Expiration Date for Makeup

Hey everybody!

As an aspiring makeup lover, I've learned a lot of things I never would have guessed about makeup. For example, makeup, just like food, has an expiration date! Some products come with nifty little symbols that tell you how long they're good for.

However, not everything has it written on the packaging. So, I have a few general guidelines to help you know how long everything should last!

Eyes

Eyeshadows generally last up to 3 years, but only if they're powdered. Cream eyeshadows last only about a year to a year and a half, because the liquid in the products can store bacteria.

Eyeliners last up to 1 year in pencil form. Pencil liners will usually harden or crumble after they've expired, so that's a good indication. Gel or liquid liners last around 3-6 months.

Mascara lasts anywhere from 2-6 months. It's best to discard them after they start to flake, dry out, or if you develop an eye infection. Also, avoid "pumping" your wand in and out. This allows air to come in, and bacteria to breed inside the tube.

Face

Foundations last from 12 to 18 months, depending on whether they're water or oil based. Oil based foundations tend to last longer. Also, foundations stored in a tube or pump last longer than those stored in jar, because exposure to the air brings in more bacteria.

Concealers last the same amount of time as foundation, from 12-18 months.

Powders, including blush, bronzer, and highlighter can last up to a year, while their cream counterparts only last around 6 months.

Lips

Lipsticks can last up to 2 or 3 years. You can make them last longer by sticking them in the fridge! The cold environment helps slow the production of bacteria.

Lipliners are much like eyeliners, they last up to 1 year and tend to crumble when they're expired. Lip glosses last about 12-18 months, and pumping the wand should be avoided here too.

Nails

Nail polish lasts up to 2 years. After a polish has gone bad, it tends to become thick and gooey. Separation of the oils is normal, especially if it's been stored for a while. However, if the oils don't mix again after being shaken, it's time to toss.

While you don't have to immediately discard something once it reaches its expiration date, as the product gets older its best to look out for signs that it's gone bad. If a product starts to smell, change color, or have a different consistency, it's best to play it safe and get rid of it.

Hope this helped! Until next time,
<3 Lucero

MAC Porcelain Pink & Soft Sell!

Hey everybody!

Here are some pictures and swatches from the rest of my MAC shipment!

The first one is a Mineralized Skin Finish in Porcelain Pink. This is a re-promote, and is also limited edition. It's a light, dusty, rosy pink with lots of beautiful shimmer!

The last product I got was the Pro Longwear Lipcreme in Soft Sell. This isn't limited edition, but is part of their Pro Longwear line. It's a beautiful mauve color that leans towards maroon. I love how long the color lasts!

Hope you enjoyed the pictures and swatches! Until next time,
<3 Lucero

MAC Angel Flame Quad!

Hey everybody!

Last week my MAC shipment came in, and it made me so excited! Two of the products I received are limited edition, from their latest collection and the other is is part of their Pro Longwear line.

Here I have Angel Flame, which is the limited edition quad. I really like the colors, especially the pink and orange because they go surprisingly well together. I'm a teeny bit disappointed, I'l admit, because the colors aren't as pigmented or vibrant as I would like, but it's still a great quad.

I also have a few swatches of the colors!

Chamomile is a satin finish, and is a great highlighting color. It's not completely white, it's somewhere between eggshell and ivory.

Feather Pink is also a satin finish, and a wonderful, bright, all-over lid color. It's a mid-tone light fuchsia color that leans towards purple.

Angel Flame, after which the quad is named, is a frost finish, thus it's very shimmery. The shimmer and sheen made it so difficult to take a close up of the swatch (my camera couldn't focus properly)! It has a lot of golden undertones, so it doesn't show up as orange as it looks. I think this warm-toned eyeshadow really helps off-set the brightness of Feather Pink.

And finally, we have Gravel which is a matte finish. It's a charcoal grey color with blue undertones, and it's fabulous for use as a liner.

Hope you all enjoyed! Until next time,
<3 Lucero

Top 5 Beauty Must-Haves!

Hey everybody!

Today I'll be talking about my top 5 beauty must-have products. These are products that I typically use when I want a polished look.

5. MAC Pro-Longwear Concealer: This one seems boring, but a great concealer can really make a difference! I've used concealer that are too liquidy, too creamy, or simply didn't match my skin tone, and I whole heartedly love this concealer. It's a liquid concealer, though not too runny. It lasts all day, and since you have to go to a counter to buy it, you can even get a makeup artist to match one to your skin.

4. Urban Decay's Primer Potion: This is the one product that keeps my eyeshadow lasting all day, even with my oily lids and the humid Dubai heat! It comes in different formulas, though I prefer the original. It eliminates unattractive creasing, and helps the eyeshadow stick on more vibrantly.

3. Benefit's Bad Gal Lash Mascara: By far, this mascara is one of my all time favorites. I've run out of it, so I'm currently not using it on a daily basis, but I have enough experience with it to say that it's amazing! The formulation is on the thicker side, which helps volumize lashes without being clumpy. It lasts all day and doesn't flake or smudge.

2. Jouer Moisturizing Lip Gloss: I've tried other lip glosses, and this one is perfect for me! I strongly dislike glosses that are too thick/ gooey and opaque. This has a very thin and moisturizing formulation, that keeps my lips so soft I don't even have to apply lip balm under! The kind I have is in the color "Rose Glisten".

1. Urban Decay's Naked Palette: I got the Naked Palette for Christmas, and is the one palette I reach for constantly. It's full of neutral eyeshadows that are anything but boring! It comes with 12 shades, which means that a wide variety of eye looks are possible with one palette!

Hope you enjoyed! Until next time,
<3 Lucero