Do you have to throw out your favorite Perfume?

A few days ago (or maybe more), I received an email from one of my favorite sites, It's a Glam Thing... with information on some tips about the shelf life of your favorite fragrances and Perfumes.  I thought this would be very useful information for all those Fashionistas out there that LOVE to smell wonderful.

The tips were provided by Carolos Ugalde, Founder of Sasha Varon Luxe Parfums via an email from Keith Head @ It's a Glam Thing.  

So what is the 411?

Contrary to popular belief... most fragrances have a shelf life of 2 years but can be extended up to 5 years if kept out of the light and in a cool place.  Many factors go into this... One being the oil to diluents (alcohol and other ingredients other than fragrance/essential oils) ratio.  The more the alcohol in the fragrance, the less concentrated and pronounced the fragrance is... though the shelf life is longer.


Apparently - many people ask if refrigeration can prolong fragrance shelf life and verdict is definitely split.


Here are the two views:
1.)  From thegloss.com:  "Keep essential oil perfumes in the refrigerator to slow oxidization (but this depends on the carrier - oil or wax-based scents can go bad faster than alcohol based ones)."
2.)  The Fragrance Foundation:  This is the premier source for expert fragrance information.  Here is what they have to say:  "It's important that you keep your fragrance protected against extreme cold or heat. Only colognes and toilet waters should be stored in the refrigerator. Perfumes should not be exposed to extreme cold or heat because either may upset their delicate balance. Notes can be affected by extreme temperatures."


So - if not in the refrigerator, where should you store your fragrances?


Solution:
Do store fragrances in cool, dry spaces away from sunlight:
- Cupboards
- Dresser drawers
- Dark closets


Don't store fragrances in:
- Bathrooms (generally moist and warm) Yikes, I usually store half of my most used ones in my bathroom and the less used ones in my bedroom.  I guess I have to get new ones and store them elsewhere. :(

- Windowsills

- Direct Sunlight

So - I have apparently been doing the complete opposite than what I am supposed to be doing with regard to storing my fragrances and perfumes.  Honestly, like I mentioned above... since I usually apply perfume right out of the shower and after I dry off - I leave the bottles of my favorite (most used) perfumes in the bathroom.  I did notice that a few of them have lost the intensity of their notes over a short period of time... and now I know why.  

We are often faced with many questions when it comes to things that are beauty related.  I am so thankful that this email was sent out via It's A Glam Thing... so I am very well informed about the storage of the things that help to make me smell so divine. :)

Thanks again to Keith Head for sharing this info with me.  Please note that a fair percentage of the words above were excerpts from the original email that I received from Keith.

I was not compensated or paid by any mentioned company to discuss or blog about this topic.  This is for informational purposes only.  

Pucker up with Leslie Tyler's Lip Gloss - Product Review

I became a huge Leslie Tyler fan from the first time I seen her on an episode of Jerseylicious.  Honestly, I had no idea who she was before then... but I knew that when I heard her name again - this time, connected to a lip gloss, I just had to try it. :)

I was sent Leslie Tyler's Sheer & Shine Lip gloss in Apricot Glaze to try out by It's a Glam Thing.  I am quite taken with this lip gloss.  I must admit - I am really liking the texture, quality and staying power.

See my vlog review below for all the details. :)

Disclaimer:  The following product was provided to me for product review.  I received no compensation nor do I have any affiliation with the company and/or companies mentioned.  All of my reviews are my own, honest opinion and I am not influenced in any way by the company or its subsidiaries to provide a positive or negative review. ~Honey~

Scrub-a-dub with T.Taio's Aloe Vera Soap Sponge

Like most moms who are running around after toddlers and a six year old - shower & bath time is absolutely sacred to me.  My twin 16 month old boys and almost seven year old son keep me busy during the day and the twins LOVE to bathe me in their homemade food recipes... so much that a warm bath is always the perfect remedy for a long day.

I love the smell of fresh & clean, though I must say that many  body washes, soaps and gels entice me with their fruit and flower scents...  but, I always seem to find myself drawn to the fresh shower smells... like Aloe.  I was very lucky to be sent the T.Taio Aloe Vera Soap Sponge by It's A Glam Thing and could not wait to try out this product that looked so interesting in the packaging.  

Upon opening the product - the smell that tickled my nose was absolutely inviting... and I couldn't get into the shower fast enough to try it.  When the water hit the sponge... it lathered pretty much immediately and I used it to scrub my body.  First off, let me start by saying that I could feel the exfoliating sponge doing its magic... and when the experience was over... my body felt so clean - I think I squeaked as I got out of the shower.  

Did I mention that I also used this on my face... as my facial cleanser?  It's moisturizing capabilities... left my face feeling clean & moisturized for the entire day.  Every part of my body felt like it had a nice relaxing deep cleanse.

Here is some really cool information on this special sponge soap.  

The company is based out of Mexico, but you can still order the product online.  It sells for $4.99 retail from their online website.  The soap sponge helps the skin to maintain its moisture balance, which worked perfectly for me because on days when I am in a rush and cannot put body lotion on, this is ideal for me.  My naturally dry skin that I experience during the winter months was perfectly moisturized through the day.  The sponge does not collect mold or bacteria.  For those that like to leave their sponge or loofah in the shower, mold or bacteria can grow very quickly... especially if you live in a cold environment where the wet air lingers...  I live in an area just like this - so mold is especially a problem for me.  I have been using this soap sponge for a couple of weeks and it still seems like it is mold free and still smells of the awesome Aloe plant.  It is made with Moisturizing Glycerin Soap.  Because I tend to have an oily face, I have been told by dermatologists that the best moisturizer to use should include Glycerin in it, not mineral oil.  This soap has been perfect to use on my face without the problems I would normally get from soap, like Acne breakouts.  Infused in the soap is a gentle exfoliating sponge.  This is where the extra clean comes in... as the exfoliating sponge removes any built up dirt or grime that you may have on your body.  And, the soap sponge is made with Nopal Cactus Pear Extracts.  This very ingredient has been proven to have awesome healing capabilities and I have noticed that the little breakouts that I would have on my body has been almost completely eliminated and cleared up.  

Below is my T.Taio Vlog Review - if you are interested in purchasing this product, visit:  http://www.ttaio.com. You will notice that the site is in spanish...  you can be taken to a site with English Translations by clicking on the "shopping cart" icon on the upper Right hand corner.  The soap sponge bar retails for $4.99 (an absolute steal considering you can pay that much and more for soaps at the drug store with far less better qualities).  T.Taio is running a special right now- use code GLAM 10 and you can get a Soap Sponge Free with Any Order... so buy one, get one free. :)

I know that once you try it - you will like it, I didn't think that it would interest me at all... but now that I have used it - I absolutely love it.

Disclaimer:  The following product was provided to me for product review.  I received no compensation nor do I have any affiliation with the company and/or companies mentioned.  All of my reviews are my own, honest opinion and I am not influenced in any way by the company or its subsidiaries to provide a positive or negative review. ~Honey~