Throw it Out! Expiration Dates of Beauty Products

Make-up and skin care junkie? It may be time to go through your products and toss any products that are past their shelf life. Keeping products longer than recommended results in a bacteria breeding ground that can cause skin irritation and loss of product effectiveness. Check below for the recommended throw-away dates of many make up and skin care products. Of course, if you see any separation in your creams, foundations or nailpolish, smell any type of unusual odor, or experience any type of skin irritation that is not a known side effect (example: mild skin redness with Retinol) throw the product away immediately. It is also NOT a good idea to purchase make-up or skin care products from Ebay unless you check with the seller to make sure that they are not expired (they may still not be honest about it). Also, discount clubs may also sell expired products. It is always best to purchase make up and skin care from reputable sellers that check and change their product stock regularly.

1. Sunscreen- Throw sunscreen away after 3 years, or after the expiration date on the bottle.

2. Skin Cream- Discard old skin cream after 1 year if it is in a jar, one year if it is in a pump, or follow the expiration date on bottle.

3. Foundation- Water based foundation should be thrown out after 1 year, oil based foundation should be discarded after 18 months.

4. Powder- Throw away old powder after 3 years.

5. Blush- Discard any old or unused blush after 3 years.

6. Lipstick- Toss all lipstick after 1 year.

7. Mascara- This rule is very important, trash all mascara that is older than 3 months.

8. Sponges- Wash your sponges weekly, and discard when necessary.

9.  Concealer- Throw concealer out after it is 1 year old.

10. Cleanser- Toss all unused cleanser after 1 year.

11. Nailpolish- Discard old nailpolish after 1 year, or when product separation occurs.

12. Brushes- Wash all make-up brushes every 1-2 months or weekly if you have any skin irritation or acne. Use a mild anti-bacterial soap.

13. Clarisonic Brush Heads- Clarisonic brush heads should be replaced every 2-3 months.

14. Self Tanner- Most self tanners expire after 6 months. Many also have the expiration date listed on the bottle, so pay attention to that date as well.

Cleaning out your make-up drawer and washing your brushes and sponges is not only good for your skin, it is good for your well being. Do a little spring-cleaning for your beauty routine and throw out those expired products, and make sure every tool and product that touches your skin is in tip-top condition!

Monobrows Beware! Help for Unruly Eyebrows-The Ardell Brow Precision Shaper

When I was in high school I refused to pluck my eyebrows even though it looked like I had two brown fuzzy caterpillers crawling acoss my forehead. Even so, I was convinced I had "Brooke Shields" eyebrows. Finally, in college, a boyfriend of mine told me my brows were too thick and hairy, that I had a monobrow growing above my nose, and that my eyebrows needed to be plucked desperately. What happened after that, only my razor will know for sure. Let's just say there was too much work to be done for me to just use tweezers, and I ended up with half an eyebrow. Oh, but don't worry, the hair grew back, and back, and back.

Ever since then, I have had to pluck my eyebrows twice a day. Once at home in the morning and once in the car on the way to work. I have had to keep a set of tweezers in the car because the car mirror always showed more un-plucked hairs to my horror, than my bathroom mirror reveals. Even with tweezing in the car, I never, ever get all the little hairs removed, no matter how much I pluck. My eyebrows are so hairy that the hairs grow almost too my eyeballs. I am not joking. It is awful, and a  huge pain in the butt. I have to get my eyebrows waxed at least once a month because I can't handle them and keep them groomed. You have heard men talk about the 5 o' clock shadow? I get eyebrow stubble at noon. I even admit to pulling out the good ol' razor every once in a while when I don't have the time to pluck. Sometimes it is the only thing I can do to get the hair off quickly.

The other day when I was at CVS, I noticed the Ardell Brow Precision Shaper . The package said, "With the Precision Shaper perfectly defined brows are just seconds away". Whatever. I didn't believe it. The main reason I even decided to purchase the product anyway was because the little mini-razor looking contraption looked a lot safer and easier to maneuver than my razor. Well, when I was in the car, I decided to give the shaper a try. This little groomer is amazing! I am not sure how it works as well as it does, but it is great for shaping your brows. The blade takes off the perfect amount of hair, and leaves a very clean line. My eyebrows looked so great after using it, that it almost looked like I had just been to a salon for a professional waxing. I can even use the shaving blade to safely swipe off the hairs underneath my brows.  I am very, very, pleased with this product! For only $4.99 for three bladed shapers and a shaving blade for facial hair, it is a steal. I am going to re-purchase this product again and again!

