Office Must Haves

Today I’m giving a shout-out to all my fellow secretaries, admin assistants and receptionists out there!  That’s right. In case you didn’t know, I am the receptionist for Pür Minerals, and I blog in addition to my daily tasks.This week marks the beginning of the month, and that means it’s time to order office  supplies. Wow! This month’s list was long. It seems like everybody needed something to make their work area more functional and enjoyable. Just like paper clips, pens and rainbow sticky notes can make a desk or cubicle a better place, certain cosmetic must-haves can also make a day at the office a little easier. I should know. Life at the front desk isn’t easy, but with the help of my Pür personal assistants, I can look and feel fabulous while I work.

Moisturizer
While sorting mail, working with papers and prepping packages for shipping, my hands get dry, so I have to keep Pür Body Butter close at hand. I love the way this lotion smells, so light, fresh and clean. It’s also nice to have if I’m wearing capris or a skirt and need to add a little moisture to my knees, shins and ankles. 

Powder 
Like most women, I don’t like to be shiny or pink, so I keep coverage on standby. I like to use Pür’s Perfectly Natural for minor touch-ups, and I also keep a travel-sized 4-in-1 for times when I want to take   my primping to the next level. The Retractable Chisel Brush is perfect for a desk drawer or purse pocket, so you don’t have to bring your brushes from home.

Smile Enhancer
I keep Mineral Lip Revival lip treatment at my desk at all times so that my pout stays soft while answering calls and smiling at passersby! I often keep lipstick and lip gloss around, too, for when I feel like adding shine and color to my look.

What are some cosmetic products you have with you while you work? Leave a comment and let me know!

Application Tips for Creating Smokey Eyes

The thing to remember about a smokey eye is that it isn't about a particular color combination, but about the technique used to create the look. A smokey eye in its most glamorous expression is meant to be visually striking, but it is also flexible enough to be an everyday, subtly "undone" look.

Invaluable to creating the smokey eye is having the correct brushes. Our Pür Minerals Crease Makeup Brush, Eyeliner Makeup Brush and Eye Shadow Mineral Makeup Brush are the pür-fect tools to achieve your desired effect.

The most important part of making your smokey eye is creating a gradient of color—that is, make sure that the color is darkest at your lash line and feathers out into the lightest tones near the brow, using at least three shades. Choose your favorite shade combinations from Pür Minerals Pressed Mineral Eye Shadows and, starting with the lightest color and the eye shadow brush, wash your entire eye from lash to brow.

After the light color, apply the medium-tone on the top lid and very lightly to the bottom lid, stopping at the crease. For example, you could start with a pale cream dusting on the entire eye, then add a charcoal shimmer onto the surface of the top lid.

Next you'll want to smooth your darkest color onto the top lid and blend those darker colors up into the top crease of your eye. Start at the outside V and pull the color up to follow the natural curve of your eyeball from the outside in. Then, using a Mineral Eye Defining Pencil with Smudger, line your eyes by following your lash line from corner to corner of the eye, sweeping out some on the outer edge. Line the lower lid and waterline normally.

When you're done, go back over everything with a blending brush like our Crease Makeup Brush, blending everything so there are no harsh lines. You want more of a smudged look, like you've been wearing the makeup for days. Add mascara and you've got your dramatic, smokey eye!

Cold Sores: Our Nasty Nemeses

I was chatting with one of my girlfriends online recently, and she felt insecure about a cold sore that popped-up on her lip.  “Cold sores are just awful,” she complained. “They hurt, look gross, and I swear that’s all people see when they look at my face.” I’ve never had cold sores, so I decided research these foul, facial foes, hoping to learn their dirty secrets and weaknesses.

Cold sores, also known as fever blisters, are viral blemishes that form on and around the mouth.  They are not canker sores, which are simply small ulcers inside the mouth, often caused by scratches or other irritants. The virus that causes fever blisters (Herpes Simplex Viruses 1 & 2) is contracted the same way as most communicable diseases, through contact with another infected person. Once the virus is in your body, it never goes away. Many people come in contact with HSV as children and have periodic flare-ups throughout adulthood.

Fever blisters are contagious, and preventing initial infection is similar to avoiding a cold or the flu. Wash your hands often. Don’t share utensils, cups towels, razors or lip treatments with an individual with a  breakout. You shouldn’t kiss a person with a cold sore.  The same rules apply for preventing frequent flare-ups but it also helps to wear sunscreen and lip balm. Nobody knows what triggers cold sores, but stress, hormonal changes, tooth extractions, fevers and overexposure to the sun are all suspects.

Though there are medications to treat cold sores, there is no quick fix for a breakout, but there are plenty of ways to help nature run its course. You can place a cool, wet towel on the sore a few times a day to reduce pain, redness and swelling. Avoid acidic food and drinks while you have a cold sore, and be careful not to spread the virus to other parts of your face or to other people.

My friend wanted to know how to cover-up her fever blister. I personally wouldn’t recommend doing much,   but if the blemish is not near the opening of your mouth, use a cotton swab to apply a dab of primer and powder foundation. If the breakout is directly on the lip, focus on eye makeup, using flattering eye shadow,  striking liner and mascara to bring attention to your eyes, using only a dash of cheek color and a neutral color on your lips. Be very careful not to let your cosmetics or brushes come in contact with the cold sore!

Most importantly, don’t be ashamed.  Six in ten people have HSV, and trust me, people are not gawking at your cold sore.  Be careful and patient, and that bothersome blister will be gone in no time!

How old is that lipstick??

My husband and I moved this weekend. All last week I have been packing stuff at night and hauling it to work, and I drive straight to our new home after quitting time to unload and unpack. It’s been quite a week! Although moving is a pain, I do enjoy sorting out my belongings, throwing away the old and donating items that I haven’t used in years.

I didn't touch my vanity until the very end because I knew that I, like many women, kept too many cosmetics for far too long. You know you do it, too. There are certain colors and products we wear every day, and we use all of it quickly. Then there are those shades and pieces that we don’t use often but keep for special occasions, to wear with certain outfits or to have “just in case.” We all know it’s a beauty no-no, but how can we know when it is time to trash the stash?

After the first use, there is a period after opening in which a product is safest and most effective. Makeup does not get better with age. The FDA says that expiration dates on cosmetics are a rule of thumb, and depending on how your make-up is stored, it could last longer or go bad sooner. Makeup exposed to moisture and/or high temperatures is more likely to harvest bacteria. (Yuck!) If any of your cosmetics start to change color or consistency, you really ought to toss it and buy a new one. Otherwise, here are a few guidelines:

Mascara needs to be disposed-of after three months. If your mascara dries-out, do not add water, especially not saliva. This creates a breeding ground for bacteria!

Powders, pressed or loose, are anhydrous (water free), so they can stay good for a couple years.

Cleansers and Moisturizers have properties that can go bad over time, so don’t keep them for longer than six months.

Multi-use Products that come in contact with lips, eyes and cheeks can spread germs, so replace them after around three months.

Pencils can last for at least two years, so long as you do not wet the tip.

Lipstick is generally good for at least two years.

Brushes should be washed regularly, and if properly cared for, they can last for many years.

So, don't be a cosmetics hoarder - follow the safety guidelines to keep your products in good shape.