Saturday, September 3, 2011

Make-Up Bag Secrets - Quick 5!

by Anna Sugden

One of the problems (or joys, depending on your perspective!) of working at home is that you don't have to wear make-up. Personally, I'm very happy about this, as that means extra time in bed before my long commute to my office (approx a dozen steps *g*).

There is, of course, a down-side, in that you don't use up your make-up as fast as you used to, so it goes out of date. Some people may be surprised, but even make-up has a 'best before', even if it's not on the package. Logically, of course, you should be careful about anything that goes next to your eyes or on your lips.

A quick internet search came up with recommendations for various make-up products. Some of them will surprise you!

Mascara: no more than 4 months!
Nail polish: 12 months
Lipstick: 1-2 years
Liquid Foundation: 12 months
Powder foundation/concealer/blush: 2 years
Eye-shadow: liquid - 1 year, powder - 2 years
Eye-liner: pencil - 2 years, liquid - 1 year.
Perfume: As long as you keep it cool and out of the light, it can last several years. Otherwise, 1-2 years.

Looks like it's time to clear out my make-up bag!

The next eye-opener is just how many things there are in my make-up bag! Given that I don't use a lot of make-up when I wear it, I seem to have an awful lot of 'just in case' items, freebies and 'I'll give this a try' products.

Which brings me to my Quick 5 for today. Don't worry, I won't ask you to out yourself about how much of your make-up needs tossing ;). But, out of curiosity, and to prove that I'm not alone in my make-up hoarding, I'd like to know:

1. How many lipsticks, lip-liners, lip-glosses?
2. How many bottles of nail polish?
3. How many eye-shadows?
4. How many eye-liners and mascaras?
5. How many compacts of blush or other face powder?

And a bonus question, how many different perfumes do you have?


To play the game and start you all off, here are my answers ... *gulp*

1. 12 (but I only seem to wear the same two or three!)
2. 12
3. 8 (again, I wear the same three or four)
4. 4
5. 4

Bonus: 2 - I've worn Chanel No. 19 ever since I was 16, but occasionally I also wear CK1 by Calvin Klein. I have also been tempted by Ralph Lauren's Romance and DKNY's Be Delicious.

Over to you ... share the secrets of you make-up bag (or, for you fellas, if you're brave enough, the secrets of your lady's make-up bag!)

66 comments:

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

OMGosh! The chook just arrived with HIS make-up bag! ;-)

AC

Helen said...

Well Aunty Cindy are the two of you going to have a make over together have fun

Anna

I wear make up everyday to work but only foundation loose face powder blush and lipstick and if I go out any where special I will wear eyeshadow and mascara, but in saying that I think I need to clean by make up drawer out LOL.

1. 4 lipsticks
2. none I cleaned them out a while ago
3. Way too many to count LOL
4. None at the moment (very rarely wear them)
5. 2

At the moment I have 4 bottle of perfume Angel, White Linen, Dolce Vita Beautiful

Have Fun
Helen

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

WHEW! VA, I'm glad I don't have to confess how much of my make-up is out of date! SHEESH! I didn't know some of this stuff had such short shelf life. :-P

Okay on to my answers:
1. How many lipsticks, lip-liners, lip-glosses?
Three and one is almost gone so time to replace. I actually have a hard time finding a color I like on me.

2. How many bottles of nail polish?
Five and I think three are "out of date." :-(

3. How many eye-shadows?
Two, but one has 4 colors in it, so does that count as 1 or 4?

4. How many eye-liners and mascaras?

Four, two of each, but I don't use them very often.

5. How many compacts of blush or other face powder?

Three-- 2 are blush and one is loose face powder (my favorite).

And a bonus question, how many different perfumes do you have?

No perfumes, but if you count colognes... I don't think I can count that high! Remember, my mother was an Avon lady back in the day.

Better go, I can see the GR casting covetous glances on my seldom used eye-liner. I do believe he fancies himself a bit like Captain Jack Sparrow!

AC

Anna Campbell said...

