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

Tip of the Week - Stop using your nails as tools!

Stop using your nails as tools! Increase your calcium intake instead.

That’s right, a NO to scratching, digging, picking, etc. Oh ya, I know who you are! Stay away from using products containing alcohol too. You should also consider increasing the amount of calcium in your diet. Intake is important because your body loses calcium every day through the skin, nails, hair, sweat, etc.. You can find it in almonds, tofu, sesame seeds, or you can pick up a supplement from your local health foods store.

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

CONTEST WINNER!

Hello to all Urban Buzz followers! As you all know, we recently had a contest for Facebook users. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=297949020255957&set=a.185018564882337.56217.184405448276982&type=1&theater


The contest was for one of The Urban Beauty Bar's therapeutic neck rolls. A soothing remedy for sore joints and muscles if placed to heat in a microwave or used as a cold compress if placed in the freezer.

Here is what all of you had to do in order to qualify....

Step 1: "LIKE" The Urban Beauty Bar's fan page
Step 2: "LIKE" the contest photo
Step 3: SHARE the contest photo on at least one friend's wall.

 

I know, I know....you all want to know who the winner is. Ok, folks....drum roll please......The lucky winner of contest is Christine Fernandez of Mississauga!!!

Thank you to all who participated. We are very happy to see that many of you participated in our contest and are interested in the product. For those that are interested in more information regarding our therapeutic pillows, please contact frontdesk@theurbanbeautybar.com

Christine, please contact frontdesk@theurbanbeautybar.com with you complete mailing address and contact information.


Cheers to beauty-ful days!
Nina

The Urban Beauty Bar

 

Tip of the Week - Mist-ify Those Cracked Lips

Try a cool mist humidifier in your bedroom while you sleep to help combat constant cracked lips.

Constant cracked lips can be a sign of dehydration. Chapped, dry lips can be caused a variety of things from sun, cosmetics and bitter winds. Try a cool mist humidifier in your bedroom while you sleep. Make sure you are drinking enough water throughout the day. No, those 3 coffees a day don’t count!! In fact, they count against you since caffeine is dehydrating.

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

True & Falsies #10 - Make It Grow Faster!!

"I can't remember where I heard this, but I always heard that getting frequent trims makes your hair grow faster. Is that true?"

********** FALSE **********

I know some of us are looking for the solution to making your hair grow faster. You might have better luck finding some magical fairy dust and sprinkling it on your head!! The truth is hair grows at the same rate regardless of whether or not it’s being cut. Of course each individual is slightly different depending on certain factors such as hormone levels, diet, and usage of styling aids, among others.

Your regular trim certainly makes your hair look better, but that’s because it’s eliminating your split ends. This is what makes hair look thinner and shorter at the ends. “Removing split ends will keep your hair looking healthier, but don't forget your scalp!! Follicle stimulation can also aid in hair growth by receiving head massage, scalp treatments, etc...” says Kelly Rushlow, licensed hair stylist at Kelly’s Esthetics.

Suggestion for the day? Visit your stylist every 8 weeks or so for maintenance. If you would like to keep the length but keep it healthy – make sure your stylist takes off the minimum necessary just to eliminate those crazy split ends.

Cheers to beauty-ful days!
Nina

The Urban Beauty Bar

Tip of the Week - Get Mega of the Omegas!

Eat some salmon, a walnut, even some cauliflower perhaps? Increase your intake of OMEGAS!

Omega-3 fatty acids are considered essential fatty acids and are similar to the skin’s natural oils and help the skin produce more. The skin does have its own natural oils, but at times can suffer from a lack of oil. Many things can be a factor, such as too much sun/wind, smoking, excessive use of  caffeine or alcohol to name a few. With increased Omega intake, you’ll find an improvement in your nails, skin and your hair. A pretty good reason to get healthier and to look and feel better!!


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