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!

BRUSHES 101!!!

This is a comprehensive list of the various types of makeup brushes (both natural hair and synthetic) available for purchase.  I have included a picture and description of what each brush is used for. This post is for all the women who didn’t know what brush to buy or for those who have received a brush set but didn’t have a clue what all the brushes were used for. Hopefully this article will clear up the confusion and put you on the road to a more beautiful and blended face! 

Foundation Brush
A synthetic brush that allows you to create a flawless finish in either spot application or total coverage using cream or liquid foundation.

Stipling Brush
The synthetic Taklon hairs allow you to use it with wet and creamy or dry products like compact foundation or bronzer for flawless complexion.The two levels of bristles let you layer product and determine how sheer or heavy you want your coverage to be.

Concealer Brush
A small synthetic brush that you use to apply and blend cream concealer, eyeshadow base, and/or cream eye color.

Mineral Powder Brush
Ideal for buffing and blending loose and/or pressed mineral powders to achieve a smooth and flawless finish to the skin.

Powder Brush
A large rounded and soft brush that distributes loose powder for a flawless, finished look.

Kabuki/Bronzer
Designed to apply an even dusting of bronzer, powder or blush with a single sweep.  Also ideal for using with mineral makeup.

Fan Brush
Used to “finish” the face - for dusting excess powder from the face and/or for adding powder highlighter.

Blush Brush
A slightly domed, mid-sized brush that accentuate the apples of your cheeks with a soft wash of color.  Can also be used to apply bronzer.

Angled Blush Brush
Perfect for contouring (use color 2 shades darker) and highlighting (use color 2 shades lighter) the face.

Brow/Lash Comb
Use comb to separate lashes after applying mascara. Either side can be used to shape and define the brow line.

Angled Brow Brush
Use with brow powder or pencil to soften, shape and define the brows.

Crease Eye Shadow Brush
Use to build depth to the eye. Apply color in crease area using a windshield wiper (back-and-forth) motion to achieve depth and definition. Tapered shape allows you to easily add darker shadow colors in the crease.  Lays shadow on and blends it at the same.

Large Fluff Eye Shadow Brush
One of the most basic brushes.  Use it to set concealer under eyes and around the contours of the face with loose powder. Can also be used to apply a wash of color to eyelids. 

Medium Fluff Eye Shadow Brush
Shade lid and brow area with powder color and highlighter. Use it to sweep a basic neutral shade across the eyelid.

Smudger Brush
Soften liner color for a smoky effect. You can use with either powder shadow, cake liner or pencil and then use a fluff brush to swipe off excess to create the smoky look desired.

Flat Eyeliner Brush
Place against lash line and tap across eyelid to easily line eye without drawing.

Medium Eye Detailer Brush
Designed for smudging and softening liner or placing color on lid and outer corner of the eye.

 

Mini Eye Detailer Brush
Apply shadow along lower lash line or smudge pencil liner for a softer look. Ideal for applying precise color to outer corner of the lid.

Lip Brush
Synthetic brush for smooth and precise application of all lip products (lipstick, lipgloss, lip balm, etc.). It’s best to use a retractable lip brush for your handbag so it doesn't dirty your makeup bag or other cosmetics.

Brush Recommendations:

 ADesign – great resource for synthetic brushes in a range of styles and shapes, especially for professional Makeup Artists.
Japonesque – high quality brushes at slightly discounted prices from department stores.
Sephora – wide selection of brushes from a variety of cosmetic companies.
M.A.C. Cosmetics – huge array of brushes for the professional and the consumer.

Discount Makeup Brushes:

Essence of Beauty at CVS
Sonia Kashuk at Target


Please feel free to drop me a note if you still have any questions regarding makeup brushes.

BE A BEACH BABE

Ok, I will admit it. I'm one of those women that wears makeup at the beach. I definitely don't think that you should wear your normal makeup to the beach...it looks a bit ridiculous if you're sporting a fully made-up face. However I feel naked without wearing some products. I've discovered the perfect mix of products to give me a soft, natural look that doesn't scream MAKEUP.

• Ocean Potion Clear Zinc Oxide Face Potion - SPF 45
  
• Banana Boat Sport Sunblock Stick - SPF 30 (used on lips as lip balm)
• Bodyography - Veil Foundation Primer
• Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics - Mineral Rice Setting Powder in "Dark"
• Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics - Natural Mineral Foundation in "Hazelnut" and "Coffee" (I use equal amounts of each color to get my perfect shade).
• aDesign "Angled Kabuki" Brush (This is one of my favorite brushes! aDesign carries amazing products that I use in my professional makeup kit as well as my personal makeup bag).
• MAC Fix+ (I spray this over my mineral foundation to set it and take away the powdery look).
  
• OCC - Lip Tars in "Melange" and "Safety Orange" (I use "Safety Orange" on my cheeks as blush and alittle of both colors on my lips instead of lipstick or gloss. This product is extremely concentrated so very little goes along way and I blend it with my fingers).
• CoverGirl LashBlast Mascara in "Very Black"
  

These products give my skin protection from the sun while making me look gorgeous but not too "made up" for the beach. The zinc sunscreen dries clear without leaving a white cast to my brown skin unlike some other sunscreens I've tried. The mineral powder foundation provides additional coverage from the sun while allowing my skin to breathe. I love how the Lip Tars gives my lips and cheeks a flush of color that lasts. The mascara just finishes off the look - my eyes just disappear without mascara. Even though this isn't a waterproof formula mascara I had no smudging or running but I have to admit I didn't go swimming.

Me lounging in my beach chair at Long Beach in Long Island wearing my "natural" makeup look.

At home, 6 hours post-beach and my makeup is still looking pretty good. Only reapplied my lip color after drinking water and eating ices from Ralphs.

I'm curious to know if there are other women out there who also wear makeup to the beach...what are your favorite products?