Although the dangers of your own makeup becoming seriously contaminated are slight if they are quality products manufactured with proper preservatives, the same does not hold true for shared products.

Never share cosmetics, not even with a family member or a best friend due to the risk of contamination. And that risk goes up dramatically with shared-use products such as makeup testers in stores and at makeup counters. At home, your makeup usually has the whole day to cope with contaminants before it is used again. But makeup testers in stores are used much more often. According to the FDA, the preservatives in the products cannot handle the challenge of constant use.

The same holds true for those free makeovers at makeup counters. The products used to create that impressive new you may have been used on dozens of other customers before you.

Recent tests done on shared makeup testers by several independent news shows, such as the Today show, found dangerous bacterial contamination, including staph. If you want to test makeup shades, insist on new, individual applicators. Better still, test the makeup on your hand or the inside of your forearm. Never try on makeup from a tester using a shared applicator wand or brush.

What if you could have thicker, lusher lashes permanently? How far would you go to achieve that look? Would you have hair transplant surgery?

Once used exclusively to restore the eyebrows and eyelashes of women and men who had suffered loss of eyebrows or eyelashes through accidents, burns, disease or other physical reasons, transplantation of eyelashes is now being sought after for purely cosmetic reasons.

The procedure involved in eyelash transplantation is minimally invasive and usually takes only one session to complete. Surgeons remove donor hair, usually from the back of your head and transplant them onto the eyelids. The result is fuller and thicker lashes. The cost is about $3000 per lid.

The lashes will need to be trimmed regularly, as they will grow just as head hair grows. They may also need to be curled to follow the general curve of the existing lashes.

Check out this site for an explanation of the procedure and some before and after photos:

Hair Sight dot com

Read the story from Reuters on CNN:

Docs look to create perfect lashes

Color for eyes has never been more popular. Dramatic blues, greens, purples and pinks are back in style. Eyeshadow is no longer trying to hide and blend.

L’oreal has just introduced a loose powder, luminous eye shadow that creates a shimmering, glimmering look. The powder can be applied lightly in some areas and layered in others to create dramatic color and highlights. Use more than one shade to enhance the look. Some of the shades employ a metallic shimmer. Beam is an earth shade with a hint of silver and my favorite, Limelight, combines green with gold. The colors are iridescent and all about being noticed.

There used to be an old joke that went:
“You have the prettiest blonde hair. Why’d you dye the roots black?”

Well, it had to happen. The newest hair trend is dark roots. Jessica Simpson has been seen wearing her roots long and in contrast, but Jessica started letting the roots grow for a movie role. It seems she likes the look and lots of celebrity bleached-blondes are following in her footsteps and letting their roots grow out. In fact, some are having the roots dyed to a richer color for more contrast.

I don’t expect this trend will last long, but consider it a free ticket to let your hair coloring appointment go a few more weeks. You will be fashionable with those dark roots and a little rest for your hair from the harsh chemicals can only be a good thing.