Hey, AC, the chook looks fabulous in that cerise lipstick of yours, dahling!

Oh, Anna, I hear you on the make-up. I bought a stack of really expensive stuff when I was up for the RITA awards in 2006 and I'm still basically getting by on that. Yes, I know, disgusting!

It's years since I had a job where I needed to wear makeup. Must say I like that I still don't have to. It's fun when I'm at conferences, etc., having to make a bit more of an effort.

Here's my answers:

1: > 30. Clearly I have a lipstick obsession!

2: 0 (if you saw my nails, you'd understand why)

3: 4, mainly freebies. Don't wear eye shadow anymore.

4: 2

5: 3 (the expensive stuff including some tanning appearance stuff I've never known how to use but it cost a FORTUNE!)

Jane said...

Congrats on the GR, Aunty Cindy.

Hey Anna,
1. Two
2. None
3. Eight
4. Six
5. No blush, but three powder compacts.
Bonus: I have a few, but I haven't used them in a while. I use mostly body sprays.

Fedora said...

Hmm...
1. Maybe half a dozen, but I wear maybe one regularly...
2. A dozen?
3. 2? 3?
4. 2? 3?
5. 1 or 2
No perfumes--I used to love Love's Baby Soft and Heaven Sent and my mom's Chanel No 5 and White Linen, but they all seem to give me a headache now...

And much of my makeup probably needs tossing, but I wear it so infrequently that I haven't! Eeek!

AC, how's the GR's makeup bag doing?

Mary Preston said...

1. How many lipsticks, lip-liners, lip-glosses? 6
2. How many bottles of nail polish? 10
3. How many eye-shadows? 0
4. How many eye-liners and mascaras? 0
5. How many compacts of blush or other face powder? 0

And a bonus question, how many different perfumes do you have? 4

Sheree said...

1. 2 (I have many tubes of lip balms because I get allergic to one really quickly)
2. 4 (2 are red/pink and 2 are sheer for stopping runs in pantyhose)
3. 0
4. 0
5. 0

Perfumes? 0

Since I have allergies and such, it's best for me not to wear anything that would give me headaches or contact dermititis.

Anna Sugden said...

Congrats or commiserations, AC on nabbing that chook!

So, tell all - what lurks in the depths of the GR's make-up bag?

Anna Sugden said...

Hi Helen - glad to hear I'm not the only one who needs to clear out the make-up drawer, though you seem to have a restrained number of items in yours!

LOL on the nail polish - I discovered some more after I'd written the post!

Anna Sugden said...

AC - I know! The mascara one shocked me the most. Although I think it's more about it drying out than getting nasty.

Oh, I think an eye shadow palette counts as one. This is the Lair, after all!

I always suspected that chook had Jack Sparrow fetish ... or perhaps he just fancies Tawny!

Anna Sugden said...

You and me both, Anna. I forgot my make-up for the San Francisco conference and had to buy new while I was out there ... and that's probably the last time I bought anything! Perhaps if it's stayed in a cool, dark drawer without use, it's okay.

Ooh, so now we know - you have a lipstick passion! Hmm I wonder what that says about you ;)

Anna Sugden said...

Hi Jane! Not long now until the first puck drops!

You're another restrained woman! Though I sense a fondness for nail polish lurking *g*.

Interesting about the body sprays - I've heard a number of women are switching to body sprays because they're lighter.

hrdwrkdmom aka Dianna said...

The GR only has make up for when he is in disguise I am sure!

1. How many lipsticks, lip-liners, lip-glosses?
I am not even sure I found them all but it seems like I have about 20 counting the glosses. I wear one.

2. How many bottles of nail polish?
I have 3

3. How many eye-shadows?
30, I wear 2

4. How many eye-liners and mascaras?
eyeliner 1, mascara 4

5. How many compacts of blush or other face powder?
Only 1 brush on that I wear and about 6 of other and a tube that I don't even know where it came from.

