BEAUTY SPRING CLEANING!

It's officially spring and now is the perfect time to take inventory of your beauty and skincare products. Time to weed out the cosmetics duds that you never wear, toss containers with barely any product and to throw out makeup that's past it's prime. To help you with your beauty task I'm enclosing some helpful guidelines on expiration dates for your beauty products.  Note there are no federal guidelines when it comes to makeup expiration dates but these are recommended guidelines you should follow.  It's also a good idea to go through and review your makeup collection at least every six months.

Makeup Expiration Guidelines:

    * 3 - 6 months:  Mascara and Liquid Eyeliner
    * 6 months - 1 year:  Gel Eyeliner and Moisturizer
    * 1 year - 18 months:  Liquid Foundation and Lip Gloss
    * 18 months - 2 years:  Cream or Mousse Foundation, Concealer, Cream Blush, and Cream Eye Shadow
    * 2 - 3 years:  Face Powder, Powder Blush,  Powder Bronzer, Powder Eye Shadow, Lipstick, Lip and Eye Pencils


Products without water (like powders, eye shadow and bronzer) can last for two years or more, as can pencils that can be sharpened. Everything else should be monitored closely and thrown out immediately if doesn't seem normal. Product separation, weird odor or a change in color or texture -- uncommonly thick or watery -- can all be indicators of a product that's gone bad. Of all products, mascara has the shortest shelf life. Toss it immediately if it develops a weird smell or color. To keep mascara from drying out quickly make sure you don't pump the wand in the tube -- you want to use more of a circular swirl motion. And make sure to close the top securely/tightly after each use.  That goes for all products in pots, jars and bottles - close it tight!

In general cream and liquid products expire more quickly. Old cream blush will get a chalky white film on it that tells you it’s time to dump it. Also, if a product looks hard and doesn’t apply correctly then it’s probably best to get rid of it. Cream eye shadows are more likely to grow bacteria than powder so look for any change in the texture and color. To extend the life of your cosmetics DO NOT introduce water or saliva into the product because it will cause bacteria to grow. Use brushes, not your fingers to access products in jars. And it's best not to share your cosmetics, especially eye or lip products, with others.


PRO TIP: Keep your makeup in a cool location, away from moisture and heat, which are both factors in bacteria growth. So storing your makeup bag (or giant kit if you're makeup obsessed like me) in the bathroom is a big no-no!


It's also important to clean your makeup brushes and sponges on a regular basis.  For synthetic brushes that you use to put on your concealer and foundation I'd say clean it weekly but for your powder brushes you can clean them on a monthly basis.  My preference for cleaning synthetic brushes is Dawn dish-washing liquid, that's right, the one you use to clean your dishes. It breaks down cream and oil-based products wonderfully and it's anti-bacterial.  For hair brushes you can use any clear shampoo or brush cleanser. 

PRO TIP: Make sure that you dry your brushes laying horizontally on edge of table or counter. Drying them standing up causes water to run in the ferrule and loosen the glue holding the hairs in your brush. Good makeup brushes are an investment and you don't want to ruin them!


Well my lovelies, I hope this post has been helpful. I want all my "Karen's World of Beauty Readers" to look beautiful but most of all stay healthy. And if after cleaning out your makeup stash it's looking a bit empty what better excuse for doing alittle makeup shopping? You can start my reading up on the latest Spring 2011 Beauty Trends and Makeup Collections right here!

PRODUCT REVIEW - AROMALEIGH COSMETICS: Hi-Fi Retro Matte Collection

If you're not a fan of Twitter than I suggest you jump on the social networking bandwagon asap!  Yet again, thanks to the marvel of Twitter, I've become friends with another awesome cosmetic company.  Kristen Leigh Bell, better known as Miss K., is Aromaleigh Cosmetic's President & Creative Director and a real sweetheart (not to mention color genius). I encourage you all to follow her on Twitter (aromaleigh_MMU).

Aromaleigh is a cutting-edge, indie mineral cosmetics company at the forefront of the mineral makeup revolution. Since 1998, Aromaleigh has been micro-formulating quality mineral makeup to the highest standards to give consumer's an endless spectrum of colors and skin-healthy mineral cosmetics at affordable prices. Luckily for myself and a few other Beauty Bloggers we got the opportunity to review Aromaleigh's newest collection. Aromaleigh's Hi-Fi Retro Matte Collection features 20 shades of bright and vivid matte mineral makeup. 

I asked my friend and Hairstylist extraordinare, Lurlene Lewis, to be my model for this makeup review. With the matte colors in this collection I was able to create Mod/60's inspired, slightly "Retro Barbie" makeup looks (see below).
*You can click on images to enlarge the photo.

 

LOOK #1:

Eyes:  "Kookie" -The girliest cool pink ever (used on inner eye & brow bone),
"Cool It" -Vivid bright spaced-out blue (crease & outer corner of eye)
"Supermirgatroid" - Intense coral orange (slightly above the crease of eye)
"Got Dibs" - Warm toned purple (used wet as liner on lower lid),
"What's Shakin'" -  Cool toned purple (used over other color on lower lash line)
Cheeks: "Supermirgatroid" - Intense coral orange
Lips: "Cranked" - Slightly muted coral red mixed w/alittle Bilkerdijk clear gloss
* Also used: Bilkerdijk Custom Blend Foundation, Black Liquid Liner and Black Mascara

