Beauty
Ksenia Vagner explains where and how you should store your beauty products
Photo © Corbis
Photo © Corbis
Photo © Corbis
Photo © Getty Images
At home
Home is your beauty-castle, the main depository of magic bottles and jars of cosmetics. Let’s start with perfumes. Rule number one — keep them away from direct light. So forget about window sills of shelves exposed to direct sunlight. Under the influence of sunlight the fragrance oxidizes, changes its color and even scent. Bathroom is not a good idea either due to excessive humidity. While a locker in the bedroom or a living room would be just perfect.
You can keep face and body creams in your bathroom only if the temperature there is under 25 degrees. But as for creams, it is more important how you use them, not where you keep them. You must not out your fingers in it, despite it is really convenient and easy to use it this way. Don’t put your fingers in the jar though it seems so handy as every time you do it you could be introducing bacteria. almost all good product come with a special spatula and it’s not for the sake of fun but a hygiene necessity. Before every use clean the spatula with a cotton pad with alcohol lotion.
Don’t forget to close cream jar tightly before uses. Air assist in of the cream formula. Also remember that the cream is good for about three months after opening. if it has changed its color, become thicker or started to smell oddly – time to be on alert.
Expiration date of for decorative cosmetics is longer than for the care products. However, the hygiene issues are no less important. Disinfecting make-up sponges and brushes is a must. Yes, it sounds like a sentence to lazybones, but makeup tools should be cleaned after EVERY USE. Otherwise you risk to bloom with acne and to hurt your skin badly. As for eye shadows, blushers and other hard powdered beauty-stuff, you can clean with sanitizers disinfectants – for example, from Beauty So Clean. And remember: number one taboo: never ever sharing your beauty stuff, even with your best friend.
One of the worst parasites in the world – subcutaneous mite – is transmitted in such a way. Getting rid of it is extremely difficult, because the most effective medicines haven’t been certified in Russia yet.
In the car
Top priority here is disinfection. It is unlikely that even one of us gets into the car with immaculately clean hands. Touching just an elevator button is an evil.
Just imagine how many people per a day click press it, except you. And what about your gadgets? We touch our iPhone screen at least hundred times a day and not always with clean fingers.
If you touch up your makeup in the car, be sure to sanitize hands with antibacterial wipes or a special gel.
The second car essential is thermal water. Firstly, it will invigorate and refresh you, and secondly, provide with some moisture, which is never enough in the big city. Aromatic balm on you temples (e.g. mint) – is a remedy for those who are often stuck in jams, it relieves headaches and stress (just remember – do not overdo it, not to lose concentration). Also, you should always keep a bottle of drinking water and a couple of snacks like Bite energy bars in your glove compartment just in case. Do not let hunger run wild – it’s bad both for your stomach, and brain.
If you are the woman who applies her make up behind the wheel at traffic lights – it means your car beautician should be simple and manageable. Say no to matte lipstick – they are difficult to adjust and even more difficult to completely remove. Say yes to nude lip gloss or a new word in the beauty industry – lip tints. They nourish and moisturize, add a beautiful shine and their pigments are intensified gradually so you will shine in all your glory but the time you reach the office. And, you can buy a two-in-one lip and chick tint – it works like a lip gloss and blusher. Due to its liquid structure it is often applied directly with your fingers and blended without clear boundaries – you can find such tints in Dior or Benefit.
As for mascara, choose those with narrow and not too “fluffy” brushes – they are less likely to leave traces on the eyelids. Instead of a liquid foundation throw in cream-to powder with a sponge (or a bb-cream with integrated sponge applicator, for example, 3Lab) into your bag – it is much easier and faster to shade. And instead of classic shadow – a pencil or a kohl, which can be used either for the entire eyelid or to make a thin line (my favorite kohl is Maybelline New York).
In the office
Maximum results in minimum time is the main rule of every second businesswoman. It concerns beauty-routine too. What do you need to freshen up in the middle or in the end of the workday? First of all, pink blushers. Not like Barbie has, but a cold cool pastel pink . It freshens up the face, even if you have spent the whole day in front of a computer in a stuffy office. Also you need a good curling mascara – the more curvy your eyelashes look more the open your gaze becomes. Moreover you need light eye shadows with glossy shine elements – even if you don’t use them for everyday makeup. A bit of such eyeshadows in the corners of the eyelids will make your eyes look less tired.
If you have rebel hair, dry shampoo can be tour solution – it banishes oily hair roots and adds volume. One of the best is Sebastian Professional Drynamic Dry Shampoo.
Text: Ksenia Vagner/ Allure-Russia editor in chief
