Saturday, February 2, 2008
Makeup Addict's News
January 26, 2008
In this issue:
NEW additional item prices!!! SAVE when you buy MORE!! See our NEW Shipping Policies
Do you know when to throw out your makeup and skincare?
How to receive CASH back for shopping in our Boutique.
Sales and promotions: 15% OFF EVERYTHING in our store!
RSS Feeds ~ know to the minute when Bela's Boutique lists a brand new item!
What’s in YOUR makeup bag?
We all have those “can’t live without” items in our makeup bags. Our own special tricks that make us look our most glamorous selves! I have my “at home” bag which is no longer a BAG but a huge CASE that is full of all of my favorite brands! But what couldn’t I live without? I will TRY to keep the list short!!!
Tarte Cheek Stains: I love these!! Besides the fact that they are so cute, I have five different colors, just enough to match any mood that I happen to be in when I am putting on my face!! Check them out in the Boutique ~ Tarte Cheek Stains
Too Faced Eye Shadows: Ok, I have every one of these eye shadow singles and duos that have ever passed thru my store! These normally retail for $17 each but I sell them for so much less! If you are looking for a great shadow that doesn’t crease and has some staying power then look no further!! Plus they have really cool names too!! ~ Too Faced Eyeshadows
Lip Gloss Galore!! I used to really be into lipstick but not so much any more. With all the great glosses they make now with color you can have the lipstick affect in color with that glossy shine!! Sounds perfect to me!! I am not loyal to one brand when it comes to gloss!! I love them all!!! Bobbi Brown Lip Shine , Too Faced Juicy Jewels or Gossip Gloss, Dior Kiss, Lancome Juicy Tubes, and Laura Mercier just to name a few that I just saw when I opened my desk drawer (another place I keep lots of gloss!) I like glosses that smell yummy, not perfumy or like a chemical which is what I find many of the drug store brands smell like (unless you are getting a teen gloss).
MOST Can NOT live without item: MAKEUP BRUSHES! I think of these as an INVESTMENT in beauty. These are about the only thing in your bag that can be in there for a long, long time if you take good care of them! This is an item that you really want to get a good set of. Cheap ones feel like just that…CHEAP. My makeup bag is filled with many different brands of brushes. These are all brushes that are made out of real hair verses synthetic fibers that the cheaper brushes are made out of. I think that the feel is definitely a personal choice. This is why I have so many in different brands. I like the way they feel and they apply the makeup.
If it brings back memories of your prom...then TOSS IT!
What is the shelf life of your makeup and skincare??
Most people have no idea how long is ok to keep cosmetics. I know the last time that I cleaned out my makeup bag I had things in there that I hadn’t used in years and that were so old that the labels had fallen off and the clear part of the compacts were no longer see thru!! Oh YUCK!!!
I think we just forget about it and think how can it go bad? Well eventually everything does although it takes longer for some than others!!!
Are you digging down into old lipstick tubes trying to get the last speck of lipstick out because they no longer have that shade?? Truth of the matter is that it can be dangerous to keep items like that in your bag. When the items are originally packaged they are made with preservatives that will help to keep the items fresh but after constant wear they can contain bacteria that could cause infections. Think about it. Most of us will go to work when we are sick, still applying that makeup and then using the same makeup a week later when we are no longer sick. We put our makeup thru a work out!!!
So how do you decide when it is time to throw out your cosmetics?? The first thing you should check is the smell. When you open it up does it have a funky smell that no respecting makeup item would have?? If yes then throw it out!! It is amazing how many women will keep things that don’t smell right in their makeup bag because the color has been discontinued or they no longer make that item!!!
Next, if you can’t REMEMBER when you bought it, then it is probably a good idea to get rid of it. Now I realize that you aren’t going to remember specific dates when you purchased a cosmetic item but if when you are digging thru your bag and that lovely shade of pool chalk blue eye shadow brings you on a trip down memory lane back to the time of your prom….well then its probably time to throw that baby out!
Here is a list of approximate shelf lives of some of your more common cosmetics.
EYES
Mascara: should be replaced every three months.
Liquid Eyeliner: should be replaced every three months.
