How Long Should Makeup be Kept

How long should you let your makeup chill in your makeup bag? This is a pretty common question as most of the time it is not written on the outside of your products nor is it required for companies to do so. This leaves us with one question. How long can we use them?

Mascara and Liquid Liners - 3 months at the most. The shelf life on these is much less for one simple reason. The bacteria on your eye is deposited into the tube every time you use the product and re-dip. If you have had any type of eye infection, all of your makeup that has touched the infected area must be tossed in the trash. This way your risk of continuing the infections or re-infecting the area goes way down.

Sponges and brushes - Sponges should be kept for no longer than a month and should be washed once a week. Remember, the pores on sponges trap bacteria and dead skin cells. Do you really want to be rubbing that on your face for more than a month? Brushes can be kept as long as you need if you take care of them properly. Shampoo them every couple of months using a mild soap or shampoo and then allow them to dry thoroughly before use.

Eyeshadow, Blush, and Bronzer - Up to 2 years depending on the formula. Powder's can be kept for two years. Creams will have a shorter shelf life and should only be kept for up to a year. Of course, this all changes if you have had an eye infection. The shadows you used on the infected area will then need to be thrown away.

Eye and Lip Pencils - Up to 2 years. Even with an eye infection, eye pencils can be kept for a while. This is simply because you can shave off the area that has come in contact with the infection with a pencil sharpener. The tips can also be cleaned with rubbing alcohol before being shaved down in order to be 100% sure that the bacteria has been killed. Make sure you have shaved down this area before applying it to your eye as the alcohol would clearly burn. A lot!! The same goes for lip pencils.

Lipsticks and Lip gloss - Up to 2 years. Lip glosses can be kept for up to 6 months and operate on the same philosophy as your mascara and eye liner. With each application and re-dip, more bacteria is re-deposited. Lipsticks are good to go for about 2 years as long as they are taken care of properly. They need to be "shaved down" so that you can remove the bacteria on the top layer. This can be accomplished by taking a razor blade(removed from the casing) and shaving off the very tip top layer. Be cautious to not take off to much as you would be wasting your money with lost product!

Setting and Foundation Powders - These can be used for up to 2 years unless they smell funny or have changed in color. At that point, it is pretty clear that the product should be tossed.

Foundations and Concealers - 12 -18 months depending on the formula and how you choose to apply them. Creams and water-based liquids should be thrown away after a year if you use a sponge or brush to apply them. These two options keep your fingers and the bacteria currently residing on them away from your makeup! Those that are oil-based can be kept for about 18 months.

On a side note, sometimes product will have a helpful guideline listed on the product that is a suggestion on how long the product should be kept after being opened. What this looks like is pictured below...

As always, thank you for reading and I hope you guys have a blessed day/night!

XOXO - Megan

My Top Rated BB Creams for 2015

BB Cream's can be a beautiful thing for those of us that don't have all the time in the world to put ourselves together in the mornings. This lovely little invention is one of the makeup world's best multi-tasking products.

The "BB" in BB Cream stands for beauty balm or, in some areas, blemish balm. It's original intention was to provide our skin with nutrients to help irritated skin heal while giving a little bit of coverage. In accomplishing this, several other benefits emerged. This products helps to moisturize, prime, even out skin tone, and conceal all while providing your skin with anti-aging benefits.

With BB Cream's being so popular, the market is now flooded with a million different choices. So, how do you know which one is best for you? It can be just a tad bit overwhelming.

Here are my top choices:

1. Estee Lauder DayWear BB Cream - This one is my top recommendation for oilier skin types. Sometimes we mattify our skin so much that we loose that natural glow that makes our skin look so great. Well this product helps to combat that by giving us a subtle glow while still controlling the oil. It also moisturizes with Hyaluronic and Vitamin E while brightening with good ole Vitamin C.

2. Rimmel London BB Cream - This one is very affordable and can be picked up at your local drugstore, Wal-Mart, or Target. It works best for oily skin types BUT is suitable for just about anyone. It's easy to blend and pretty lightweight. My favorite thing about this one is how mattifying and concealing it can really be.

3. SmashBox Camera Ready BB Cream - I've struggled with where to place this one because it is simply amazing. It has a wider shade range so that it can reach a larger audience. Most BB Cream's only come in two or three shades so this is most definitely a perk. It features an SPF of 35 and also helps to treat, hydrate, prime, and conceal problem areas.

4. Dr. Jart+ Dis-A-Pore Beauty Balm - This BB Cream is great because it helps to diminish the appearance of pores. With an SPF of 30, this one also delivers great coverage for those with combination to oily skin types. This is one of my absolute favorites. The reason it isn't quite as high on my list is simply because it comes in just one color.

5. Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector - This one is great for dry skin and not to mention very affordable. It contains Vitamin C so while helping to fight off free radicals, it will also brighten and help to encourage the production of collagen and elastin. It also contains Hyaluronic acid and Glycerin that add extra moisturize.

6. Bobbi Brown BB Cream - Armed with an SPF of 35, this one comes in a very wide range of colors and is actually one that my darker skin ladies will be able to work with. This one helps to moisturize by drawing in and binding water molecules to the skin while helping to brighten the complexion. Every person that I have ever applied this too absolutely went crazy over it whether I used it as a primer before foundation or just a foundation. It is really great for those ladies with dry skin!

7. Too Faced Tinted Beauty Balm - I've added this one simply because it gives such a natural finish. Its lightweight and gives you just a little bit of color as well. It contains Vitamin A(aka Retinol) to reduces wrinkles and even skintone and then Chamomile to help soothe. Overall, it is a very nice product.  Dr. Jart+ Regenerating Beauty Balm

8. Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm - With an SPF of 45, the sun protection on this one is heavy duty. It helps to minimize redness and offers a very natural looking finish. The wonderful thing about this product is that it's anti-aging ingredients are able to enter the skin as they would with a serum meaning that they will penetrate to the second layer of your skin, the dermis. It also has antioxidant bio-peptides that help to firm your skin and keep its elastin's intact.

9. DiorSkin Nude BB Cream - This one comes in about 4 different shades and contains an SPF of 10. What I really like about this is that it has mineralized floral water which helps to hydrate and correct your skintone by helping to control inflammation. It is also jam-packed with anti-oxidants! With this one you can expect to look and feel like you are wearing nothing!

10. Omorovicza Complexion Perfector BB Cream - This one is at the bottom of my list simply because of the price. At $135.00 a bottle, you better be sure that this is one that you love! It has an SPF of 20 and helps to camouflage, protect, prime, and hydrate. This one has actually been proven to help heal the skin which is where some of that expensive price tag comes into play! It also contains Omorovicza's patented mineral delivery system called Hydro Mineral Transference. This simply ensures that the skincare benefits are able to reach not only your top layer of skin but also the second layer, the dermis. The amount of benefits your skin receives from this process is unreal! It is worth every penny that you pay.

**Honorable Mention** Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse Beauty Balm -This one is not one that I would recommend as a foundation replacement BUT it is great to use on really irritated skin. Sometimes our skin needs a little time and room to breathe so it can heal properly after things like chemical peels, facials, and sunburns. This one is great for that since it helps irritated skin by using Aloe to reduce redness. It also has really high water content and I don't know if you've noticed but drinking water can help your body to heal in so many ways. The same goes for your face!

**One I'm DYING to try** Dr. Jart+ BB Night Beauty Balm - The beauty balm is supposed to be one of those that you can wear all day and then have it last throughout the night. You are actually supposed to be able to accidentally(because I know you would never do this on purpose!!) fall asleep still wearing this and it not hurt your skin. It has encapsulated colorants to help give your skin a flawless look while treating with anti-aging and brightening ingredients. It sounds almost to good to be true! The only downside, of course, is the fact that it comes in just one shade. 

All of the pictures are clickable links. They take you straight to Amazon where you can read the reviews on the products. All of these products can also be found on Sephora's website and they have a great review section as well.

I hope this helps you guys! And as always, thank you for reading!

XOXO- Megan

The Best Sunless Tanners to Help Beat the Winter Blues

Every girl dreams of a lovely summer glow in the dead of winter(except for myself as I just accepted and embraced my porcelain skin long ago!). While tanning beds are a great way to get this look(and truth be told, kind of relaxing), they are not a very healthy option.

Tanning beds increase your chances of skin cancer significantly and also cause premature wrinkles. How do we know this? Scientific research and simple life experience. Think about this- in the past while waiting to get your evening tan on, have you seen older ladies and/or gentlemen come out whose skin looked mighty tan but also like a used leather handbag? Yes? It is gross and not a look that ANYONE can ever pull off. Who really wants to deal with that?

Fortunately for those of us that love our skin, there is a safe alternative to tanning beds. These little wonders are called sunless tanners and,  my dear, they can be your best friend if used right!

Listed below are my favorites...

Some of these come in many different formulas. They can be a mousse, a gel, or even a lotion. I've listen my favorite formulas below as they are easier to use in my opinion.

1. St. Tropez Self Tan Dark Bronzing Mousse - This stuff is simply awesome. It is specially formulated to take your own body's melanin(the stuff that gives your skin color) and turn it to its most natural, deepest color. This means one thing- No orange color!

