WHEN TO TOSS OUT YOUR OLD MAKEUP!

Did you know your makeup expires? Here is a little video clip and a list of guidelines from "Good Housekeeping" magazine to give you an idea of when you should throw out your old makeup.




Face Makeup

Toss-it time: Six months for liquids; two years for powders
Insider info: You increase the odds of bacterial growth — and, hence, of breakouts or irritation — when you repeatedly dip your brushes and fingers into liquid foundation. Also, as it ages, foundation can go on unevenly, creating a streaky, inconsistent finish. “Oils rise to the top, and the consistency thickens,” explains New York City makeup artist Mathew Nigara. Powders present less of a problem because bacteria can’t grow where there’s no water. However, over time, powders with botanical ingredients like aloe or jojoba can become harder to blend and are more likely to crumble, as their trace amounts of water evaporate.

Mascara

Toss-it time: Three months
Insider info: “A mascara tube is a dark, wet environment — the perfect breeding ground for bacteria,” says New York City optometrist Andrea Thau, O.D. “Preservatives in a mascara only work for so long.” Dr. Thau knows from firsthand experience: She once developed a sty from a makeup artist’s mascara wand. Plus, three-month-old mascara is a nonperformer. “It’s chalky and powdery, and any lengthening or thickening fibers often separate from the fluid, so the mascara stops going on in a smooth, even coat,” says makeup artist Cristina Bartolucci. To avoid hastening the demise of your mascara, never pump the wand — that pushes air into the tube, causing it to dry out faster. Instead, slowly draw out and twist the brush to scrape the tube’s interior and pick up product.

Eyeliner and Eye Shadow

Toss-it time: Liquid eyeliners, three months; cream eye shadows, six months; pencil eyeliners and powder eye shadows, two years
Insider info: As they do with mascara, bacteria tend to flourish in liquid-eyeliner tubes, and the product dries out. Pencil eyeliners have a longer shelf life because you can create a fresh, clean surface each time you sharpen them. (Just be sure to regularly sanitize your sharpener with rubbing alcohol.) Powder shadows, like pressed powders, are less prone to contamination because they, too, lack water (if you wet them, toss after six months). But aging eye shadows have performance issues: They get packed down, making it harder to pick up pigment with your brush, says Bartolucci.

Lipstick and Lipliner

Toss-it time: Lipstick and gloss, two years; lipliner, two years or more
Insider info: Lipsticks’ water content makes them potential mini reservoirs of bacteria. No surprise, they also dry out with age, says New York City makeup artist Tina Turnbow: “They no longer look creamy on the lips.” Long-wearing formulas may have an even shorter life span since they often contain ingredients that evaporate more quickly than creamier formulas. Pencil lipliners, like eyeliners, may last a little longer since putting them through a sharpener removes the old surface.

Nail Polish

Toss-It Time: One to two years
Insider info: When polish expires, the consistency turns gooey or stringy, says Ji Baek, owner of Rescue Beauty Lounge in New York City. Formulas are especially sensitive to temperature extremes and humidity, so avoid storing in the bathroom.

Skin Care

Toss-it time: Acne creams and other over-the-counter products that contain drugs are FDA regulated and usually carry expiration dates. But cosmeceuticals (products claiming to have anti-aging and skin-changing benefits) are not regulated, and once they’ve been used, they shouldn’t be kept for more than six months — or, if they’re in pump bottles, a year — says Wilson.
Insider info: “Some ingredients [such as vitamin C, retinol, and hydroquinone] degrade even more rapidly if they’re left in direct sunlight or exposed to air,” says Tina Alster, M.D., a Washington, D.C., dermatologist. Less frequently — but more alarmingly — certain products can actually become more potent over time, says Boston dermatologist Ranella Hirsch, M.D. The reason: Active ingredients like retinol and glycolic acid become more concentrated as their bases degrade, separate, or evaporate. And when proportions change, your skin may get irritated. To prevent problems, store cosmetics properly, discontinue use after six months, and look for products that come in a pump, which helps keep air out. Another option that’s starting to hit shelves: special jars that dispense creams through a tiny hole or slit when you press the top (an internal “floor” rises with each push).