And a bonus question, how many different perfumes do you have?
8
Liz Arden, Musk (2), Vanilla Musk, Beautiful, Vanilla Fields, Lady Stetson, Chantilly

Now an awww moment, I didn't buy what makeup I have and not worn, my GF bought some and my BF bought some. My GF brought me a bunch of eye shadows (I only wear the one lid color an one highlight)and other assorted make up, I looked at her and asked if she thought I needed to cover up my ugly. She said NO!, when I look at you I see your heart and you are beautiful. I just want everyone else to take a second look and see it too.

Deanna said...

I am a makeup hoarder and I love my makeup. I will not say any more because that will incriminate me.

jo robertson said...

Clever post, Anna! Thanks for putting it together.

Ahhh, makeup. One of the nice things about working from home is that I drastically cut down on my makeup.

So I have 8 lipsticks and liners, divided between "pinkish" shades and "reddish shades."

About 4 bottles of nail polish, but I only use on my toes!

No eyeshadows or eyeliners. Seriously, they do NOT look good on a woman my age.

No mascara, although I have been considering that new FDA approved stuff that lengthens your lashes. Is it Latisse???

Just two blush shades and one face powder.

Fun post, Anna!

Oh, and I'm a one-perfume woman!

jo robertson said...

Be careful of the chook, AC. He might try his makeup on YOU!

Helen, I find that as I get older, I wear less and less makeup. It doesn't seem to matter very much.

I think you either have a nice complexion or you don't -- I got mine from my mom who had much lovelier skin than mine. I'm tending toward age spots, which she never had.

Susan Sey said...

Good morning, Anna!

Oh, the make up bag. I know it has an expiration date but I just ignore it. I buy a new mascara every summer (for the RWA conference & because I have sensitive eyes). Otherwise, it's the same make up I bought five years ago to replace the make up I bought five years before that. For my wedding.

I just don't wear it. It looks nice but I hate how it feels & I hate not being able to hug my kids/husband/friends without worrying about staining them. Because that stuff rubs off, ladies. Ick.

If I have a weakness, though, it's lipstick. I love lipstick. Most days I just wear chapstick but whenever I have occasion to dress up I go for bold lips.

jo robertson said...

LOL at your collection of lipsticks, Anna!

The only reason mine is cleared out is that Emma recently discovered the "fun" of playing makeup, so I gave her my old collection. I think her favorite part is using the cold cream to take it all off!

jo robertson said...

Hi, Jane!

What's the difference between a cologne or perfume and a body spray?

Am I showing my perfume-ignorance LOL?

jo robertson said...

Flchen1 said, "And much of my makeup probably needs tossing, but I wear it so infrequently that I haven't! Eeek!"

Yikes, mine too, Flchen! I can't seem to bring myself to toss expensive products. I usually use Estee Lauder products and they can be pricey.

jo robertson said...

Hi, Marybelle! Sounds like you like nail polishes. Do you do your own manicures or go to a salon?

jo robertson said...

Oh, Sheree, what a pain that must be. I have to confess that I can do just about anything to my skin and it doesn't seem to matter.

As I get older, however, I've found that I get these tiny bumps -- something I NEVER had before -- on my cheeks.

jo robertson said...

Ahhhh, Dianna, what a beautiful concept. Kudoes to your girlfriend.

You said, "She said NO!, when I look at you I see your heart and you are beautiful. I just want everyone else to take a second look and see it too."

Wish we could all teach our daughters and granddaughers that concept.

But then we'd probably put the makeup industry out of business!

Anna Sugden said...

Hey Fedora! Great to see you!

I've found that many perfumes give me a headache, these days. I never take perfumes with me to conference because so many women with so many conflicting fragrances does me in!

jo robertson said...

Daz said, "I will not say any more because that will incriminate me."

ROTFL! Do they have makeup police? Someone may be after you!

Anna Sugden said...

Hey Marybelle - I can see you're a minimalist when it comes to make-up!

So what are your perfumes?

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hey AC! You got the chookie-chook! He's evidently liking spending time with YOU...hmmmm...Maybe he's getting a fondness for that riding crop.

