How safe is your makeup?
A healthy face can easily become infected by using old or dirty cosmetics or brushes. Experts give advice on how to clean up your act.
Good, healthy skin is a must for most people.
And to get that glowing skin, some — women in particular — scrub daily with a high-quality cleanser, maybe following up with a good toner and pricey moisturizer.
But those same people may be using the blush brush they bought in college, or the mascara they bought two years ago, or a pair of tweezers that have scarcely had a good rinse-off, let alone been disinfected.
That's just bad hygiene, health care and cosmetics experts say, and though it may not have caused any serious problems so far, continuing those practices can put you at greater risks for bacterial infections of the eyes and skin.
"We see a lot of (infection) cases with eye makeup," says Dr. Gabrielle Curtis, family physician with the Cox Family Medicine Residency Program. "They may have difficulty with red eyes and things along those lines. Usually, you'll have redness at the sight, or itching, burning, watering of the eyes that's not related to just typical allergies. Most of the time it's a mild case, but other times it's more serious. Some people might need oral Benadryl or an office visit to their doctor."
To avoid any nastiness, clean up your act, experts say. Get rid of seriously outdated makeup, use perfume when it still smells its best, and for heaven's sake, clean your tweezers, sponges and brushes — or replace them.
But, cautions national cosmetics expert Paula Begoun, not everything needs to be tossed out after a certain time period, and doing so may benefit cosmetics companies more than the consumer.
"I think it is complete nonsense to discard (some types of cosmetic products) on a rigid timetable, especially for powder-based products, basic moisturizers (without antioxidants or other state-of-the-art ingredients), lipsticks, brow pencils and lip pencils," Begoun said via an e-mail interview. "The risk for microbial growth in nonaqueous or mineral-based products is at best minor."
Other products, such as mascara, do need to be pitched regularly, though, and still others, such as moisturizers with specialized ingredients, may lose effectiveness after some time.
Below is a guide to getting the best use out of your cosmetics and creating habits that will help your eyes and skin stay clear, bright and infection-free.
Mascara
Most of us are using it way too long, apparently. Begoun says she has heard ophthamologists recommend tossing this make-up after six weeks to three months of use and replacing it with a fresh tube. Curtis agrees with the three-month rule.
Heather Burch, an aesthetician at Grove Spa in Springfield, says it needs to go by about six months if you have not used all of it.
The mascara itself may give clues as to when it's too old to use.
"It will take on a smell," Burch says.
Getting rid of old mascara is especially important because it gets so close to the sensitive eye area.
And if you're tempted to share your mascara because your girlfriend left hers at home, don't do it.
"If you do share it, let them use it and then throw it away," says Tracy Bradley, who works in management at the Sephora store in Battlefield Mall.
Resist the temptation to pump the mascara wand up and down inside the tube, Bradley cautions.
"When you do that, you're causing air to get into the mascara, and that will result in bacteria."
Eyeliner
"Everybody loves their eyeliner and they want to hold onto it," Bradley says, but she recommends letting it go after about three months.
Burch draws a distinction between liquid eyeliner and eyeliner pencils, though.
"With the liquids, you're using the brush, then sticking it back in, so those need to be thrown away, possibly after three to four months. With pencils, each time you take that sharpener to them, you're taking off any type of bacteria," Burch says.
Lipsticks, glosses
Lipsticks have a pretty long shelf life, Burch says. Lip glosses and lipsticks may get smelly if they've started to go bad.
"It may not harm you, but it will be kind of yucky," she says. "If you've lost a lipstick and then found it six months later, make sure it's still moist and doesn't have an odor. You can also spray it with a little antiseptic spray.
"Once they feel kind of dry or have any kind of odor, though, you probably want to get rid of of them."
Eye shadow, foundation, blush, powder
Bradley says powder eye shadows, especially baked eye shadow, can last up to seven years easily with no color fading or other problems. It's unlikely that older powder eye shadow will harm you. Cream eye shadow, a moist shadow typically applied with fingertips, should probably go after six months.
When using cream shadow or any makeup applied with your fingers or hands, "always wash your hands before you apply it," Bradley says.
Foundations, also called "base" or "base makeup," may not harm the skin if they get older, but they can lose color, Bradley says.
"Through time, they may turn a little more yellow or orange," she says.
She says that should take a year or more, though.
It's unlikely that you need to change out blush or powder frequently, the experts say. Those products should last a long time.
Applicators
A bigger problem than aging cosmetics: The old brushes and sponges used to apply them.
