True & Falsies: #12 - Sharing makeup is like trading germs.

"A few of my girlfriends and I were touching up our makeup in the ladies room at a party we were all attending when one friend asked another to borrow her mascara. She went ahead and lent it, but isn’t sharing makeup with your friends like trading germs?”

********** TRUE **********

I have always kept the rule that I don’t share my cosmetics with anyone. Sure, your friend’s new lip gloss may look amazing. Amazing enough to make you want to try it, but you should leave the sample for in-store instead.

Just make sure the beauty counter advisor cleans their brushes before using them on you. If not, run away!! It would be even better if they use disposable applicators. This way, the testers won't become contaminated.

Brushes and make up applicators pick up quite a bit of bacteria. This is a good reason as to why you should also be regularly cleaning your brushes and applicators. Who needs an eye infection? Or a nasty rash on your cheek? Not this girl!!

Cheers to beauty-ful days!

Nina

The Urban Beauty Bar

True & Fasies #11: Say bye, bye to the oldies!

"Beauty products should be thrown out after a certain amount of time. Right?”

********** TRUE **********

That's right — though it sounds like you aren’t too sure about your answer! Beauty products have an expiration date on them, but what if it’s a product you don’t use very often or very much of? It may take you quite some time to use up all of the product.

Once you have opened a product, you should keep in mind that your product needs to be thrown out after a certain amount of time. How do you figure out when that is? Well, since you are all so great, I have them listed for you below.

Please note that cosmetics listed as organic or natural, which do not include preservatives, can be stored up to 6 months after opening. Why is that? The absence of preservatives leads to a proliferation of bacteria.

General period after opening is:

Powders – 1 to 3 years
Foundation in a jar or a cream powder – 1 to 3 years
Liquid foundation - 1 year
Nail polish – 1 year
Sun products – 1 year (but no more than one season)
Lipstick, lip gloss – 1 year
Pencil (Eye, Lip) – 6 to 8 months
Skin care products (moisturizers, eye cream, etc) in a sealed packet with a pump – 1 year

Skin care products (moisturizers, eye cream, etc) in a jar – 8 to 10 months
Mascara – 3 months
Liquid eyeliner – 3 to 4 months
Natural/Organic products – up to 6 months

Cheers to beauty-ful days!
Nina
The Urban Beauty Bar