BOTW: Budget Fashionista

BOTW = Blog of the Week


Hello, friends! Meet The Budget Fashionista, a beauty and fashion site that can instantly become your bestfriend!

The Budget Fashionista

Owner: Kathryn Finney

I came across this site when I was scouting for resources for one of my cosmetic entries, the "Yes Girl, Make-ups Expire." Although the site's over-all appearance and format is simple (just a white background and sporadic pictures), my peepers instantly gave it attention because it looks very classy. I think that The Budget Fashionista is a rather gigantic girl-site already (it has a book, by the way) - and so I won't be surprised why this online space is so well-pulled together.

Why you must visit it:

• Budget Fashionista will teach you how to become beautiful while keeping your wallet intact


• It is a one-stop place for all things you need to know regarding beauty, fashion, shopping, steals, and deals


• You'll get the latest scoop about celebrity fashion styles


• It provides heavenly tips for clueless femmes about using make-up and creating a look


• You'll be updated about fashion trends - what's hot, and what's not!


• The page is clean, there aren't too many (or humongous) ads grazing the whole screen


• It shouts girl power!

The Drawbacks:

• Deals posted are only for US-based consumers (sigh)


• It caters more to mature young/old adults - young teens can't relate to some posts that much

Most favorite category: Celebrity Look for Less

Least favorite category: Online Sample Sales

(because I can't avail of it)

Chopstick Lady's Rating: Subscription Magnet

How about you?

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Yes Girl, Make-ups Expire

“Unopened, well-formulated cosmetics can remain stable for a couple of years at room temperature, but the clock starts once you bring a product home and open it. When air hits the formula, certain ingredients start to oxidize and degrade."

-Ni’Kita Wilson, cosmetic chemist, Cosmetech Laboratories, Fairfield, NJ

Even if THAT make-up came with a hefty price tag, you can do nothing but toss it out once it hits the D-line and starts to look like - well, not the way you bought it. Yes, make-ups have expiration dates and you have to be on guard whether what you're using is way past its shelf life.

Lipstick and Lipgloss

Image via Wikipedia

Shelf Life: 1-2 years

Lip talk: Lipsticks contain water, an element that promotes bacterial growth. After two years, you need to throw it out of your purse.

Lipliner

Image via Wikipedia

Shelf Life: 2 years or more

Shape your lips: Lipliners last a little longer because a new, clean surface comes out whenever you sharpen it. Just do take note that you have to sanitize your cosmetic sharpener too before using! 

Face Make-up

Shelf Life: 6 months (liquid), 2 years (powder)

Retouch: A liquid foundation is more likely to catch germs because of the way it is used. Frequent dipping of your brush or fingers to the foundation transfers bacteria. Aside from cleanliness issues, foundations also become uneven if applied when they're already expired. Powder foundations last longer because they have no water content. However, if the powder contains aloe or jojoba, it becomes hard and crumbles after a long time. Another piece of advice too - use a clean sponge for your powder or cake foundation. 

Eyeliner

 Shelf Life: 3 months (liquid), 6 months (pencil)

Beautiful eyes: Liquid eyeliners are stored in bottles that are dark and wet - the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive and multiply. On the other hand, pencil eyeliners (like pencil lipliners) have more shelf life than liquid ones because a new surface comes out whenever you sharpen it.

Eye Shadow

Image by kurafire via Flickr

Shelf Life: 6 months (cream), 2 years (powder)

Add some color: A powder eye-shadow lasts longer because it contains no water as compared to the cream one. However, if you did wet a powder shadow, you need to toss it out post six months too. Plus, if its shade fades when applied, it's game over. 

Image via Wikipedia

Mascara

Shelf Life: 3 months

Lengthen your lashes: Just like liquid eyeliners, mascara tubes serve as sanctuaries for bacteria. Cristina Bartolucci (make-up artist) says that to prevent drying-out your mascara fast, don't pump its wand. Instead, draw it out in a twisting motion.

Remind yourself:

With all the work to do and busy life to live, who would care much about remembering a make-up's demise? Keeping track of your make-up's shelf life can be difficult - yet you can always be resourceful. Keep a journal or put a small expiration date label on your cosmetic using a masking tape. If you want, you can be extra creative by printing girly stickers (with the expiration dates) - you're not just doing yourself a favor but you're also prettifying your beauty arsenal! 

If you're the techie kind of gal, you can use the help of technology by using a Cosmetic Calculator. It's a program that reveals the expiration date of a cosmetic using its batch code or lot number.

It's always heart-breaking to throw something you know is precious like your favorite make up. But life's like that. No matter how important a thing is to us, when it's time to let it go - let it go!

Good thing though, when it comes to cosmetics you can always buy a new one or find something better than the one you threw away. Save yourself from all infections, allergies, and skin diseases - know when to throw your make-up, girl!

Don't forget: You can be a Scrooge for items that expire easily, but do invest big in make-ups that last longer. Moreover, do not settle for "extremely cheap" make-ups just for the reason that you're gonna toss it out anyway. Remember, you put make-ups on your FACE - a beautiful one deserves nothing but the best.