Many people choose to use makeup sponges to apply foundation. If you do, buy the disposable variety and get rid of them frequently. Your clean fingertips are fine for applying foundation as well.
"With any make-up applicators, you need to throw them away frequently," Burch says. "They can be washed, but if they're cheap, it's worth it to throw them away. You can buy cleaner for them and clean them every two to three weeks. Clean them, let them air dry, then spray with disinfectant. If you do that, you can reuse them till they fall apart."
For pressed powder, Bradley says you should consider washing the sponge once a week if you can.
In fact, it's not a bad idea to wash all your makeup accessories — including eyeshadow applicators, blush brushes, etc. — once a week if possible.
Tweezers, eyelash curlers
Bradley wants you to replace the inside portion of the eyelash curler once a month, and all the experts say to use the curler on clean, mascara-free lashes.
"Your eyelashes can literally break off" if you use the curler on made-up lashes, Burch says.
Too often, Burch hears that people keep their tweezers inside their makeup bags, where they can get dirty.
"I had a client come in who said she kept her tweezers in her makeup case," Burch says. "They were contaminated and then when she was tweezing her eyebrows, it irritated her brow and she ended up going to the doctor."
She recommends disinfecting tweezers with rubbing alcohol or any good disinfectant, letting them dry and then putting them in their own special container or in a plastic resealable bag you're changing frequently.
Perfumes, lotions
It's unlikely that older perfume will cause skin irritation or problems, though the smell can start to diminish, meaning you're not getting the most out of the product.
Bradley says parfums, the strongest of scents, typically hang in there about four years before the smell starts to fade. Eau de toilette may start to fade in a year or two.
"They won't ever lose their smell," Bradley says. "You may notice that they don't smell as good on your body, but there's no danger to using older perfume."
Scented lotions may last even longer; Bradley says she's had some scented lotions for years and they're still good.
Decide for yourself
In some cases, makeup will have an expiration date on the package or companies will have a recommended use-by date, maybe posted on their Web sites.
Begoun's Web site, www.cosmeticscop.com, has tons of information on products and their ingredients, and offers recommendations for or against certain products, as do her books, such as "Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me."
By and large, though, it's typically up to the user to determine when a product is too old or if it is too harsh or irritating.
"The (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) will check on a product after it comes on market if there's a problem," Curtis says. "If there's not a problem, they will not check on it. It's a really unregulated industry."
The best advice is to use common sense. Toss out things that look or smell nasty, or that you bought the same day you purchased a Duran Duran cassette. Test new products on a small area before slathering them all over yourself. Do a little research, on sites like Begoun's, for example. And try to practice good general hygiene.
The bottom line, from Burch: "If it's working great on your skin and your skin is looking terrific and feeling terrific, it's probably OK."
Monday, July 30, 2007
Monday, July 23, 2007
Eye Makeup Tips? How to Apply Eye Makeup.
The result of a correctly applied makeup can easily make you happy. Before applying the color, it's good to to put on a neutral base beige, ivory or light brown over the lid. A nice eye makeup needs to create the right base.
Eye
The eye makeup is the most important part of makeup. You have to be very careful when applying it, because they are very sensitive. That's why you also have to remove the makeup before going to sleep. Though, eyes aren't everything. You have to design everything as a whole. Even lipstick has to match the eye makeup.
A sharp eyeliner is enough to obtain a nice Cat Eye Makeup effect. You can start to slant the eyeliner line upwards. For a translucent finish, a shadow liner is needed. To create a smoky cat eye makeup, draw a soft line from the corner of the eyelid to the end of the eyelash line with a black eyeliner pencil. Apply a dark eye shadow on the top of the smudged liner. The line has to be thickest at the outer eye corner. In the end of the smoky cat eye makeup, you will make your eyebrow curve more pronounced. I hope you found this interesting.
The eyes can tell a lot of things about a person's character. Moreover, the first thing you do when meeting a person is to look him in the eyes. That's why the eye makeup is so important. If your eyes are looking good, you are seen like a beautiful lady.
Makeup
Not only choosing the correct color before applying the eye makeup can be a difficult thing. Not removing the previous eye makeup can also be a problem. If eye makeup is not removed whenever it is needed, you can contact an irritation.
How to Apply Eye Makeup
How to put on eye makeup: basic eye makeup application that works for everyone's eye shape. Even if you have "bedroom eyes" or prominent eyes, the eye makeup process can can be tried by everyone.
