Brassy Hair - Brunette and Blond Enemy #1! How to keep the red out.

It's a classic argument over whether blondes or brunettes have more fun. Studies might show brunettes are taken more seriously, and gentlemen may indeed prefer blondes, but one thing's for sure no matter what your hair color, when summer comes we all fight brassiness. It is widely agreed that ORANGE is not a color anyone is happy to see hit their strands at the beach. I have been asked about this subject and how to get rid of red tint in hair many times so I thought I would give you some tips on fighting back!

Coloring you hair is really just a process of depositing colors on to the cuticle of your hair. Your color is a combination of red, yellow and blue in exactly the right mixture.

But even when you find the IT color combination for your hair type, the challenge is preventing the brassy side effect that happens over time because of oxidation. The blue molecules tend to leave first, leaving you with red and yellow, which we all know from elementary school make orange, BINGO!

The biggest hint to solving this issue again comes to us by viewing  the color wheel and seeing that the opposite of orange is blue. It is precisely those violet pigments that can shut down the brassy-orange shade in your hair that you've been obsessing about. This is why those DIY recipes of using grape Koolaid powder actually work when you mix it with your shampoo, but there are so many better options than Koolaid which could leave you with a bigger problem if things go wrong. Shampoos and conditioners that  are specifically designed for color treated hair to use just once or twice a week to keep colored locks looking their best.

You want to keep your hair as healthy as you can, damaging your hair cuticle causes it to become more porous, and it is harder then to keep color in. I recently read that playing outside in the sun for a week long vacation can be as damaging on your hair as leaving peroxide on your locks for 30 straight minutes!

Another way to filtering out harmful chemicals. metals and ions in your water is to use pure beauty water to wash it with - You can do this for less than $100 by attaching a purification system to your shower head. You can find them at Home Depot or at jonathanproduct.com     

Some violet based products to try are Loreal Colorist Collection Blonde, John Frieda Sheer Blonde Colour Renew line and my favorite ~ Clairol Shimmer Lights (just a warning for blondes that this may be a bit too intense, but is perfectly suited for brunettes) Don't be afraid to buy these if you are a brunette because the label says for blondes - these are the shampoos that work and the ones I use. (It's one of my inside secrets I want you to know about too!)

Another cool new technology to try out is a styling product called  Color Wow Brass Banned Mousse. It immediately counteracts brassiness by using a mouse that is teal tinted for brunettes and a purple-violet shade for blondes.

Color correction is a fascinating concept that stylists and makeup artists have kept mostly to themselves, but it's such an easy idea to understand, that I hope you embrace. Check out my post about how to use green concealer to cover acne or any redness on you face flawlessly {HERE - Best way to Hide and Conceal Acne}

For more tips on how to reduce the oxidation from the sun and water this summer check out my post {HERE - Prepare Your Hair for the Plunge} 

Look younger with Whiter teeth. GLO Science.

They say if you aren't whitening, you're yellowing.

We associate beauty with youth, and for some reason baby teeth are just naturally freakishly white. So if you're not whitening, your smile might be making you look older than you are.

Teeth whitening has come a long way these past few years. Who hasn't heard of Crest WhiteStrips? Yes, they work, but only if you're VERY patient and willing to put up with the goo and mess in trying to keep them in place every time you use them. Speaking of, you'll need to use them a lot to see real results.

And we've all heard of ZOOM, the fastest way to whiten, especially how painful it is. The sensitivity lasts a long time due to the strength of the bleaching agent that's used.

So if you're looking for a solution to whiten quickly without sensitivity, there is a new at home device on the market that you should know about called the GLO Brilliant Personal Teeth Whitening Device, $199 Available at Sephora and gloscience.com.

This system was developed by a dentist, Dr Levine, and is a new approach to whitening using heat and light with a patented gel formula. Dr Oz named it one of his top anti-aging products and beauty editors swear it's the easiest way to whiten teeth without sensitivity.

