Which Is Your Best Brow Look?

Ever wondered what is the best shape for your eyebrows? Ever wondered if you could pull off the thick-I-want-to-be-Lily-Collins-look? Check out this guide to find your perfectly shaped eyebrows!

Expiry Dates and Cosmetics: A Recap

***This is a repost from my original post in January but as I was cleaning out the fridge over the weekend (and throwing out all the expired food) it made me think how important it is to clean out your vanity tables or cosmetic cases every quarter as well.***

I have a ton of cosmetics. These products, literally, fall out of drawers, bags, medicine cabinets, train cases, purses....I could go on and on and on. Do I ever get through all of my make-up? NO of course not, but as I tell Allan, that's not the point. The point is that I have that hard-to-find eyeshadow or that discontinued liquid liner when I do want to use it. The problem is I almost NEVER use everything. So in other words, there comes a time when purging and "letting go" is a must because, remember, beauty products DO have a shelf life.

Most people never encounter an expired product because they've used the entire container before that date. But if you do have a tendancy of over-buying (like me) and using products occasionally (like me) then follow these guidelines.

Mascara - Expiry date of 3 months

This beauty tool gets so close to your eye that it can cause redness, irritation, flaking and other annoyances so sticking to this expiry date is mandatory. There are a lot of "experts" out there that say the shelf life can be extended if you don't pump the wand in and out, but to be honest, I don't agree. Stick to three months and you'll be fine. You'll know when the product is entering into it's third month because the product starts getting dry. There will be less product showing up on the wand and it won't coat your lashes at all anymore.

Nail Polish - Expiry date of 12 months

Let's be honest, I can almost guarantee that EVERYONE has used an expired nail polish. (I know I have for sure.) Typically, a "smell test" is the way to examine the shelf life of a product but because nail polish has a fume-y odor naturally it can be difficult; so the easiest way to tell whether this product is off or not is to pull out the wand and look at the product itself. Typically a polish that's changed somehow will either be too thick (hard to spread on nails) or too runny.

Cleanser (non-organic) - Expiry date of 1 year

You can see that I put non-organic in brackets since organic products most times have a shorter shelf life. The reason for this difference is organic products do not contain parabens. (A paraben is used in many cosmetics because of its bactericidal and fungicidal properties. In other words it acts as a barrier against bacteria and helps prevent mold.) The shelf life for a paraben-free cleanser can be about 6 months if stored in a cool area with limited moisture.

Moisture cream (non-organic) - Expiry date of 1-2 years

Facial moisturizers last for about 1 year while a body cream can last for about 2. Also, ensure both products are kept in a cool area with limited moisture in the room. This is very important, especially, for paraben free products because more moisture in the room creates the perfect breeding ground for mold. I, myself, use a paraben free moisture (face) and store it in the fridge. I remove little amounts at a time, put it in a separate container (you can pick them up from the dollar store) and store it on my vanity in the bedroom, not the bathroom.  Also, if you have a deep closest with ample shelf space, I highly recommend storing them in there, alongside your fragrances.

Foundation (water based) - Expiry date of 1 year

I have water based in brackets because an oil based foundation has a shelf life of about 1.5 years. (You can see what type of foundation you have by looking at the ingredient list on the back. Water or oil will appear first and that will explain whether it's water based or oil based.) Sometimes water based foundations will dry out before the expiry date so I've heard that you can add a little bit of toner to the product (I've never tried this myself though). However, I would personally take that to mean I need a new foundation. The smell of a "bad" foundation will be very potent as well, in case the expiry date is no longer visible on the bottle.

Lipstick - Expiry date of 2 years

This is just an estimate because you will, without a doubt, know when a tube of lipstick has gone bad. The smell is absolutely atrocious!!! Storing your lipstick in a cool, dry place is best for an increased shelf life, so a place like the fridge will work well. Quick note, if you store your lipstick in the car and it's summer, you'll notice the tube will be pretty gross by fall.  I should probably say that I don't store my lipstick in the fridge because I dislike the cold feeling on my lips.  Instead, I have a designated lipstick drawer that's out of sunlight where they're all housed.

Eye liner (pencil) - Expiry date of 1 year

Just so you know, this is my personal time frame for pencil liners. I have heard people say 3 years and I've even heard 4 years but, for me, I give it one year. If you want to keep your pencils for longer, you must sharpen it regularly in a clean, disinfected sharpener and clean the top of the pencil. I used to wear contacts and, ever since then, I have become quite anal-retentive about eye related beauty products. Also, note to everyone, never ever ever share your liners, mascara or eye brushes with anyone else. I know it's hard to keep this rule as sharing is oh so fun BUT eye related infections are so easy to pass from one to the other. If you are going to share, like I do, keep a stack new mascara wands, eyeshadow brushes and lip brushes around for your friends. That way, they can still use your awesome colors and no one gets pink eye!!!

