lips Archives - Inspire By O'Nika

How Old is Your Makeup?

Lipstick, eye liner, mascara, foundation, blush. How old is your makeup? Products that we purchase and use on a daily basis do expire. We carry them around in our purses and keep them at home in the bathroom cabinet or on the dresser. Have you thought about how long you have been using that tube of mascara? Is it dried out? Does it have a different smell to it?

Stop and consider that cosmetics have a shelf life, just like groceries. Old makeup can cause a host of problems. The longer you keep the makeup the more bacteria build up is likely.

If your skin is prone to breakouts, it may be due to wearing old foundation or blush. If you develop styes on your eyelids, it might be due to eye liner or mascara. Eye makeup laden with bacteria can cause eye infections and/or pink eye (conjunctivitis).

How long to keep cosmetics

Mascara-After opening, can last from 3-6 months.

Eyeliner- After opening, 3-6 months for liquid. Pencil liners can last about a year.

Foundation- can last anywhere from 6 months to a year for liquid. Powder can last up to two years.

Lipstick-After opened can last 1-2 years.

Blush-After opening, can last up to a year.

Eyeshadow- can last up to 2 years.

Things to consider

Change your pillowcase often. Dead skin cells are just lurking on your pillowcase. Flip it over and/or shake it out every day. This will help to reduce skin breakouts or rashes.

Every night, wash makeup off. Do not sleep with makeup on your face. Sleeping with makeup on can cause clogged pores and make your face more prone to blemishes or skin redness.

When purchasing makeup. Put the date down somewhere so you know when to replace makeup after opening.

Do not share makeup.

If your mascara dries out, do not add water. Replace it with a new tube. Adding water will only help bacteria multiply. If you notice a weird smell to the mascara, it is probably time to replace it.

Clean and/or replace cosmetic brushes, sponges and applicators often. The more you open a powder foundation and apply to your face, the more bacteria can get into the case.

Most makeup tells you on the packaging how long it will last after opening. There will be a small icon on the packaging with a number followed by an M. This is a good indicator how long it will hold up after it is opened. Use this information and try to remember to replace it within that time frame.

Following these guidelines will improve our skin and help to keep it healthy. I know we cannot always remember but just stop to think about it when you are applying these cosmetics. Your skin will thank you and you will notice a difference.

Eye Lashes, Brows, Lips, Butt and Fingernails

With all the airbrushing we see in magazines and online., there is a lot of pressure to try to look like these “unrealistic” images. Just use what you have naturally. There is nothing wrong with just being you. Sometimes we do too much in an effort to fit in. Come with me on this comical but true journey about some of the cosmetic changes we make. I know you will smile or laugh at yourself at least once. If none of these apply to you, at least you know someone who fits the description.

Eye Lashes

Left- Natural lashes Right- Extra-long falsies

Lashes, lashes and more lashes, you know who you are. Let’s talk about these extra-long eye lashes. Just one question; why? Are you looking for shade for your face? Why do your lashes need to be this long? I know you can’t wear sunglasses or any kind of eyewear with these long lashes. Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice to have full lashes. But…when your eye lashes look like you have a caterpillar or roach on your eye lids, that ain’t cute! Stop it with these extra- long lashes, it’s too much. You are going to mess around and get those lashes caught in something then what are you going to do? We don’t need those problems.

Brows

On top of having full lashes, it is nice to have a neatly shaped brow. There are a few ways to get them into the shape you want to fit your face. Please remember that you DO NOT want to have the surprised look on your face. You know, when the brows are arched so high that you look surprised all the time… Come on now, admit that at least once you arched your brows too high. Tell the truth! But seriously, arch the brows but not so much so that you look like you are in amazement all day, every day.

Lips

If you have lips that are thin and you want them to look fuller, just try lipstick that has “plumper” added. There are a lot of shades on the market these days. But, when you get your lips injected with filler and your lips are abnormally big for your face; Houston we have a problem! You want your lips to look natural, not like they are swollen and you can stick a pin in them and they will deflate. Or so big that it looks like you had an allergic reaction to something. Also, when applying clear lip gloss; don’t put on so much that it looks like you stuck your face in a bucket of greasy chicken! Just use enough to cover the surface for moisturization. Remember, less is more.

Butt

Now, some of us have a butt and some of us don’t. It’s okay. If you need a little extra cushion or padding, you can always buy butt pads. They look like a girdle but have the padding sewn into the butt area. It’s the same concept of a padded bra. The benefit of wearing butt pads is that you won’t need surgery to achieve the look you want. On the other hand, if you get butt injections to make your back side look bigger, be weary! Some people get too much and it looks so unnatural. If the rest of your body is not proportionate to the size of your butt, it will not look right. Just keep that in mind.

Fingernails

Left- Workable length Right- A little long, claw-like

Nails, nails and more nails. Whether you wear your natural nails, acrylic, gel or press-ons, let’s not get out of hand with the length. The nails are so long that they start to curl under or the press-ons are so long you can’t do certain things. It doesn’t matter how nicely the nails are painted with the colors and designs. You can still have the same look but with a length that is workable. The longer the nails the more germs get under the nail beds. It also makes it harder to perform regular hygienic tasks.

Beauty is important but let’s not sacrifice our health with the unhealthy fillers and injections we get for bigger lips and a bigger butt. The pressure is real, but it is not worth the harmful effects it can have on us later on. What do you say on the subject?