It looks like an iPod, but easier to use. Charge it up, apply the gel to your teeth - connect the mouthpiece and press power for 8 minutes to get one step closer to whiter teeth. Up to 5 shades whiter in 5 days, without sensitivity. 

The set comes with 10 G-vials of gel which is enough for 40 applications or sessions. By purchasing additional mouthpieces everyone in the family, over 12 years old, can have beautiful pearly whites. I think Americans now have the whitest teeth in the world!

Blue Light Therapy Zit Zapper - Tanda High Tech Beauty

They say that beauty comes in all colors ... and so does the light we use on our skin. Blue light therapy is often used in clinics to treat and prevent acne and now there are gadgets available so you can do it yourself at home.

 Watch more High Tech Beauty video 

One of the smallest devices using blue light therapy on the market that can really deliver is the Tanda Zap for $49. It uses the same technology as the in-clinic machines used by dermatologists and here's why it works.

A zit forms when a pore is blocked with oil according to Acne.org. Most of the time the oil will drain but if it becomes blocked bacteria are formed. One of the bacteria creating a zit is called P. acnes. It proliferates, becomes inflamed and swells. White blood cells rush in to try to fight it away, which is how you end up with a white head. 

Blue light therapy works on killing acne because it delivers oxygen inside the pore and P.acnes bacteria cannot live in an oxygen rich environment. Benzoyl peroxide, a commonly used OTC product used to treat acne works in the same way - by introducing oxygen into the pore, but it can be very drying to the skin.

No matter what your age, zits continue to pop up. I love the Tanda Zap to treat that unexpected little monster that shows up and I never travel without it!  This device is designed for spot treatment and has 1000 two minutes uses and can be used 2-3 times a day on the same area safely. There is also a larger version called the Tanda Clear if you are interested in treating a bigger surface area for $195. 

For more secrets and tips to look your best buy my book Face This: Real advice from real Models on Amazon, Kindle, Nook or iTunes.

Using a Green Screen - Behind the Scenes in Filming a Commercial

I wanted to share with you today a little bit of a model's life and give you an idea of what it looks like behind the scenes using a green screen when filming a commercial. The magic of the green screen is incredibly fascinating to me. For this commercial we were never in an office, the people walking by and sitting around me were never filmed in a shot together. The only props used were a table, chair, cardboard box and 2 one dollar bills. It is so incredible what production can make appear real.

Watch the Mix & Win Commercial

Behind the scenes shots

Some professional advice for those of you reading this that are in the industry: Never wear green when you are a guest on a television set interview that might have an artificial looking backdrop or if you are bringing wardrobe for a commercial job. You might be placed in front of one of these screens and in editing what they will do is block out all the green and if you are in green that may include parts of YOU! Also be aware that blue screens are gaining in popularity as well so check in to see which it might be.

Some practical advice: Not everything is as it appears to be when you see something on television. Big stars insist on softening filters to disguise aging faces, and photoshop is well, you know, the magic eraser of everything. There is even a liquifying tool. Never hold yourself to that standard or make comparisons of your individual beauty based on ideals that aren't 100% real. Don't get fooled or insecure. Confidence in and of itself is extremely attractive!!

Kardashian's Fake tans and more with new Self-Tanning Line

Just in time to get ready for your Spring Break, the Kardashian's launch a new line of self tanners called  Kardashian Sun Kissed  next month. 

According to Women's Wear Daily the line is priced between $12.99 and $19.99 and includes 4 products exfoliator, sunless lotion or spray and bronzer. 

A tan makes everyone feel like they look skinnier, but we all know how dangerous the sun is to our skin so I love that they are promoting sunless color. Promoting fake color I can get behind, but I wish they would have gone a little less Fake in their photo - so very, overly photoshopped don't you think?

Shelley GoodStein for Olay

More magazine April 2013

I think everyone loves a bargain, but when it comes to my skin I usually never cheap out, but sometimes we don't need to spend a fortune to find a great product that works. So many times I have been disappointed by products that I've spent too much for. Sound familiar? Well you and I are not alone; here's the science behind it  

A study from Duke University published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that people believed that a more expensive placebo pill actually worked better just because it cost more. It seems that the more expensive a product is the more convinced you are that it must be better. 