Scawry.

Grins.

Anna Sugden said...

Sheree - what a shame on your allergies. I can understand how difficult that must be. I've found that, as I've got older, my skin has become more sensitive to everything from shampoo to make-up. *sigh*

Anna Sugden said...

That is definitely an awww moment, Dianna. Those kinds of friends are worth their weight in gold (and make-up!)

Anna Sugden said...

LOL Daz - we're all friends here. You know your secret is safe here. So, come on ... what's the item you have most of?

Anna Sugden said...

I'm glad to know there is another one perfume woman, Jo!

I've tended to use less and less nail polish on my fingernails and more on my toe nails as I've got older ... or perhaps now that I work at home. Then again, I don't wear shoes or slippers at home, so I get to see my toes more!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

And I'm just wincing over these questions, you know.

1. Too many to count. I LOVE lipstick and seldom wear it, as I have the same long commute you do, Anna. :> I think I have about 23. Time to toss some, as I KNOW some of them are older than 2 years! (Anna C, obviously we are equally obsessed.)

2. Ah-ha! I can be smug on this one since I just tossed about 7 bottles - a couple 1/2 used-up, one perfectly full which turned out to be a terrible shade on me...yeah. If it's seperated, like oil and vinegar, it's alllll over. :>

3. Hmmmm, I just got a Clinque giftie so I have a couple extra. 5 without the "new stuff" which I'll probably give to my sis as the colors are better for her. :>

4. No eyeliner, 2 mascaras, one of which, by these guidelines, needs to GO!

5. 1 of powder, 2 of blush. On this, I only keep the ones I love. Grins.

And that bonus question, as I blogged about the other day, I have ONE - whoohoo! - new fragrance, Poppy by Coach. Grins.

Anna Sugden said...

Oh I know it does, Susan. A friend of mine was complaining that she needed a new cover for her ipad because hers was stained by make-up rubbing off on it!

You're lucky you look so fresh and youthful without make-up!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Daz said: I am a makeup hoarder and I love my makeup. I will not say any more because that will incriminate me.

Uh-oh. She's pleading the Fifth.

Do we need to stage an intervention? Hahahah! Or just have a makeup party at Daz's house?

Jane said...

Hi Anna,
Can't wait for the season to start and the rivalry to begin anew.

Hi Jo,
Perfumes are the strongest and last longer. Colognes are weaker and evaporate faster. Body sprays are weaker than colognes and considered lighter. They're also cheaper and I get most of my bottles from Victoria's Secret and Bath and Body Works.

Anna Sugden said...

LOL Jeanne - the whole separate nail polish thing is a bit of a give away, isn't it?!

The whole getting the right colour thing is so hard. With my skin, I used to have to buy make-up for African American skin as they never did colours dark enough. That bright blue eyeshadow never did suit me!

Anna Sugden said...

It looks like it's going to be an interesting season, Jane, for both our teams. I'm so hoping I can get across for a game this year.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Susan said: If I have a weakness, though, it's lipstick. I love lipstick. Most days I just wear chapstick but whenever I have occasion to dress up I go for bold lips.

Love it! :>

And one of the most embarassing moments of my life was hugging a guy in a crisp white dress shirt and getting lipstick on it. Eeek!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Anna said: The whole getting the right colour thing is so hard. With my skin, I used to have to buy make-up for African American skin as they never did colours dark enough. That bright blue eyeshadow never did suit me!

Me either - it's equally awful on very fair skin, since it looks like Halloween makeup. Snork! Not that I don't love Halloween, as you ALL know (I see you rolling your eyes, I do!), but you don't want to look like the Blue Fairy or Alien Blue Girl at work. Grins.

Deb said...

1. How many lipsticks, lip-liners, lip-glosses?
2 lipsticks, 1 gloss. I wear mood lipstick, so it pretty much stays on all day (green and blue...they turn pink).

2. How many bottles of nail polish?
None. I don't wear it any longer. Now, my daughter probably has 15 different colors, but I wouldn't be caught dead wearing blue or lime green.

