Recently I shared with you a story about using bad (expired) makeup. I had a small jar of eye wrinkle cream in my makeup drawer. After cleaning out the makeup drawer, I decided to keep the eye wrinkle cream (an expensive brand) and use it all up. So after washing my face that evening I applied it around my eyes. By time the next morning arrived, my eye lid had PUFFED UP and it was red, tender and swollen up! I looked like I had some type of contagious disease!!! It was embarrassing and I was miserable for days!!!
The moral to the above story is DON'T use OLD MAKEUP.
Toss it out, when in doubt.
Since makeup/beauty products have a limited shelf life, let's NOT take chances when it has expired.
BEAUTY TIP: use a permanent marker and DATE your new makeup containers when you add them to your drawer....
Ever have a nasty eye infection from using expired makeup? I have. It was pretty bad too.
I got said nasty eye infection from an eye cream that was suppose to "smooth fine lines and crows feet". Well, whatever. I ended up with a pus-inflamed red eye lid that looked like I had something contagious! I stayed home for DAYS people! If I would have seen someone like me (Cyclops) walking around town... I would have gathered up my small children and ran the other way--FAST!!!
The point is, don't take chances with makeup (especially anything that goes near your eyes). When it doubt--toss it out! I've always tossed questionable left-over food and milk past the expiration date without hesitation. But, I guess sometimes a gal just has to learn things the HARD WAY! LOL!
I found this cool info-graph telling you when to toss it OUT!
Beauty products have a limited shelf life, so chances are lots of what's in our makeup drawers and bathroom cabinets has long expired!
TIP: use a permanent marker and DATE your new makeup when you add it to your drawer. Eleven makeup products & how long they last: 1. Concealers. Up to 12 months. 2. Powders. 2 years. 3. Cream & gel cleansers. 1 year. 4. Pencil eye liner . Up to 3 years. 5. Eye shadow. Lasts up to 3 years. TIP: dark eye shadow can double as an eyeliner. You'll need an fine eyeliner brush for this. Get the brush a little damp w/ water and dab into the eye shadow (dark gray, brown or deep jewel-tones work great). Work the brush into your lash line focusing on the space between your lashes, and then sweep the eye shadow just above your lash line. 6. Brushes. Wash them every 2 months in a mild soap 7. Sponges .Wash weekly and throw out monthly 8. Foundations. Water-based foundations will last up to 12 months, oil-based will last up to 18 months. 9. Lipstick. 1-2 years. However, if it smells rancid, throw it out. 10. Mascara. This product doesn’t have a long shelf life: Throw out after 3 months. Don't pump the wand in and out because you will expose the mascara to the air and dry it out faster. 11. Nail Polish. Up to 12 months, depending on the quality. TIP: when brand-new dab a little vaseline on the inner rim to keep it clean and easy to seal.
TRAGIC. That's the best word to describe the feeling I get when my favorite lipstick suddenly breaks.
I've tried to explain how heartbroken I am when my favorite lipstick has just broken, but somehow my husband doesn't get it. He thinks I'm over re-acting. I don't know, screaming and crying seemed appropriate at the time. I could be since he doesn't wear lipstick...
I've shared previously how to 'fix' broken powered eye makeup before with this tip: link to fix eye makeup
Today, I'm sharing what I do when a lipstick "tragically" breaks. Don't throw it out! No, no, no!... Re-invent it like this...
Here’s what to do with your broken lipstick:
1. Put the lipstick into a microwave-safe dish. 2. Mix into the lipstick: the contents of 1 pot of Carmex lip balm (can be purchased at any drug store). 3. Microwave for about 30-45 seconds on low. 4.Stir to mix and then spoon back into the lip balm pot and let cool.
Now you have a pretty tinted lip balm in your favorite color! It sure beats throwing out an expensive broken lipstick!
Is your makeup drawer crammed full of too many cosmetics? Most of it you don’t use--but keep “just in case”. It’s time to let go of the clutter and have only what you need.
This week let's pitch the old makeup!
This week toss out any old makeup you haven’t worn this last year and start 2011 with a clean and organized makeup drawer.
Beauty products have a limited shelf life, so chances are most of it has long expired. TIP: use a permanant marker and DATE your new makeup when you add it to your drawer.
Eleven makeup products & how long they last:
1. Concealers. Up to 12 months.
2. Powders. 2 years.
3. Cream & gel cleansers. 1 year.
4. Pencil eye liner . Up to 3 years.
5. Eye shadow. Lasts up to 3 years. TIP: dark eye shadow can double as an eyeliner. You'll need an fine eyeliner brush for this. Get the brush a little damp w/ water and dab into the eye shadow (dark gray, brown or deep jewel-tones work great). Work the brush into your lash line focusing on the space between your lashes, and then sweep the eye shadow just above your lash line.
