The cherry blossoms have started blossoming in Vancouver again- its time for some Spring Cleaning!! This is the perfect opportunity for you to take a look inside your handy dandy makeup kit and get rid of the junk!

Not only is it unhygienic to keep makeup and beauty tools for long time, it also takes up a lot of space that could be used for new products! Did you know that the majority of your makeup has an expiry date? Yes its true! Just as products have a “Shelf Life” in store, they also go bad after a certain amount of time after first use, depending on the product. Although it may be hard to part ways with some of your products, just think about all the fun new ones waiting to be purchased on our pristine white shelves!

Generally, you can usually tell a product should be thrown out when it starts to lose it consistency, doesn’t do its job anymore, or just plain smells (sorrynotsorry). Wet products such as liquid/gel liners, mascara, lipgloss, etc. will start to dry out and flake or become too thick to use. The waxes and oils found in the products will naturally start to dry up and separate after some time, and everyday use speeds up this process.
Powder products usually last much longer if stored and handled correctly (we recommend storing powders in a cool, dry environment, as well as sanitizing them with alcohol every couple uses). Some powders can be kept up to 3 years! Liquids such as foundations and primers can be good for up to 18 months, although some products may not last that long. The moisture in liquid products is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria once the preservatives in the formula have expired, so be sure to keep an eye on product expiry dates! ((See our recommended product life list below))

Where Do I Find The Product Expiry Date?
Most cosmetic companies are required to state the expiry date directly on the product, although sometimes it can only be found on the outer packaging or not at all. It can usually be found near the ingredients and supplier name, in this format: xM, with x being the number of months you are advised to use the product (ex. 12M, 6M).

Recommended Cosmetic “Life Span”

• Mascara – 4 Months
• Powder Foundation – 18 Months
• Liquid or Cream Foundation/Concealer/Primer – 12 Months
• Blush and Eyeshadow – 24 Months
• Lipstick and Lip gloss – 18 Months
• Eyeliner or Eyebrow Makeup – Pencil, 18 Months / Gel, 12 Months / Liquid, 6 Months

*Organic products will expire much faster, as they are free of any preservatives or chemicals. Be sure to keep an eye on what ingredients are in your organic products, and use that as a rough guideline.

Now that you’ve cleared some room, why not take a look at whats new at Prép!

Over the winter holidays, we introduced a new 13 piece makeup brush set by Royal & Langnickel. Those amazingly durable and oh so soft brushes FLEW off our shelves and we just couldn’t resist ordering some more. In addition to the 13 piece kit, we also brought in 3 more different and gorgeous brush sets for purchasing! All brushes are from professional brush company Royal & Langnickel, are synthetic, and 100% vegan! Love!!
Part of the “Love is…” collection, this versatile and essential kit includes 13 professional quality full size brushes as well as a white pleather travel case that folds up nicely to safely transport brushes to wherever you need them. These brushes come in a gorgeous light pink hue sure to delight even the toughest beauty queen. $79.99.

Another branch of the “Love is…” collection, this kit is features 12 medium sized synthetic brushes in a beautiful light turquoise with metallic purple hardware, complete with a handy hard pleather travel case. The case can also double as a great brush holder to dry your brushes upright after cleaning! Retailing at Prép for $60.00, be sure to grab yours before they’re gone!

If you’re wanting a couple good brushes but don’t want the bulk of an entire kit, why not give the Moda Perfect Mineral Brush kit a shot? Available at Prép in Hot Pink, these medium sized brushes come in a white soft shell case and are perfect for the minimalist. Featuring 6 essential brushes for day to day makeup, retailing at $45.00.

Travelling somewhere? Don’t worry, we’ve got that covered too! Wrapped in a hot pink soft travel case, these mini brushes are the perfect companion for your trips around the globe. Consiting of 5 mini brushes, 3 of which are dual ended, this kit is sure to make it through customs without issue. Available at Prép for $27.00.

Prép Beauty Parlour is located at 1054 Hornby Street in beautiful downtown Vancouver, British Columbia. We specialize in nails, eyelash extensions, waxing, massages, facials, event/bridal hair & makeup. We’d love to hear from you! Email inquiries to [email protected]. Call us at 604-764-6452. Check out our 5 Star Yelp page here! Don’t forget to follow and like our Instagram and Facebook pages!
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