3. How many eye-shadows?
Two, with trios in it. One is a mauve-purplish set, the other is browns and tans.

4. How many eye-liners and mascaras?
Black mascara--1; 3 eyeliners of plum, brown, and dark gray.

5. How many compacts of blush or other face powder?
1 compact of beige powder foundation and 2 of blush--mauve and rose.

And a bonus question, how many different perfumes do you have?
Right now, 2...Rare Gold by Avon and Orange Sapphire Splash from Bath and Bodyworks. I'll be getting a new mystery perfume from DH for Christmas.

Anna Campbell said...

Actually I always liked lipsticks. My mum didn't wear a lot of makeup - lipstick and powder. And I remember when I dressed up, I used to steal her lipsticks. Think the obsessions started there. Then I had a job I absolutely hated but not much money and so when I wanted a little treat, I used to buy a new lipstick. Cheered me up enormously. Actually haven't bought one since May last year when I bought three of the same colour because my favorite one was about to run out and I've been caught before when shades change and you can't get the one you want. I'll be wearing Estee Lauder Raspberry for a while!

Pissenlit said...

I love Chanel No.19!

1. maybe 3 or 4
2. 5
3. uhhhhhh...perhaps 3...or more..
4. 3 or 4
5. 3
bonus: probably 7...ish...

Cheryl Ann Smith said...

I have too much old make-up to count. One day soon (sure) I'll toss some of it out. Until then, I'll just keep adding new stuff to the mess!

jo robertson said...

Thanks, Jane, for the "scent" lesson!

Pat Cochran said...

Whoa! Do I ever need to clear out my
make-up cabinet!

Lipstick: 24, use 1 liquid lip color.
Nail polish: 10, use only a clear.
Eyeshadow: 8 single/double
1 12-color palette.
Eyeliners: 19; Mascara: 4.
Blush/powder: 6 blush / 1 powder.
Bonus: 2 different perfumes,unused
1 decorative Avon, unused
I don't used any scents because I am
allergic plus in choir we can't wear
perfumes!

Pat Cochran

Caren Crane said...

Aunty Cindy, how in the world did you snag the GR?? And what in the world is in his makeup bag???

Okay, Anna, I makeup is something I adore so I'm totally up for this one:

1. Lipstick - I have two tubes of lipstick (same color, one is almost gone) and 1 lipgloss.
2. Nail polish - About 3. It's hard to say, since my daughters stole all my nail polish long ago. I think it's 3, though!
3. Eye shadow - My weakness! I have 8 - but only two are single colors. If you count all the colors, it's more like 30!
4. Eye liner and mascara - Two eye liners, one mascara (I replace it often!).
5. Compacts/blush/face powder - I have one powder compact, one blush, and one loose powder.

Except for eye shadow, I don't hoard much. I have never worn liquid foundation, but I have grown to adore the powder foundation and concealer. I only need it for red spots and it does a great job!

Bonus: As for perfume, I have two. A bottle of some oil I love from The Body Shop and my true love, Shi by Alfred Sung. When they stopped making my last 'signature scent', it took a couple of years to find Shi. I will wear it until they stop making it!

Caren Crane said...

Dianna, that was so sweet! I'll give your girlfriend a big ole AWWWWWWWW!!!!!

Caren Crane said...

Anna C, if my mother put on nothing else, she would wear sunglasses and lipstick for, say, an emergency run to the grocery store. Sunglasses and lipstick hide a number of sins against beauty. :)

Anna Campbell said...

Dianna, just read about your friend. What a LOVELY thing to say!

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Okay, this is getting scary. The GR says anyone with extra blue eyeshadow can give it to him. Hmmm, I really do NOT want to know more details. He says leave in the powder room off the entry hall in the Lair and he will pick it up as he flies through. ;-)

Sharon Archer said...

Hey Anna, fun blog!

