How Long is Makeup Good for after opening?

If you are like me, you have a vast collection of makeup. 

The problem with our beloved makeup is, it doesn't stay good forever. Some items actually have a very short shelf life once they have been opened.

Opened, used makeup can be vulnerable to bacterial growth even though the product contains preservatives. Mascara is most notorious for having a short shelf life. I'm surprised how many people don't realize this.

I had a client come into the salon to have her makeup done. She brought her own mascara for me to use on her. I asked her how old her mascara was. She wasn't sure but said it was at least a couple years old. 

In the trash it went! 

There was no way I would use possibly contaminated mascara on her. It could possible cause an eye infection.

In this post, I will list makeup types and their shelf life after they have been opened. 

It is important to keep your makeup as clean as possible as you use it to keep it fresh and extend it shelf life a bit longer. 

I have also included a guide to keeping your makeup brushes clean. Clean brushes = healthier makeup. Plus, I added some Amazon affiliate links to help you find my favorite products.

Opened Makeup Shelf Life

Mascara: 3 months

Cream Blush and Cream Eye Shadows: 6 months

Concealer: 12 months

Liquid Foundation: 12 months

Lipstick: 12-18 months

Lip and Eye Pencils: 3 years (sharpened regularly)

Powder Shadows and Face Powders: 2-3 years

Makeup brushes can be made of animal hair or synthetic materials. Animal hair brushes used to be the holy grail but synthetic materials have improved tremendously become the desired material for makeup brushes in this cruelty free age we live in.  Synthetic makeup brushes are also very affordable.

Shop for cruelty free makeup brushes

This cleaning procedure is for all makeup brushes.

Your brushes should receive a cleaning about once a week.

Wipe clean lip, liquid eye liner, foundation and concealer brushes after each use.

How to Clean Makeup Brushes

Use Mild Soap
Use a makeup brush cleaner, gentle shampoo or a liquid soap to wash your brushes. It can be an anti bacterial soap but it is not necessary. 

elf Brush Shampoo

This effective makeup brush shampoo is a great price! $4.00

Buy on Amazon

Use warm water for washing and rinse the soap residue well. It may take more than one shampooing to remove all the makeup residue.

Avoid soaking your brushes in water for a prolonged amount of time. Metal parts may be prove to rust.

Pat Dry
Pat the brushes dry with a towel and give them a shake to remove excess water. 

Reshape
Reshape your brushes with your fingers and let them air dry.  

More Tips to Keep your Makeup Fresh:

Make sure your hands are clean when applying makeup.

Always use clean brushes and sponge applicators when dipping into your cosmetics to help keep them clean.

If a lipstick or any other cream or liquid makeup doesn't smell right, toss it. Oils can develop a rancid smell in old makeup.

It is especially important to replace your mascara every 3 months.

Store your makeup in a closed container. 

Take advantage of the new year and start your year with new, fresh clean makeup.

 Where to buy professional makeup cases

        Have a Beautiful Day! 

xo

Jill

Licensed Cosmetologist, Esthetician, Makeup Artist

PS: Thanks for using my amazon & direct links💋
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you. That keeps my blog running and supports the care of animals in need!😸

Click here to visit my latest post 

Orange Almond Salad Recipe

Orange Almond Salad is a simple fresh tasting salad. 

My mother in law just loves it and asks me to make it for just about every family gathering. Many people ask me for the recipe so I am posting it for you all! 

It consists of romaine lettuce, red onion, mandarin oranges and almonds with a vinaigrette dressing. Simple, healthy and flavorful! It's perfect at lunch or dinner.

There used to be a restaurant, some of you may remember, called The Magic Pan. It was a crepe restaurant that made a tasty orange almond salad. I loved to get the spinach souffle crepe with an orange almond salad. Mmmmmm, it was so good! 

I want to share with you my mother's orange almond salad recipe which is similar to that Magic Pan orange almond salad.

Not only is this salad yummy, it is packed full of nutrients.

For years lettuce got a bad rap as being low in nutrition. Not so. Scientists have become aware of the importance of micro nutrients and phyto chemicals for a strong immune system, bone health, blood clotting and so many more bodily functions.

Romaine lettuce will provide your body with calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, potassium, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin K, vitamin C, folate, and beta carotene.

Red onions are an amazing antioxidant, anti-inflammatory food. Their sulfur containing compounds (thiosulfinates, sulfides and polysulfides) are excellent for fighting off illness and cancer.  They contain vitamin C, vitamin B6, folate, potassium, anthocyanins and quercetin.

They are excellent for heart health, stomach health, colon health, bone health, and blood sugar control.

Cooking will reduce their antioxidants so they are a great food to eat raw.

Almonds are know as a healthy protein food. There are 6 grams of protein in a 1 ounce serving. They are a great source of vitamin E, magnesium, manganese, copper, riboflavin and phosphorous.

