Beauty: Everything There is To Know About Mascara

Color Mix

These days, mascara comes in a rainbow of colors, which is awesome for those of us who like to experiment and wear a wild look from time to time. But what about incorporating color for extra effect that works at the office? Makeup pros mix brown and black, usually black on top and brown on the bottom to make eyes pop. Black on top and magenta on the bottom gives a subtle effect that flatters all eye colors.

Application Don'ts

According to makeup artist Kate Lee who spoke to Allure, most mascaras are only meant to be coated twice, so skip that fifth application. Always wait a few seconds for one coat to set before applying another. Use gentle pressure and wiggle the wand at the base of the lashes before moving upward to the tips.

Expiration Dates

We all keep our mascaras for far too long. If you can't remember when you bought it, toss it. Buying a new tube every few months is a good habit to form. Don't pump the wand to reapply the formula to the brush, this forces extra air into the tube that wears your mascara out faster. 

Choose Your Effect(s)

Different brushes (and formulas) usually give you one stand-out effect. So it pays to have more than one mascara in your arsenal. Use one type for the first coat, and another for the second. While most packages will tell you what their special effect is, here's some extra info: for long, soft lashes, go for a package that promises zero clumps. Thin brushes are ideal for bottom lashes. You'll notice fat brushes with flexibility and plastic bristles give volume, as they have more coating surface area. For lashes like a doll, choose a fast-drying formula that holds the bend you put in with your lash curler. For out-there lashes that are truly outrageous, try TOO FACED Better Than False Lashes. First you brush on one coat, then a second coat of special nylon fibers and finish with a third coat. Perfect for going out.

Read the Label

We've all been frustrated with mascara that smudges and bleeds. According to WebMD, if you check out the placement of water as an ingredient on the label, you can avoid such formulas. The lower water is on the ingredient list, the less water it contains, which means the more you can trust its staying power. Waterproof mascaras typically have less water, but be careful, don't go for one that doesn't contain any water, they're especially hard to get off and can damage your lashes in the process. 

Go for the Gold Standard

Why try every mascara that comes on the market when there are so many magazines and outlets that list the best ones for you? Real Simple loves Hard Candy Curl Up and Dye Mascara $6, Boots No. 7 Extreme Length Mascara $7.99 and Shiseido Perfect Mascara Full Definition $24. 

Remove it Right

Most women don't think much when it comes to scrubbing off their makeup. They continue the harsh, rigorous motion right over their eyes and eyelashes. That's a no-no. Choose a gentle liquid makeup remover, coat a cotton pad or ball and gently press it against your closed eyes (making sure you cover your lashes) for at least 10 seconds. This breaks down makeup and makes waterproof mascara easier to remove. Gently wipe your pad down and outward to sweep away makeup. Vigorous rubbing can damage lashes and over time contribute to fine lines, wrinkles and sagging skin.

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Beauty: Statement Lips for Fall

Fall is almost here! Although red lips are a year around beauty staple, they are most worn during fall/winter holiday seasons. Wearing red lips with minimal eye makeup (or a simple cat-eye) is the best combo to attain with bold lips. We've brought together our favorite red lip looks from top models backstage at runway shows, and from our magazines. 

Beauty Looks We Love

We've gathered some of our favorite beauty looks! We love natural, glowing, healthy looks that exude the organic beauty in us all. Here are a few!

Relaxed and full soft curls.

Soft gold eye shadow and neutral lips. 

The classic messy bun and cat eye :)

Nude or soft pink natural lips with simple mascara.

Loose braids wrapped in a messy bun.

Summer Make Up Tips

It's that time a year again where I like to space clear my entire house :) to help with stagnant energy and personal flow. It always works for me if I feel stuck in any way to start to clear spaces to create space in my life and surrounding. This has now become a bi -annual practice for me that I encourage everyone to try :). I was tackling my make up as I often do and like many of you, whether it's your closet or other spaces in your house, it's hard to let go! These basic rules helped me attack my make up drawers! Hope it helps u too. 

Much love, Jenny 

• Mascara: Toss your mascara after 3 months. Mascara has the shortest life span of all make up because the risk of transferring bacteria back and forth from your eye into the mascara tube is so great. If your mascara starts to dry out before its 90 days is up, throw it away. Don’t add water or saliva to your mascara to rewet it. Doing so will only increase your chances of getting an eye infection.
• Eye pencils: Eye pencils can be kept up to 2 years. To make sure you’re using a clean tip, sharpen before each application.
• Eye shadows: Keep your applicators clean and your liquid shadows should last 12 months. Powder shadows will keep 2 years.

If you’ve had an eye infection, you’ll need to throw out all the eye make up and applicators you used from the time you developed symptoms. The virus or bacteria that caused the infection has probably taken up residence in your make up, so using those cosmetics again could cause you to develop another infection.

• Lipsticks: You can stow your tube lipsticks and your lip pencils for 2 years. As with eye pencils, sharpen your lip pencils before each use.
  Blushes and powders: Discard your cream blushes after a year, powder blushes and powders after 2 years.
  Think of your make up a bit like you do your food. If it smells weird, develops a film, or has a mold-green tint to it, it’s gone bad and needs to be tossed out.
  • Foundations and concealers: Moisturizing foundations and stick concealers can hang around for 18 months. A 12-month shelf life applies to both oil-free foundations, which can dry out quickly, and liquid concealers.
    Using clean brushes and sponges will help lengthen the life of your cosmetics. Be sure and wash or replace your applicators frequently.
    When you open a cosmetic for the first time, write the date on the product. It will help you keep track of how long you’ve had the make up so you’ll know when it’s time to throw it away.

Beauty/Health: Makeup and Hair Trends

For those heart shape face beauties, front bangs are a perfect change for you to start of the fresh new Spring season. A balanced frame around the face will make you look fresh and youthful. Front bangs look absolutely precious with a top bun :)

Bold lips and cat eyes are a timeless runway beauty trend that will never escape us. Cat eye makeup immediately gives the illusion of your eyes appearing more wide and soultry. Try this look at home with a popping swipe of red lipstick! 

Plum lips are a trend for spring, and especially for fall 2013. Leave your eyes linerless by only applying mascara. Make your lips the focus of your look by then applying a plum gloss or lipstick This look is great for brunettes! 

Beauty Breakdown from Ash Mathews

Ash Mathews is one of our fav make up artists. She is the master mind behind our last PL Fall/Winter look book  makeup, and is an expert at creating that natural glow we all crave. Here, she creates a beautiful natural summer glow on model, Donna Feldman, with photographer, Mira,of Creative Lifestyle Photos. Ash gives a great list of what products she used. Follow this Beauty Breakdown, and you'll be sure to create your beautiful natural look ;) See more from Ash Mathews at her blog here!

Foundation

RCMA Shinto 3 and Olive equal parts

Concealer

Laura Geller the Real Deal Concealer in Medium

Powder

I am not a huge fan of powder so we used very sparingly a bit of Ben Nye Banana Powder to warm things back up and set the look.

Blush

MAC Cremeblend Blush in LadyBlush

Eyeshadow

Urban Decay in Naked all over the lid and slightly extended into the crease
Urban Decay in Polyester Bride along the brow bone

Eye Liner

MAC Brun Eyeshadow applied tightly along the upper and lower lash line

Brows

Anastasia Brow Powder Duo in Brunette/Dark Brown

Mascara

Loreal Voluminous original in Blackest Black

Lips

Nars Satin Lipstick in Blonde Venus
Face Atelier Lip Glaze in Arctic Gold applied sparingly to the center of the lips