Sunscreen

Toss-it time: Six months
Insider info: Sunscreens are FDA regulated, and though they usually have expiration dates of at least one year, that date indicates the purchasing time frame, says Wilson: “When you open a tube, water may start evaporating, causing the formula to eventually become unstable. Once that happens, the ingredients are no longer evenly distributed, so you may get a lot in one dose, but nearly none in another.” Protect your tube by storing it out of the sun.

Hair Products

Toss-it time: One year
Insider info: Always close the caps of shampoos, conditioners, and styling products tightly. Otherwise, water and air can get in, breaking down the formulas or causing them to separate. (Good news for hairspray users: Aerosol cans are the best product protectors going, so sprays should stay good even longer.)

Fragrance

Toss-it time: Two years — or potentially many more
Insider info: “Eau de toilettes and perfumes can last for several years, as long as they’re kept out of humidity and sunlight,” says Robert Gerstener, co-owner of Aedes de Venustas, a New York City fragrance emporium. “Both of these elements can alter notes in a fragrance, which will then change the overall scent.”


Your When-to-Toss-It Timeline

Every season: Toss your mascara and liquid liner
Every six months: Toss your skin-care regimen, sunscreens, and liquid foundation
Every year: Toss your hair products (except hairspray)
Every two years: Toss your powder-based cosmetics (such as pressed powder and shadows), lipsticks, and nail polishes

Read more: Beauty Product Expiration - Nail Polish - Skin Care Products - Good Housekeeping

STARTING OFF THE NEW YEAR WITH A FRESH START!

If you have a ton of shoes in your closet and don't have enough space for more, I recommend you get this hanging shoe organizer for your closet door! It seriously saves you so much room and neatly organizes your shoes. I put my heels on one side and my flats on the other side. It's easily visible and super cheap to buy. Now I'm officially done cleaning out my closet, cleaning out my shoes, and cleaning out my makeup bags!

Another thing I bought two years ago that I highly recommend for the car:

I tend to carry around a lot of shoes in the back of my car because I always figure I might need a few extra pairs for last minute emergencies or a change of plans! For example, if you are going to the gym after work or you want to switch to heels after walking around in flats all day, its nice to have some extra pairs of shoes readily available. This collapsible shoe organizer sits in the back my of trunk and not only does it store my shoes, but when I buy groceries, I can expand it and make sure my stuff doesn't roll around and make a mess in the back of my car.

REFLECTING ON THE NEW YEAR

Today marks the first day of 2012! Looking back on 2011, there were a lot of challenges that also brought forth many blessings. I am really excited because I think 2012 will be a year of many great changes. I pray that God will urge my husband and I to serve our church and our community more this year. We have been really lazy in that department and really want to start getting more involved. We also want to keep up with our daily workout routines and eat healthier. The holidays sort of messed us up for a few weeks but we are ready to get back on track!

Over the past few weeks I spent a lot of time meditating and reflecting on the things I've done in the past and the things I want to do in the future. Keeping a daily journal is something that has helped me tremendously over the years. Writing has always been a way for me to express so much of myself and sometimes it helps me to better understand my own wants and desires through a process of self reflection, re-evaluating what's important and what matters, and being able to see the hardships and struggles manifest into something so beautiful and worthwhile. It also feels good to just let it all out instead of holding it all in (and the best thing about it is, it doesn't talk back).

Sometimes when you are in the pit of darkness and distress, it's hard to see things clearly and understand why God lets bad things happen to people. However in retrospect, I've learned the most from my greatest mistakes and my greatest hardships. God is so good and he knows us so well. His timing is perfect and his love is so deep and unconditional.

Today I feel most blessed that God has blessed me with the most incredible husband in the world. The more I spend time with him, I find that he truly is my soul mate... He's my best friend, my lover, my rock, and the reason why I smile so big each and every day. Traveling to different places and trying new things together has been the most exciting part of our marriage. I love the fact that we both love it so much because we are able to explore the world together and create lasting memories that will forever be cherished between the two of us. Since I was a little girl I specifically prayed everyday for my future husband and God was so faithful to that prayer. He truly matched me up with someone that is so perfectly compatible with me. I truly believe that God has and will always be faithful to our prayers.