Powder Eye Shadow: 2 years
Cream Eye Shadow: 12-18 months
Eyeliner: 2 years
TIP
Never share any kind of makeup but especially eye makeup. Use disposable sponges or brushes that can be cleaned with mild soap and warm water to keep them clean and fresh.
FACE
Foundation: 1 year
Concealer: 12-18 months
Face Powder: 2 years
Cream or compact foundation: 18 months
TIP
Apply foundations and concealers with sponges or brushes to avoid contamination. Make sure to clean brushes and change sponges.
CHEEKS
Blush: 2 years
Bronzer: 2 years
Cream Blush: 12-18 months
LIPS
Lipstick: 2 years
Lip Gloss: 12-24 months
Lip Liner: 2 years
TIP
Store lipsticks at room temperature to prevent rancidity.(Beading does not indicate rancidity, this indicates oils escaping from the formula).
NAILS
Nail Polish: 1 year
SKINCARE
Moisturizer: 12-18 months ~ keep the lid on tight. Always apply with clean hands and if the product begins to separate, have a strange odor or begins to liquefy, toss it!
Toner: 12-18 months ~ If it has a strange odor or looks cloudy, then throw it out!
Cleanser: 12-18 months ~ choose pumps or tubes. These will help with contamination.
Exfoliants: 12-18 months If used in the shower keep the cap closed tightly to prevent water from entering.
Eye Cream: 12-18 months. Look for tubes instead of jars to prevent contamination. Again, if it has a strange odor or color, toss it
Lip Balm: 2 years. TIP: NEVER leave lip balm in the car. When it is exposed to heat for long periods of time it can go rancid!
With skincare use your common sense. Most times when they are going bad they will begin to smell funny or change colors.
Be one of the FIRST to see NEWLY listed items:
RSS FEEDS revealed!
Did you know that you can be alerted IMEDIATELY when we list a new item??
Would you like the convenience of shopping right from your desk top without opening your browser?
This is what RSS Feeds can do for you!!! It will give you up to the minute alert of when we list a new item. You will be able to see the picture, open the listing, add it to your watch list and more!
Many people (Including myself…I just learned about them a couple of weeks ago!) have no idea that RSS Feeds even exist! But it is an incredible tool that saves you the search for your favorite seller and it saves you from having to search out new items. It does it for you!
How can you get this great tool? Well it is sooooo very easy!! Click on the little orange RSS tag on the bottom of the store's main page and it will tell you exactly what to do!
Sales & Promotions:
15% OFF EVERYTHING in the store from January 26, 2008 until February 10,2008
We love to run sales because we love to save you money!!! So for the next couple of weeks we have taken 15% OFF EVERYTHING in the store!! (except for auctions) So it’s a great time to stock up on your favorite items or to try out a new one!!
How about CASH back on your purchases?
We now have a cash back rewards program that you can opt into when you make a purchase from us! There isn’t much you need to do but follow the instructions when you pay with PayPal! You will receive a 2% cash back reward on your 1st purchase and then up to 4% back on all repeat purchases!! So we not only give you WAY below retail prices, HOT SALES but now you can get cash back too!!
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Friday, January 18, 2008
Mistakes women make with their makeup
Top 10 Makeup Mistakes
#1 Dark lip liner paired with light lipstick
Quick Fix: Choose a lip liner that is close to the natural shade of your lips. If you DO use a darker liner then fill in the entire lip and top with a shiny clear gloss, not a light lipstick.
#2 Lip liner that extends beyond the natural lip line. While many seem to think this will make their pout look plumper it actually just makes it look sloppy.
Quick Fix: Line your lips to that the lines actually hug the natural lines of your lips. Line just the border. Add a lip plumping product (there are tons of them out there now!) Finish with a dab of shiny clear gloss in the middle of your bottom lip. It will reflect the light and give the elusion of a fuller pout!
#3 Drawn in Eyebrows! There is no way to make this NOT look clownish.
Quick Fix: Don’t worry, you don’t have to have that permanent surprised look of drawn in brows!! If you have very light or hardly there brows, use an angled brush with brow powder. Use the brush along the natural line of the brow all the way to the edge of the eye.
