How Long Does it Last? A Guide to Cleaning and Throwing Out Old Makeup!

The bottom line is there is no way to tell how old that cosmetic item just by looking at the package. Cosmetics aren’t required by law to have expiration dates. From the time you open it, the life and effectiveness of the product decreases and the amount of bacteria increases.

Treat makeup products with care.
Keep cosmetics in a dry, cool area.
Throw makeup away if the color changes or an odor develops. Makeup has preservatives, similar to that in food, which can break down over time.
Get neat, clean and organized. Nothing lasts forever. For example:
When in doubt throw it out!

Eye Shadow
Powder last 1 to 2 years, cream 6 months to 1 year

Eyeliner
Pencil lasts 2 years, liquid lasts 3 to 6 months

Lipstick / Lip gloss
1 year (Throw it out if it gets dry or develops a smell)

Liquid Foundation
6 months to 1 year

Concealer
6 to 8 months

Mascara
3 to 6 months

Powder
2 to 3 years

Skin/body lotions
2 to 3 Years

Anti-aging products
3 to 6 months

Bath Oils
1 Year

Shampoos and conditioners
3 years

Shaving creams
2 Years

Hair products
3 to 5 years

Deodorant
1 year

Facial cleansers & moisturizers
6 months

Facial toners
1 year

Natural Cosmetics (“all-natural body washes”, etc.)
6 months, as “all natural” products often contain plant-derived ingredients (which are conducive to bacterial growth) and/or products with no preservatives.

Other tell tale signs your product has gone bad
The pigment fades in your powder
The item dries out
It smells funny
Becomes clumpy or has a strange consistency
The product crystalizes or separates

Everything You Need To Know About Having Perfect Eyebrows

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HAVING PERFECT EYEBROWS!

For a perfect looking eyebrow remember the fuller the brow the younger and more natural you will look.

You don’t have to pay for waxing or threading. Here’s how to do-it-yourself.

1. Prep your eyebrows by doing the three-area brow test.
a. Place a thin makeup brush by the side of your nose and run it straight up. This is where your eyebrow should start.
b. Move the brush so that when you are looking straight ahead the brush is directly in front of your pupil. This is where your arch should be.
c. Take the same brush and angle it from the nose to the end on the eye. This is where the eyebrow should end.

2. Now fill in your eyebrow with a light brown eyeshadow color so that you will know exactly where to tweeze.

3. Brush the hairs upward and with small sissors trim the long hairs, then brush the hairs down and trim the long hairs.

4.Tweeze the hairs that are outside of the lines you have filled in, brushing the brow hairs now and then.

AUDREY’S D-I-Y EYEBROW KIT
Godefroy eyebrow lightening crème kit
Godefroy Shape and Tint Kit
www.beautydeals.net
Anastasia of Beverley Hills Stencils and kit


What are the most important things to know about brows?

Brows are the most expressive feature as we show our happiness, surprise and frustration by moving our brow muscles. Brows shaping should be maintained every 4 weeks.

When you are going to a spa or salon for eyebrow shaping, always choose a person that is familiar with brow shaping and ask them to go “natural” at first to make sure you like the same they create you can always tweeze more if need be. You don’t want over-tweezed brows!

Which method is best waxing, plucking, threading or sugaring?

Waxing removes hair in a clean sweep and tweezing is great for tight areas where you need more control. Sugaring and threading are natural ways to get rid of unwanted hair that have been used for centuries.

Sugaring paste is 100% natural, made up of natural ingredients such as sugar, lemon juice and water.
Sugaring paste does not attach to the skin it only adheres to hair.
If you are looking for a less painful way of getting a Brazilian wax, you want to ask for a sugaring wax.

Eyebrow threading removes hair by catching it in a coiled piece of thread and removing it from the follicle. It lasts for about a month for an average person’s growth cycle. It is an ancient method of hair removal that can be traced back to Arab countries, India, as well as southeast Asian countries. There is no heat, and it is very minimal in the amount of friction on the skin.

How can I avoid that over-plucked look??
This goes back to the brow kit and using stencils and fillers so you can follow the same line on both sides.

What do I do if my skin is red after grooming?
Use ice and some aloe vera gel.

For people who have thin places or gaps in their brows–how do you recommend filling in brows?

Use both brow pencil for gaps and smooth over with brow powder.

What can I do if I have over tweezed and the hair won’t grow back?
Latisse is an FDA approved product that will grow your eyelashes longer and darker. I have tried this and it actually works apply a small amount of Latisse where the hair on your eyebrow is missing and you will be amazed that the hairs will grow back as long as you continue to use the product. Check with your doctor. I suggest applying the product every other day.

