When to replace...

Sure, there are a lot of things that need replacing - but this week, I'm going to be focusing on makeup and skin care products. I used to be completely clueless when it came to replacing pthese kinds of things, and often  freaked out when I realised the problems of keeping certain  products for  longer than I should be. So I've saved you the trouble of non-stop googling for 2 house and have compiled  everything into a list. :) Read on.


Makeup

Mascara (3 months) My sister and I used to think the "3 month mascara rule" was just a strategy that drugstore makeup brands used to sell more mascara, in less time. It turns out we were completely wrong! Since eyelashes are covered in a safe amount of bacteria (this is normal and completely fine), this bacteria is transferred to your mascara brush whenever you use it. After about 3 months of this multiplying bacteria sitting in your mascara, you can take a guess at just what you're applying to your eyelashes. It's just best to play it safe and buy a new mascara every 3 months.

Foundation (About a year) Since foundation isn't exactly a breeding ground for bacteria (you' squeeze the product out, rather than using it like a mascara/lipgloss tube), it can last for a while longer than some other products. This can also depend on how often you actually wear foundation - that is, if you use a small amount when you first purchase it, then don't use any for a few months - you should be fine (I really hope this is easy to understand).

Concealer (About 6 months) This is the same deal as mascara, only your skin is less likely to be holding the same amount of bacteria as your eyelashes.

Lip balm (9-12 months) It's usually easier to use one (and only one!) lip balm at a time. Once you begin to use it, the whole bacteria-spreading thing starts to happen. Just stick to one lip balm and you'll probably find that you'll finish the tube by the time you're due to throw it out.

Brushes (whenever) Depending on the initial quality of your makeup brushes, you won't need to replace them until you really need to (the bristles start falling out or become stiff, etc.). Instead, focus on taking care of your brushes by washing them 1-3 times a month.

Eyeliner (3 months) This is basically the same deal as mascara. This 3-month rule applies for any kind of eyeliner, whether it be pencil, liquid, gel or felt tip - if you've had it for longer than 3 months, get rid of it!

Hair

Brushes (depends) Once your hair brushes begin to dramatically lose their quality (you'll know when this happens), it's time to replace them. To avoid racking up some serious bills, invest in good quality brushes to begin with.



Anything else (whenever) When it comes to just about any other beauty product - toner, shampoo, etc... Replace it when you finish it. Also, please don't begin to use new products while your old ones are still half full - it's how girls archived the "goo hoarder" stereotype ;).

xx

Next Week: Making a decision (the right way)

July Favourites ★

That's right, it's that time again - it's my July Favourites! From now on, I'll be trying to add more products into my monthly favourites, so stay tuned!

Makeup Favourites
Unless you haven't read a magazine or gone shopping for the past few months, you'll know that the first CC Creams are now available! CC (colour correction) Cream is the newest makeup priming product to hit the shelves at the moment, so most people don't know what they are. Basically, CC Cream is just like BB Cream, only it's self-adjusting - giving you a tailored nude base to match your skin tone. Since I don't really use primer or BB Cream (gasp!), I thought I'd try the green L'Oreal Nude Magique CC Cream. The formula is green because it's for exclusive use on red spots (green cancels red). My response? Although I don't get many red spots, I LOVE IT! I would definitely recommend this product to anyone who has trouble covering up those pesky red spots.

Every week, I move to either my dad's or mum's house, causing the pain of having to bring everything I need for the week around with me when I move. This is a larger problem when it comes to makeup, because there's no way I'm going to buy two of everything! I solve this problem by fitting it all in my makeup bag from Sportsgirl (a lot of people use them as pencil cases, too). I couldn't find the exact design of mine on the website, but below is an example of what they typically look like. Why a Sportgirl makeup bag? They're good quality, a good size, really cheap and come in heaps of really cute designs! I mean, what else could you want in a makeup bag?

Skincare Favourites
Even though it's winter in Australia, I live in a tropical area (and no, it doesn't look like the Tumblr photos!), where it only gets "cold" for about 3 weeks each year. Naturally, my skin isn't used to cold, dry air, making this year's holiday a bit of a problem for me. My family and I headed down south, and although it was only for a week, I still had major skin problems. I was originally using an oil-free moisturiser on my already dry skin - add in the dry air and I had cheeks that felt like snakeskin. After a few days of wondering why my moisturiser wasn't helping, I decided to go to the pharmacy and they recommended the Natio Intensive Moisturising Day Cream. It isn't that expensive, and it caused my skin to go back to normal in a matter of days. If you have dry skin, this is for you!


Casual Favourites
If you didn't already know, I LOVE The Vampire Diaries! I've nearly finished Season 4, and I'm still hooked! My favourite character would definitely have to be Elena, but seriously - who can choose between the Salvatore brothers? If you've never watched an episode, I strongly recommend that you do!

Clothing Favourites
Finally, this is my favourite clothing item for the month. The skirt shown below is from Mooloola @ City Beach, and I love that I can wear it with almost anything! I originally thought that the zipper was meant to be worn at the back, but this model is shown wearing it at the front. Could you guys help me out and tell me which side you think the zipper would look best worn on?

Wow, that was a lot of typing! If you'd like to ask me anything or suggest any ideas for what you'd like to see me post about in the future, feel free to leave any comments. xx

Next Week: A Crazy Acne Tip