Aging happens, to all of us ... our fibroblast that produces collagen and elastin lose it's zing, but you can't start fighting the signs of aging soon enough, and there is never a better day to start than today. A couple ingredients you should look for that can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles are amino-peptides and hyaluronic acid. That's where Olay's Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream can help. It contains both, and is endorsed by Good Housekeeping over luxury, $250 super-creams. It's also won Allure's Reader Choice pick in 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, and 2008.

At $25, Olay's Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream proves that you don't always get what you pay for, in this case you get sooooo much MORE!

Red Carpet Hair - NEW Brazilian Blowout VOLUME line

Side-parted, retro waves were one of the prettiest hair trends we saw on the red carpet. It was an old Hollywood glamour look that you should expect to see alot more of! 

The trick is getting your hair to look sleek and smooth, but still have tons of volume like Megan Fox and Reese Witherspoon.

Brazilian Blowout is a company known for taming the frizzies and it has just launched a whole new line of Volume products that also work on fine, straight hair too to help you get those Veronica Lake waves!

Their Body Boost Powder is the perfect product to help you create this look. You just sprinkle the little snowflakes in dry hair and it helps lift the hair by creating a little distance between each strand. Sometimes when we start with super clean and soft hair, holding a curl is nearly impossible; but this Boost Powder texturizes it just enough allowing it to hold the curl. Most of the time when I am booked as a model for a job the client requests that I arrive with "clean hair and face" but there are times when I have been asked to arrive with "dirty" hair ... that usually means an up-do; for better holding curls and fullness.

Watch the Red Carpet -Celebrity Beauty Secrets video where I featured Brazilian Blowout's Boost on Phoenix's Arizona Midday here:


You can use this Body Powder Boost as a dry shampoo too, but I like it everyday for volume, and use it more like a styling product. I highly recommend this whole line, my hair has never looked fuller!

the Shamrocker modelTini™

Celebrating St Patrick's Day seems to always include a green drink, or two ... and that all adds up to a whole lot of empty calories. The modelTini™ is a drink, officially defined in the Urban Dictionary 

This Shamrocker modelTini ™ will help you keep that skinny minnie waist line and let you celebrate the Irish holiday in style!

Of course, you can add green food coloring to any drink to make it green, but I like to be more authentic than that (Plus that green food coloring quickly turns your teeth green too). This combination of ingredients turns your drink into a chartreuse, neon-glow green naturally.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Vodka

• 1 oz Blue Gatorade - Glacial freeze flavor (replacing electrolytes you're drinking away)

• 1/2 oz Diet Red Bull (To give you the energy to keep up on St Patty's Day with those Irishmen)

HAPPY ST PATRICK's DAY!

Celebrity Secrets for Red Carpet Legs - Tria Laser 4X

Awards season is over but we saw a lot of celebrities stepping out onto the red carpet in dresses with thigh high slits. Angelina Jolie  sparked the trend last year at the Oscars when she thrust her right leg out of her Versace gown and it's been officially dubbed as "Leg Bombing" 

Leg slit Golden Globes

There is certainly no shortage of leggy stars in Hollywood, and as with most things, getting gorgeous legs usually comes with a high price tag and tons of help. I am always searching for secrets to share with you that you can do all on your own and so I'm happy to tell you about the new Tria Hair Removal Laser 4X that just launched in January. That's right you can get smooth and sexy hair free legs at home for a fraction of price of laser hair removal and pull off your own leg bomb!

The Tria Hair Removal Laser 4X, is the first and only FDA cleared device for at home laser hair removal.  It's uses the same technology found in doctor's offices with permanent results. The best part? You can use it in the privacy of your own home and it's safe enough to use even on your face.

In a doctor's office you would usually pay up to a $1000 to treat one area of your body for permanent laser hair removal and return for at least 6 visits!  Like everything in life that's worth having, it does take a little effort ...  with the Tria Laser it's recommend to use it 10 minutes, once a week for 3 months at the highest setting you can.