Eyeshadow (powder) - Expiry date of 2 years

Again, since it's an eye related product, I follow this timeline completely. However, if you're stumped as to when you purchased it or can't see the expiry date, just look at the product. You'll find that an "off" eyeshadow will be very crumbly and lack moisture which makes it very difficult to apply. It'll also lack pigment or color. If you are using a cream eyeshadow, the expiry date is about a year.

Concealer (water based) - Expiry date of 1 year

This one, again, is pretty easy to see and smell if it's turned. If you're using a stick concealer, then there will definitely be a pungent odor and the product itself will be extremely dried out. If you're using a pot concealer, like I do, then the product will be virtually impossible to spread on your face with a brush (as it will turn very sticky) and it will also have a strong "off" smell.

Make-up sponges - Expiry date of 1 month

Typically with a sponge, you'll want to clean it once a week with some warm water and mild soap and discard it after a month (whether it's clean or not). Sponges are very inexpensive which makes it easy to buy them often and, if let too long, they can grow bacteria very quickly which can cause skin irritation (acne, blemishes, etc.) So, if your skin starts to breakout and you haven't changed your sponge, good idea to toss it. I'm also going to lump make-up brushes in with this category as it pertains to cleanliness. Ensure that you clean your brushes every one to two months. I remember, clearly, a time when I was breaking out and wondering what was going in. I was so busy with work that I forgot to clean my brushes. Once clean, the blemishes disappeared.

Whew, quite the list there.  Ladies, any products I forgot about? Any weird experiences you had from an expired product? Share share share.....

XO Christina

A Summer Avon Haul

Guess what?  I started selling Avon/Mark products!!  It's funny, I've been doing it a while and totally forgot to share it with you.  So, it's no surprise that my recent haul would be Avon/Mark.

As you all know, I really like Mark and Avon products.  I know I've blogged about multiple items numerous times but there's really a good reason for it: Their products are inexpensive and remarkably good quality.  No where else, that I've seen, can you get three nail polishes for $6 or a full skin care line for under $30.  Like I said, it's a fabulous line for people that don't want to spend a lot of money but still want great quality.

Here's what I purchased:

From left to right: Avon Smooth Minerals Radiant Veil in Pink Radiance (Illuminating Face Powder), Avon Ultra Color Rich Lipstick in Kicked Up Coral, Avon Ultra Color Rich Lipstick in Pinktastic, Mark Berry Grand Super Exfoliating Beads, Avon Nail Enamel in Mambo Melon, Avon Nail Enamel in Sunshine, Avon Nail Enamel in Mocha, Avon Nail Enamel in Ballerina, Scentini Eau De Toilette Spray in Rose Fizz and Scentini Eau De Toilette Spray in Plum Twist.

I was soooo excited for the Scentini Fragrances because they were newly launched, only cost $9.99 each AND they spray on like a dry oil which makes for a longer lasting scent.  Both scents are gorgeous but I am seriously loving the Plum Twist.  It smells like you're standing under a plum tree.  It's so gorgeous and summery.

Of the haul though, the items I was most excited to receive are:

The lipsticks.  From left to right: Pinktastic and Kicked Up Coral.  So, ever since I saw Elisha Cuthbert sporting the new Joe Fresh Fuscia Matte Lip Color, I had wanted to get a bright pink tone for myself.  However, every Superstore I visited was completely sold out of the lipstick.  So, for a little bit less than Joe Fresh ($4.99) I decided to get this lipstick.  I am so wearing this to work tomorrow!

The Exfoliating Beads.   I have been eyeing this product for quite some time and yet never bought it until now.  This is such a great skin care item for those that adore their cleanser but still need to use a scrub daily or even weekly.  Add a little scoop of this mixture to your cleanser and you have your very own scrub, without having to buy a separate product.  These exfoliating beads are made with rice, corn, cranberry, apricot and pomegranate so you don't feel bad about putting them on your face AND it's not too gritty so it won't irritate your skin.  Such a bargain at $12.

The Nail Polishes.  Of all the polishes I have I don't have any coral tones so Mambo Melon (first on the left) was my first choice.  Since they were 3 for $6, I also got Mocha (third from the left) and Ballerina (fourth from the left).  My mom purchased a couple too and gave the Sunshine (second from the left) to me.  YAY.

I am loving my new Avon things and can't wait to do a FOTD with the new lipstick.