All you have to do for a beautiful eye makeup is to respect the next three steps. The shape of your eye does not matters and this process will work for everyone. The first thing you have to do is to apply a light color to brows and lids. Just tap a little on the duct of the eye. This step can make your eyes bring up attention. The second step is to take an eye fold and start brushing from the corner of the eye to the crease of the eye. After that, you have to blend a little with the light color. The shadow resulted should always be darker than your skin nuance. Finally, the last step. All you have to do now is to apply a nice contour line and go along the lash line. Next, blend with the mid tone the crease. For a better effect, expanse the bottom lashes; also, you can finish with an eye liner and a mascara.
Eye
The eye makeup is the most important part of makeup. You have to be very careful when applying it, because they are very sensitive. That's why you also have to remove the makeup before going to sleep. Though, eyes aren't everything. You have to design everything as a whole. Even lipstick has to match the eye makeup.
A sharp eyeliner is enough to obtain a nice Cat Eye Makeup effect. You can start to slant the eyeliner line upwards. For a translucent finish, a shadow liner is needed. To create a smoky cat eye makeup, draw a soft line from the corner of the eyelid to the end of the eyelash line with a black eyeliner pencil. Apply a dark eye shadow on the top of the smudged liner. The line has to be thickest at the outer eye corner. In the end of the smoky cat eye makeup, you will make your eyebrow curve more pronounced. I hope you found this interesting.
The eyes can tell a lot of things about a person's character. Moreover, the first thing you do when meeting a person is to look him in the eyes. That's why the eye makeup is so important. If your eyes are looking good, you are seen like a beautiful lady.
Makeup
Not only choosing the correct color before applying the eye makeup can be a difficult thing. Not removing the previous eye makeup can also be a problem. If eye makeup is not removed whenever it is needed, you can contact an irritation.
How to Apply Eye Makeup
How to put on eye makeup: basic eye makeup application that works for everyone's eye shape. Even if you have "bedroom eyes" or prominent eyes, the eye makeup process can can be tried by everyone.
All you have to do for a beautiful eye makeup is to respect the next three steps. The shape of your eye does not matters and this process will work for everyone. The first thing you have to do is to apply a light color to brows and lids. Just tap a little on the duct of the eye. This step can make your eyes bring up attention. The second step is to take an eye fold and start brushing from the corner of the eye to the crease of the eye. After that, you have to blend a little with the light color. The shadow resulted should always be darker than your skin nuance. Finally, the last step. All you have to do now is to apply a nice contour line and go along the lash line. Next, blend with the mid tone the crease. For a better effect, expanse the bottom lashes; also, you can finish with an eye liner and a mascara.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Lipstick of the Future ?
Sick and tired of wasting time trying to find the perfect shade of makeup, only to discover that it's a mismatch once you go outside? Good news: getting the right foundation may soon be a mobile phone message away.
Hewlett-Packard has developed a new service capable of receiving photos from cell phone cameras, running them through sophisticated image-processing algorithms, and returning scientifically based recommendations for the shade of foundation, lipstick, blush and eye shadow that best suits a person's skin tone.
"The biggest issue with cosmetics is selecting the color," says Nina Bhatti, principal scientist at HP labs. "This is a common pain point—women can't find colors that look good on them."
According to Bhatti, the application will become available once HP announces the cosmetics company that it partnered with to bring this technology to consumers. HP is tight-lipped about which company it will be or how the service will be rolled out, and is leaving details like pricing up to its partner.
Once it's on the market, Bhatti says all consumers will need is a camera phone and an HP-produced sheet of paper bearing swatches of colors of known values—the sort of thing that could be included as an insert in a magazine.
Users need only snap photos of their faces while holding the sheet of color swatches beside them so that they show up in the head shots. After sending the image to a preassigned HP number (via SMS, the standard data transmission protocol for cell phones), it will be processed by computers employing algorithms capable of identifying both the user's face and the sheet of color swatches.
"It's the same technology that recognizes faces in digital cameras—the automatic red-eye remover," Bhatti says.
The real magic begins when, using the standard swatches as a reference, the software color-corrects the image. This process yields the true color of the user's skin, independent of the idiosyncrasies of the camera and the lighting conditions present when the shot was taken.
Once the system registers the user's actual skin tone, it's simply a matter of matching that color to a database of colors selected by professional makeup artists. These results are then texted back to the user. The entire process takes only a few seconds.
Bhatti says early reviews are positive. She notes that during trials, "women of all races said, 'Oh my god!' Even one woman with a huge amount of money who could go to any makeup counter said she'd like to get a specimen."
