Tag Archive for: makeup

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CLEAN BEAUTY EXPERT: KIRSTEN KJAER WEIS, FOUNDER OF KJAER WEIS

From growing up on a farm in Denmark to attending the prestigious Christian Chauveau School of Artistic Makeup, Kirsten Kjaer Weis worked around the world for some of the most renowned fashion magazines like Vogue, Elle, and Marie Claire. As an in-demand makeup artist, Kirsten found that people were sacrificing the health of their skin by using irritating, synthetic makeup. The natural products, however, were not up to par in performance, and the luxury of the beauty experience was lost. Kirsten used her experience growing up in a natural environment and her knowledge of beauty to pursue uncharted territory in the industry, creating Kjaer Weis – a pioneer in organic, luxury beauty.

What lead you to start Kjaer Weis?

I had worked for many years as a make-up artist in Europe and the US and saw firsthand the issues the models I was working on had with their skin from the conventional brands I had in my kit and applied on them daily. Breakouts, dry skin, red eyes. I tried to find natural counterparts to replace the conventional products but they didn’t really exist at that point (early 2000), which became my aha moment, seeing the gap in the market. Combining the performance of conventional with the ingredients profile of all-natural and tie it in with luxury packaging.

If you could explain Kjaer Weis…

Enlightened Beauty. Certified Organic, High Performing. Sustainable Luxury.

Do you strive to inspire others through Kjaer Weis?

I hope to inspire other female entrepreneurs to go for their passion.

What is your favorite part of working in the beauty industry? What is your least favorite?

I love to create, having an idea for a beauty product and seeing it come to life is very satisfying and a lot of fun. I also love assisting women in feeling beautiful and good about themselves without the potential of compromising their health. My least favorite? I don’t really have anything specific, yet I am happy to be part of a new area that steps away from the narrow perception of beauty that has been the norm for so many years. It’s changing and I love seeing it becoming a lot more inclusive.

What is the best piece of advice that anyone has ever given you?

Joseph Campbell is one of my favorite writers. He has a well known and wise quote from one of his books; Follow your bliss. That had an impact on me.

What is your goal through Kjaer Weis?

My goal is to grow KW to a Global Brand, allowing women around the world to have access to high performing, non-toxic make-up. Growing it in size while staying true to the DNA. My goal is also to change the norm of what’s acceptable to put in beauty products, having non-toxic make-up be a natural expectation for the next generations. Similar to how we take it for granted and fully accept that smoking is not allowed inside anymore.

What is your favorite indulgence?

Time. Finding time to have a massage, facial, read, be with my family, spend time in nature.

When it comes to your beauty routine, what is one item you can not live without?

Our Beautiful Oil. I love it, my skin loves it, it truly is beautiful.

Beyond Kjaer Weis, are there any mantras or rituals that help ground you when things get overwhelming?

Yes absolutely. Stay calm. Meditate and find that place where our wisdom sit’s, our authentic power where knee jerk reactions can’t exist. It’s essential to make (big) decisions from that place.

How do you like to wind down and make sure you’re taking care of yourself?

I live between NY and CT in the woods. Spending time in nature and be quiet does that for me.

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Detox Your Makeup Bag


It’s a New Year so let’s take a look into our makeup bags – ditch the old and clear out to make room for new! Makeup bags, the subject of many discussions, can contain the remnants of days and looks gone by and serve as a host to bacteria that leads to clogged pores and breakouts.

Makeup Hygiene Rules To Follow: 

Give your brushes a bath. Makeup brushes hold host to bacteria, especially those used with any liquid type of makeup (foundation, eye, and lip). Brushes should be washed with a gentle shampoo and laid to dry overnight on a weekly basis to avoid spreading bacteria and giving you the cleanest + flawless brush finish! 

When you’ve come down with a cold or had the flu-get rid of things like toothbrushes, makeups and products you stick your finger in.

Lending your bestie your lip gloss is a great way to spread germs.

Most of us keep our makeup in the bathroom, but heat and humidity can allow yeast and mold to grow, so try and keep makeup away from the shower.

When To Say Buh-Bye:

Mascara= 3 months

Eye shadow powder= 2 years

Blush= 12 months

Foundation= 6 months

Lip gloss/lipstick= 12 months

Liquid eye liner= 3 months

Skincare= opened 9 months/unopened 2 years


Last but not least, its good to clean out the old and try something new. It is after all a new year with so many beautiful possibilities! Discover our favorite 2018 products?