It does go on green. Yes, I did just say green. That is totally normal and how it is supposed to look. This will allow you to see where you are putting the color. You will need to get the application mitt to go with the product. This will ensure a smooth and even application. I recommend taking a shower and exfoliating right before bed. Slather this stuff on and throw on a long sleeved tee shirt and long pants. Throw your hair in a bun and head to bed. When you wake up in the morning you will be a beautiful bronzed goddess(without a single hint of the green color as this will wash off in the shower)!

2. St. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse - I love this stuff for all of the same reasons I listed above. This is just a version that is a tad bit lighter. I'd suggest this one for ladies who have a lighter skin complexion. Also for those that would like to broken into the whole "sunless tanner" thing slowly and are quite possibly a little terrified, this will give you just a pop of color! And again, this stuff is very much so dummy proof! You will need the application mitt for this as well.

3. Tarte Brazilliance Skin Rejuvenating Maracuja Face and Body Self Tanner - This one goes on pretty smoothly as well and gives you a great, very natural-looking tan. I recommend using a mitt for this one as well. The mitt's are great simply because they keep the color from getting on the palm's of your hands.

  4. Jergens Natural Glow Express Body Moisturizer - This stuff is pretty awesome. It is a gradual self tanner that does some pretty amazing things. It is a lotion and is MUCH EASIER to mess up so I would only suggest this to seasoned pros! I'd also suggest putting this on at night before bed as the smell can be a little intense. Throw on some long sleeves and long pants and then shower in the morning. You'll be summer kissed in no time!

As always, if you guys have any questions or comments feel free to ask below and I will do my best to help.

Thank you for reading!

XOXO- Megan

Battling Dry, Itchy Skin During the Winter

It happens to all of us. Winter comes along and all of the sudden we become this ashy, itchy hot mess from head to toe. Why does this happen, you wonder? It's simple. Baby, its cold outside!

When the weather turns colder, the air around us looses moisture. That's just the way it works. Less moisture in the air means less moisture being retained in our skin. Fortunately for you, there are some pretty easy ways to help battle this loss of moisture.

1. Use a humidifier in your bedroom while you sleep. Turning on the heat in your house pulls moisture out of your skin simply because it is a dry heat. Using a humidifier puts moisture back in the air and therefore back into your skin.

2. Hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid. And then more Hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is something that we naturally produce in our bodies as it pulls the moisture from the air and binds it to our skin, ligaments, etc. As you can imagine, this has a good bit of benefit to us when used in skincare as it keeps our skin looking supple and youthful. How you ask? By binding moisture molecules to our skin, it is not only able to retain more moisture- it is also able to encourage collagen and elastin production. These proteins keep our skin firm and less wrinkled providing an overall youthful appearance! Peter Thomas Roth's VIZ-1000 is my absolute favorite! This stuff is the real deal.

3. Change up your facial skincare routine. Think of it this way- do you wear the same clothes in the summer as you do the winter? Absolutely not. Use an oil cleanser and a thicker moisturizer in the winter months. Also try washing your face with lukewarm water instead of hot as hot water strips away the natural oils in your skin.

4. Use an exfoliant on your lips to help battle their moisture loss. You can mix a tablespoon of brown sugar with just enough olive oil to make a paste. Use this once a week and layer with a really good moisturizing chapstick. Keep your chapstick with you to use throughout the day just in case of moisture emergency.

These are the best types that I have ever used

5. Moisturize right after you get out of the shower. As I said before, hot water pulls out the natural oils in your skin so naturally replacing them by moisturizing is a pretty smart move. Try using lotions with Vitamin E in them. This antioxidant penetrates the skin really well and helps your skin not only bump up its moisture content but also fight off those harmful free radicals we come in contact with everyday. My favorite moisturizer is pictured below...

This of course features my absolute favorite thing- Glycolic Acid. It also has Vitamin E and is so moisturizing and nourishing. Its simply amazing (and yes, I have done a blog post about my obsession with this. Check it out here: Beauty Obsession Alert)

6. For extreme dry skin, use Vaseline. You can use this little drugstore miracle on just about any portion of your body for some intense hydration!

7. Exfoliate from head to toe! Since we aren't looking to be bikini ready at a moments notice during the winter, we tend to let some thing slip. Don't let your skin pay the price. Exfoliating once a week keeps the dead skin from building up and your skin more open to receiving moisture. What does this mean for your skin? When you slather on lotion, the nourishing ingredients are able to penetrate deeper giving you more supple and smooth skin.

8. Stay hydrated. Drinking lots of water throughout the day keeps you naturally hydrated from the inside out. Put simply, its a dummy-proof way of beating the dry winter weather at its own game!