Makeup Viewer Questions and Answers

With today’s busy and hectic schedules active women don’t have time to retouch their makeup. For a flawless face all day long, try these products you can find at

Tired of Foundation Touch-Ups
Model in a Bottle – is a matte finish makeup setting spray. It will hold and seal your foundation and eye shadows in place throughout the day.www.modelinabottle.com
Reel Creations Blue Aqua Sealer – is very popular with professional makeup artists.
Makeup Forever Mist and Fix- Sold at SEPHORA
Ben Nye Final Seal – another good product to keep you from having to touch-up your makeup

How to Keep Those Eyebrows in Line!

Use a clear mascara or an eyebrow sealer.
Clear Mascara by Maybeline- Available at most Pharmacys
Model In a Bottle Eyebrow Sealer..www.modelinabottle
Bare Minerals Finishing Gel.Sold at SEPHORA

Brow Fixers by Benefit- www.benefit.com

The Eyes Have It!
Wondering how to keep your powered eyeliner from running?
Dip your eyeliner brush into a drop of saline contact solution before applying your powdered eye shadow eyeliner.
For a long-wearing eyeliner try
Makeup Forever Eye Seal ..Sold at SEPHORA

Kryolan cake eyeliner sealer.

La Femme Cake Eyeliner Sealer

Dress Like A Chic Mom

Mothers are busy! I know…I’ve been there, done that. I’ve had 10 minutes to get ready between dropping the kids off at a sleepover party and attending a dinner party. That doesn’t mean I went inside a happening lounge in a sweat suit — which has become many moms’ “official outfit of choice.” As a working mother and an expert in beauty and fashion, I can honestly tell you that YOU can be fashionable and functional – in just a few minutes and with only a few staples of clothing in your closet.

Here are sample outfits for those more casual occasions….

When You’ve Got the Kids in Tow

Denim Jacket, Denim pants, Striped belt, Shoes, White Long Sleeve T,shird, Gloves, Handbag, Necklace

Movie Night!

Jeans, shirt, hat, Oxford shoes, Handbag, Jacket, Necklace

Weekend Warrior

Jeans, Turtleneck, Cape, Gloves, Handbag – from Marshall’s, Shoes, Necklace

Now, when it comes to dressing it up a bit ….

Cocktail Party

Necklace, Dress, Shoes by Nina, Evening Handbag, Bracelet, Tux Style jacket,

Sophisticated Mama

Skirt, Belt, Turtleneck Sweater, Necklace, Handbag,

Out With the Girls

Long Jacket, sweater, Necklace, Gloves, Handbag, Oxford Shoes,

Ladies’ Lunch

Knit Dress, Brown Belt, Brown Leather Gloves, Brown Handbag, Brown suede ankle boots, Vintage Burberry Scarf,

HOT MAMA!

Black ankle boot, Black Leather Jacket, Leather gloves, Handbag, Scarf,

Now that you have your mom’s guide to style, I dare you to dump your wrinkled go-to T-shirt! Tell me: What’s your least fashionable “outfit of choice”? What’s your “Hot Mama” look?

How to Clean Your Hair Brushes

We use it every day, yet how often have you actually cleaned your hairbrush? Chances are you've pulled hair out of the bristles, but have you actually CLEANED it? There are two ways to do it .
DRY CEANING YOUR HAIRBRUSHES
1. Loosen any strands of hair with a comb.
2. Insert the comb at the sides of the brush as near to the pad as possible and follow round the whole circumference of the brush, lifting the hair away.
3. Draw a "cleaning brush" across the bristles from one end of the pad to the other and then diagonally.
4. If there is dust on the brush pad then use a light scrubbing action to dislodge it.

WET WASHING YOUR HAIRBRUSHES
1. Dry clean as above.
2. Make a lather of luke-warm, soapy water. You can use a mild shampoo but do not use any detergents or ammonia.
3. Do not put the hair brush in the soapy water! Dip a "cleaning brush" in the soapy water. Hold the brush you are cleaning so that it is sloping downwards. Use the cleaning brush to scrub between the bristles.
4. Dip your "cleaning brush" in clean rinsing water and repeat brushing movement to remove any soap from your good hairbrush.
5. Shake your hairbrush to remove moisture and leave it to dry with the pad pointing down.

A WHITE SHIRT

Ladies…We talk all the time about building a wardrobe around “investment” pieces – those pieces that are of great quality and can be worn year round. The white shirt is a perfect example and it’s usually very easy to find! Look for a classic white shirt in a good quality cotton or cotton stretch. You can pair a white shirt with just about anything and it is easily transformed from sporty with jeans, to menswear look to evening wear.