Expiration Dates for Cosmetics, Skin- and Hair-Care Products

Hello there, friends!

Have you ever wondered how long your skin-care and make-up products remain safe to use once they’ve been opened? Do you know when you should throw away your products?

Boy, have I got news for you! What I’m about to share with you will change the way you view products – be it the ones you currently have or ones you will be purchasing. This, I promise you. And this tip is handy for both men and women. :)

Seen this symbol below before? Or perhaps you never really paid attention to it or understood what it meant.

Products usually have a number followed by the letter “M” and an open jar symbol that indicate when to throw them away after they’ve been opened. The letter “M” stands for the Latin word for month and the number refers to how many months. 

For example, if you see “24 M” with an open jar symbol (like the one in the photo above), this means that you should throw the product away 24 months after you've opened it. Simple, isn’t it?

These are a few products that have the same symbol, but with different expiration dates:

Glad Hair Day Leave-In Conditioner
(expires 24 months after opening)

The Body Shop Vitamin C Energising Face Spritz
(expires 12 months after opening)

Make Up For Ever HD Foundation
(expires 12 months after opening)

Sometimes, the expiry date is on the product itself; other times, it’s printed on the packaging. Keep your eyes peeled for this detail the next time you purchase a cosmetic or skin-care product!

This is a helpful guide for assessing which products need to be thrown away or how much longer you can use them:

• Mascara, Liquid or Gel Eyeliners: 4 to 6 months (always throw away dry mascara – don’t add water to extend its lifespan)
• Moisturisers, Serums, and Foundations: 6 months to 1 year
• Powder-Based Products: 2 - 3 years
• Lipsticks, Lip Gloss, and Lip Pencils: 2 - 3 years

Here’s another extremely use tip for you: if a product smells funky, looks “weird” (compared to when you first purchased it), or the texture has changed significantly, chuck it immediately!

For easy reference, I’ve also compiled a list of dos and don'ts to help make your products last:

DOs

• Store products in a cabinet or drawer, away from direct sunlight.
• Always wash your hands before using products.
• Tighten or secure caps after each use.
• Consider how climate and humidity will shorten a product's shelf life.
• Write the date of purchase in permanent ink (use a Sharpie) on the bottom or back of the package. This way you'll know the exact expiry date.
• Adhere to the expiration dates on sunscreens, acne products, and prescription medications such as topical antibiotics and Renova or Retin-A. 

DON'Ts

• Store products in direct sunlight.
• Share your products with others no matter how well you know them or how hygienic you think they are.
• Add water or saliva to thin out or remoisten products.
• Purchase products with broken seals or any signs of tampering.
• Use eye products after you’ve had an eye infection. Throw them away immediately no matter how much you like them or how much they cost!

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Always remember to make note of each product's expiry date. Use a Sharpie to write the expiry date on the product. You could even write the date on a small sticker, then stick it on the jar, container etc. Now you'll never have to worry about when your products expire!

Until my next update soon... Be good, stay true to yourself, and be the most beautiful version of yourself! :) xoxo

Signing off...

~ Lil' Missy ~

Product Review: Kate Somerville CytoCell Dark Circle Corrective Eye Cream

Hello, hello, everyone!!

I read a lot of reviews on this product before I bought it, and people were raving about it. It seemed like THE solution for those of us with dark circles and puffiness. So I headed to Sephora and got my hands on my very own Kate Somerville eye cream. Boy, was I excited to start using it!!

Read on to find out more about the product and my review on it.

Jar Packaging: No
Tested on Animals: No
Price: RM 316.00 (15 ml/0.5 Fl. Oz.)

Claims

CytoCell Dark Circle Corrective Eye Cream combines years of research and cutting-edge technology to reduce the visible signs of aging around the delicate eye area. This results-oriented formulation instantly alleviates the appearance of puffiness, diminishes dark circles, and dramatically reduces the appearance of fine lines.