I love this following bible passage because it helps me to trust in God even when times are tough. Sometimes when I get anxious or when I doubt God is hearing me out, I am reminded of this verse.

Proverbs 3:5-6
New International Version (NIV)
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.[a]

Submitting to God has been a great struggle for me up until more recently. I hate to admit it, but I guess I can be a little bit of a "control freak". I'm so used to being in control of my own life and believe it or not, I have very little patience when I have to wait for something longer than expected. Perhaps that's why in 2011 God has been teaching me to be "patient" and in the process of waiting for him to answer my prayers, he has taught me to appreciate life as is. To count my blessings and to know that everything I already have is a gift that I did not deserve in the first place. I am re-learning to appreciate my body, my mind, and most importantly my spirituality and really trying to deepen the core of who I really am. It's all very new and exciting for me. :) Sometimes masking your life by keeping too busy can do more damage in the end because you don't get to the root of any of your problems. Blogging about fitness and health has become a tool for me to not only keep myself accountable this year but to also stay motivated in living a healthier and happier life for a brighter future. I hope 2012 will be a fantastic year for everyone! Thanks for reading my entries! Happy New Year!


SOME MOTIVATION FOR 2012:

ORGANIZING YOUR MAKEUP

"Organization" is going to be the key theme for me in 2012. I realize that being organized can not only make you feel less cluttered but it can also save you a lot of time! Time is precious... especially in the morning when you are rushing out the door to work or after work when you are rushing out to dinner. Life is really busy and as girls we have a lot to deal with already including our hair, our clothes, accessories, shoes, and of course the makeup! So step #1 was for me to clean out my closet and now step #2 is organizing my makeup.

For the longest time I had about 5-6 small to medium sized bags of makeup all over my bathroom drawers and closet. I guess for those of you who have a vanity table, your makeup is already pretty organized. I have a long ways mirror that I like to get ready in front of in our bedroom so the floor can be quite messy if I don't do a good job of putting things away after I do my makeup. Sooo... For Christmas I put this makeup case on my wishlist and my cousin Lana got it for me. (Thank you Lana!)

Now I can finally organize all of my makeup and consolidate all of my tiny makeup bags into one! So excited to start organizing! It's going to take away all of the clutter and make it so much easier for me to find exactly what I need. Organizing things will also help me throw out a lot of old makeup that I don't need or use anymore and sometimes the best thing about cleaning things out is you find things you totally forgot you had.

You can buy this on www.amazon.com
or www.shanycosmetics.com

It's called the Shany Silver Aluminum Makeup Case and it weighs 4lbs. If you aren't a makeup artist, I wouldn't recommend you to take it on travel with you but it's a great thing to keep at home.

I will post a picture when I'm all done organizing mine! I hope it all fits! Let me know if you have any good tips on how you organize your makeup.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

I am finally done emptying out all of my little makeup bags and consolidating them into one big case!

OIL OF OLAY PRO-X ADVANCED CLEANSING SYSTEM!

I got this facial cleansing system from Costco yesterday because I heard such great reviews about this product on Allure magazine and it's like $20 cheaper at Costco because on Amazon the same exact thing is going for $57.95. Mine was only $37.00! The kind you get at CVS or other drugstores are a few bucks cheaper but it doesn't come with the extra brush nor the larger cleanser. So I would definitely recommend buying the one at Costco and pay an extra few dollars.

The one at most drugstores come in a box that looks like this:

And the one I got from Costco looks like this:

I found this review on youtube to help me get started! I don't really have acne prone skin but I do have pores that need some deep cleansing.



I can't wait to use it! I will post my own review on it soon~!

WHAT IS YOUR IDEAL BODY WEIGHT?

Men - Height vs. Weight

Women - Height vs. Weight

Ideal Body Fat Percentage Chart #1: American Council on Exercise

The chart below from the American Council on Exercise (ACE) is one of the most commonly used body fat charts. As you can see, women have a higher body fat percentage relative to men for a given level. Women have more fat because of physiological differences such as hormones, breasts, and sexual organs. In addition, women need a higher amount of body fat for ovulation.

