BEAUTY WITH NICOLE-- THE PERFECT MAKE-UP MATCH

If you’re pinching pennies like I am, you probably can’t afford department store cosmetics any more. But how do you keep from wasting money by buying the wrong shade? Today beauty editor Nicole Emmerling comes to the rescue. -- AP

That’s right, Anastasia! Have I got a secret for you! Department store cosmetic counters will let you try before you buy, but that’s not the case when you buy your cosmetics at one of the big box stores such as Target or any of the drug store chains.

So here’s what you do --

Go to your favorite department store and sample shades until you find what you want. Remember the product name and color. Don’t feel guilty about not purchasing anything. People sample without buying all the time.

When you get home, go onto Beauty Matchmaker at the L’Oreal website. Select the cosmetics category, then the brand you chose,  the product, and the shade. The website will generate the equivalent L’Oreal color for you.

Prefer Cover Girl products? Go to the Cover Girl website to find the right Cover Girl shade to match the department store brand.

Wow! What a great tip, Nicole! Thanks for sharing. Readers, do you have any beauty tips you’d like to share? Let’s hear from you. -- AP

BEAUTY WITH NICOLE-- MAKE-UP EXPIRATION DATES

Make-up is expensive, and if you’re like me, you don’t want to throw out a half-empty container of mascara or bottle of foundation, but beauty editor Nicole Emmerling has some very good reasons why you shouldn’t hold onto cosmetics past a certain point. -- AP

Thanks, Anastasia! Most of us are very conscious about checking expiration dates on food products. We don’t purchase a gallon of milk with tomorrow as a sell-by date, and we toss anything in the fridge that looks or smells odd. Unfortunately, most of us don’t do likewise for our cosmetics. Make-up has a shelf life. It doesn’t last forever, even though most contain preservatives to extend their shelf life. (Note: Natural make-ups contain no preservatives and have a much shorter shelf life.)

Keep in mind that your make-up and make-up applicators come in daily contact with germs from your hands, face, and mouth. Every time you apply make-up, you run the risk of cross-contamination, promoting bacterial growth, and causing infection. That’s why it’s so important to make sure your make-up stays as contamination free as possible.

Below I’ve listed a general guide for various cosmetic products, but here are 5 tips to get you started:

1. Just like with food, if it looks or smells odd, through it out.

2. Toss out anything that’s over 2 years old.

3. Can’t remember when you purchased the product? When in doubt, toss it out.

4. Many products won’t have an expiration date printed on the container. Take it upon yourself to mark the container with the expiration date after you purchase it.

5. Never use your fingers to apply make-up. You’ll contaminate the product in the container. Clean make-up brushes in warm sudsy water every couple of weeks, and use disposable sponge applicators to lessen the growth and spread of bacteria.

Typical shelf life for non-natural cosmetics:

3-4 months
mascara
liquid eyeliner

Up to 1 year

concealer
cream and gel cleansers

water-based foundation
nail polish

Up to 18 months
oil-based foundation
cream blush
cream eye shadow

Up to 2 years
powder
powder blush
powder bronzer
powder eye shadow
pencil eye liner
lipstick
lip liner
lip gloss

Thanks, Nicole! I guess it’s time to toss that purple eye shadow from before the millennium!  Anyone else have make-up that qualifies as an antique? Post a comment to be entered in the drawing for a free book from our Book Club Friday guest author this week. -- AP