Ingredients

Water, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Cetyl Esters, Behenyl Alcohol, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Arachidyl Alcohol, HDI/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Tetrahydroxypropyl, Ethylenediamine, Arachidyl Glucoside, Carbomer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Whey Protein, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Silica , Tin Oxide, Pyridoxine Tris-Hexyldecanoate, Methylisothiazolinone, Tropolone, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate, Polypeptide-72, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Mica, Titanium Dioxide

Lil’ Missy’s Review

Let me just tell you upfront that you can add this to the list of useless eye creams claiming to reduce dark circles and puffiness. I know this may sound a little harsh, but I'll tell you what works, what doesn't, and what's not a "must have" as it seems.

I used it for about 5 months, and it did nothing as claimed. Yes, I drank a lot of water and had sufficient sleep during this period. Still, no results as claimed. Not even the slightest.

This fragrance-free formula has a smooth and lightweight cream texture, which makes it easy to apply. However, it doesn't actually reduce the appearance of dark circles other than the strictly cosmetic effect from mineral pigments like Titanium Dioxide and Mica (the last two ingredients in the list above). These mineral ingredients don’t treat or lighten dark circles; instead, they add a reflective, slightly shiny finish on the skin around the eyes, simply making dark circles less obvious. If you’re going to fork out cash for a product that really just does only this, then you’re better off using a medium- to full-coverage concealer instead.

I’ve spent, literally, thousands of Ringgit on SO many different brands of eye creams, and ended up very frustrated and disappointed. These experiences were what led me to reading up extensively about eye creams and these pigments.

As for treating puffiness, this doesn't work. Truth of the matter is that most skin-care products are not the solution no matter how much they cost or what they claim. Puffiness around the eyes results primarily from fat pads shifting, and most skin-care creams don't actually address this. This sucks even for me! And, yes, reality does bite. :(

Many people have the perception that we “need” a separate, special product for our eye area. I know it’s hard to digest, but the ingredients capable of moisturising the eye area, and reducing dark circles and puffiness don't necessarily need to come from - and are often not included in - an eye cream.

Most eye creams, like this one, don't contain sunscreen, and that is a serious problem because it leaves the skin around your eyes vulnerable to sun damage, which makes dark circles and wrinkling worse! Our eyes need protection from the sun just like the rest of the skin on our bodies do. 

Pros

• Fragrance free.
• Smooth and lightweight texture.

Cons

• Very expensive. 
• Improves the appearance of dark circles only from cosmetic “brightening” pigments that add a little shine to reflect light.

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Here's an excellent tip that I've learned and personally follow: 

You can save money and care for your eye area by using your face product, if it is well formulated and appropriate for the skin type around your eyes. Bet you didn't know that. ;) 

I'm not saying that no eye cream works, but I've bought and used countless drugstore and high-end branded eye creams. I've also been to a skin specialist, and used the products they recommended. 

However, none of them worked for me. 

I have since stopped purchasing any eye cream, and use only my face products for my eye area. There have not been any side effects, and they moisturise and protect my eye area better than all the eye products I've used. I'm very happy with my skin-care routine! :)

I hope you find the review and tip helpful! I’ll be doing a YouTube video on my skin-care routine soon, and I'll be talking about what I do to care for my eye area. Stay tuned and look out for that! :)

xoxo
~ Lil’ Missy ~

Product Review: Olay Regenerist Night Resurfacing Essence

Hey, everyone!!

After a long leave of absence, I'm happy to announce that I'm back! :D No, I did not forget you. And, yes, I've missed you, my fellow followers and readers. Thank you for all your likes on my Facebook page, and for your support with the page and my Blog! Also, thank you for your messages asking if I'm okay! :) xx

I've had a very busy couple of months, and needed to focus on other matters: new job, new home, no Internet, yada yada yada yada. Everything's good, though, and it's all sorted now. And I'm BACK!! Woohoo! :D

Let's get right to it then!