Toasting them does reduce some of their antioxidant properties but it makes them super flavorful!

My mother always used the canned mandarin oranges for this recipe. I like using fresh produce so I frequently substitute clementines for the canned mandarins. I usually use about four peeled and sectioned clementines for this salad.

Mandarin oranges and clementines are both high in vitamin C and potassium.

The dressing for the orange almond salad contains dry mustard. It's  wonderful for flavor but one of my daughters is allergic to mustard. When I make this salad when I know she will be eating it, I just omit the dry mustard. The dressing is still tasty without it.

Orange Almond Salad

This healthy salad is a great source of Vitamins A, B, C, E, K, protein, calcium, omega 3 fatty acids, iron, a variety of minerals and lots of antioxidants. The vitamin C in the oranges and in the romaine lettuce helps the body absorb the iron in the romaine. The Vitamin C also aids in the absorption of the calcium in the romaine.

The Salad
1 bunch of romaine lettuce
1 11 oz. can of mandarin oranges or 4 or so peeled sectioned clementines
1/2 of a red onion, thinly sliced
1/2 cup slivered almonds, toasted (See almond toasting tips below)

The Dressing
1/2 cup oil of your choice, I use olive oil 
3 tablespoons wine vinegar or white vinegar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard

Combine the dressing ingredients in a jar, shake well and set aside. Drain mandarin oranges. Wash, dry and tear romaine lettuce into bit size pieces. Put the romaine in a large bowl. Add drained oranges, sliced onion and toasted almonds. Add the dressing when you are ready to serve the salad. Toss to combine.

Serves 6

Almond Toasting Tips
Toasting almonds gives them a more intense nutty flavor and crisper texture. There are a few ways to toast your slivered almonds. In a pan on the stove, in the oven on a cookie sheet or the microwave. I like to use the stove top method with a little butter. I find it easier to keep an eye on them so they don't burn. They burn easily, believe me, I get distracted and burn them often! Keep it vegan by using olive oil instead.

The Microwave Method: They say you can also use the microwave. Put the almonds on a microwave safe plate and microwave on high for 1 minute, stir them and continue microwaving at 30 second intervals until they are toasted. The microwave method doesn't appeal to me. I never toasted almonds that way.

The Pan Method:
1. Heat a saute pan over medium heat. Melt about 1 tablespoon or less of butter in the pan.

2. Add the slivered almonds so they are in a single layer. Let them cook for about 2 minutes them flip them letting them cook another 2 minutes.

3. Continue stirring them with a spatula often to help them toast evenly and prevent burning. It should take about 4 to 8 minutes for them to become fragrant and golden.

4. Remove the almonds from the pan to cool when they have the color you desire. If you leave them on the hot pan, they will continue to cook and get over done. I put them on a paper towel to cool.

The Oven Method:
1. Pre heat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Spread slivered almonds in a single layer on an ungreased cookie sheet.

3. Bake for about 3 minutes then shake the pan or use a spatula to turn them. Continue baking and turning the almonds until they are fragrant and golden. It will take approximately 10 minutes.

4. Remove the almonds from the cookie sheet to cool when they are done. If you leave them on the hot cookie sheet, they will continue to cook and get over done.

I hope you enjoy this yummy salad as much as we do!
Want more salad recipes? There are some great salad recipe books on Amazon!

                                                                                                                             

Visit my recipes page for more recipes!

Dinner is the meal I really like concentrate on each day. I like cook something substantial since we are all on the run doing our work and school schedules during the daytime. Plus, you can eat the left overs (if there are any!) for lunch the next day! 

Follow me on facebook, instagram, and youtube for links to the Juicy Beauty Word to see what I'm making for dinner and get healthy beauty tips. 

        Have a Beautiful Day! 

xo

Jill

Licensed Cosmetologist, Esthetician, Makeup Artist

PS: Thanks for using my amazon & direct links💋
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you. That keeps my blog running and supports the care of animals in need!😸

Click here to visit my latest post 

Candy Cane Nails and Strawberry Santa Recipe

My 2015 Christmas nail designs

I'm getting ready for Christmas with my candy cane nails designs and strawberry Santas! 

A couple years ago I made these cute little strawberry Santas for Christmas breakfast. They were a big hit. Each one seems to have it's own personality. I think I will make them again this year. They are really very easy to make.

Strawberry Santas

The leafy top of the berry will be the bottom of the Santa. Prepare the strawberries by cutting the top off straight across so that they are flat and will stay upright, then hull them. Cut the pointed end of the strawberry off. It will be Santa's hat.

Whip heavy cream with a little confectioners sugar, about 1 tablespoon to taste, and a splash of vanilla and set it aside.

Arrange the berries on a flat surface such as a plate or a cookie sheet.

Put a dollop of whipped cream on top of the strawberry. Add the pointed piece of the strawberry. Add a little dab of whipped cream on the point for the ball of Santa's hat. Fuss with the whipped cream to fashion Santa's beard, face and base of this hat. Don't forget to give him a button!