Bottom Line- Great product at an amazing price. The Precision Shaper makes unruly eyebrows look like they have been waxed and shaped at a salon. It is also easy to use and maneuver around delicate eyebrow hair.

Where to purchase- CVS

Update 6/16/11- Beware of using this product too close to the brow. I have been, and now my brows are too thin. Also, I want to note that I still have to use tweezers, but not as much as before. This product will not eliminate the use for tweezers.

Fit for life? Keeping Your Bikini Bod Past the Summer is Possible

I remember when I gained the Freshman 15 in college and I lost it all by eating 2,000 calories a day and exercizing (actually JAZZERCIZING!) only three times per week.  It was so easy to lose the weight that I gained, and virtually painless. This quick gain- quick loss cycle lasted for much of my twenties. Now that I am in my 30s, I learned that to become the weight I want to be (the lower end of my recommended weight range) I have to eat no more than1400 calories per day.  Once I attain my goal weight, I will have to eat only 1700 calories per day, or risk gaining all the weight I lost back. (To view the recommended calories for your ideal weight click here) This means no more quesadillas (700 calories), chicken wings (1,000) calories, etc. etc. How can anyone live a happy life while depriving themselves of all yummy fattening food for the rest of their life? Well, the truth is, once you lose a large amount of weight, your lifestyle and eating habits will have to change whether you want them to or not. Truth is, once your metabolism has slowed down, there is nothing you can do about it, and weight maintenance is absolutely necessary. This weight maintenance will have to last for the rest of your life.

According to Men’s Health May 2011 edition, according to a study by the National Weight Control Registry, to keep weight off you must do the following five things religiously:

1.       Exercise at least an hour day every day

2.       Follow a low-fat, low-sugar, low- calorie diet

3.       Follow the same diet almost every day

4.       Minimize TV watching (get outside!)

5.       Eat breakfast

What? No way. Numbers 1-3 are incredibly depressing. Work out at least an hour every day? Who has the time? I can barely get to the gym 3-4 days per week! Also, who wants to eat the same thing every day? This really doesn’t allow for guilt-free vacations, special occasions, or that time of year between November and January that we call the holidays.

Men’s Health actually recommends the following more attainable goals:

• Weigh yourself regularly
• Plan your meals.
•  Make a list before you shop. This will help stop you from straying from your diet on the Twinkie aisle.
• Drink a lot of water.This may or may not necessarily fill you up and assist in weight loss, but it can serve as a reminder to deter you from in-between meal over-snacking.
• Eat the same number of meals per day
• Eat a well balanced meal of fruits, vegetables and lean protein.
• Follow a consistent exercise routine.
• Remind yourself to follow your weight loss regime.
• Reward yourself for achieving your weight loss goals (just not with Haagen Dazs)
• Celebrate your accomplishments.

According to Web MD, eating less will not shrink your stomach, but it will alter your natural level of hunger so that you need less food to feel fulfilled.  This is a nice bonus to limiting your food intake.  Also, check with your doctor to make sure that none of the medications you may be taking have weight gain listed as a possible side effect. You would be surprised how many doctors prescribe medicine without mentioning possible weight gain.

There are also several applications for smart phones that can help you count calories (like My Fitness Pal for IPhone). Even an actual written food diary can help. You would be surprised how many calories you are actually eating, and how fast it can add up. Even if you think you are eating healthy.  Keeping track of the calories I consume has been the most effective tool in my personal weight loss.

Follow the tips listed above and you should be able to fit in to your special bikini, Speedo, or whatever kind of swimwear floats your sailboat, for the rest of your life; and maybe even sneak in a quesadilla every now and then.

A very special thanks to Terry Williams; a male Girly-Girl fan, who provided the magazine article in Men’s Health which inspired this post.

Royal Replicas

Dressmaker Faviana is about to debut her replicas of the Royal Wedding dresses of Kate and Pippa at more affordable prices. Although, Kate's dress needs an underskit to add volume, and Pippa's dress looks like it has a smaller, less adventurous neckline, both are good alternatives to the originals, averaging around $250 a piece (exact prices not available yet). Both styles are available in stores in August.

Although it is not listed as being inspired by Pippa's green dress (even though I heard that it was), style 6734 can be purchased in green.  The beading on th bodice is more subtle on Pippa's dress, and the jeweled shoulder detail is also further back on her shoulders. Take a look at the similarities and judge for yourself. I love the dress in either color, and I think the style is very similar to Pippa's stunner.