In my continuous pursuit to find the right skin care over many years, I've had to use countless brands and products. By "right" skin care, I mean that the brands and products must:

1. Suit my skin (I have combination skin that's a little sensitive. Also, my skin gets a little dry because I'm exposed to air conditioning a lot).
2. Actually do what they claim.
3. Preferably have all the products I need in one range.
4. Not cost me an arm and a leg.

Off the top of my head, these are only some of the brands that I've used: 
SK-II, Clarins, Clinique, Simple, L'Oreal, Kate Somerville, Aesop, Origins, Avon, Bio-Oil, Dr. Brandt, Dr. Jart, Estee Lauder, Fresh, Garnier, GoodSkin Labs, Kiehl's, L'Occitane, Laura Mercier, Neutrogena, Nivea, Perricone MD, Peter Thomas Roth, philosophy, Pond's, Shiseido, St. Ives, StriVectin, Clean and Clear, and The Body Shop. Yep, I've really used countless brands and products. ;)

As you can see from the list, I've used brands ranging from affordable to very expensive. Unfortunately, most of the brands didn't do it for me - they were either too costly to maintain, worked for only a short duration, didn't do as claimed, or didn't suit my skin.

These past two months, I've been using Olay Regenerist Night Resurfacing Essence. In Malaysia, you'll find that this product is labelled by this name. However, in other countries like the USA, it's called Olay Regenerist Night Resurfacing Elixir. I don't know why they're named a little differently, but they're both the same product.

I bought it from Guardian at Bangsar Shopping Centre for RM 99.00 (normal price). It comes in only one size: 50 ml (1.7 fl. oz.). I've been to quite a few Watson's and Guardian outlets in PJ and KL, and they don't have it. Either that or they didn't have stock. I asked the assistants working at these outlets and they had no clue what it was.

(Photo Credit: www.impactpr.co.nz)

Claims

Resurface skin while you sleep for tighter, smoother skin when you wake. Olay Regenerist Night Resurfacing Elixir works each night to help gently resurface skin while you sleep for tighter, smoother skin when you wake - without the risk of harsh side effects associated with a professional chemical peel. When applied each night, the non-greasy, fast-absorbing formula with glycolic acid works over a normal sleep cycle to give you uninterrupted exfoliation while antioxidants and moisturizers continuously provide soothing hydration to tighten skin's surface.

Ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Glycolic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Propylene Glycol, Panthenol, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Allantoin, PEG-100 Stearate, Cellulose, Xanthan Gum, Cellulose Gum, Benzyl Alcohol, Titanium Dioxide, Mica, Iron Oxides.

Lil' Missy's Review

I was very skeptical at first because I've used so many products with minimal to no results. Let me just say that, after just one or two uses, I could see a difference! I've been using this product for about 2 months now and not only is my skin hydrated and more even-toned, but my blackheads and whiteheads have reduced too! I'm amazed to say the least. 

This product has a very light, silky, serum-like texture that provides slight hydration and a smooth finish. It is non greasy, and it exfoliates your skin while you sleep. No joke.

Each night, after cleansing your face and neck, apply this product. You need to use only one or two pumps at the most, then apply a thin, even layer on the face and neck (avoid the eye area). Once applied on the skin, it dries fast. You'll need to let it absorb for a few minutes before applying your night cream/moisturiser. 

The first time I applied it, I didn't wait. I immediately applied my night cream over it. As I was applying the cream on my skin, there were little white stuff on some areas that looked like my skin was peeling off. My skin wasn't peeling off - the white stuff were because I didn't allow the Essence to absorb into my skin. So remember to allow the Essence to absorb into your skin for a few minutes BEFORE applying your night cream/moisturiser.

Notes:
(i) The translucent pump bottle packaging should be stored away from light to preserve the efficacy of the antioxidants.

(ii) Although Olay positions this product as a moisturiser, it is first and foremost an AHA exfoliant. So those with dry skin will definitely need to apply a cream/moisturiser over this.