Use 2 mini chocolate chips for his eyes.

Soooo cute!

Visit my recipes page for more recipes!

Candy Cane Nail Design 

I start my design by applying a nice shimmery red polish on the entire nail and letting it dry well. My favorites are OPI An Affair in Red Square and Zoya Andi.  Then, I add the white stripes with acrylic craft paint. I like the acrylic because it's easy to work with and it dries super quick. Next, I add the silver striping tape. A coat of Seche Vite top coat finishes it off.

Vary the stripes on each of the nails to make the design interesting. That's it. It requires a bit of patience and a steady hand.

How to Apply Striping Tape

Striping tape for nail art comes in a roll and is sticky on one side. It creates beautiful, sharp looking, shiny stripes on your nails. You can also use it for negative space stripes and creating straight lines with paint. That's for another day. Today I will talk about how to apply a stripe with the striping tape.

Tips on working with striping tape:

Dry Polish

Apply striping tape to dry nail polish to get the best adhesion.

Don't over handle

Avoid handling the tape too much with your fingers. It will become less sticky. Try using tweezers to hold the tape.

Cutting

Use small scissors to cut a piece of tape a little longer than the length you want for your design.

Application

1. Hold one end of the tape with tweezers.

2. Stick the other end of the tape where you want your stripe to begin. Keep it a hair away from the edge of the nail to help prevent it from lifting.

3. Lightly press the end in place with your fingernail or with an orangewood stick.

4. Lay the stripe on the nail.

5. Trim the end of the tape with small scissors keeping it a hair away from the edge of the nail to prevent lifting.

6. Press the tape on the nail using your fingernail or an orangewood stick.

Seal the design

Seal up your design with a fast drying clear nail polish.

        Have a Beautiful Day! 

xo

Jill

Licensed Cosmetologist, Esthetician, Makeup Artist

PS: Thanks for using my amazon & direct links💋
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you. That keeps my blog running and supports the care of animals in need!😸

Click here to visit my latest post 

Zoya Nail Polish and Lipstick Sets

Zoya has put together some great little sets that have 3 nail polishes and a coordinating lipstick, Lips and Tips Quad sets. Cute! They are perfect for gift giving. There are 5 different sets.

Here is the Red Set. 
The polishes are Carmen, Alix and Elisa with a red lipstick, Frankie.

Here are the colors on my nails. All of them are pretty.

I wore Elisa on my nails over the weekend. I had a Christmas party to go to and Elisa was the perfect festive red to wear. 

It's beautiful!

Here are the other sets: 

Lips and Tips-Nude
Avery, Chantal and Rue with a nude lipstick, Cameron

Lips and Tips-Rose
Brigitte, Aubrey and Madeline with a rose lipstick, Paisley

Lips and Tips-Berry
Riley, Dakota and Sarah with a berry lipstick, Georgia

Lips and Tips-Plum
Toni, Stacy and Jem with a plum lipstick Maxwell

One Lips and Tips Quad Gift Set sells for $18.00 at salons and zoya.com .

        Have a Beautiful Day! 

xo

Jill

Licensed Cosmetologist, Esthetician, Makeup Artist

PS: Thanks for using my amazon & direct links💋
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you. That keeps my blog running and supports the care of animals in need!😸

Click here to visit my latest post 

Pantone Color of the Year 2016

Every year the folks at the Pantone Color Institute come up with the Pantone color of the year. The Pantone Color Institute is a color research and color information center. This year we get a bonus. There are 2 colors of the year!

 Rose Quartz 

and Serenity

Rose Quartz is a soft pink. Zoya Dot is a good match. 
Serenity is a sky blue. Zoya Jo is a close match. 

Think of the sky at sunrise when you see beautiful pinks and blues that gently merge together.

This is a sunrise pic I took a couple years ago. The sky looked magnificent! I am so excited I get to use it as a perfect example of the beautiful colors of Rose Quartz and Serenity!

It is interesting to me that the colors of the year are soft gentle colors for this coming year. Most of the colors in the past have been very bold colors. These soft colors have a peaceful, calming, gentle feeling which we desperately need in our world now. Maybe Rose Quartz and Serenity will inspire a fresh gentle, yet powerful, attitude like the sunrise 
 and the start of a new day.

Learn more about Pantone

2015 Color of the Year: Marsala

We love Zoya Coco as a nice Marsala color

 2014 Color of the Year: Radiant Orchid

Zoya Caresse gives you a nice orchid shade

Shop for Zoya Nail Polish

        Have a Beautiful Day! 

xo

Jill

Licensed Cosmetologist, Esthetician, Makeup Artist

PS: Thanks for using my amazon & direct links💋
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you. That keeps my blog running and supports the care of animals in need!😸

Click here to visit my latest post