You should know that laser hair removal generally only works on brown or black body hair. There is a sensor on the bottom of the Tria device that will automatically unlock if your skin tone is safe to use it on. Lighter hair, gray and sometimes red usually does not contain enough pigment to absorb laser light. Even professional laser hair removal systems that are used in medical clinics are not effective on these hair colors. 

Watch my red carpet beauty segment from AZ midday here:

As in the infamous words of ZZ Top .... 

"SHE's GOT LEGS, SHE KNOWS HOW TO USE THEM."

You might also like my post about how to get the "LEGS FOR DAYS" look {HERE}.

Kelly Ripa's halo hair extensions - Exclusive insider tip on where to get it!

Sponsored Post

Gotta love Kelly Ripa for "keeping it real!" and revealing one of the best kept secret weapons of Real Housewives, Beauty Queens, models and celebrities to her audience live on her show ... extra hair. 

The down to earth star who is always able to laugh at herself, took off a significant chunk of her mane for all to see even though her producer wasn't so sure, worried she would scare her audience and actually said so on the air. Unlike the bad weaves and glue-in weft mishaps that we have seen on stars before, the halo shaped hair extensions are virtually undetectable and undeniably real looking. And Ms Ripa proved it. Watch it here:

Kelly's "wigston" as she named it, was customized for her by her stylist for hundreds of dollars, but don't worry there's a less expensive option available for the every day girl wanting some extra-ordinary hair from a company online that sells the Crown Extension online {HERE} at HiddenCrownHair.com

The Hidden Crown hair is 100% human hair with a silky texture and easy to wear. Simple to adjust, nothing to glue or clip in; just a small invisible transparent thread in front to hide that is easily covered with your own hair. The weight of your natural hair once pulled over keeps in place because I actually flipped my head up and down and side to side and it never fell off! GENIUS!

If any of you would like to buy them here is the link to the Hidden CROWN ! The color options are huge and although you may think it's hard to match your color you'd be surprised how easy it is to do.


Here's to having it all Goldilocks!






Watch below to see me put this extension on in 30 seconds live for TV.

Sponsored Post

How to Own the Celebrity Red Carpet Pose - Best Photo Ops

The SuperBowl of red carpets has to be the Academy Awards, and celebrities walking it tonight have never been under more pressure to look their best, with the pose that can make or break their careers. Stylists often work with their clients days ahead of time perfecting the version that showcases the designer gown they borrow, jewels or best feature. Here are a few pointers we can all take home from the A listers as we take a look at their go-to stances.

Simple works for Gwenyth. (Not even a clutch for a prop!) She looks effortlessly beautiful in her no fuss, natural, relaxed self ... but I am warning you that not many can pull off this non-posed, pose! Admittedly, arms at your side, slightly bent is probably best for a column styled gown, just remember to push your head forward from the neck to eliminate a double chin, and stand up straight with shoulders back and then down.

Halle Berry is still a pageant girl at heart (1st RunnerUp to Miss USA 1986) and nothing shows it more than her signature hands on the hip pose. The over exaggerated space between the arms and the body  makes the waist look smaller and the arms skinnier. Oh, and and it doesn't hurt if you can flex your biceps for the shot.

Taking the skinny arm on the hip trick one step further with a highly arched back, is Paris Hilton's go-to look. To do this yourself plant your hips at a two o'clock position, then twist your waist and shoulders to the opposite side (10 o'clock), lean back and pop your hand on the hip you are leaning in to.

Crossing your legs can make your hips look narrower and your legs look longer, but this pose only works if your legs are long and lean to begin with and you aren't grimacing like you have to pee. Taylor is proof positive that this pose can give you supermodel "legs for days" stature.

Rhianna might "Shine Bright Like a Diamond", but this is definitely her "money" shot. She does this over-the-shoulder, come hither stare, so beautifully (red, blonde or brunette!) by turning back, raising one shoulder and lowering her chin spot on to the camera.