A bottle will last for many months, and is absolutely value for money. The photo below shows how much I've used daily for 2 months, and there's still a LOT left. How awesome is that?!

I’d highly recommend it for all skin types. I have 3 words for you: Buy It Now!

Let me know how it works for you. Leave me a comment on my Blog or Facebook page, or even send me an email or a message.

Olay Regenerist Night Resurfacing Essence

If you have an adverse reaction to this product, please seek medical consultation immediately.

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I enjoy making DIY skin care and body care stuff - it's fun and so much cheaper, but sometimes you need some products that are made by experts in a lab. For my skin, I do need the experts help sometimes. 

The Internet is amazing with what you can find online! Since starting my Blog last year, I've been researching and found some really cool stuff online. I've been experimenting and making some DIY stuff as gifts for friends and family. Perhaps I'll put them in my list and share them with you in my updates to come. 

Also, there'll be more reviews on Olay products. Yay, Olay!

Be good, be safe, and have fun, my lovelies!! :) xoxo

Signing off...

~ Lil' Missy ~

Skin-Care Tip: Cleanse Your Skin Every Night

Hey everyone!

Hope you're in your happy place today and ready for Christmas!!

Stop whatever else you're doing now and pay close attention. I've a very important tip for you:

If you don't already know this, always remember to wash your face before going to bed. A-L-W-A-Y-S. No matter how tired you are. This is a basic, handy tip to prevent your skin from looking dull.

We spend a good amount of time applying facial products and make up on our faces, so it's important that we take at least 1 minute to cleanse our skin every night. 

Overnight make up builds up, clogs pores, causes breakouts, stretches pores, and makes our skin look dull and older. Ack! We definitely don't want that! If you don't believe me, try leaving on your make up all day and night - for just one day - and see how your skin looks and feels the next day.

I'd recommend using an oil-free make-up remover that can remove even waterproof mascara without tugging your delicate skin. Use a facial cotton ball/pad to gently sweep the make-up remover over your skin. Then, follow up with a gentle facial cleanser and your usual skin-care routine.

If you're feeling a little lazy every now and then, use a moisturising wet wipe to clean your skin instead. I keep wet wipes by my bedside, and do this sometimes when I'm extremely tired; I wash my face first thing when I wake up. It really does help!

Nivea Refreshing Facial Cleansing Wipes are hydrating and do a good job of cleaning your skin! It's also suitable for sensitive skin and contact lens wearers. You can get these wet wipes from Guardian or Watsons.

Remember everyone: you need only 1 minute every night for cleaner, healthier skin. :)

Signing off...

~ Lil' Missy ~

Skin-Care Tip: Clean Your Make-Up Applicators Regularly

Hey everyone!

If you haven't been doing what the title of this post suggests, please start. Your skin will thank you for it. Seriously.

Read on to find out why! ;)

Make-up applicators such as compact/foundation powder sponges, eyeshadow brushes, powder brushes, and blusher brushes need to be cleaned regularly, especially if you use them on a daily basis.

Think about it: you use these applicators to pick up and apply products on your skin. When you do this on a daily basis, make-up residue collect in the applicators. Hence, when you keep using these applicators without cleaning them, you're basically applying new and old, dirty make up on your skin.

Still don't get it? Keep reading on.

Let's take a compact powder sponge as an example. We use it to apply powder on our faces and necks before stepping out of the house. Then, throughout the day, we're using the same sponge to reapply/touch up. The sponge will reapply the powder as well as pick up the oil and dirt from our skin. Eventually, we'll break out in spots or pimples because of this. In the process (and over time), you'll also find that the sponge doesn't apply powder well because it isn't clean and can't pick up the clean product. 

What I'd recommend is to wash your applicators with a gentle facial wash, hand wash, or shower gel at least 1 - 2 times a week. If you don't use the applicators daily, then once a week would suffice.

