Do you know the shelf life of your skin care products or cosmetics? Does it really matter?

I was surfing the net and came across an article about expiration dates on cosmetics such as mascara, eye shadow, etc., and skin care products. The article automatically prompted me to look at my skin care products and cosmetics. My eye shadow I could not see an expiration date or my blush or mascara, but it could have been on the packaging. I also checked my night time moisturizers and neither of those had an expiration date but it could have been on packaging too. My daytime moisturizer by Olay however had an expiration date.

Did you know that in the United States, there are no regulations or guidelines from the FDA about the expiration date for skin-care or makeup products? The only exceptions to this are for over-the-counter drugs sold as skin-care products, such as sunscreens and anti-acne medicines, but even those can have inconsistencies.

Typically expiration dates are generally a rule of thumb on the products safety after its expiration date. However this can be ambiguous too, because Cosmetics that have been improperly stored - for example, exposed to high temperatures or sunlight, or opened and examined by consumers prior to final sale - may deteriorate substantially before the expiration date. On the other hand, products stored under ideal conditions may be acceptable long after the expiration date has been reached.

Other cosmetics that might have a short shelf life are "all natural" products that may contain a preponderance of plant-derived substances conducive to all kinds of unhealthy microbial growth. It is also important for consumers to consider the increased risk of contamination in some "natural" products that contain nontraditional preservatives or no preservatives at all.

Additionally, sharing mascara and other cosmetics puts your products at risk for contamination thus reducing its shelf life. It is well advised to not borrow or share your cosmetics. Another point is to just use common sense: any changes in texture or color are a sure sign it's time to replace a product, and if you can't remember when you bought a product (or the last time you used it), it's probably a good idea to throw it out!

Below are basic shelf life guidelines for your cosmetics and skin care product:

Liquid foundation, 6 months to 1 year
Mascara, 3 to 4 months
Lip gloss and lipstick, 1 to 2 years
Eye/lip pencils, at least 1 year and up to 3
Facial cleansers and moisturizers, 6 months to 1 year
Anti-aging and acne treatments, 3 months to 1 year
Body lotion, 2 to 3 years
Hair styling products, 3+ years

So after researching the shelf life of cosmetics I have concluded that it all comes down to plain old common sense!

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Body Wraps - takes off inches, tones and tightens

If you have never had a body wrap you don't know what you are missing. They provide relaxation, rejuvenation and skin conditioning. There are wraps for moisturizing the skin, detox wraps and cellulite removal wraps.

A body wrap is just that, your body is wrapped in towels/ bandages which are soaked in a specially formulated solution specific to your skin type. They typically contain essential oils, minerals and other ingredients to remove toxins, reduce inches and/or cellulite and skin conditioning.

My girlfriend gave me a spa treatment for my birthday a couple of years ago which included a body wrap. I admit I was a little hesitant about exposing my entire body but the Spa did provide paper panties and bra and my anxiety was immediately diminished. The estheticianist took my measurements around my waist, thighs, arms etc., before the body wrap and afterwards there was a significant reduction in inches. It was truly a wonderful experience.

Unfortunately my budget does not allow trips to the spa especially for something as extravagant as a full body wrap. However, the good news is that there are body wrap recipes and kits so that you can easily enjoy this spa treatment right at home.

Below are two body wraps recipes for your enjoyment:

Clay Body Wrap
1 cup bentonite or green clay
1/4 cup sea salt
2 tbsp. olive oil
2 cups water

Boil water and add sea salt stirring until dissolved. Stir in remaining ingredients. Adjust the water if necessary to form a wet paste. Rub the mixture over your entire body and cover yourself with thin towels or a clean white sheet. Other options are to take a sheet and cut into strips or use ace bandages. Most salons recommend proper wrapping sheets as the compaction helps to squeeze the tissues together for greater results. Lay in the tub for at least 45 minuets to an hour. Shower when done.

You can use a variety of herbs in this wrap depending on the fragrances and properties you like. Recommended for this recipe is any combination of: chamomile flower powder, lavender, rose petal powder, sage, and sandalwood. All of these herbs have beautiful fragrances that will promote relaxation and contain properties that soothe the skin. Get your herbs at Mountain Rose Herbs

Before your wrap:
Take a warm shower to open pores and make your skin receptive to the minerals.
Take something to read, a puzzle book and/or radio. It can get kind of boring lying in the tub watching the ceiling.
Drink lots of water before and during your wrap to help flush out toxins.
Take a blanket or use towels to keep you warm

Both of these recipes will also allow you to do a spot treatment such as thighs, tummy, and upper arms to tone and tighten

Homemade Clay Body Wrap Recipe
1 cup of one of the following ingredients: Capsicum powder, Alfalfa Powder, Fennel Seed Powder, Ginger Root Powder, Yellow Dock Root Powder, Chamomile herb, Ginger herb, or Lavender herb.  Get  your herbs at Mountain Rose Herbs

1 Cup Epsom Salt
1 to 2 Cups of Clay: Bentonite or Green clay
2 Cups of Boiling Water

Place all the ingredients (clay, herbs, powder, and Epsom salt) in boiling water. Mix thoroughly until wet paste can be seen. Allow the clay mix to cool until it is warm to the touch. Apply the body wrap mix liberally to your body, targeting the most problematic cellulite areas. Tightly wrap (not to tight) your body with the towels, or with proper body wrapping sheets if you've got them. Proper body wrapping sheets will typically provide better results. Relax in the tub or in an area that can be easily cleaned. Leave wrap on 45 minutes to 1 hour. Shower and apply your favorite cellulite lotion.