Lisa’s 2018 addition: I have a slight obsession with bronzers and highlighters, so after my bag cleanse I had to add another.  Absolutely love the color of Bobbi Brown’s limited edition highlighting powder in Opal Glow!

Lauren’s 2018 addition: It’s no secret that Lauren is obsessed with lip gloss. Where usual goto is Chanel, I once counted five in one bag! This season she opted for Kevyn Aucoin’s Molton Lip Color topcoat in Opal. The perfect addition to any lipstick!

 

 

 

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How long do our beauty products really last?

If you’re like us, our bathroom cabinets and drawers can get crowded with beauty products that can often times go unused and/or forgotten about. We’d love to think that they could all last forever (being the beauty junkies that we are), but that’s simply just not the case. We decided to debunk the facts about the most commonly kept lotions, potions and makeup that builds up in our cabinets.

Screen Shot 2015-03-23 at 2.58.00 PMPhoto via SarahLovsMakeup

LIPSTICK

  • What is the standard guideline for when to throw out a used tube of lipstick? 1-2years
  • Is there circumstance where it could have a longer shelf life? If so, how long much further can we go past the recommended throw-out time period? Lipsticks last longer than lip gloss because there isn’t an application wand being exposed to air all the time. A good rule of thumb is that if it smells rancid or feels different(too waxy or sticky) then throw it away.
  • What are the skin risks of swiping on a tube that’s too old? Probably won’t make you sick but it can taste bad and dry out the lips. In severe cases expired lipstick can cause irritation to the lip area. If you suffer from cold sores and used your lipstick while having a breakout definitely throw it away as you may have contaminated it.

SUNSCREEN

  • When should we throw out sunscreen that has been opened? Most sunscreens have expiration dates listed and this will vary depending on ingredients. With our Sun Visor SPF30, we recommend 12 moths after opening. Since the sun can be so harmful and damaging to the skin and our health, you should obey the expiration date. Sunscreen will not be as effective post expiration date and therefore may allow for sunburn and most certainly sun damage and skin damage.
  • If your sunscreen doesn’t have an expiration date on it, is there a way to tell if it has gone bad? It may appear clumpy, yellow in hue, watery or smell funny. If you are unsure then toss it and buy a new bottle.

SKINCARE CREAM

  • When should we throw out face cream that has been opened? 6-12 months
  • What if we neglect to use it, will it still be good? Depends on the ingredients and the packaging. Natural products formulated ‘without preservatives’ will go bad first. Water based products are also the first to go. Airless pumps or tubes will last a little longer than jars as jars get cross contaminated by bacteria on your fingers and in the air.
  • Is there anything we can do to make our face cream last as long as possible? If your product is a face oil or has active ingredients like Vitamin C, acids or Retinol, it should be packaged in a dark glass container and kept in a cool dark place. If you’re using a jar absolutely utilize the spatula that comes with it as this keeps your fingers and bacteria out of the jar. If it doesn’t come with a spatula then get one or use something disposable or that you can clean after each use.

PRESSED POWDERS

  • What is the typical guideline for throwing out loose and pressed powder (including blushes and bronzers)? 12 months
  • What can we really get away with? If the product has not been contaminated by either skin infections(breakouts) or bacteria from brushes then maybe 2 years. This brings up the topic of keeping brushes clean. Clean brushes will prolong the lifespan of your makeup. If you’re using a sponge in the compact make sure to keep it clean or replace it.

LIQUID FOUNDATION

  • When should we throw out liquid foundation that has been opened? 6-12 months
  • Is there any flexibility? If foundation is in a pump then it will last longer as it is not being contaminated. If you dab your fingers in the foundation jar always make sure you have washed your hands first or use a brush or disposable sponge
  • Should we follow these same guidelines for concealer or does it have a different shelf life once opened? Similar guideline depending on the packaging. If its in a pump then it will last the longest. If it is a little wand that you touch to imperfections on the skin, make sure you wash this and replace every 6 months. Skin infections and breakouts have bacteria and this can get transferred onto the wad or brush and then back into the container, so really keep these clean.
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