XO

Ode to Audrey

So, here's my first attempt using Polyvore.  If you've never used it, I highly recommend it.  It's super fun and fairly easy.

Audrey Hepburn is my idol.  Not only did she have fantastic style but was an extremely talented actress and a former ballet dancer.  Here's my Ode to Audrey!

XO

The Skinny on Cosmetic Expiry Dates

My boyfriend came home from work the other day and said, "babe, Angela wants you to do a post on expiry dates for beauty products." I thought about it for a bit, shocked that I hadn't written about this topic before, and said "that's a GREAT idea!" So, YAY for beauty questions from friends!! (Thanks Ang!)

I have a ton of cosmetics. These products, literally, fall out of drawers, bags, medicine cabinets, train cases, purses....I could go on and on and on. Do I ever get through all of my make-up? NO of course not, but as I tell Allan, that's not the point. The point is that I have that hard-to-find eyeshadow or discontinued liquid liner when I do want to use it. The problem is I almost NEVER use everything. So in other words, there comes a time when purging and "letting go" is a must because, remember, beauty products DO have a shelf life.

Most people never encounter an expired product because they've used the entire container before that date. But if you do have a tendancy of over-buying (like me) and using products occasionally (like me) then follow these guidelines.


Mascara - Expiry date of 3 months. This beauty tool gets so close to your eye that it can cause redness, irritation, flaking and other annoyances so sticking to this expiry date is mandatory. There are a lot of "experts" out there that say the shelf life can be extended if you don't pump the wand in and out, but to be honest, I don't agree. Stick to three months and you'll be fine. You'll now when the product is entering into it's third month because it starts getting dry. There will be less product showing up on the wand and it won't coat your lashes as nicely anymore.
Nail Polish - Expiry date of 12 months. Let's be honest, I can almost guarantee that EVERYONE has used an expired nail polish. (I know I have for sure.) Typically, a "smell test" is the way to examine the shelf life of a product but because nail polish has a fume-y odor naturally it can be difficult; so the easiest way to tell whether this product is off or not is to pull out the wand and look at the product itself. Typically a polish that's changed somehow will either be too thick (hard to spread on nails) or too runny.


Cleanser (non-organic) - Expiry date of 1 year. You can see that I put non-organic in brackets since organic products can sometimes have a shorter shelf life. The reason for this difference is organic products do not contain parabens. (A paraben is used in many cosmetics because of its bactericidal and fungicidal properties. In other words it acts as a barrier against bacteria and helps prevent mold.) The shelf life for a paraben-free cleanser can be about 6 months if stored in a cool area with limited moisture.

Moisture cream (non-organic) - Expiry date of 1-2 years. Facial moisturizers last for 1 year while a body cream can last for about 2 years. Also, ensure both products are kept in a cool area with limited moisture in the room. This is very important, especially, to paraben free products because more moisture in the room is PRIME breeding ground for mold. I, myself, use a paraben free moisture (face) and store it in the fridge. I remove little amounts at a time, put it in a separate container (you can pick them up from the dollar store) and store it on my vanity in the bedroom, not the bathroom.

Foundation (water based) - Expiry date of 1 year. I have water based in brackets because an oil based foundation has a shelf life of about 1.5 years. (You can see what type of foundation you have by looking at the ingredient list on the back. Water or oil will appear first and that will explain whether it's water based or oil based.) Sometimes water based foundations will dry out before the expiry date so I've read that you can add a little bit of toner to the product. However, I would personally take that to mean I need a new foundation. The smell of a "bad" foundation will be very potent as well, in case the expiry date is no longer visible on the bottle.

Lipstick - Expiry date of 2 years. This is just an estimate because you will, without a doubt, know when a tube of lipstick has gone bad. The smell is absolutely atrocious!!! Storing your lipstick in a cool, dry place is best for an increased shelf life, so a place like the fridge will work well. Quick note, if you store your lipstick in the car and it's summer, you'll notice the tube will be pretty gross by fall.

Eye liner (pencil) - Expiry date of 1 year. Just so you know, this is my personal time frame for pencil liners. I have heard people say 3 years and I've even heard 4 years but, for me, I give it one year. If you want to keep your pencils for longer, you must sharpen it regularly in a clean, disinfected sharpener and clean the top of the pencil. I used to wear contacts and, ever since then, I have become quite anal-retentive about eye related beauty products. Also, note to everyone, never ever ever share your liners, mascara or eye brushes with anyone else. I know it's hard to keep this rule as sharing is oh so fun BUT eye related infections are so easy to pass from one to the other. If you are going to share, like I do, keep a stack new mascara wands, eyeshadow brushes and lip brushes around for your friends. That way, they can still use your awesome colors and no one gets pink eye!!!