 LOOK #2:
Eyes: "Real Gone" - Bright lemony yellow (used on inner eye & brow bone),
"In Orbit" - wicked chartreuse green (center of lid, up & slightly above crease),
"Ankle Biter" -  Warm-toned orange (in outer corner & crease),
"Radioactive" - A vivid cool green (used wet on lower lash line)
Cheeks: Mixed "Train Wreck" - Wow pinked red  and "Flip Your Lid" - atomic orange
Lips:"Cat's Pajamas" - matte coral with warm orange tones mixed w/alittle Bilkerdijk clear gloss
* Also used: Bilkerdijk Custom Blend Foundation, Black Liquid Liner and Black Mascara


I'm usually more of a shimmer, rather than matte, makeup kind of girl but I liked alot of the colors in this collection. And even though they are matte, the colors in the Hi-Fi Retro Matte Collection are very pigmented and bright. I just wish there were a few darker, more intense colors.  Despite this fact I will definitely be checking out more color collections from Aromaleigh in the near future. How about you?


* Received samples of Hi-Fi Retro Matte Collection to review. 

PRODUCT REVIEW - NARS Fall 2009 Collection

Last month I wrote a article previewing NARS Fall 2009 makeup collection. I promised that I would create a follow-up posting that featured a makeup look using products from Nars' new collection and here it is!
I made a trip to Sephora in the new J.C. Penney's inside the Manhattan Mall to preview the NARS products before purchasing them online. It's very hard to tell true colors and textures just by viewing images on a computer. As a Makeup Artist I need to see, touch and smell products before purchasing them so I avoid buyers regret or don't buy duplicate products. (I can't tell you how many times I've brought products that were almost identical.)

As part of my makeup look I used the following products from NARS Fall 2009 collection "Brumes Duo Eyeshadow", "Fast Ride" Lipstick, and "Tokaïdo Express" Nail Polish. I also used some standard products from the NARS line to complete my Fall Beauty Makeup Look:

"Montenegro" Cream Blush ($25) - Mahogany

"Palm Beach" Multiple ($37) - Rich Bronze

"Black Moon" Eyeliner Pencil ($20) - Dense Black

"New Orleans" Firming Foundation ($50) - for medium to dark complexions with yellow undertones

I also tried NARS Larger Than Life Volumizing Mascara in "Black" ($25) * Sephora Exclusive!!!

Here's my finished Fall Makeup Look....

Outside pics (low flash):

My favorite from the NARS Fall 2009 collection was the “Brumes Duo Eyeshadow” but the grey color shadow was duplicate for eye shadows I already own so I passed on buying it. The "Fast Ride" lipstick was more of a stain and if I’m going to wear lipstick I want lots of pigment. The "Tokaïdo Express" Nail Polish was nice too but once again, it was too close to shade I already own. Unfortunately I didn’t purchase anything from this collection but NARS still remains one of my favorite cosmetic lines. I can’t wait to see what products/colors NARS come out with next.

So what do you think? Any of you Readers purchased products from the NARS Fall 2009 Collection? If so, take a pic featuring your purchased product(s) and send to me via email. If I get enough response I'll create Reader's blog post with pics.

* Want more info about this collection, then check out "Behind the Collection with Francois Nars" for all the juicy details. http://www.narscosmetics.com/Behindfall2009Collection.aspx

SPECIAL FEATURE: READER MAKEOVER!

This week I had to the pleasure of making more beautiful, the lovely Amy Berken of TheBeautyChick. I work for a private makeup line, Bilkerdijk Cosmetics, which specializes in custom blend cosmetics that are a god-send to women who have a hard time finding their exact match in foundation and powder.


Amy was brave enough to let me take a picture of her sans makeup...not sure I would have the guts to do that.
Amy is very fair and told me she has a problem finding foundation to match her skin color so I wanted to custom blend her exact match of foundation, not only for her skin color but for her skin type. I also created a matching mineral powder that she can use with her liquid foundation or alone with just alittle concealer.

I created a warm, slightly bronze look for Amy that was perfect for her paler skintone. I wanted it to be soft so that Amy wouldn't look too fake or overdone. I hate when people OD on bronzer or use too dark a color...it just doesn't look good.

MAKEUP BREAK-DOWN:

Prepped skin with Non-alcohol Toner then moisturized in T-Zone with Oil-Control Moisturizer and then used on the rest of her face Vitamin E Cream. Used a mix of Concealers in "Natural" and "Beige" to cover her under-eye circles/darkness then used Custom Blend Foundation and Custom Blend Mineral Face Powder.

To bronze her face I used "Light" Bronzing Powder and "Gold Coast" Cheek Duo. I added alittle "Kalypso Coral" Powder Blush as pop of color on cheek.

On eyes used "Buttercream" Eyeshadow Foursome topped with alittle "Sand Beige" Loose Eye Dust. For liner used "Marcasite" (metallic grey) Waterproof Gel Eyeliner. Used Lash Thickner/Primer on eyelashes, then 1 coat of "Black" masacara , curled lashes and added 1 more coat of mascara.

Lined her lips with "Tangerine" Waterproof Lipliner then softened color with touch of foundation. Top with #66 Lipgloss (light coral shimmer) and add alittle #59 Lipgloss (pinky gold shimmer) in center of lip.

Here we are with our "Bilkerdijk Glow." LOL!

I was trying to capture Amy posing outside the Salon but you can clearly see me reflected in the display window. (Hey, I'm a Makeup Artist...I never said I was a photographer).

Where the "Magic" happens. LOL.

So if you're one of many women having a hard time finding that perfect shade of foundation or powder feel free to visit me at Bilkerdijk Cosmetics where I'll be more than happy to create a custom blend made just for YOU!