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Warning... you could be about to have a makeup clear out! Just like food did you know each of our beauty products from makeup to skincare have an expiry date? Would you know where to find it on your products? If the answer is NO, you need to read this! Have you seen these symbols on your products? This is your product expiry date also know as PAO (period after opening) symbol. The 'M' stands for months i.e. 12m = 12 months. It starts when you open it or from first use. These are located either on the outer packaging or on the product itself. I know your about to look at your products now to see if it's there! Expiration is important as the product may no longer perform the same. They can also be a home to lots of bacteria which can cause nasty eye infections, acne and bumps on the skin. The expiry varies by product depending on the formula and ingredients. Natural products will of course degrade quicker. However, I have put together guidelines to help below which also contains some tips on how you can tell if they are past their best: Foundation and Primers Shelf life: 6 months to 1 year If you notice your foundation starts to separate, it’s definitely time to toss it. Lipstick Shelf life: 1 year It’s time to toss your favorite lip products when you notice a change in their texture either dry or goopy. Brow and Eye Liner Pencil Shelf life: 1 year Pencils last longer than most eye products since they’re constantly being sharpened. Mascara Self life: 3 months Switching your mascara regularly is incredibly important to avoid eye infections. Replace sooner however, if you notice the formula gets clumpy or starts to smell funny, which means it’s gone off. Liquid Eyeliner Self life: 3 months Just like mascara switch up sooner if you notice it starts to get clumpy. Blusher, Powder and Highlighter Self life: 2 years One of the longer lasting makeup products powder can last up to a full 2 years. Eyeshadow Self life: 6 months Powder shadows can last just as long as powder blush. However, they should be replaced more often since they’re used around your eyes to prevent infection. Nail Polish Self life: 1 to 2 years Store your polish in a cool dry place as heat and direct sunlight will make it separate and become discolored faster. Gel liner Self life: 2 months One of the shortest life spans in the beauty industry! Unfortunately, a pot of gel eyeliner easily traps bacteria. Beauty Blender/Sponges Self life: 3 months A beauty sponge should be replaced every 3 months to prevent bacteria being harbored which will cause dreaded outbreaks. Perfume Self life: 8 to 10 years Stored correctly your favorite fragrances can last almost a decade making it one of the longest lasting in your collection. To keep them their best store away from direct sunlight and some brands even recommend keeping them in the fridge!! Tell tale signs this is starting to expire is the scent was not the same as the original. I hope you found this useful beauties. Please remember to share with your friends so they don't have bacteria playgrounds in their makeup collection!

WARNING: By reading this your overdraft and credit cards may become seriously compromised... ;) I thought now would be the perfect time to go through the hottest, most anticipated launches we have coming up in May here in the UK. That way you wont miss a thing. Now, this blog post is very detailed so put your feet up, grab a drink and a snack and take 5 minutes for yourself :). I will add these launches to the calendar that is now LIVE on my website. If you haven't already go and check it out HERE. These are of course, only the launches we are aware of at this time. I am sure the forever giving cosmetics companies will land a few more on us. Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess 2017 In May The Estee Lauder 2017 Bronze Goddess collection will FINALLY be here... and it is HOT, HOT, HOT! We will actually be able to add the Heatwave highlighter to our collections. You can sign up HERE to be notified when it launches online. Be warned the collection is fairly extensive and includes: Bronze Goddess Illuminating Powder Gelee (Heatwave) - Turn up the heat and give yourself a heavenly glow with this super-luxurious bronzer. This seductive all-over bronzer is endless summer. Smooths on as a soft sheen. Builds to a luminous pearl highlight. Bronze Goddess Summer Lip Glow - Imbue lips with a glowing hint of color. Incredibly comfortable, ultra-hydrating lipstick is formulated with vitamins and butters to help restore moisture. Lip-enhancing shades complement your sun-kissed skin. It’s endless summer. Bronze Goddess Powder Bronzer - It’s endless summer with this super-luxurious powder bronzer. Sweep it on and the smooth, oil-free powder gives face, shoulders and décolletage a seductive bronze look. Unique oil-control complex keeps skin shine-free and comfortable. Bronze Goddess Body Salt Scrub - Buff. Polish. Glow. This luxurious scrub with mineral-rich salt crystals gently smooths and exfoliates for sensual, luminous skin. Decadent oils help soften and nourish with the seductive, sun-kissed Bronze Goddess Eau Fraîche fragrance. Bronze Goddess Shimmering Oil Spray for Hair & Body - It’s endless summer. This super-luxurious shimmer spray helps revitalize and condition dull, dry skin. Helps tame flyaway hair, reduce frizz and enhance gloss and shine. Lightly scented with the seductive, sun-kissed Bronze Goddess Eau Fraîche fragrance. Sumptuous Extreme Waterproof Lash Multiplying Volume Mascara - Get everything you love about original Sumptuous Extreme Mascara—the outrageous volume, lift and curves; the audacious, false-lash effect—plus advanced total waterproofing. Bronze Goddess Exfoliating Body Cleanser - Smooth and refine your skin’s surface to reveal healthier looking skin. This refreshing cleanser works to brighten dull skin while gently exfoliating. Let the sun worship you. Bronze Goddess Shimmering Body Oil Spray - This lightweight scented body oil gives skin a sensual sheen. Spray it on and surround yourself with the seductive, sun-kissed fragrance of Bronze Goddess. Leaves skin silky soft, with a subtle shimmer. Bronze Goddess Eau Fraîche Skinscent - The original, alluring Eau Fraîche you know and love—back for another Spring/Summer season. A sensuous, sun-drenched blend of Bergamot, warm Amber, Tiare Flower and Vanilla combined with delicious creamy Coconut. All heat. All desire. All woman. Bronze Goddess EDP- The cult fragrance, now in a captivating Eau de Parfum. A sensuous, sun-drenched blend of Bergamot, warm Amber, Tiare Flower and Vanilla combined with delicious creamy Coconut. It’s endless summer. Launches: 1 May online and on counters 28 May Where: Estee Lauder official website and all official retailers. NARS x Charlotte Gainsbourg Collection Charlotte’s inspiration is based on her experience of makeup on set as an actress, musician and muse. It’s all about fresh, juicy skin, flushed cheeks, smouldering eyes and softly stained lips. Lip Tint (£22) – delivers a natural hint of colour with extremely comfortable wear Hydrating Glow Tint (£25) – weightless, refreshing gel-cream with sheer, buildable coverage Multiple Tint (£29) – the iconic Multiple is a sheer, tinted format for dewy, natural looking colour Velvet Matte Lip Pencil (£20) – 2 new shades: London Clinic (soft rose), Blindfold (burgundy) Velvet Duo Eyeshadow (£25) – Old Church Street & Rue Allent Kohliner (£19) – 3 shades Au Poli Brush Roll (£130) – set of five brushes. Launches: 1 May Where: Exclusively at Selfridges Kat Von D Alchemist Palette We saw a brief 1 day only pre-sale on the 19 April of this beautiful holographic eye, lip, and face transformer palette, but this time it officially goes on sale! The inspiration for this palette comes from the ancient science of alchemy—the art of turning natural materials into a precious elixir. This palette was one of Kat Von D's 'passion projects' and took 7 years to perfect. Launches: 2 May Where: Exclusively at Debenhams Price: £25 E.L.F Cosmetics Ever since seeing ELF Cosmetics in Jeffree Star's YouTube video, I had a yearning to try this brand. In case you were wondering, E.L.F stands for 'Eyes, Lips, Face' and it is a 'drugstore' brand from the USA founded in 2004. My advice - research your favourites and get your list together as I feel these products will fly off those virtual shelves! Launches: 3 May - online only (coming to stores June) Where: Superdrug Huda Beauty 3D Highlighter Palette I'm sure you are all fully versed with the Huda Beauty's highlighter palettes and eagerly waiting! Inspired by Huda’s hack of layering oil with powder highlight to amplify her glow, the palettes are packed with 2 different textures: – "the Melted Strobe, a pearlescent creamy formula enriched with Karite