If your brows are super thin, try using short, feathery strokes with a pencil and then topping the brows with powder. This will give you a more natural look rather than the clown affect.
#4 Eye liner drawn WAY out beyond the corner of the eye.
Quick Fix: We all love the look of glamorous cat eyes, but you have to be careful not to go overboard! For a perfect eye, draw a line along the root of the lashes from the inner to outer corner. Slant the line upward slightly as you reach the outer edge. Do not extend the line any farther than a quarter inch pas your eye. Use your eyebrow as a guide, don’t extend any farther than the natural end of your eyebrow.
#5 Clumpy mascara. Is there anything worse than big chunks of mascara hanging off our lashes or your lashes clumped into only THREE lashes??
Quick Fix: To avoid these terrible clumps first wipe the mascara wand against the opening of the tube, this will get rid of any excess mascara. Then apply to lashes from the base of your lashes to the tops, wiggling the wand from side to side. This will give you a more even application and will avoid those annoying clumps! Before the mascara dries, use an eyelash comb or you can save some money and use an old toothbrush to comb thru your lashes to separate them and get rid of any excess.
#6 Blush clown cheeks.
Quick Fix: Blush shouldn’t be that obvious. It should give you a flushed natural glow. First thing to do is throw out that terrible little brush that comes with the blush compact! You will want a nice big fluffy soft brush which will distribute color much more evenly.
Dip the brush into the blush and then knock it gently on the back of your hand to get rid of excess powder then SMILE and apply in short, upward strokes right on the apples of your cheeks blending up to the hairline and ear.
If you apply too much? Don’t worry, just try a light dusting of translucent powder to tone the color down a bit.
#7 Bright Blue Mascara
Quick Fix: Don’t think that you CAN’T do a blue mascara, because it can be very polished and chic if done right.
Dark blue mascara such as a navy or indigo can help to brighten up the whites of your eyes which is great if you are tired or your eyes are bloodshot.
#8 Caking on foundation over bad skin.
Quick Fix: Caking the foundation over the problem skin isn’t only bad for the skin but it directs attention to the problem areas. If fine lines are your problem then try mixing a big of moisturizer in with your foundation. This will help the foundation to avoid defining the lines because it won’t seep into the lines. For blemishes try a mineral foundation which gives great coverage for those problem areas without drying and caking to the problem.
#9 Foundation line on your jaw.
Quick Fix: The first fix is to start with the right shade of foundation. This can be difficult and the best way to determine this is to head into the makeup counter in the department store so that you can actually TRY the foundation on before you buy it. Have the sales person help you pick a shade and try two to three colors out on your cheek and step out into the natural light with a hand mirror to see which color is right for you.
Always apply your foundation with a sponge. Your face and neck are often times different colors and a sponge will help you to blend the foundation in seamlessly to avoid that foundation line.
#10 Half lined eyes.
Quick Fix: Lining your eyes correctly means the difference between having big sexy eyes or dark small ones and in the case of half lined eyes, just plain silly looking eyes!
You will want to line your eyes all the way around, however a strong, hard line all the way around can make your eyes look small and close together. A softer line makes eyes look bigger and is the perfect solution.
Start by lining the top and bottom lids at the inner edge of the iris and extend the liner out to the corner of your eye. Smudge the liner gently in toward the inner corner of your eye to create a softer look.
Are you guilty of any of these makeup crimes?? Makeup can be tough and learning what is good on you and how to actually apply it can take time and practice.
Young, Carly. Are You a Cosmetic Clown?. Life Script. 22 Dec 2007. http://www.lifescript.com/
#1 Dark lip liner paired with light lipstick
Quick Fix: Choose a lip liner that is close to the natural shade of your lips. If you DO use a darker liner then fill in the entire lip and top with a shiny clear gloss, not a light lipstick.
#2 Lip liner that extends beyond the natural lip line. While many seem to think this will make their pout look plumper it actually just makes it look sloppy.
Quick Fix: Line your lips to that the lines actually hug the natural lines of your lips. Line just the border. Add a lip plumping product (there are tons of them out there now!) Finish with a dab of shiny clear gloss in the middle of your bottom lip. It will reflect the light and give the elusion of a fuller pout!