After cleaning your brushes - especially powder and blusher brushes - make sure you dry them either hanging upside down or upright. The reason for this is to prevent one side of the bristles from being flat. ;)

Clean Your Applicators for 3 Reasons:

1. Prevent your applicators and products from being the repository for oil and dirt from
    your skin.

2. Prevent your skin from breaking out in spots or pimples.

3. Make up applies better with clean applicators. 
    You'll notice the difference when you've washed your applicators. It's especially
    obvious with compact/foundation powder sponges.
    Also, when your applicators are clean, they pick up the products easily, which means
    that your products last longer because you're not using that much so frequently.

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Simple skin-care solutions like this go a long way.

So do your skin, products, and applicators a favour and look after them well. If you're already doing this, good job! If you haven't been, better late than never, so get going! :)

I'll be seeing you soon. Till my next post.. be good, be safe, and have fun! :) xx

Signing off...

~ Lil' Missy ~

Skin-Care Tip: How to Stop Licking Your Lips (Part 2)

Hey everyone!

This post is useful for everyone - women, men, and, perhaps more so, parents. It's a follow up to my previous skin-care tip: How to Keep Your Lips Moist.

Do you ever lick your lips constantly because they are dry? Do you have kids who do this constantly? If you said "yes" to either one or both of these questions, that's a bad habit that should stop. Read on to learn why.

Licking your lips constantly can develop into a rash that leaves a red ring around your mouth, which can irritate and cause pain. Needless to say, it's definitely not a handsome sight having a red ring around your mouth.

Please don't confuse this post with my previous one - the previous post was about keeping your lips healthy and moist; this post is about the effects of continuously licking your lips. 

Some people do have this condition, whereby they keep licking their lips so frequently until a red ring forms around their mouths. This is usually common with kids. One of my precious loved ones, who was in his early teens, kept licking his lips that kept getting more and more dry because of the licking. This continued until it developed into a rash around his mouth (like in the first photo below). :(

(Photo Credit: http://littletotsbigideas.blogspot.com/)

(Photo Credit: http://pediatrics.about.com/)

(Chapped Lips, Photo Credit: http://www.wisegeek.com/)

There's no need to panic, though. Let me inform you that this condition is not contagious and can be cured. If you know of anyone who has it, please be kind and don't shun them. :)

These are some ways to help get rid of the nasty red ring around the mouth:

Step 1: Use Vaseline

Apply Vaseline to the affected area each morning and night as it helps moisturise your lips. Avoid using flavoured Vaseline because it will only make you want to lick it off.

Step 2: Drink Water

Yes, here we go with water again. :p

It's important to keep your lips moist. Drink at least 8 glasses of water daily.

Step 3: Use a Medicated Lip Balm

Apply a medicated lip balm on your lips before having a shower or bath. The steam from the hot water will lock into your lips, making them less dry.

Burt's Bees has a medicated lip balm that is pretty decent, but pricey for the size. My precious used this and it worked for a while - it helped a bit, but he continued licking his lips even with the balm. Naturally, his condition got worse and we had to consult a doctor. I can't recall how much we bought it for, though. If I'm not mistaken, it cost us between RM 30.00 and RM 50.00 for a very small, thin tube.

Step 4: Mind The Cold Weather

For those of you living in cold climates, be especially careful when it's cold outside. Put on plenty of chapstick. Extremely cold weather conditions can cause very dry and cracked lips.

If you live in a fully air conditioned home or sleep in an air conditioned room, it helps to take note of this tip. Applying a lip balm while you're in the comfort of your home prevents dry and cracked lips. 

*     *     *     *     *     *     *

For kids who have this condition, parents will need to experiment with different methods to stop them from licking their lips. Usually, kids will stop when the rash begins to hurt. Parents, do your best to prevent it from reaching this stage because it can be very uncomfortable for your kids. My precious no longer has this condition, has learned to stop licking his lips, and has beautiful, healthy, plump pink lips. Love you, baby! :D

If the condition doesn't improve, I'd strongly recommend consulting a doctor.