POST HOLIDAY DETOX DIET!

Here are some healthy smoothie recipes I found on www.wholeliving.com to help you detox after the holidays!

"Green Machine Smoothie"

Detox Cred: Starting the day with this nutrient-dense elixir is a delicious way to charge your system with nutrients. Dark leafy greens are extremely alkalizing, meaning they foster a more neutral body environment for better functioning enzymes, compared with acid-forming foods like meats and dairy.

Whole Living, January/February 2012

Serves 2

Ingredients

6 romaine leaves, chopped
4 kale leaves, chopped
1/2 cup fresh parsley sprigs
1/2 cup chopped pineapple
1/2 cup chopped mango
1 inch fresh ginger, peeled and chopped

Directions

Combine romaine, kale, parsley, pineapple, mango, ginger, and 1 1/2 cups water in a blender and blend until smooth.



"Antioxidant Smoothie"

Don't have a juicer? No problem! You can still make these healthy fruit and vegetable smoothies for the Challenge with these simple blender-friendly recipes.

2 cups mixed frozen berries (9 ounces)
1 cup unsweetened pomegranate juice

Combine berries, juice, and 1 cup water in a blender; blend until smooth.

Serves 2. Per serving: 130 calories; 0 g saturated fat; 1 g unsaturated fat; 0 mg cholesterol; 34 g carbs; 19 mg sodium; 1.5 g protein; 4 g fiber.


"Cucumber Honeydew, and Mint Smoothie"

1/2 English cucumber, peeled and chopped
1/2 honeydew melon, peeled and chopped (2 cups)
1 cup pear juice
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/4 cup fresh mint leaves

Combine all ingredients in a blender; blend until smooth.

Serves 2. Per serving: 134 calories; 0 g saturated fat; 0 g unsaturated fat; 0 mg cholesterol; 33 g carbs; 37 mg sodium; 2 g protein; 2 g fiber.


"Carrot, Mango, and Herb Smoothie"

2 cups frozen mango chunks
1 cup fresh carrot juice
1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1/4 cup fresh herbs, such as mint, tarragon, or basil

Combine all ingredients in a blender; blend until smooth.

Serves 2. Per serving: 225 calories; 0 g saturated fat; 0 g unsaturated fat; 0 mg cholesterol; 56 g carbs; 36 mg sodium; 3 g protein; 5 g fiber.


"Mango Coconut Water Smoothie"

2 cups ripe mango chunks (from 1 to 2 mangoes)
2 to 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 cups unsweetened coconut water
Pinch of cayenne powder

Combine all ingredients in a blender; blend until smooth.

Serves 2. Per serving: 159 calories; 1 g saturated fat; 0 g unsaturated fat; 0 mg cholesterol; 39 g carbs; 256 mg sodium; 3 g protein; 6 g fiber.


"Beet and Carrot Smoothie"

1 small red beet (equivalent to 1/2 cup), peeled and coarsely chopped
1 medium-size carrot, peeled and coarsely chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1 sweet apple, such as Honeycrisp or Pink Lady, coarsely chopped
1 ripe pear, such as red Bartlett or red D'Anjou, coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger

1. Steam beets and carrots until tender, about 10 minutes. Let cool to room temperature.
2. Combine beets, carrot, apple, pear, juice, ginger, and 2 cups water in a blender; blend until smooth.

Serves 2. Per serving: 134 calories; 0 g saturated fat; 0 g unsaturated fat; 0 mg cholesterol; 35 g carbs; 62 mg sodium; 2 g protein; 7 g fiber.


"Orange-Berry Smoothie"

2 navel oranges, peel and pith removed, cut into chunks
1 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup frozen raspberries

Combine all ingredients in a blender; blend until smooth.

Serves 2. Per serving: 132 calories; 0 g saturated fat; 0 g unsaturated fat; 0 mg cholesterol; 34 g carbs; 2 mg sodium; 2 g protein; 3 g fiber.