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Carol Belanger, author of 300+ Skin Care Recipes

Easy Skin Care Recipes - Time for some TLC

When is the last time you took time for you and gave yourself a little pampering? A spa visit would be great but my budget doesn't allow it at this time. So the next best thing is a homemade facial mask. A mask is an easy way to pamper yourself without spending a lot of money and your skin will love you for it!

So below are a few recipes that you can easily make at home.

Honey Facial - we all know the benefits of honey in skin care, if you are unfamiliar about what honey can do for your skin then read this article Honey So Benefical in Skin Care Products

Recipe for dry skin
1 egg yolk
1 Teaspoon honey
1 Teaspoon olive oil
Vitamin E oil or Sweet Almond Oil

Mix all ingredients together and spread over face and neck. Leave on 15-20 minutes, rinse with tepid water. For extremely dry skin add more olive oil or almond oil. If allergic to nuts, do not use almond oil.

Mask for oily skin
1/2 Cucumber
1 Egg white
1 Tablespoon Lemon juice
1 Teaspoon mint

Puree everything and refrigerate for 10 minutes. Apply the mixture to your face and leave it on for 15 minutes. Rinse with warm, then cool water.

Oily skin facial scrub
3 tablespoons of Aloe vera gel
1 Tablespoon of lime juice
2 Tablespoons of brown sugar
1 Tablespoon of honey

Mix Aloe and honey until completely and smoothly mixed. Add lime juice and brown sugar step. Stir mixture until completely blended, however the sugar should remain undissolved. With your finger apply mask over entire facial area. Leave on for 15 minutes, and then wash off with warm water. Gently massage face in circular motion as you wash mask off. The lime juice removes excess oil and the sugar scrubs dead cells from surface. Additionally, the Aloe soothes and moisturizes.

Blemished Skin Mask / Acne
1 tsp. honey
2 drops Tea Tree Oil

Apply to face and let set for 15-20 minutes. Rinse with tepid water. Tea Tree oil is loaded with antispectic, bacteriacide, and antibiotic properties. This easy homemade facial recipe can be used twice a week and will reduce breakouts.

Tightening Mask
1 beaten egg
2 Teaspoons orange juice
1 Teaspoon lemon juice
A few drops of sweet almond oil

Mix all ingredients together and apply to face. Let set 20-30 minutes. Rinse with tepid water. This mask will tighten skin, and reduce pore size. The natural alpha hydroxy citric acid in lemon juice and orange juice gently exfoliate away old layers of skin and tightens pores, plus orange juice has the added benefit of Vitamin C. The egg white firms and the almond oil moisturizers' and adds a sweet fragrance.

Normal or Combination Skin Mask
1/2 small green papaya
2 Tablespoons of aloe vera juice
1 Tablespoon of honey

Blend all ingredients until smooth and apply a thin layer to the face avoiding the eyes. Leave for up to 15 minutes and rinse with tepid water. The active enzymes in the green papaya promote exfoliation of old, dead skin cells. Aloe vera juice, considered the best natural healer by many professionals, will promote livelier, renewed skin.

After these masks, I suggest using a toner to restore pH balance and a moisturizer.

I hope you enjoy these homemade skin care recipes however like any new skin care product a patch is always recommended.

Essential oil and carrier oils at:


Get your oils at








Carol Belanger, author of 300+ Skin Care Recipes

High-Shine and Sexy Lips with Covergirl's new Shineblast Lip Gloss!

It is such a privilege to be a Shine Beauty Guru and my girlfriends enjoy it too. When I received my three tubes of lip gloss I immediately shared two colors with my girlfriends' and kept one for myself.

I choose the color Ember; it is a light color and reminds me of an iridescent pearl shade. I have worn it alone to add just a hint of color and a sexy shine to my lips and have used it over lipstick. I found the lip gloss very soothing and easy to apply and I really liked the tapered applicator! The tappered applicator certainly helps keeping the lip gloss within the lip area.

Covergirl's Shineblast lip gloss provides high shine with a bit of color and goes on smoothly and flawlessly. Additionally, this lip gloss is light and not heavy and sticky like so many other lip glosses I have tried. Covergirl's new lip gloss will look good worn alone to add just a hint of color and super sexy shine or worn over lipstick.

In summary, it provided a very high shine to my lips with no sticky feeling. I must say I really like the product, however, I wished it had more staying power.

Girlfriend 1 had the light orange shade and although I hesitated about the color, I must say she wore it well. She is not a big lipstick or lip gloss wearer but she definitely liked this product and every time I saw her she had it on. She indicated to me that it made her lips feel soft and also liked the applicator and ease of application.

Girlfriend 2 had the pink lip gloss. She always wears pink lipstick and I could not pass up the opportunity to give this wonderful lip gloss on to her. She absolutely loved it and was so pleased that I had passed it on to her. Her review pretty much echo's mine above indicating the ease of application, and a superb shine.

Both of my friends indicated to me that they would be purchasing this lip gloss in other colors.

 

Get your Shineblast Lip Gloss 

Prefer a lip stain - check out this post about the newest innovations in lipstick called LipSense

Carol Belanger, author of 300+ Skin Care Recipes