J. Lo caught a lot of grief for this one legg-ed pose last month, accused of stealing the "Jolie leg" but I think that the Oscar belongs to Jennifer here ... Though many have tried and come close, she has always owned this signature pose. For this one, angle yourself ever so slightly putting all of your weight on your back leg with the toe pointed straight ahead to the camera, then jutt the other leg forward keeping the toe in the same line as your leg.

You might also like my other posts:

 How to look Skinnier in the Camera {HERE} 

 How to Make Your Legs Look Longer {HERE}

Video: My "Fashion Police" segment for the 2013 Oscar red carpet

Finally the instruction manual you've been waiting for! To learn all the secrets to posing in front of the camera, 191 pages of tricks and tips, check out my new book Face This: Real advice from Real Models! Available on Amazon, Kindle, Nook and iTunes. ($7.99)

Valentine's Day Beauty - You're SEXY and You Know IT!

{Click HERE to watch my Valentine's beauty segment on KPNX}

Did you know that the average American woman kisses 79 men before she gets married?

The perfect kiss is definitely a combination of a lot of things, but moist lips top the list every time! Guys like it natural, no sticky gloss or bright red color transfer allowed! A couple of guys in their dorm room who I think were probably trying to invent ways to meet up with chics, thought so too, and developed a 2 person lip balm called KISSTIXX; Chocolate and Strawberry, Fire and Ice, Peaches and Cream - It's a little bit like combining Jelly Bellys to make your favorite flavor. Each person applies their own and then kiss to taste the chemical reaction. Full of emollients, vitamins and sunscreen, it's super yummy and irresistable. Featured on Shark Tank last year, this won the support of an investor. You can buy a duo online {Here} for just $5.99, but look for it in stores soon!

Well, who doesn't need a little more energy in the romance department to spice up their love life? Sprayology has made this an easy venture with their popular homeopathic oral spray called Woman Power (not to leave the guys out there is also a Man Power) that promises to help rev up your libido! Two sprays under the tongue up to 3 times a day and you're well on your way to feeling sexy again from the inside out. What I love about this whole line, {sleep, diet, stress, hangover, vitamins} is that they don't have any side effects, FDA regulated to use for anyone 2 years and older. Plus I don't choke swallowing a lot of supplements and it doesn't make my stomach upset. Using it 3 times a day, one bottle should last you an entire month. Check it out {HERE}

Valentines Day is always about finding a gift that says I LOVE YOU. And the perfect last minute gift? Ahhh Yes the infamous love coupon. Afterall, who doesn't like the promises that these little gift certificates hold? Use an empty day of the week pill box for a fun take on this old idea and instead of pills, fill it with his favorite candies and seven days of surprises with customized coupons, just for him. 

These can be as easy as a Leg Massage, Breakfast in Bed, or something we all need .... Get out the Doghouse FREE card. If you want to make it a little steamy: Have it Your Way, Your Personal Genie  i.e. Your Wish is my command or why not offer to re-enact a favorite moment you both share like your first date or your wedding night. Romantic love notes like I love you because .... are good to mix in if you don't want to offer up too much of yourself! HA

Everyone really does love an IOU, even kids, and because Valentine's Day falls during the week, it's not always easy to get out to do something special together because of work and homework, so write a special little note and hide it in a chocolate box. Something like "Let's get an ice cream - just you and mom" and your little one will love looking forward to planning the perfect time to spend it with you!

Everyone's face looks prettier with a little flush, and Physician Formula's Happy Booster Blush is formulated with natural plant extracts that mimic endorphins that actually promote feelings of happiness! The packaging is so darn cute you can't help but smile looking at it, and the rosy glow it gives your cheeks makes it a WIN-WIN for only $12 available at your drug-stores. Just swirl your blush brush to combine the hues (there are different intensities of rosy glow). I like using the lighter one and layering it as almost a highlighter on top of my regular blush because it has this beautiful luminescent quality to it. 