A cotton replica of Kate's famous engagement dress is also available from one of my favorite online retailers, Fashion Junkee for $50. Adorable!



As you can see, I am still waiting for the Royal Wedding fever to disappear. But for now, Cheerio Girly-Girls!

My Continued Search for an Inexpensive Alternative Version of Audrina's Joie Sari Dress



Audrina's Joie Sari Dress $278

 It has been really hard to locate Audrina's Floral Joie Dress, but I have found some that are similar.  Please see below for my picks. I have noticed that quite a few people landed on my blog who were looking for a Joie Sari Dress alternative, so I hope some of these are helpful! It doesn't look to me like there are any direct-imitations out there that I can find, but I will keep looking!

Andean Beauty Dress, by Free People $128.00

Gabriella Rocha Mindy Floral Dress, Navy $37.00

Forever 21 Ruffled Floral Dress, $17.80

Kiss Me Kate!- Beauty Products Inspired by (and used in) The Royal Wedding

Butter London, Non-Toxic Make-Up

No More Waity, Katie Lippie $18.00

No More Waity, Katie Nailpolish $14.00

All Hail the Queen Nailpolish, $14.00

Essie Nailpolish- Kate's Wedding Day Polish



Essie Allure Nail Polish, Used on Kate's nails for the Royal Wedding $8.00




Illuminum- Kate's Wedding Day Fragrance

Illuminum, White Gardenia Petals $140.00

Wedding Day Make-Up- Bobbi Brown?

It is rumored that Kate was wearing Bobbi Brown make-up on her wedding day (self-applied), but that is not confirmed. Here is her rumored color chart. Ssssh!!!

Love, love, love the Sandwash Pink lipcolor she wore!

Bobbi Brown, Sandwash Pink, $22.00

Nails INC. London

Will Union Jack Nailpolish, around $25.00

Kate Sapphire Polish, Around $25.00

Cheerio folks!

With a Rebel Yell! Sexy Surf/Skate/Punk T-Shirts

Ok, this company didn't get started because the owner loved Billy Idol (He has a song called Rebel Yell for all of you Gen-Y kiddos) For those of you that don't know, the Rebel Yell is also a battle cry made famous during the Civil War by the Southern "Rebel" boys in gray. Rebel Yell's owner, Andi Ballard, is from Virginia, which makes sense because of the company name, but doesn't make sense because almost every shirt she designs is about California, and the ones that are not are about Utah...UTAH??? Ok...to each his own.


Anyways...these T-shirts are fun, easy to wear, and beloved by celebs like Hilary Duff, Ashley Tisdale, and Audrina Patridge. Alas, these tees are not cheap, with t-shirts ranging anywhere from $42-$70. I recently purchased the California Bear t-shirt and Venice t-shirt to honor my Cali roots and my hometown city by the Pacific. I also love how the t-shirts are relaxed, skim the body, and are cut in a feminine, flattering, and sexy way. I can't wait until I get my t-shirts in the mail. If I knew how to scream the Rebel Yell, I would do it. Or at least I will sing Billy Idol.



California Bear Shirt, $69 from The Trend Boutique, via Beso.Com



Rebel Yell, Flower Hankie-Tee, $66, from CoutureCandy.com, via Beso.com

Venice T-Shirt, $42 from Karmaloop.com, via Beso.com

Audrina Patridge in Boyfriend Football Tee, $69, from the Trend Boutique, Via Beso.com

Candy Colored Lips- Pinks and Corals for Summer

This Spring and Summer, candy colors are showing up everywhere in make up and clothing. Here are some of my favorite glosses for Spring and Summer 2011.

Estee Lauder High Gloss (my favorite lip gloss ever!)

Try High Gloss in  Berry for a perfect pink pout and Honey for a golden shade that is great to layer over other warmer brown colors. $16.00


Maybelline ShineSational Lip Gloss

In Glamourous Guava , a fruity, juicy, coral- pink. $5.99.


NARS

Lipgloss in Super Orgasm. , a soft peachy-pink $24.00

Mary Kay

Mary Kay Lipgloss in Coral Rose,  a coral with a hint of rose-$8.50

MAC

Mac Plush-Glass in Fulfilled, a mid-range, cotton candy pink $18.50

Enjoy your kissable candy colored Spring/Summer lips!