Topic source: Good Housekeeping

Related articles

• The Shelf Life Of Your Makeup (bellasugar.com)


• Keep Track of Your Makeup's Shelf Life With These Stickers (bellasugar.com)


• What to Purge While Spring-Cleaning Your Makeup (bellasugar.com)


• Dump My Makeup? Why?! (hellobeautiful.com)

Fashion Blog Finds

Today, I did some blog-searching over the net to find inspiration from other bloggers and to just sneak around in their world. I've found blogs that are REALLY so fabulous and adorable I couldn't help but get jealous! If my blog is compared to theirs, mine will be like a tiny seed and theirs will be like a tall, sturdy, tree already!

I'm not really into fashion, but  I really adore these blogs that I came across with.

Camille Tries to Blog

I don't know if it's just me or Camille is just one hot Siren blogger!

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="169" caption="Camille, owner of Camille Tries to Blog"][/caption]

Her blog is really "high-fashion." She posts about her latest fash activities and ultra-feminine looks. I'm not really a trend guru but if I can rate her style I'd label it as classy and glamorous. Check out her blog giveaways too - super expensive items! I just sooooo wish my blog can be like hers someday!

Female Network

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="226" caption="Female Network, the site for online Filipinas"][/caption]

Actually, Female Network is not just a blog - it is a site sponsored by Summit Media (the leading publisher of popular Philippine magazines). I definitely love this site. It's very informative, girly, and fun to read! It has categories of almost all things that interest girls like fashion, beauty, relationships, etc. It offers tips from simply taking care of your body to repairing a broken relationship. And what I really adore about this site are the freebies and contests! Seriously, I can spend the whole day reading posts in this online network. If you are a smart gal, then you'd really love this!

I ultimately like one of the site's posts about single women. You can check out the link and read the post about songs that reveal the power of being single.

Bookmarked

Don't give me that look - I know this one is not a fashion blog, but I just think it deserves to be in my list here today. This blog is all about books. It is owned and managed solely by Blooey Singson , a self-confessed book addict who claims to hoard tons of books wherein she can almost make a house out of it.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="960" caption="Click image to visit the site"][/caption]

I know there are gazillions more blogs out there which are just sitting pretty in the nooks and crannies of the Internet (like what Chopstick Lady is doing). I know I wouldn't be able to explore everything - but taking a peak from time to time of what bloggers before me are doing with their blog gives me the inspiration to just continue my writing interest.

If you've got blogs to share, do give me a quick message!

That's it - till next blog-spotting!

Note: All pictures used in this post belong to the blog owners. A direct link to their site is available upon clicking the photo.

Five Must-Carry Things Before Jumping Out

Thought Bubble: Jumping Out?

No, it's definitely not committing suicide! It's just about jumping out of your doorstep upon going out of your house = jumping out (what a lame term for me to use!). Anyway, here's the real post (arrow down please!)

"Where are my keys?"

Have you ever stepped out of your house when you've suddenly realized you forgot something? I mean, it could be your keys, your school ID. . . or worse - your ultra-yummy lip-gloss!

Forgetting something is normal. Yet, to forget something, especially if it's really essential can result to a very bad day + bad mood sometimes. I do always forget things - and it's annoying. The feeling that you KNOW where you left your phone, money, ID, lip gloss and keys but just FORGOT to grab them before heading off to school is just so MEAN and downright heart-piercing. I always do blame myself and my unreliable memory for these lapses - and I thought to myself that I should do something to stop forgetting things!

And so. . .

I came across an article in a magazine and this helped me a lot in remembering "my essentials" before jumping off my abode. Thanks to Candy magazine, I've learned a very simple tip that I will share to you. . . (drum roll please). . .

Heading off somewhere? Don't forget your PMILK.

Okay, PMILK is not some dirty flirty little acronym for something stupid. This thing actually stands for Phone, Money, ID, Lip gloss and Keys. Very simple to remember, isn't it?

After I used this little tip, I've never had any forget-those-again-and-you'll-die moments ever. In fact, I've been so amazed about how my brain and usually unreliable memory adapted to it. Before I go out of my room and head for the doorstep, it became my habit to think of PMILK and check if I have those items.

Seriously, those are essentials?

Okay, okay. I thought maybe some of you will argue with me about the "essential" and "must-carry" labels. I don't know what your profession is - or if you're still a student or what - but I do believe that these five things (e.g. phone, money, ID, lipgloss, and keys) are actually important for most individuals to survive in their ordinary (or even special) days of living.

Like c'mon, can you stand a day without your phone? Yeah, you can survive but - you'll be tortured as hell thinking of who could have messaged or called you already. Secondly, money is essential. Without your wallet, how can you buy things or even pay for the fare? Third, if you're a student then IDs are like your gateway to seeing you're cute professor (unless you've got none). Fourth, a lip gloss is every girl's bestfriend. Lastly, without your keys, can you get in your car/house/room/etc?

Getting into the habit

They say it takes 29 days to develop a habit - that's like a month of practicing PMILK before jumping off your house. Nevertheless, in my case, it took at least a week before I've digested this into my system. Goodluck to you if you're going to use it.

Remember:

P - hone

M - oney

I - D

L - ipgloss

K -eys

It's time to teach your memory how to function. Again, goodluck!