Melissa Kirch, a Manhattan freelance writer, says she and friends welcome a hassle-free way to find makeup, noting that some department store personnel are so zealous "that they want nothing more than to get me on a barroom stool and make me up like a drag queen.''
Unlike HP's other competencies in color matching, which it usually applies to assuring that its color printers render true color, there is also an element of subjectivity in this service that is impossible to eliminate: the color choices of makeup artists who contributed to HP's database of skin types.
"We hired freelance experts," says Bhatti, "makeup artists you'd hire for events, a movie shooting or weddings."
But, as Kirsch points out, it's exactly these makeup professionals who get women into trouble in the first place.
"At the counter they'll say, 'Oh, your eyes are so beautiful—have you ever tried coral-colored mascara?'" says Kirsch. "Somebody else trying to tell you how to put on makeup—it's a fool's errand."
Hewlett-Packard has developed a new service capable of receiving photos from cell phone cameras, running them through sophisticated image-processing algorithms, and returning scientifically based recommendations for the shade of foundation, lipstick, blush and eye shadow that best suits a person's skin tone.
"The biggest issue with cosmetics is selecting the color," says Nina Bhatti, principal scientist at HP labs. "This is a common pain point—women can't find colors that look good on them."
According to Bhatti, the application will become available once HP announces the cosmetics company that it partnered with to bring this technology to consumers. HP is tight-lipped about which company it will be or how the service will be rolled out, and is leaving details like pricing up to its partner.
Once it's on the market, Bhatti says all consumers will need is a camera phone and an HP-produced sheet of paper bearing swatches of colors of known values—the sort of thing that could be included as an insert in a magazine.
Users need only snap photos of their faces while holding the sheet of color swatches beside them so that they show up in the head shots. After sending the image to a preassigned HP number (via SMS, the standard data transmission protocol for cell phones), it will be processed by computers employing algorithms capable of identifying both the user's face and the sheet of color swatches.
"It's the same technology that recognizes faces in digital cameras—the automatic red-eye remover," Bhatti says.
The real magic begins when, using the standard swatches as a reference, the software color-corrects the image. This process yields the true color of the user's skin, independent of the idiosyncrasies of the camera and the lighting conditions present when the shot was taken.
Once the system registers the user's actual skin tone, it's simply a matter of matching that color to a database of colors selected by professional makeup artists. These results are then texted back to the user. The entire process takes only a few seconds.
Bhatti says early reviews are positive. She notes that during trials, "women of all races said, 'Oh my god!' Even one woman with a huge amount of money who could go to any makeup counter said she'd like to get a specimen."
Melissa Kirch, a Manhattan freelance writer, says she and friends welcome a hassle-free way to find makeup, noting that some department store personnel are so zealous "that they want nothing more than to get me on a barroom stool and make me up like a drag queen.''
Unlike HP's other competencies in color matching, which it usually applies to assuring that its color printers render true color, there is also an element of subjectivity in this service that is impossible to eliminate: the color choices of makeup artists who contributed to HP's database of skin types.
"We hired freelance experts," says Bhatti, "makeup artists you'd hire for events, a movie shooting or weddings."
But, as Kirsch points out, it's exactly these makeup professionals who get women into trouble in the first place.
"At the counter they'll say, 'Oh, your eyes are so beautiful—have you ever tried coral-colored mascara?'" says Kirsch. "Somebody else trying to tell you how to put on makeup—it's a fool's errand."
Friday, July 13, 2007
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Looking Hot in the Heat
by Carmindy
OK, ladies: the temperature is rising and we all want to know how to look good and keep makeup in place when it gets hot out there. Luckily there are a lot of refreshing and cooling makeup products you can add to our beauty routine -- including sunscreen, of course, which is a must. (I like Neutrogena's Fresh Cooling Body Mist Sunscreen after a shower to cool down and protect skin from those harsh rays.) When it comes to makeup, every skin type has unique needs during the warm weather so here's a breakdown:
If You're Fair-Skinned
With or without freckles, chances are you will need the most protection. Try Lorac's protectTINT spf 30 ($30) to even out your skin tone. Perfect for hot weather, this sheer tinted moisturizer not only leaves your complexion flawless but also delivers the maximum amount of protection you need in one easy step. Stay away from cream formula cheek and eye colors because they won't mix well with the heat. Choose sheer powders for a long lasting look.