Eyeshadow (powder) - Expiry date of 2 years. Again, since it's an eye related product, I follow this timeline completely. However, if you're stumped as to when you purchased it or can't see the expiry date, just look at the product. You'll find that an "off" eyeshadow will be very crumbly and lack moisture which makes it very difficult to apply. It'll also lack pigment or color. If you are using a cream eyeshadow, the expiry date is about a year.

Concealer (water based) - Expiry date of 1 year. This one, again, is pretty easy to see and smell if it's turned. If you're using a stick concealer, then there will definitly be a pungent odor and the product itself will be dried out once it's turned. If you're using a pot concealer, like I do, then the product will be virtually impossible to spread on your face with a brush and it will also have a strong smell.

Make-up sponges - Expiry date of 1 month. Typically with a sponge, clean it once a week with some warm water and mild soap and discard them after a month. Sponges are very inexpensive which makes it easy to buy them often. Sponges, if used too long, grow bacteria very quickly and they can also promote skin irritation (acne, blemishes, etc.) So, if your skin starts to breakout and you haven't changed your sponge, good idea to toss it. I am also going to lump make-up brushes in with this category as it pertains to cleanliness. Ensure that you clean your brushes every two months. I remember, clearly, a time when I was breaking out and wondering what was going in. I was so busy with work that I forgot to clean my brushes. Once clean, the blemishes disappeared.

Thanks again, Angela, for the post idea. Ladies, any products I forgot about? Any weird experiences you had from an expired product? Share share share.....

Dial Up Mascara???

I was wandering through London Drugs Saturday afternoon and I, of course, beelined for the cosmetics area. Now, this trip wasn't like any other, since I was with a great friend of mine and we were both a bit tipsy from drinking on the patio. (Well, me more so than her...) I ended up buying a lot of things I didn't really need...aka three more lip glosses in Coral...BUT I found the product that's the basis for this review: Almay One Coat Dial Up Mascara

It's a brand new product, just launched in June, that actually has an adjustable base. The point of the dial is to customize the amount of lash coverage you want; a remarkable idea if you ask me.

So, does it work???

It's a chunky tube that actually compresses internally, thus giving the dialing effect. It has a thicker brush ( not your standard mascara wand) that does appear to evenly distribute the mascara. Level 1 gives a nice dusting of mascara but not very dramatic. Level 2, again, same as before but it goes on a bit thicker. Level 3 is the only level worth using as it gives full lashes but not the volume.

Would I use it again?

Though the idea of the mascara is smashing, I am not sold on the product. I love full, dramatic and voluptuous lashes and it didn't happen with this product. I, also, despise a mascara that makes my lashes hard to the touch. (This can cause lashes to break or fall out.) Having said this, I will definitely stick with my Estee Lauder or Lash Stiletto!

Let me know your thoughts though. I am always eager to hear what others think....

Guest Bloggers

I was originally going to post something about Body Scrub today but wanted to open the airwaves to something different; something that gives others an opportunity to share their expertise with us. I am planning to have a series of guest blogs from some of my amazingly talented friends.

A little bit about my friends and family...My mom is a cosmetician, my sister is a hair stylist and my friends are hair stylists, make-up artists and estheticians. I think that it would only be fair to have them share their knowledge and tips with us. These posts will be coming up in the next few weeks and months.

I also wanted to open the blog to questions. If you have a product that you want a review on, need some help picking a new beauty product or want to see what my thoughts are on one of your favorites, please feel free to send me an email at cmwolthers@gmail.com

Can't wait to hear from my fellow product junkies!!!

Christina xox

Completely Product Obsessed

Okay, just so everyone knows, I am an absolute product junkie. Completely obsessed, over-the-top product whore.

It doesn't matter whether it's toner, scrub, mascara, lip gloss, eye liner, shampoo, perfume, hair masks, I want it all. I will spend hours searching for the right product on-line, reading reviews of exclusive product lines or combing the aisles in a shop to find the PERFECT lip gloss, mascara, conditioner...(you get the idea).

Though I love all products, as you can tell, I must say that my favorite, would-die-without cosmetic is lip gloss. I ADORE lip gloss. I have so many tubes, types and shades that I carry around in my bag, that I can never find the same tube twice.

Current favorites right now are:

1. Clinique Glosswear in Juicy Apple
2. Sephora Collection Ultra-Shine Lip Gloss in Hot Pink #13
3. Chanel Levres Scintillantes in Glossimer
4. Rimmel Shock Gloss in Amp'ed

Love to hear from you and what your must-have beauty products are!!!!