My Style Fashion Assistant Ap For IPhone

I am sure all Gen-X-rs (at least the female ones) remember the iconic scene in Clueless where Cher looks for her daily school outfit on her computerized closet organizer; flipping through skirts, tops and shoes until she found the perfect combination. Who knew that one day that very same function would be available for the commonfolk? With the My Style Fashion Assistant ap for IPhone, IPad, you can take pictures of items in your closet (Tops, Bottoms, Shoes, etc), categorize them by style, brand, color, and season, and mix and match them to produce numerous outfits that you can browse through and save. This ap is perfect for those last minute occasions when you are far away from your closet and need to think of something to wear last minute. You can browse through items in your closet from work or anywhere you have access to your phone or IPad. This ap is also great for those people (like me) whose wardrobes are big and closets are small, and often lose really cute clothes in their closets, only to find them months later, out-of-style, and never worn.

The only issue with this ap is that you have to actually photograph and categorize each item by itself, which can take some time. I am still working on all of the items in my closet, so an easy way I do it is to photograph an item as soon as I decide to wear it, right after I purchase it, or right after I have worn it. This way I don't have to spend a day photographing everything in my closet and just kind of work on it as I go.

Bottom Line- This ap is a lot of fun and makes it fun to actually see what is in your closet. You can even window shop online and see if an item you are thinking about purchasing matches what you already have in your wardrobe, or if you already have a similar item (this is my biggest problem!).  For only $3.99, this ap is a steal.

Where to Purchase- IPhone/IPad Ap Store

Reflections on the Royal Wedding

Absolute Perfection....The Royal Wedding was a gorgeous display of the best in British pomp and circumstance with a modern twist...true love. The normally reserved William and Kate could not hold one thing back on this amazing day...the look of real love on their normally reserved British faces. Here's to everlasting love invading the British Monarchy. 

Future Brides take note...lace, fitted bodices, long sleeves and a return to old Hollywood glamour have now become a part of wedding fashion. Kate's Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen gown will be influencing wedding style for years to come.

I dream of Pippa...Several online sources claim that Pippa Middleton, Kate's Maid of Honor, may have stolen the spotlight from her sister in her white (future bridesmaid-trend alert), form-fitting Sarah Burton designed, Alexander McQueen gown, and emerald green reception dress by Temperley, but I don't agree. I do think the world has found a new star.

Here's to Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie..I really hate to say this, but their mother Sarah Ferguson and father Prince Andrew are both attractive...so why do the sisters remind me of....Cinderella's Ugly Stepsisters??? Maybe it is the ridiculous fascinators and silly dress-coats...Tone it down, girls!!!

Below is one of my favorite pictures from the wedding..Diana's lovely nieces. A perfect display of the gorgeous Spencer genes (I am sure William and Harry are both grateful for receiving a large dose of Spencer DNA from their mother).  Here's to three British beauties and fascinators done right.

Zara Phillips, Will's cousin and close friend. She has shown up on the "worst" of hat fashion lists from the Royal Wedding, but personally I love the drama of this showstopper. Bring hat-fashion to the U.S.!

Love it or hate it, British Socialite Tara Parker-Tomkinson's outfit grabbed attention. I love it...but when I heard that the hat was designed to take attention away from her cocaine-collapsed nose, I wondered why it was designed to point directly down to it?



What can I say negatively about David and Victoria Beckham...Nothing. They both look amazingly gorgeous. Who cares if David is wearing his medal on the wrong side of his lapel? He is the perfect argument for bringing British formal attire to the U.S. As for Victoria "Posh Spice" Beckham, the pop-star wife of the superstar soccer player shows more class and style than many of those in attendence from aristocratic backgrounds.  Maybe it is just an American thing, but while I do love the bright colors displayed by the attendees of the wedding and the matching fabulous hats, I am not quite sure a wedding, especially a Royal Wedding, is the proper place for them. In my opinion,Victoria seemed to be one of the only women in attendence not trying to attract attention to herself and away from the bride, and she did it perfectly.

Ahhh...Who could talk about the Royal Wedding and not mention the handsome and devilish Prince Harry? I do admit that he could do without all the rope on his uniform distracting from his ginger-haired hotness, but then again, I know it is all because he was recently promoted to the position of Captain of the British Army.

Finally, the beautiful couple... Who couldn't shed a tear at the loving, Shy-Di way that William looked at Kate during the wedding and the adoring, dimpled way Kate beamed back? I must say that as many people probably did, I had my doubts about the two of them, since I had never seen much of them interacting together other than in pictures. This wedding removed all doubt. God save the Queen, and God save their love.

Cheerio, Girly-Girls! I am now going to start my campaign to bring hat-fashion to our little commonwealth!