If You Have Medium Skin Tone
Medium skin-toned ladies look lovely with a touch of bronze so play with Dior Bronze Sun Powder Spray ($60). This is a cool, refreshing bronzer you can just spray on for a healthy looking glow. (For cheaper alternatives check out my post 'Going for the Bronze'.)
If You Have Dark Skin
Let your eyes pop on a hot summer night by creating a smoky eye. Sweep on Maybelline Cool Effect Cooling Shadow/Liners ($2) to create a sexy look that will keep you looking and feeling cool in the steamiest of weather.
If You Have Mature Skin
Mature skin can experience a case of vanishing makeup in the high heat so stick with waterproof formulas and sweep on a cool moisturizing lip color to keep lips hydrated. Neutrogena MoistureShine Soothing LipSheers is just what you need. It's cooling as it goes on and packs SPF 20 to protect while it colors and moisturizes. Whatever your skin tone keep a pack of oil blotting papers in your purse for quick fix that eliminates shine.
OK, ladies: the temperature is rising and we all want to know how to look good and keep makeup in place when it gets hot out there. Luckily there are a lot of refreshing and cooling makeup products you can add to our beauty routine -- including sunscreen, of course, which is a must. (I like Neutrogena's Fresh Cooling Body Mist Sunscreen after a shower to cool down and protect skin from those harsh rays.) When it comes to makeup, every skin type has unique needs during the warm weather so here's a breakdown:
If You're Fair-Skinned
With or without freckles, chances are you will need the most protection. Try Lorac's protectTINT spf 30 ($30) to even out your skin tone. Perfect for hot weather, this sheer tinted moisturizer not only leaves your complexion flawless but also delivers the maximum amount of protection you need in one easy step. Stay away from cream formula cheek and eye colors because they won't mix well with the heat. Choose sheer powders for a long lasting look.
If You Have Medium Skin Tone
Medium skin-toned ladies look lovely with a touch of bronze so play with Dior Bronze Sun Powder Spray ($60). This is a cool, refreshing bronzer you can just spray on for a healthy looking glow. (For cheaper alternatives check out my post 'Going for the Bronze'.)
If You Have Dark Skin
Let your eyes pop on a hot summer night by creating a smoky eye. Sweep on Maybelline Cool Effect Cooling Shadow/Liners ($2) to create a sexy look that will keep you looking and feeling cool in the steamiest of weather.
If You Have Mature Skin
Mature skin can experience a case of vanishing makeup in the high heat so stick with waterproof formulas and sweep on a cool moisturizing lip color to keep lips hydrated. Neutrogena MoistureShine Soothing LipSheers is just what you need. It's cooling as it goes on and packs SPF 20 to protect while it colors and moisturizes. Whatever your skin tone keep a pack of oil blotting papers in your purse for quick fix that eliminates shine.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Beautiful
Beauty is like a magnet - it attracts others to it. Yet while elements of beauty are easy to spot, what truly defines it remains intangible. Everybody can look beautiful with a little care and the right cosmetics. A few simple free beauty tips and cosmetics makeup advice will help you change your looks. Our Beauty & Makeup Tips are designed for busy people of any age and all walks of life.
Beauty is much more than just a great looking face and body. A shortcut to beauty therapy is not just by use of best cosmetics but, feeling good on the inside. Natural Beauty means having a healthy body and positive outlook on life, what also helps you is how you interpret life and how you wear yourself - usually cheerful and full of life.
Feel good, feel pretty and that's just what the world will see. If you feel ugly, that's what the people will see. Try to look as good as you can with the use of natural beauty, cosmetics and makeup. There are ways to live in beauty without being obsessive about it.
BEAUTY TIPS:
1. Go for looks that suit your personality.
2. Match your make-up with your dress and lifestyle.
3. Don't follow trends blindly.
4. Check in bright light to see that it does not look too harsh.
5. Try and take professional advice, If possible.
Beauty is much more than just a great looking face and body. A shortcut to beauty therapy is not just by use of best cosmetics but, feeling good on the inside. Natural Beauty means having a healthy body and positive outlook on life, what also helps you is how you interpret life and how you wear yourself - usually cheerful and full of life.
Feel good, feel pretty and that's just what the world will see. If you feel ugly, that's what the people will see. Try to look as good as you can with the use of natural beauty, cosmetics and makeup. There are ways to live in beauty without being obsessive about it.
BEAUTY TIPS:
1. Go for looks that suit your personality.
2. Match your make-up with your dress and lifestyle.
3. Don't follow trends blindly.
4. Check in bright light to see that it does not look too harsh.
5. Try and take professional advice, If possible.
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