6. Brushes. Wash them every 2 months in a mild soap
7. Sponges .Wash weekly and throw out monthly
8. Foundations. Water-based foundations will last up to 12 months, oil-based will last up to 18 months.
9. Lipstick. 1-2 years. However, if it smells rancid, throw it out.
10. Mascara. This product doesn't have a long shelf life. Throw it out after 3 months. Don't risk an eye infection by keeping too long. Also don't pump the wand in and out because you will expose the mascara to the air and dry it out faster.
11. Nail Polish. Lasts up to 12 months, depending on the quality. TIP: when brand-new rub a little vaseline on the inner rim to keep it clean and easy to seal.
I can’t say enough about your website! Every time I get a compliment, I give you the credit and tell everyone about how wonderful you are! Bless you for sharing this style help to so many women at such an affordable price.
The Personal Profiles are making a huge difference on how I dress now but I also find the weekly style missions are really good too.
Last week you had us clean out our makeup drawers. I did but I have one container of eye shadow I just can not throw out. I paid good money and love the color but it is a shattered mess. The powder was all inside my makeup bag. I’d love to keep my eye shadow but simply hate the mess it has created. Do you have any suggestions?
Charlene
Dear Charlene,
Thank you for the sweet comments!
I love hearing http://www.missussmartypants.com/ is helping you improve your style. It does feel fabulous when other people give you compliments about what you are wearing.
I do have a way you can keep your broken eye shadow and return it to almost its original state:
Sometimes its the smallest things that make the biggest difference. This especially holds true with our personal grooming. By maintaining our eyebrows, wearing appropriate makeup and keeping our hair styled we look polished and put together.
Here's a little reminder list for you. Here is a quick list of "beauty do's & don'ts"...
Your style advice and service has improved my self image and I am so deeply grateful for that. I do not have a perfect shape but now I know I DO deserve to feel wonderful just the way I am. Learning this was a huge “aha” moment for me.
I loved your tip about the Nars makeup awhile back. Wearing a lighter color made me look years younger and when I cut my hair shorter... well, everyone could not believe how nice I looked and it was all thanks to you!
Now that it is getting hot and humid in the south, could you pass along a couple of tips about wearing makeup in the summer?
Again, I owe you a great deal for offering this weekly style help and at such an affordable price!
Fondly, Elizabeth
Dear Elizabeth,
Thank you for sharing your style success with me. It is so true; a couple of appearance changes for the best can make a huge impact on how you feel about yourself! It amazes me every time, and it is why I love doing what I do!
First, realize heat and humidity make wearing makeup a challenge so you have to “lighten” up and not wear as much.
Here are seven ways to “lighten” up your makeup in the summer so you won’t have a complete makeup meltdown:
1. Make time for primer. You won't regret the few seconds it will take to smooth on a primer, which goes on after moisturizer but before face makeup. It can help hold makeup in place on a hot humid day (that is if you plan to wear a foundation that day). Primer really do ROCK!!!
2. Lighten your makeup just like you do with your clothes; wear less when it's hot. First step: switch from thick foundation to tinted moisturizer or use a light face powder in areas where needed (like around the nose and "T" zone).
3. Consider a bronzer. A bit of color makes every face look more alive in the summer months. Apply bronzer ONLY to where the sun naturally hits you: forehead, cheekbones, chin, and nose. (Covering every nook and cranny is what gives you that fake, baked look.) Powder bronzers are the easiest to apply—and remember less is more when it comes to bronzer application.
4. Try wearing one lively color. Vivid colors can brighten your face and bring a youthful glow to your skin. Try either a bright lip color or eye color (only one area at one time) to brighten up your look since you aren’t wearing as much makeup.
5. Lose thick lipsticks. Heavy lip colors are too much once the weather gets hot. Go for tinted lip balms and get a pretty touch of color instead!
6. Stay-proof your eye makeup. Use a cream shadow with a powder over the top. This will help keep eye makeup in place during hot weather. Try it, it really works!
7. Go sheer. Rich, deep colors have their place, but they can look heavy in summer. To lighten up, switch to sheer versions of your go-to lip and eye hues.
Here is a link to the Nars makeup I previously suggested (called Orgasm...yes, that is really the name!) It comes in a lipstick, gloss and blush: Nars Makeup
