(Courtesy of  FDA Cosmetics.)

While the current U.S. Food and Drug Administration laws do not contain similar definitions regarding what it means to be cruelty-free (wouldn’t that be nice?!), they do regulate–and enforce–certain  cosmetics industry standards to protect us, as consumers.  Key among those regulations are product labeling and safety; obviously it’s in our best interest to know exactly what we’re getting when we fork over our hard-earned dinero. We also should be just as concerned with how well our cosmetics are going to perform–after all, aren’t they supposed to “cleanse” and “beautify” in order to “promote attractiveness” and “alter [the] appearance”?

For additional information regarding this controversial topic, check out the Cosmetic & Personal Care Product Safety section of CosmeticsInfo.org.  It’s well-written and concise; both bio-chem geeks (including yours truly) and those who aren’t as scientifically-inclined can benefit from this resource.

It wasn’t my intention, however,  to have this article merely discuss the safety and efficacy of cruelty-free beauty products.  While those may very well be important things to consider, isn’t it just as important to get the most out of your well-deserved purchase?  How many times have we splurged on a fabulous eyeliner or mascara–only to wind up tossing it a short time thereafter? Doesn’t it seem as though we’ve run out of our favorite shampoo and conditioner…again?  Why does that killer nail polish perish within a week or two?

I think I can safely say I speak for just about every My Beauty Bunny reader (I know I am, by no means, the only connoisseur) here: I expect my cosmetics to uphold pretty high standards.   I believe that if I’m willing to pay good money for a product, it had better perform as advertised–for longer than a day or two! While I wouldn’t be able to accurately gauge how much each of you spend on any of your beauty essentials, I do know this: regardless of the actual dollar amount, we all deserve to have our stuff last as long as possible.

Here are a few tips and tricks which have helped me preserve shelf life and increase overall efficacy and performance:

• When applying liquid or otherwise viscous cosmetics (i.e. eyeliner, mascara, lip gloss, nail polish or lotion), be sure to remove the excess matter from both the applicator and the opening of the container right away, as these sticky leftovers can make it impossible to completely reseal once opened.  When exposed to the elements,  not only will your favorite product evaporate faster–it is fluid, after all–it’s also more likely to be contaminated by infection-causing bacteria and/or other gross microbes which exist within our surrounding environment.  Can we say Hello, Nasty?!

• As many of us have noted in our reviews, a little of your favorite cleanser or exfoliating scrub goes a long way!  No need to metaphorically pour money down the drain (I definitely am guilty of  having done this–many times) by over-squeezing the tube whenever you wash your face or jump in the shower: a pea-sized amount is all you need for best results.  Some labels might also refer to “dimes” or “dollops”; since I am sooo not gifted in the Spatial-Relational Perception department, I’m still trying to figure out what those shapes would look like as amorphous solids poured from a bottle.  Needless to say, I think you get the idea: only use a little each time.

• The same logic applies to shampoo and conditioner–even for those of us long-haired gals (and guys too).  Obviously we will need to use a bit more than, say, someone like my dad–who rocks his short style very well, might I add–but not much more than the usual pea/dime/dollop.  If someone figures out a good visual reference for any or all of the above, by all means share!  I always enjoy engaging in a dialogue with our readers.

To that end, if any of you have additional suggestions, advice or any other cruelty-free beauty tips to share, feel free to leave a comment below–or send us an e-mail. We’d love to hear from you!

Opinions expressed above are the author’s own, and not intended as a substitute for medical or other professional advice.