Low Maintenance Beauty Every Day

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

When it comes to skin care and makeup, I am all about low-maintenance beauty. We live in a day and age where time is of the utmost importance, and yet we read magazines and watch television ads and YouTube videos that highlight some of the most complicated beauty regimens. However, you should not feel the need to invest hours in your beauty regimen every day – you should instead specifically fine-tune your beauty routine to your needs in the morning so that you do not waste time overdoing your makeup and potentially appearing “overdone.” You will also save time by fine-tuning your regimen and refocus your energy on facial features that you want to emphasize for the day and/or night.

Here are some of my tips for a quick, low-maintenance beauty regimen:
1) Invest time and energy in understanding what you like about your face and emphasize that feature with the right makeup for you:
For example, I really like my eyes and my lips, so I enjoy spending energy and money on good products that highlight them. For these features, I only tend to wear deep black eyeliner that does not run easily, and muted red lipsticks that don’t rub off easily, and have a smooth matte look.

2) Invest energy in maintaining a nice and clean, bright complexion:
Despite what makeup advertising may say, a great foundation will not function at its best on skin if the person does not really take care of the skin by washing it with the right facial soap, exfoliating it regularly, and using the right lotion, astringent, toner, etc. (if needed). You need to find the right skin care regimen for you and stick with it. You also need to take care of your skin in the morning AND at night. For example, you may have a great beauty regime in the morning, but do not forget to carefully remove all of your makeup and wash your face at night – otherwise you may frustrate your skin, and potentially cause skin issues in the future. Avoid the potential headache and remove makeup every night, and go through whatever motions are necessary for your particular type of skin.

3) Organize your beauty items in order to save time:
If you want to save time in the morning and at night, make sure to place your beauty items in the right location on your beauty stand, bathroom, etc. so that you can utilize them efficiently without any frustration and/or complication. I like to take some time to organize my beauty table once a week so that everything is in its right location so I can sit down at the table, put on what I like, and then continue on with my day (I’m not a fan of spending a long time searching for a misplaced eyeliner or mascara tube in the morning!).

4) Regularly replace old makeup:
Don’t hold on to makeup for too long. I know a lot of us may have eye shadow or mascara that we hold dear to our hearts and would never want to throw away, but - if the item is too old, you may be applying bacteria, etc. to your skin and potentially cause annoying skin problems. Fitness Magazine explored this topic in their article, "When Should I Throw My Old Cosmetics Out?" (excerpt copied below):
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cosmetics - both skin care and makeup - aren't meant to grow old with you. "Products are developed to last a year or two," says Peter Pugliese, M.D., a skin physiologist in Reading, Pennsylvania. However, contamination can occur at any time, since makeup is always in contact with germ-prone areas like your eyes, mouth and fingers. In general, always toss anything that has changed color or consistency or has a bad odor. Otherwise, use these guidelines to assess the shelf life of common beauty products.

-Most powders, concealers and lip balms are anhydrous (they don't contain water), so they can last for a couple of years, says Dr. Pugliese.
-Cleansers and moisturizers often contain fatty acids, which can turn rancid quickly. Toss after six months.
-Multiuse products such as 3-in-1 sticks and creams can spread germs from lips to eyes and cheeks. Wipe the surface before switching areas, and discard or replace after six months.
-Pencils can last several years unless you wet the tip with saliva or water. To be safe, sharpen before each use.
-Mascara should be tossed after three months without fail. The tube is a breeding ground for bacteria," says Dr. Pugliese.
-Foundations can last up to a year if you keep your fingers away from the bottle. Instead, use a sponge to apply.
-Store cosmetics in a cool, dry place outside the bathroom to extend their shelf life.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

And my final tip:
5) Vary up your quick routine and have fun with it!
Don’t feel locked into the same beauty routine – you may eventually get bored with it all together. After you have thrown out your old makeup, why not visit a beauty counter and see what else strikes your fancy? You have the luxury of varying price point makeup options, so figure out how much you are willing to spend, and have fun with your look. You are a beautiful, living and breathing palette to be explored, and as your own personalized artist, you may as well take advantage of your unique creativity and have fun with your look every now and then. ;)