If you missed the Grammy's Sunday night, you must check out the mani-cam sponsored by Cover Girl {HERE}

Everyone is obsessed with nail art these days and there a ton of ways to decorate your nails, but nothing easier than the nail appliques available everywhere for about $10. Super easy to do yourself, just start with a dry nail, apply the sticker, bend it over your nail and file off the extra. They won't always tell you this in the instructions, but be sure to hit it with a clear top coat for extra staying power! These should last about 10 days.

Finally, if you happen to be with a "legg" man, you'll want to know about the collaboration with Venus and Olay. They make a refillable 5 blade razor that you don't need to use shaving creme with because as soon as you get it wet the Olay moisturizing bars lather up and give you a smooth shave no matter if you're in the shower or not. I love this whole concept, especially since I am a model known for her gams. 

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY - 

You're SEXY and YOU KNOW IT!

MakeUp Detox and Spring 2013 Makeup Trends

I always think of January as a time to get uber organized for the new year, and there's still a few days left to begin one last project so why not detox your makeup bag ... Decide what to toss, what to keep and what you should be buying new for Spring 2013!

First of all, I recommend getting rid of everything you haven't used for the past year. Chances are you weren't so in love with it afterall! Especially toss your foundations for sure because they go bad after 12 months, but what most people don't realize is that the real foundation for radiant skin is actually exfoliation; not a product at all.

Watch my beauty segment from Arizona Midday to learn more.

As new skin cells renew underneath our skin, the surface cells dry out and begin to accumulate on top leaving us with lack luster, dull skin. In 60 seconds flat you can sweep away those dead skin cells with Clarisonic's new Aria skin cleaner. This little machine has won Allure Magazine's best in beauty products award for 2012 and for good reason ... the patented sonic (yes like your toothbrush)  technology engineers the Clarisonic's brush bristles to move 300 times per second for great cleaning and exfoliation.

Super versatile, you can charge this on your computer while you travel with it's USB plug. Plus it's waterproof which means you can leave it in your shower so it's easy to use every day. This is one beauty item I can't live without because not only does it allow serums and moisturizers to penetrate into my skin better but my makeup glides on and it helps minimize the look of pores by keeping them clean.

Blue was THEE makeup statement on the runway for eyes this Spring. Michael Kors sent girls down the catwalk with a floating blue liner while Stella McCartney used a teal blue underneath on the water line. While Nicole Richie at the Golden Globes sported a blue shadow all over matching her dress.

Just like 2 sides to a story, where the truth lies somewhere in between, we must interpret trends on the runway into a real way. I didn't like this blue powder in the 70's on eyes and I still don't. I think this made Ms Richie look old and is a good example of why you shouldn't take trends you see too extreme in real life.

Most makeup artists will tell you there are only two palettes of shadows that you need to have in your makeup drawer ... a few neutrals for day and darker shades for dramatic nights out. Of course they can put these together easily, but for the rest of us Smashbox has made a Photo-Op Palette with 3 shades for day and 3 to use for a smokey eye and narrowed down the best colors for blue eyes, hazel and brown. For $39 it doesn't get easier than that!

If you do want to add a pop of blue into your eye wardrobe this year, do it with a liner in navy, chambray, teal or aquamarine. You can mix it with a black liner to create a color cat-eye look like this, or line your lower water line or just the outside corners.

I think every woman owns at least 10 lipsticks in the same shade, so line them up arranged by color and get rid of the ones that are identical. This year the shows were filled with bright red lips so if you buy another lipstick this year, make it red! There is a red shade that looks good on everyone ... a true red. Mac's Russian Red is one of these colors, not too blue or too orange. Madonna made it popular in the 80's during her blonde ambition tour when she announced it was the color she wore and it is still a best seller today. Whatever shade, red creates an impact so if you don't want to go bold and blue on your eyes, then do so with your lip. Check out my post on how to find the PERFECT RED LIPSTICK {HERE}

Super false eyelashes have been on trend for awhile, but for Spring 2013 they are more believable but still artificially long. To create this look without wearing falsies use at least 5 coats of mascara. Start with a volumizing mascara like DiorShow which is powder based so it dries quickly giving you a triple shot of lashes. And then finish with a lengthening mascara like Cover Girl's new Clump Crusher which boasts the claim of being able to coat lashes 30 times without clumps. I actually took the challenge and it's true. Here's a photo of my lashes after 30 coats. No clumps, but I didn't get as much volume as I would have liked so use the two together and it's SuperLashes R Us!