#3 Drawn in Eyebrows! There is no way to make this NOT look clownish.
Quick Fix: Don’t worry, you don’t have to have that permanent surprised look of drawn in brows!! If you have very light or hardly there brows, use an angled brush with brow powder. Use the brush along the natural line of the brow all the way to the edge of the eye.
If your brows are super thin, try using short, feathery strokes with a pencil and then topping the brows with powder. This will give you a more natural look rather than the clown affect.
#4 Eye liner drawn WAY out beyond the corner of the eye.
Quick Fix: We all love the look of glamorous cat eyes, but you have to be careful not to go overboard! For a perfect eye, draw a line along the root of the lashes from the inner to outer corner. Slant the line upward slightly as you reach the outer edge. Do not extend the line any farther than a quarter inch pas your eye. Use your eyebrow as a guide, don’t extend any farther than the natural end of your eyebrow.
#5 Clumpy mascara. Is there anything worse than big chunks of mascara hanging off our lashes or your lashes clumped into only THREE lashes??
Quick Fix: To avoid these terrible clumps first wipe the mascara wand against the opening of the tube, this will get rid of any excess mascara. Then apply to lashes from the base of your lashes to the tops, wiggling the wand from side to side. This will give you a more even application and will avoid those annoying clumps! Before the mascara dries, use an eyelash comb or you can save some money and use an old toothbrush to comb thru your lashes to separate them and get rid of any excess.
#6 Blush clown cheeks.
Quick Fix: Blush shouldn’t be that obvious. It should give you a flushed natural glow. First thing to do is throw out that terrible little brush that comes with the blush compact! You will want a nice big fluffy soft brush which will distribute color much more evenly.
Dip the brush into the blush and then knock it gently on the back of your hand to get rid of excess powder then SMILE and apply in short, upward strokes right on the apples of your cheeks blending up to the hairline and ear.
If you apply too much? Don’t worry, just try a light dusting of translucent powder to tone the color down a bit.
#7 Bright Blue Mascara
Quick Fix: Don’t think that you CAN’T do a blue mascara, because it can be very polished and chic if done right.
Dark blue mascara such as a navy or indigo can help to brighten up the whites of your eyes which is great if you are tired or your eyes are bloodshot.
#8 Caking on foundation over bad skin.
Quick Fix: Caking the foundation over the problem skin isn’t only bad for the skin but it directs attention to the problem areas. If fine lines are your problem then try mixing a big of moisturizer in with your foundation. This will help the foundation to avoid defining the lines because it won’t seep into the lines. For blemishes try a mineral foundation which gives great coverage for those problem areas without drying and caking to the problem.
#9 Foundation line on your jaw.
Quick Fix: The first fix is to start with the right shade of foundation. This can be difficult and the best way to determine this is to head into the makeup counter in the department store so that you can actually TRY the foundation on before you buy it. Have the sales person help you pick a shade and try two to three colors out on your cheek and step out into the natural light with a hand mirror to see which color is right for you.
Always apply your foundation with a sponge. Your face and neck are often times different colors and a sponge will help you to blend the foundation in seamlessly to avoid that foundation line.
#10 Half lined eyes.
Quick Fix: Lining your eyes correctly means the difference between having big sexy eyes or dark small ones and in the case of half lined eyes, just plain silly looking eyes!
You will want to line your eyes all the way around, however a strong, hard line all the way around can make your eyes look small and close together. A softer line makes eyes look bigger and is the perfect solution.
Start by lining the top and bottom lids at the inner edge of the iris and extend the liner out to the corner of your eye. Smudge the liner gently in toward the inner corner of your eye to create a softer look.
Are you guilty of any of these makeup crimes?? Makeup can be tough and learning what is good on you and how to actually apply it can take time and practice.
Young, Carly. Are You a Cosmetic Clown?. Life Script. 22 Dec 2007. http://www.lifescript.com/
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Prada, Chanel, Too Faced and More
Got in a HUGE ship yesterday and have been working on it like a mad woman!!! GREAT stuff came in!! Too Faced eyeshadows...LOVE the duos!! I would love a job naming cosmetics...or just colors. Some of the colors I got in are Suzy Ho Maker and Hollywood Ho Down! Who comes up with these names? It has to be a fun job!!!
