour/bronze. Since then I have used it almost every way possible. However as my summer tan sadly is fading this shade is a little darker then my complexion so mixing it for a lighter coverage will definitely be my go to. 

I also tried their translucent powder and a buffing brush, they both work to perfection. 

FTC: Sponsored by Dermablend Professional. I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my viewers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission guidelines concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising.

I Tried Kim Kardashians KKW Beauty Contour Palette And This Is My Review!

I don't know if I'm alone here but when Kim Kardashian announced that she would be releasing her beauty line I could care less. Let me clarify that I don't either love or hate Kim, I find her to be a beautiful and very hard working woman that turned a negative into a multi-million empire. Her first release was the contouring sticks that I absolutely knew I did not want or need to try, the powder contour kit however did catch my attention. 

I watched a few of the Youtube videos she's brilliantly doing to promote her products and I was convinced that this may be a winner. On the launch date I went to the KKW Beauty website and to my surprise they were all available, the website was running smooth, no check out lines. I picked the shade medium and proceeded to the check out. The palette itself is $52 plus a $8.95 shipping fee, I don't know about you but I thought that was pretty high. 

The palette comes with four pans, two highlight shades and two contouring/bronzing shades, it also includes a double ended brush. My first impression of the palette is pretty, I like the nude packaging and the feel. The palette has a very nice big mirror and the pans are fairly large, the colors however looked a lot more orange than I was expecting. This immediately gave me a bad feeling since orange isn't really the shades I want on my contouring and bronzing kit. 

I proceeded to do my makeup how I normally do and then used the contouring kit, using the brush it comes with was very hard. The brush itself is larger and stiffer than I like my brushes to feel. After unsuccessfully using the brush I proceeded to use my own brushes. The color did apply smoother, however I was only able to use one of the two contouring shades. The orange shade is to much on the face but it was nice on the eyes. The highlighting shades were too ashy on my skin, it accentuated my pores and did not give me that glow I was looking and hoping for. I did my whole eye makeup with the palette as well. I apologize for not swatting the products in my arms they were not photographing well and I had to run out. The contouring color I was able to use on the face blended out really nice and looked great. 

I have to say this palette is not worth the hype or price, I feel its way to over priced and the formula needs some major improvements. My main disappointment is that Kim is a medium shade, I assumed that if she was putting any thought on the creation of her palettes, the one palette that should be on point is the medium. The highlight are to chalky on my skin and just don't work, and the brush like I said don't help the powders blend smoothly. If I was Kim I would put a little more thought on creating shades more complimentary to ALL skin shades. I would also make the brush softer and one end skinnier for a better highlight application. All four colors looked good on my eyes, but thats not enough to justify this purchase. 

The Diaper Bag For A Stylish Mom!

I must have looked at about thousand diaper bags in a period of two months, every single one just did not look like something I wanted to be carrying everyday for months. The truth is we call it a baby bag, but in reality it becomes OUR bag and our bag should look however mom wants..... Unless mom wants a winnie the pooh diaper bag to go with her outfit, in that case this post is not for you. 

I can't tell you how happy I was to find this organizer insert, it is a life and style savior. Totesavvy has compartments to fit everything organized and neat which its a must for us multitasking and always on the go. It is water proof and it fits inside most of my totes and large handbags seamlessly. ToteSavvy comes in classic black and grey, I bought the black for more versatility. 

Look at the pictures below and see a few of the handbags I use this insert with and also al the compartments it has! For long trips where more clothing, diapers etc is needed I purchased this diaper bag from Pottery Barn. 

As of the day of this post use code HOLIDAY15 to save $15 off your order. This is not a sponsored review, I purchased this with my own mula. 

Purchased: lifeinplaycompany.com
Amount: $79.99

Drugstore Product Of The Week: OGX Anti-Hair Fall Out!