Butter to create a flawless lit-from-within canvas for layering powders. – 3 light catching pressed pearls staggered in complimentary tones to give you a sculptural, 3D radiance". Palettes are available in Golden Sands and Pink Sands editions. Launches: Early May (expected, not confirmed) Where: Cult Beauty Price: £40 each MAC Influencer Lipsticks Originally due to launch at the end of April, but put back for unknown reasons we will be able to get our hands on Fleur De Force and Alessandra Steinherr's MAC lipstick creations. In case you weren't aware the influencer lipsticks will only be available in their respective home countries. So, I'm sorry to bring bad news, but we won't get to see Laura Lee's here in the UK. But, then again they won't get ours either! Fleur De Force - cool beige with a cremesheen finish Alessandra Steinherr - matte neutral pink Launches: 8 May and 10 May Where: maccosmetics.co.uk first then Fleur De Force at Selfridges and Alessandra Steinherr at Harvey Nichols. Price: £16.50 each Benefit Cosmetics The long awaited new additions to the Benefit Dandelion and Hoola families will finally be available in the UK this May. If you already purchased the Cheek Parade palette like myself, then you would already have had a taster of Hoola Lite. Dandelion twinkle (£24.50) is a superfine highlighting powder. "Special baked technology delivers a strobing formula for a sheer, whisper-light texture. Wear it alone or on top of your favorite blush or powder and step into the dreamy spotlight". Hoola Lite (£24.50) is great for fair skin. "This finely milled bronzer blends on smoothly & seamlessly. Ideal for fair skin—beyond ideal for a TANtasticly believeable bronze 365 days a year". The Quickie cream-to-powder contour stick (price TBA) helps you achieve that chiselled look. "Apply to cheekbones, slim that nose and get an overall sculpted look with this soft bronzecontour stick. Hoola quickie contour stick’s dome shape tip ensures a smooth, targeted application every time!". Launches: 13 May Where: Benefit online Which launch are you most looking forward to in May? XO #EsteeLauder #ELF

Okay, I have to agree taxes aren't the most thrilling subject to talk about. However, aren't they just the BIGGEST kill joy when you want to purchase that new must-have from the USA? Thankfully, more companies are stocking American beauty brands due to demand. Sites such as Beautylish and Sephora are already making our life much easier by calculating the fees for us and letting us pay at check-out. Sometimes though there is a product that you just can't wait for and that's when it becomes necessary to have it shipped directly from the USA. It can be quite hard to get your head around at first, but after I had a conversation with HMRC (Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs) they managed to clear some things up. I thought I would write this really quick and simple guide for you beauties so we can all enjoy what we love without worry and hassle. Technicalities: This guide relates to purchases made from non-EU countries (e.g USA) and is shipped to an address in the United Kingdom. The main fact you need to know is that there isn’t just customs duty to take into consideration there is also import VAT (value added tax) which is charged. The Rules: 1. Do I have to pay taxes on goods sent to me? Most goods arriving in the UK from outside the EU are liable to any or all of the taxes and must be paid whether: You purchase the goods or receive them as a gift The goods are new or used (including antiques) The goods are for your private use or for resale 2. What are the limits for customs duty and import VAT? Goods you have purchased, of £15 or less are free from Customs Duty and import VAT. Note: this does not include perfume. Customs Duty becomes payable if the value of the goods is over £135. Summary: Goods Value - £0.01 - £15.00 - no customs duty or import VAT due. Goods Value - £15.01 - £135.00 - no customs duty but import VAT is due. Goods Value - £135.01- greater - customs duty and import VAT are due. 3. Gifts/Samples declaration Commercial items purchased online i.e from a makeup company are not able to be marked as gifts or samples on the declaration form. 4. Eh? So what can I spend? Spend £15 or less to avoid any charges at all. If you don't mind paying import VAT but would like to avoid customs duty keep your haul under £135. Happy Shopping! XO