Tag: foundation

To Prime or Not to Prime Pinterest graphic

To Prime or Not to Prime?

Posted on by Editorial Team

What is a primer?

A primer is a cream or lotion that is applied under makeup to help prepare it for makeup and/or to smooth out the skin. Primers are often water-based or silicone-based, and are usually fragrance-free. They can help makeup last, but many also improve the skin’s hydration, texture and more. Some even include sun protection.

There are primers for the face, eyelids and lips, and they are everywhere. The big question is whether or not you should use a primer on a regular basis.

When Should I Use a Primer?

No doubt, many consumers swear by primers for their ability to smooth out the skin, hydrate, reflect, and protect skin before applying makeup. Ingredients like dimethicone are designed to sit on the uppermost layer of skin and make applying makeup easier. Some people experience an allergic reaction, however. If you have sensitive skin, there are water-based primers. Primers with antioxidants like Vitamins A and C, green tea extract, and other ingredients can help banish things like redness and hyperpigmentation, improving skin over time. Others choose to use a primer by itself, for its skin-improving benefits. Our Age-Defying Vitamin C Face Creme uses an alternative to silicones and Ascorbic acid, which can be irritating at high doses. It is also loaded with antioxidant rich botanical extracts like green tea, rose and geranium, and Niacinamide.

When Should I Not Use a Primer?

With so many formulations on the market, it’s easier than ever to find a primer formulation that your skin will like. However, if you have skin conditions like cystic acne or are extremely sensitive to ingredients, you should not use a primer without reading the label carefully. Make sure you understand which ingredients are in a formula and what they do. The same would apply to any product, of course.

Another reason to avoid primer might be that your current regimen contains sufficient skin-nurturing ingredients so as to render a primer redundant. For example, many BB, CC creams and regular foundations contain the same ingredients. If so, then why pay more for ingredients that you’re already using?

In conclusion, the decision to prime or not to prime is entirely dependent on your skin’s needs, your lifestyle and your personal preferences. Primers may serve an important purpose. If so, they deserve a place in your cosmetics arsenal.

When to throw out cosmetics

When to throw out skincare and cosmetics

Posted on by Lydia D

You may find yourself asking when you should throw out skincare and cosmetics that you may have been using for awhile. After all, not all products have expiration dates. Naturally-derived products, while more appealing to many, can be even more difficult to determine when it’s past its prime.

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate cosmetics, which include most personal care products that we use today. Exceptions to this rule include products that function like drugs (e.g. sunscreens and acne medications). These types of products are regulated by the FDA and, as such, require expiration dates on their packaging. Once they expire, their effectiveness is not guaranteed, and they should be tossed.

Most other products do not require expiration dates, so it’s the consumer’s responsibility to track when a product was purchased, and when it’s no longer safe to use it. As a rule, products in tubes and pumps will maintain their integrity longer than products in jars. Products that come close to the eyes should also be thrown out sooner than other cosmetic products. Product composition is also important. Natural products with little or no preservatives should be refrigerated if they contain water, and will have a shorter lifespan than oil-based products. This is because products containing water are breeding grounds for bacteria and mold. Bacteria and mold, while they may be present, do not grow in oil-based products. However, you should not allow water to enter these products or they will go bad.

Regardless of what types of products are used, here are a few guidelines for knowing when to throw out your skincare and cosmetics products:

  • Mascara – 3 months
  • Liquid eyeliner – 3 months
  • Liquid foundation – 6 months
  • Cream formulas (water-based) – 6 months
  • Cream eye shadow – 6 months
  • Products in pumps – 1 year
  • Sunscreen – 6 months-1 year (after expiration date, not after opening)
  • Hair products – 1 year
  • Nail polish – 1-2 years (or when separation occurs)
  • Powders – 2 years
  • Pencil/powder eye shadow – 2 years
  • Lipstick/Lipgloss – 2 years

Regardless of the products used, it’s always a good idea to use common sense. If a product is causing redness or irritation, itching, or signs of infection on the skin, throw it out! Factors like high heat or dirty fingers can affect a product’s stability. Don’t use other people’s products. If you must use a lipstick or eye pencil, for example, use a knife or sharpener to remove the top layer first. After all, safety should be uppermost in our minds whenever we use a product on our skin. Huffington Post article on makeup expiration dates

In order to make this easier for our customers, we have created labels that can be used to mark the date for a product to be replaced. We will be sending them out with new orders for customers to test. Please let us know if you like the idea! You can visit us on Instagram or Facebook for a sneak-peek. We want to make using skincare as safe as it is uplifting.

References:
FDA regulations on cosmetics
Good Housekeeping magazine article on expired cosmetics