I just uploaded 90 listings! Took me over 8 hours yesterday to do it! Business has been slow so hopefully it will pick up soon!
I am running a huge sale 35% off selected items in my store www.belasboutique.com I need to make room for new stuff in my warehouse!!! So hopefully this will help to sell some items that I have alot of.
I had someone file a dispute against me today. I have been working with this customer, they are in Thailand and their items it seems must be lost in the mail. It is very frustrating because it always feels like Ebay and Paypal are on the side of the customer. I realize the saying " The customer is always right" and I adhere to that but there are some instances that are out of my control. The United States Postal Service is one of those things that are out of my control. I am very careful with my packing, I ship within a few days most times next day after payment, but once I had the packages off to the mail lady, I really have no idea what happens to them and I cant help how they are handled, if they become damaged, lost or stolen. I encourage EVERYone to purchase shipping insurance. I have even gone as far as to now subscribing to a third party shipping insurance company because you can not insure 1st class international shipping thru the USPS, so with this company I can, I even upgraded my subscription last month to make the shipping insurance cheaper but everyone still declines it. So how can I be held responsible for something that happens in the mail? I have proof that I purchased the mailing label...why would someone spend the money for one and then not ship the items...I have incredible feedback, I am a very reputable seller, but now I have to wait for ebay's decision and which I am sure will go to the buyer, that seems to be what everyone says happens and I will not only be out the money but also the product. I understand why ebay does what they do, there are plenty of bad sellers out there that just take everyones money but its just really frustrating when I have been selling for as long as i have and my reputation doesnt seem to matter much. I have only had ONE other package go missing in three years of selling...I think thats a pretty good record and I have never had any sort of disupute filed against me. So we will see what happens.
I have been taking classes on how to improve my store. I have gotten it redesigned and I am now getting my About Me page redesigned along with my custom pages and my ebay blog. I am always looking for new ways to get my store up there on the search engines...hence the blogs!!! lol...I should just write in here about everything...its cheaper than a shrink I guess!
Anyway thats it for now!
I just uploaded 90 listings! Took me over 8 hours yesterday to do it! Business has been slow so hopefully it will pick up soon!
I am running a huge sale 35% off selected items in my store www.belasboutique.com I need to make room for new stuff in my warehouse!!! So hopefully this will help to sell some items that I have alot of.
I had someone file a dispute against me today. I have been working with this customer, they are in Thailand and their items it seems must be lost in the mail. It is very frustrating because it always feels like Ebay and Paypal are on the side of the customer. I realize the saying " The customer is always right" and I adhere to that but there are some instances that are out of my control. The United States Postal Service is one of those things that are out of my control. I am very careful with my packing, I ship within a few days most times next day after payment, but once I had the packages off to the mail lady, I really have no idea what happens to them and I cant help how they are handled, if they become damaged, lost or stolen. I encourage EVERYone to purchase shipping insurance. I have even gone as far as to now subscribing to a third party shipping insurance company because you can not insure 1st class international shipping thru the USPS, so with this company I can, I even upgraded my subscription last month to make the shipping insurance cheaper but everyone still declines it. So how can I be held responsible for something that happens in the mail? I have proof that I purchased the mailing label...why would someone spend the money for one and then not ship the items...I have incredible feedback, I am a very reputable seller, but now I have to wait for ebay's decision and which I am sure will go to the buyer, that seems to be what everyone says happens and I will not only be out the money but also the product. I understand why ebay does what they do, there are plenty of bad sellers out there that just take everyones money but its just really frustrating when I have been selling for as long as i have and my reputation doesnt seem to matter much. I have only had ONE other package go missing in three years of selling...I think thats a pretty good record and I have never had any sort of disupute filed against me. So we will see what happens.
I have been taking classes on how to improve my store. I have gotten it redesigned and I am now getting my About Me page redesigned along with my custom pages and my ebay blog. I am always looking for new ways to get my store up there on the search engines...hence the blogs!!! lol...I should just write in here about everything...its cheaper than a shrink I guess!
Anyway thats it for now!
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