I hope this helps all of you. Let me know your thoughts/comments/feedback. As always, I'd love to hear from you.

Have a blessed weekend, everyone! Be safe, be good, and have loads of fun! :)

Signing off...

~ Lil' Missy ~

Skin-Care Tip: How to Keep Your Lips Moist (Part 1)

Hey everyone!

Who among you would like to have naturally soft, kissable lips? Me! Me!! Meeee!!

I've several steps for all you women and men to follow and you'll be on your way to achieving this. Read on! To those of you who smoke, you'll definitely want to read this because smoking causes seriously dry lips!

Step 1: Do Not Lick Your Lips Constantly

Contrary to what some people believe, licking your licks ends up drying them out by subjecting them to your drying saliva, which contains food particles and other skin drying elements when exposed to Oxygen. Say what?

What this basically means is that the more you lick your lips, the more dry your lips become. To make matters worse, it also causes chapping. Yikes! Do you really want that? 

Here, try this for yourself: leave your lips bare (ie. free of lip balm, lipstick, or any lip product) for a while. Then, when you feel they're getting dry, lick your lips, then let them dry completely. Repeat the steps a few more times. Now, feel what happens.

Step 2: Use a Lip Balm

There are many lip balms or lip moisturises that work quite well. You could also try beeswax versions - they are cheaper and last, but are not good if you are allergic to honey. You have been forewarned. Stay away from beeswax lip balms if you're allergic to honey, honey! ;)

For the men, you always have the option of using unscented, unflavoured, clear lip balm. So there are no excuses. :p

For the make-up enthusiasts, besides moisturising your lips, lip balms are great because they make applying your lipstick much easier!

Step 3: Drink Lots of Water

Ideally, we should all be drinking at least 8 glasses of water daily. This makes perfect sense because a hydrated body will have naturally moist lips. Bla bla bla bla bla... Yes, yes, we're all aware that we need to drink loads of water, but how many of us actually do this DAILY? :p

Here's the wonder of water: drinking a lot of water hydrates your body and balances your body temperature, which in turn moisturise your lips and help give you clear skin. Now, THAT'S what we want! So drink up, people!

Step 4: Avoid Skin-Drying Products

Be careful of the type of lipstick or lip gloss that you wear - make sure that they are not the source of drying out your lips. Only you will know if your lippie products are drying your lips, so be alert.

*     *     *     *     *     *     *

I hope these tips help you in attaining gorgeous, kissable lips.

If the condition of dry lips persists or gets worse, please consult a doctor.

Until my next post, big kisses to all of you! :) xx

Signing off...

~ Lil' Missy ~

Use Your Toner To Clean The Back Of Your Neck

Have you ever worn a light-coloured blouse with a collar throughout the day, only to find the inside of the collar "dirty" (yellow-ish/black-ish)? 

I have. So have my friends. It looks dirty because it IS dirty - it's dirt from the back of your neck.

I'm not talking about the sides of the collar, people. Not the sides that sometimes have traces of powder/foundation from our jawlines and necks. I'm talking about the back - the part of the collar that has direct contact with the back of your neck.

I accidentally came across this particular tip during one of my daily cleansing-toning-
moisturing skin care routines. After I applied the toner on my face and front of my neck, I 
also applied it on the back of my neck. 

I've doing this for months now and not only is the back of my neck cleaner, the insides of my collared blouses are also cleaner! If you haven't done this before, then you should. 
TRY IT!

Here's what you do:

*Note: you can do this anytime; not just during your daily beauty rituals.

1. Put a little toner on a facial cotton.

2. Apply the toner on the BACK of your neck 
(like you usually would on your face and front of the neck).

3. That's it - there's no step 3. :p

It's a really simple, cheap and easy tip. Ever since I tried it, it's become part of my daily skin care routine because it really works. I've told my friends about it and they see the difference too. Trust me! Give it a go and let me know what you think.

Happy weekend, beauty lovers! :)