Cosmetic Shelf Life

Expiration dates are nothing more than a guideline for how long your product "should" last. Do you try your best to keep the product applicator clean? Applicators or even container pump spouts can be a breeding ground for bacteria.

At the recent LA Makeup Show my Makeup Artist (MUA) friends were sharing stories of how they've seen some pretty disgusting containers of products. People tend to not think about what they may be putting on their skin. They also tend to not think about how to properly handle these products over long periods of time. All the good MUAs spend a lot of time cleaning brushes. The canvas these artists create their magic on is your skin. They want it healthy.

When it comes to lip products, wash your hands well if you dip your finger tip in a small jar to apply a creme. Better yet, use a q-Tip or other sterile applicator. Avoid repeated dips back into the jar because with each application to your lip you're picking up some bacteria. We can always clean our face but we cannot clean the product in the jar. I suppose this is why some companies have huge amounts of preservatives in their products, particularly Parabens.

Eye Cremes can also be a problem if handled improperly. You can use the same precautions as a lip creme. This is especially true for mascara. Be careful about touching the brush and try to avoid adding water, or worse, using saliva to dampen a dry brush. If you notice, all of these products come in small containers and should not be used more than a few months for this very reason.

At jeune d'age Organics Skincare we hold our inventory in a climate controlled storage area. Never leave a cosmetic product in the sun or an area with excessive heat. And, yes, you should consider keeping some products in the refrigerator if the container lasts a long time and is a natural/organic based product. If the product contains a lot of Parabens, well then, you could probably keep them next to your Twinkies.

The Benefits of Pumpkin for Your Skin

As a precursor to jeune d'age organics releasing a Pumpkin Masque I thought I'd write a lil' somethin' about Pumpkin and how great it is for your skin. Pumpkin contains more than 100 beneficial nutrients. It’s high in anti-oxidants, in particular beta carotene, a precursor to Vitamin A and an excellent free radical fighter. It's also rich with Vitamins C and E, and several B vitamins and is high in potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, and copper. To top it off protein provides essential fatty acids. Pumpkin is a rich source of enzymes that mimic the benefit of alpha-hydroxy acids. Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA) increase the rate of cell renewal. If you have any sensitivities to AHAs pumpkin enzymes make a great natural alternative.

Pumpkin is an excellent ingredient for masques as it unclogs pores - removing impurities - and softens the skin. It has great exfoliating properties because of the enzymes but you can add Organic Sugar Cane to make it that much better...more on that in another article.

Putting all this together we get a product that unclogs pores, exfoliates and stimulates cell renewal.

A gentle Toner and protective lotion is important after a pumpkin treatment, actually anytime after exfoliating and cleansing.

Oh, one more thing. I always say "take care of your skin on the inside and out" so go get yourself a slice of Pumpkin Pie! :)