Better Beauty: Spring 2009 Makeup Trends

Every season we see new trends emerge in fashion and makeup. It gives us the opportunity to freshen our look and try something different. This spring we see softer colors on cheeks, eyes and lips, emulating the fashions that made their way down the runways. Here are the hottest new makeup trends for spring 2009: 1. Flawless Foundation This season's look is all about smooth, flawless, matte-looking skin. Save your shimmer and shine for summer and create the look of the moment with a clean liquid foundation or powder. Don't over do it though, you don't want it to appear cakey or artificial. 2. Sultry, Smokey Eyes The smokey eye has been around for several seasons now and has always been a favorite of the Hollywood party scene. This season, however, it is softer than ever. Makeup artists' are using light grays, blues, and most notably purples, to create the look. Start by lining eyes with a pencil liner in a color of your choice, then smudge coordinating shadow along the lashline and into the crease. 3. Thick, Luscious Lashes The focus is back on long lashes, whether you get them by wearing the artificial kind or use lash thickening mascaras to do the job. While enhancing the smokey eye, it keeps the focus right where you want it this season--on your eyes! 4. Romantic, Just Flushed Blush Keep blush light in soft shades of peach or pink. Use products that are sheer and lightweight and apply just to the apples of your cheeks. Remember to use a powder blush over a powder foundation and a cream blush over a creamy foundation. Also avoid dark colors like browns or reds which can look blotchy or artificial. 5. Nude, Natural Lips Put away your red lipstick for spring and reach for flowery pinks, soft peaches, and natural-looking nudes. Like foundation, lips should also be matte this season.

Cosmetic Expiration Dates 

You probably throw away food when it has reached its expiration date. The same should be true with your cosmetics. If you think about it, moisturizers and foundations get absorbed into your skin, lipstick gets ingested when you sip your coffee or eat a meal.

Bottom line: your makeup should be as fresh as the food you eat.Unfortunately, there are no regulations or requirements under current United States law that require cosmetic manufacturers to print expiration dates on the labels of cosmetic products. Therefore, as a consumer it is your responsibility to make sure the products you are using are not spoiled or contaminated and that they have not lost their effectiveness.

How do you know?

The expiration clock starts ticking the moment a product is opened. If a product has changed color, consistency or smell (no matter how long you have had it), it's a sign it has gone bad. However, there may be no visible sign of spoilage.

Here are some guidelines:

Products once opened should be replaced as follows:

Cleanser - 6 months

Toner - 1 year

Moisturizers - 6 months

Liquid or cream foundation - 6 months

Concealer - 6 months

Pressed powder - 1 year

Loose powder - 1 year

Eye shadow - 1 year

Eye pencils - 1 year

Mascara - 30-45 days

Blush - 1 year

Lip gloss - 1 year

Lipstick - 1 year

Lip pencils - 1 year

*Source: Makeup Scenes

Other precautions to observe to keep your cosmetics safe and effective:

1. Before applying makeup, wash your face and hands with soap and water.

2. Never share makeup—even with a close friend or family member.

3. When testing products at the store, ask the salesperson for a new disposable applicator.

4. Never add water or other liquid to a product to bring back its original consistency. This could introduce bacteria that can easily grow out of control.

5. Keep makeup out of sunlight and store in a cool, dry place.6

. Make sure containers are tightly closed when not in use.

7. Return or discard any product that causes an allergic reaction at once.

8. Do not use eye makeup if you have an eye infection and discard all eye products you were using when you discovered the infection.