Unfortunately, unlike the make-up line with the name, make-up may last a day, but it does not last forever! I love to get the most value for my make-up so it's always a difficult day when I have to clean out my kit. But for the sake of being plain old sanitary, a little bit of pain is worth it! Here are some guidelines for when it's time to let go, as difficult as it may be:

EYES
i). MASCARA
Each time you open the mascara tube, remove the wand and insert it back in, it pumps air into the tube which promotes for the growth of bacteria inside the tube. It's best to not mess with a sensitive area like the eyes. Watch out for telltale signs...as soon as it starts to smell funky, it's time to say goodbye!
Life span: 2-3 months

NOTE: Same rule applies to liquid liner. your eyes will thank you for it!

ii). PENCIL EYELINER
Pencil is usually good for a year, as long as it is sharpened frequently. Provided you use it frequently enough, most eyeliner pencils do not make it to the one year mark before you need a new one. If the eyeliner was once creamy, and you notice the product has lost its potency and no longer goes on smoothly, it's definitely toss-it time.
Life Span: 1 year

FACE
i). POWDER
Of all items, powdered products generally last the longest. Just like any other make-up product, they contain preservatives that help them to last longer. Once these puppies are first used, I would say using them for the next 18 months to maximum 2 years at best. Anything older than that...well, that gives you an excuse to go make-up shopping!
Life Span: 18 months - 2 years

ii). CONCEALER
Depending on its formulation, concealer can last anywhere from 6 months to 1 year. Liquid concealers tend to have a shorter life span, where as the pot concealers (that have a thicker, paste consistency) tend to go the one year duration. Concealer is generally used everyday and is one of the make-up products that is exposed to air more frequently which allows room for bacterial growth. When using concealer, make sure you use clean brushes always to avoid cross-contamination and to reduce the appearance of bacteria.
Life span: 6 months to 1 year

iii). BLUSH
Anytime a product is exposed to air or a brush that has been in direct contact with your skin and then used back and forth between the product and skin, the chances for bacteria to grow increase. This is why it is important to use clean tools all the time. Brushes should be cleaned after each use.
Life Span: 18 mos - 2 years

LIPS
i). LIPSTICK
Some people will advise that lipstick can last up to 2 years. Lipsticks are comprised of preservatives and a host of different waxes to give the product its longevity. I find usually by the 18 month point, lipstick tends to not blend/apply in the same manner and it becomes a bit tougher to work with. As soon as lipstick starts to smell or glide on funky, treat your lips to some new products.
Life Span: 18 months - 2 years

ii). LIPLINER
Similar to pencil eyeliners, lipliners can last up to one year, provided that they are sharpened regularly. Since the mouth area can harbour a lot of germs and bacteria, it is better that you sharpen your lipliner everyday. I would suggest spraying it with 99% alcohol to ward off any bacteria, but the concentration of alcohol would dry out the the lipliner before you maxed out its usage.
Life Span: 1 year

Where to find: MAC counters
Price: $16
What It Claims: "Shades for a smooth, creamy, cushiony life, jet-milled with an eye for ultimate luxury, beyond-Tinseltown-chic."
Review: love it
Anyone who has had their make-up done by me knows my technique of how I love to do things in layers for more staying power, particularly the use of cream eyeshadow coupled with powder eyeshadow on the eyes.

MAC Starflash eyeshadows have enough stick like a powder eyeshadow, but still leave a smooth and shiny finish on the eyelids. The product formula lives up to its "Starflash " name, with a camera-ready sparkle that lasts. I've tried and tested these at my everyday 9-5 work, and they withstood the crease-proof test of 8 hours, which is amazing for eyeshadows, especially ones that are more creamy in texture.

Starflash is perfect to use when trying to achieve the metal eyes look that's been hot for summer. Keep in mind that the Starflash collection is limited edition, so stock up while they still have them and/or before I buy them out!!

On June 26th , I had the opportunity to work with Arlene for her big day. The day started off a bit rainy, but by the time the ceremony was set to roll around, the sky had cleared and the sun and Arlene were shining.

Here are some wonderful pics courtesy of Arlene's close friend, Carleah Phoenix Goodard.

Most women prefer not to bother with eyeshadow as they find it tends to fade away and/or gravitate towards the crease of the eye by the end of a typical work day's length. Hopefully, the following 4 steps will help you find ways to make your eyeshadow last you through your 9-5. You don't have to do all the steps, I've put an asterisk by the ones I do daily.

• Prep the eyelid with eye primer or a mattifying gel. Similar to foundation primer, eye shadow primer acts as a base for eyeshadow to cling to and absorbs excess oils of bare skin.
• Dot some concealer all over your eye lids, blend and finish by patting some powder on top to seal it, blend and smooth it out with a sponge to prep for eyeshadow application.
• On top of the concealer and powder layer, apply a layer of cream eyeshadow (see picture 1), then finish with a powder eyeshadow layer. When applying both these products, use a stiple motion to apply and blend. (see picture 2)
  Using a stipling/patting motion, rather than a wiping back and forth motion, helps to build up the product in a controlled manner and prevent what you have already applied from being wiped away.
• *Use an eyeshadow brush to apply powder eyeshadow and blend, blend, blend. Add layers to desired intensity (see picture 3).
  Why use an eyeshadow brush? It's a lighter touch than your fingers and unlike your fingers, it is clean of oil residue that can make applications look blotchy when applied directly from the fingers. A brush is way easier to apply eyeshadow with, and it helps to give you control in that small eyelid area!
  

Unfortunately, there's no way to prevent the natural oil process that leads to creasy make-up from happening on the eyes. Keep in mind that oily lids are not necessarily a bad thing - we need a basic amount of those natural oils to keep the skin around the eyes moisturized and young-looking. It does take a little more time, but applying eyeshadow with the tricks above will help to reduce migration of eye make-up towards the crease...and any midday frustration that usually derives from the need to re-apply!

Still no luck with the suggestions above?
If none of the tips mentioned above works for you or your schedule, stick to light 'base' colours (champagne, taupe, peach, cream colours) for your eyeshadow. These will help to brighten and highlight the eyelid area, but 'creasing' will not be as apparent, as the lighter colours are less obvious when they gather in the crease.

Good luck everyone and let me know if you find any success (or struggles) with these tips!
Recommended products:
i). cream eyeshadows: MAC Paints, MAC Paint Pots, NARS Cream Eyeshadow
ii). powder eyeshadows: INGLOT, MAC, Christian Dior, most luxury brands

Where to find: www.yazmo.com
Price: $150 and up (depending on size)
Review: love it
If anyone is in the market for make-up cases, try Yazmo for some unbeatable prices:

A couple of months back, I did some damage and bought a full-size rolling make-up case at $250 CDN and a set bag with removable trays for about $150 CDN. For the full-size rolling case, the comparable price range at a Canadian retailer was $400 to $600 CDN (see Industry Cosmetics to compare).

You need to only walk into your local Sephora or check out www.industrycosmetics.com to see how inflated/ridiculous some Canadian pricing is, especially when our dollar has been doing relatively better than past years!

Aside from the reasonable prices, what I love about the cases from Yazmo is that they both contain removable trays that are standard size. I can easily transfer trays back and forth between the large case and the set bag without the constant need to reorganize everything! The trays also come with dividers that allow you to resize its compartments (see picture at right).

If anyone has any other deals and/or steals, please do share!