I'm feeling a little virtuous here... but *only* because I ruthlessly decluttered my makeup collection about six months ago! There were some ghastly things in there - including a collection of used up mascaras... I must have had big ideas of recycling the wands somehow - unfortunately whatever my thought was is lost in the mists of time now.

So pretty much one of everything.

Including one bottle of perfume which is years and years... and years old and still full. Perfumes seem to smell strange on my skin after a while. Yuck! So now-a-days I use scented body lotion instead.

:)
Sharon

Louisa Cornell said...

I don't even want to know what is in the GR's makeup bag!

Thanks for the expiration date info, VraiAnna! Everyone look the other way while I get the backhoe in here to clean out my makeup bag!

I don't wear makeup at work as I spend all of my time going from a 20 below freezer to a 400 degree oven. Not good for my bare face, let alone one wearing makeup.

I do love RWA events or the rare visit to the theatre or some other entertainment as I get to wear my makeup.

1. 3 lipsticks/glosses, etc.

2. Nail polish - at least a dozen or more. I DO love nail polish!

3. Eye shadows. At the present, one set of four designed to go together on my eyes.

4. Eyeliners / Mascaras - two of each - one set in black, one in dark brown

5. Two compacts of blush and one of translucent face powder

Perfumes - One. L'Air du temps. A gift from my brother who shrugged and said "It made me think of you."

The Romance Dish said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
pjpuppymom said...

Oh, this one's easy, Anna! I just did a major clean-out a couple months ago.

1) 2 lipsticks and 1 gloss

2) 2 nail polish

3) 2 eye-shadow palettes (4 colors each)

4) 1 eye liner & 3 mascaras (freebies)

5) 1 blush and 1 loose powder

Bonus: 2 body sprays - Sensual Amber & Green Clover and Aloe

AC, so has the chook given you a makeover today? :)

Deanna said...

Anna,

My obsession is different colored eyeliners. I think I must have at least 20 or more of those suckers.

It also doesn't help that at one time in my colorful past, I was a makeup artist, so I have A LOT of makeup. Loads and loads of that stuff.

I also have three palettes that each have about 72 colors in them. Would that count as 3 or would that count as 216 eye shadows?

Anna Sugden said...

Oh Daz, how exciting to have been a make-up artist! I think, as it's you, we'll count those as 3 palettes *g*.

Anna Sugden said...

LOL I'd never thought of the effect your DDJ would have on your skin - those extremes are quite something.

My mum used to wear L'Air du Temps - it's still one of my favourite fragrances.

Anna Sugden said...

I've never heard of mood lipsticks, Deb. Will have to check them out.

I remember those blushers back in the day that heated up with your skin to change colour (awful!)

Anna Sugden said...

Yay Pissenlit - I'm so glad to find another one who love Chanel No 19. I was told in the shop the other day that it was an old woman's fragrance. I told the assistant that the word she was looking for was 'classic'

Anna Sugden said...

LOL Cheryl - thanks for owning up. I feel so much better!

I really must do something with my make-up bag ... sounds like a great procrastination exercise for when the writing isn't going well *g*.

Anna Sugden said...

I can see you're a woman after my own heart, Pat with the lipsticks and nail polishes.

I can understand why you couldn't wear perfumes for choir - can't have people choking on those high notes!

Anna Sugden said...

Caren - your mum was right! If all else fails, a dash of lipstick can solve a multitude of sins.

Anna Sugden said...

Hey Sharon! Great to see you. So enjoyed meeting you in Melbourne.

Oh, you are good! I'm LOL about the mascaras and recycling the wands. When I was reading up on the use by dates, they said that pumping the wand in and out of a mascara made it 'age' faster. I think they meant it dried out, but it made me stop and think. How else are you supposed to get the stuff out?!

Anna Sugden said...

Oh PJ, you're another good girl ;)

Your make-up bag sounds very restrained. I wonder how long it'll take to fill up again *g*.

pjpuppymom said...

Your make-up bag sounds very restrained. I wonder how long it'll take to fill up again *g*.

If the women working the make-up counters at the store where I work have anything to say about it, not long at all! lol!