30 coats with Cover Girl Clump Crusher.

To learn more secrets about looking camera ready all the time check out my new book Face This available on Amazon, Kindle, Nook and iTunes.

How to Save Makeup before Expiration

Looking great with makeup is not just about knowing what are the best products or how to use them ... it's also about knowing when to toss, revive and how to revamp your favorites too!

Because cosmetic companies are not required to add expiration dates on their products it's important to learn the rule of thumb for when it's time to say good-bye to your make up. Certainly if anything changes color, consistency or starts to separate or smell you should get rid of it.

Watch the video {HERE} instead.

FOUNDATION
Expiration date is 12 months. Oil based makeup might last 18 months. Mineral makeup technically has no expiration date because it is made up of inorganic materials - literally ground rock, but if it is combined with other products such as sunscreens then this does not apply. 

Mineral makeup looks great in real life and can be a perfect foundation to use if you have sensitive, oily or acne prone skin, but on a whole it is not great for photography because they tend to be overly sparkly and contain certain micas and other materials that create a lot of sheen and "hot spots" for your face on film.

The SAVE: If you come home with a new foundation only to find it is too dark for your skin tone, combine it with your favorite moisturizer for an instant body bronzer.

MASCARA
This is one of your beauty products with the shortest shelf life, 3 to 6 months. Many times it will dry out before then. To keep it fresh make sure you are twisting, not pumping the wand and keep it tightly closed out of heat and sunlight.

The SAVE: To revive dried out mascara, add a few drops of saline or eye drops and stir it around. Start with just a couple and add as needed. Make sure you only use sterile solutions and not water without preservatives to keep it bacteria free.

Keep your old mascara wands and use them to comb unruly eye brows with a little Vaseline or tame flyaway hair by spraying an old wand with hairspray to smooth them. You can get different effects with the same mascara by using different types of mascara wands. Bigger ones will grab more product and volumize lashes while skinny comb like wands will lengthen.

POWDERS
Eye shadows, compacts and blushes. Keep them for about 2 years. as long as you are cleaning your brushes regularly and not introducing bacteria.

The SAVE: It never fails that we end up dropping our favorite powders and they break into a crumbled mess, spilling into everything in our makeup bag. Instead of tossing it, add a few drops of rubbing alcohol to make it look like new again.

LIPSTICK
If you take very good care of your lipsticks they can last 2 -4 years.
Do what the makeup counter girls do and clean yours with alcohol each time and store them away from sun and humidity.

The SAVE: If you end up with a color that is too bright use it as a cream blush. This is a good tip to remember when you end up going out after work and your face needs a little color, we almost always have a lipstick in our handbag!

PENCILS
Lip and Eye pencils can stay fresh for about 2 years, especially if you are sharpening them regularly to get rid of bacteria. Pencils dry out faster if you aren't storing them with their caps on.

The SAVE: If your pencil doesn't go on smoothly try heating it up with your blowdryer, or if it is too soft harden it up in the refrigerator before sharpening.

BRUSHES
Oil and bacteria can hide in the bristles of your brushes and cross contaminate your makeup so I suggest washing them every 2 weeks. Cleaner can get to be expensive and I find the best products to clean and restore them is something I already have in my kitchen. 

The SAVE: Use an antibacterial dishwash soap to remove and disinfect every single thing that may be on your brushes. So that you don't strip the hairs of natural oils when they dry, add in a little olive oil to recondition the brush. Let them dry upside down so that the water doesn't drip into the handle of the brush and loosen up the glue that's holding the bristle hairs in place. Watch the end of the video for a tutorial on how to so this with  chopsticks and a hair band.


For more secrets and tips on looking your best check out my new book Face This on Amazon {HERE}.