Hopefully you guys have enjoyed this and will put some of my tips to good use!

As always, thank YOU for reading!

XOXO - Megan

My BIGGEST Hair Dye Pet Peeve

Most women dye their hair. This is pretty common knowledge as studies show that one in six women are unhappy with their natural color. I am among these ladies myself!

Shockingly enough, I was not born with the beautiful head of jet black hair as pictured below...



 

I am actually a natural blonde (more of a dirty blonde). After frying my hair trying to keep it highlighted with a beautiful honey blonde color, I decided that I'd go a little darker. My hair has been pretty much every color of the spectrum (even the very unflattering ones courtesy of being younger and not knowing what you are doing) but this is the one I fell in love with!

 

So, to get to the point of this post- when I finished touching up my roots the other night (try to avoid putting color on your whole head if at all possible as this is much less damaging), I took my gloves off to find this...

 

 

And this...

 

 

The hair dye had seeped through my gloves yet again (it does this with both of my favorite hair dye products). I can not stand this. While you can remove 95% of this with nail polish remover, it still drives me insane! I do not want black nails every time I have to touch up my hair.   

 

I've decided that my next go around will consist of two pairs of gloves on both hands. I'll let you know how that goes- let's pray for my sanity that this does in fact go well for me! :)

 

Listed below are my two favorite hair dyes and why I love them so!

The delivery system for this color is oil which helps to improve the texture of your hair while adding color. This is also ammonia free which is another plus. It's fragrance is also quite nice.

This is specially formulated to add shine to your hair while adding color. Who doesn't love that? It is also much more moisturizing than most other hair dyes that I have dealt with.

As always, thank you for reading. Feel free to comment below with any questions or concerns!

XOXO - Megan

7 Haircare Products Every Woman Needs

I'm just as picky about my hair as the next girl which is why I have a million and one products stacked in my bathroom closet (also caused by having worked for one of the largest beauty retailers in the world. It's a tough job but someone had to do it!). Unfortunately, a good bit of these products just didn't cut it for me. I have, however, found a short list of things that I find are pretty essential for everyday runway ready hair!

1. Dry Shampoo - You guys already know about my love for this stuff. Not only does it allow you to sleep in a little longer in the morning, but it keeps those lovely locks of yours from losing moisture from over shampooing. Check out my blog on dry shampoo called The Beauty of Dry Shampoo for more info.

2. Hair Oil - Whether it be Argan, Jojoba, or Maracuja oil, this stuff contains natural fatty acids that help to maintain the strength and structure of your hair. Try skipping the hair spray for a day and using a hair oil instead. Want to wear a bun? Slick back your frizzy fly away hairs with this. All it takes is a drop or two. Rub the oil on the tips of your fingers and then work it through your hair. This is also a great treatment for roots, scalp, and hair ends just before bedtime as it helps to combat those dreaded spilt-ends.

This is one of my favorites. Tarte does a version of this that is a little more expensive that is nice as well.

3. Boar Bristle Brush - These brushes are great for your hair for a couple of reasons. They originally became popular when people discovered that these types of bristles would carry the sebum naturally produced on our scalp down the shaft of your hair. This improves the texture of your hair while stimulating your scalp at the same time encouraging more hair growth. Its a win, win no matter how you look at it! And did I also mention that these brushes feel simply divine on your scalp?


4. Leave-in Conditioner - Leave-in conditioner is a great product for all hair types. For those with dry hair, it helps to lock in some needed extra moisture. For those with fine hair, this helps to untangle the hot mess on your head after you get out of the shower. What does this mean for you? Less broken hairs!

This is exactly what I use and it is my fav! It also smells wonderful and I can use it on my little girl's hair as well.

5. Salon Quality Hair Dryer - Higher quality hair dryers tend to have a higher wattage to them. A higher wattage hair dryer means that it will dry your hair faster. The idea of this is to expose your hair to heat as little as possible. Less heat equals healthier hair! Need I say more?

6. The right Shampoo and Conditioner - I've said it before and I will say it again - No Poo or Sulfate Free. This is a wonderfully beautiful thing. Check out my blog 9 Steps to Preventing Damaged Hair for more info on this.

7. A good hair straightener paired with a heat protectant spray -  While straightening your hair does not come without consequence, you can find tools that create a much less damaging effect while styling your hair. A good bit of these tools actually help to soothe the hair cuticle and work to help them retain moisture (meaning LESS breakage). Some of my favorite brands that accomplish this are GHD, Sultra, and T3. Pair these with a good heat protectant spray and you and your hair will be ready to roll!

Click on the picture for more info and reviews!

As always, thank you guys for reading!

XOXO - Megan