The inevitable has happened and I have a few bold spots to prove it. Motherhood has such a big impact on our lives and body, one of my least favorite is defined hair loss. Everywhere I go I leave a small pile of hair behind, you find it in the chairs I sit, the couch, bed, etc. I am currently doing everything I know to help new hair grow back and also stop my hair from falling out any more. 

I found this shampoo while shopping  in Target and decided to give it a try. I have only been using it for a two weeks now but I really love it! It leaves my hair feeling fuller and healthy. Time will tell if it actually helps with the growth but it's definitely a keeper! 

Purchased: Target

Price: $5.79

Anti-Aging 101: Six Tips And Secrets To Look Younger And More Awake!

There is nothing that gives up our age (or ages us more) than the skin around our eyes. Fortunately for us if we properly take care of our eye area, we can prevent and even repair signs of aging like wrinkles, dark circles and puffy eyes.

• The first tip and most important is prevention, we do this by not exposing our skin to the sun without sunblock and wearing sunglasses to protect the delicate skin around our eyes. 
• Apply eye creams rich in antioxidants and vitamins, a great eye cream should have active ingredients that combat a few issues at once. I'm currently using and loving THIS ONE
• Visine yes little old visine is my number one tip for my clients that complain of always looking tired. Bright eyes are one of the first tricks of looking more youthful and awake!
• Lashes, lashes, lashes I swear it is incredible some of the before and after of my clients after they get eyelash extensions. Faux lashes can take years of you and give you and instant (no knife) eye lift! 
• Concealer is a must for looking more awake and youthful, the trick is finding one that won't crease on you and if it has added benefits even better, like THIS ONE. 
• Last but not least highlight, yes you are reading correctly. If used correctly highlighters work wonders for faking a more awake look. One of my favorite places to use them is under the brow, it immediately lifts the area giving you a more youthful look. I also love using it in the tear duct and a  beige pencil in the water line to open up the eyes. 

Dont forget that good diet, not smoking and getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep play a very important role in how well we age! 

Ciate London High Definition Tip Eyeliner Review!

I think we can all agree that creating a perfect eye liner is tough! For me is getting them to look remotely similar, sometimes is like they're not even related! The trick is to practice and practice, but also to have great tools that work with you. 

I came across this eyeliner while shopping online, and decided to give it a try. My first impression is how black it goes on, and stays that way! The felt tip is easy to work with and glides smoothly on. Easy to fix mistakes if wiped off immediately but once dried it's super long lasting. 

Overall a great find the only negative for me was that if you press the ink comes out and runs, ruining your perfect cat eyeliner..... It happens! 

Dont mind my brows..... 

Gerard Cosmetics Long Wear Hydra Matte Liquid Lipstick Review!

Gerard cosmetics makes some of my favorite lipsticks, and lip glosses, so when they came out with these liquid lipsticks I knew they were going to be good. Well they are more than good, they are awesome! I really can't rave these enough and they always come up with great promotions so I always wait for that before I buy anything. 

These liquid lipsticks are amazing, I completely over looked the "hydra" part but as soon as I applied it I felt the difference. They are hydrating and matte at the same time which is a plus! The colors are absolutely beautiful, wearable and long lasting. Make sure to follow Gerard Cosmetics on Instagram so you can catch their promotion codes and save some mula and if you don't already, follow me too!

Left To Right: Aphrodite, Serenity, Immortal, Ecstasy 

Left To Right: Aphrodite, Serenity, Immortal, Ecstasy

Left To Right: Aphrodite, Serenity, Immortal, Ecstasy

Stila Sending My Love Gift Set Review!

Stila's sending my love gift set is beautiful and well made, I love the colors they used for the package too! The gift set includes everything you need for a beautiful makeup look, five eyeshadows in one palette, a blush, bronzer and highlighter in the other. A lipgloss and eyeliner, I personally love that the eyeshadows are separate from the face powders, this makes it more travel friendly. This also solves the dilemma, of wanting to only pick on or the other to bring with you ;) 

Note: My camera is acting up and is washing out most of the colors, they are actually a lot more pigmented then this....