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Does makeup expire?

Read more about Does makeup expire?

Do makeup products expire?

Would you drink milk with last year’s date on the carton?

How about snack on a rotten banana?

Just like our favorite food and drinks, makeup products also expire.

Beauty products can make people feel fresh-faced and put together. But let’s make sure we dispose of them properly.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) refers to a product’s shelf life as the time you can safely use “a product to look and act as expected.” Makeup can go bad for different reasons, such as added bacteria from your fingers, products drying up from poor storage and even fungi transferring to applicators.

According to Mayo Clinic Press, as products expire, your skin can react to the bacteria, causing irritation, breakouts or redness. Liquid cosmetics also change color over time from oxidation.

Tips to makeover your makeup:

Cosmetics are generally usable for at least one year. Eye products have a shorter shelf life. Take mascara, for example. It’s recommended to dispose of your favorite lash lifter every two to four months. If the bottle dries up, throw it away. Do not add anything liquid to it, which will cause new bacteria to grow.

Powders are safe for two years if stored away from moisture.

For foundations, water-based products are safe for a year. Oil-based cosmetics can be used for 18 months. Cream foundations and blushes are good for up to one year. Apply with tools instead of your hands.

Lipsticks can be used for up to two years, while glosses should be tossed after one year.

Steer clear of those tempting testers at cosmetic counters. If you must try products before purchase, find clean applicators.

Sales are great for pricey cosmetics but beware of second-hand sellers marketing products that have already surpassed their shelf life.

Remember your tools. Wash brushes and sponges weekly. Change your makeup bag regularly, as it also becomes unsanitary.

Avoid sharing cosmetics with friends unless you also want to pass around infections.

The FDA notes that there aren’t U.S. laws requiring printed expiration dates on makeup, but manufacturers are accountable for safety. But products doubling as sunscreens with SPF labeling, such as foundations or powders with sun protection, are considered cosmetics and drugs. Manufacturers are required to ensure they are safe to use until expiration. These products need to be tested and have expiration dates printed on labels.

Grab your makeup bag and start doing some math. Better yet, set phone reminders to keep you accountable for replacing favorite items. Although squeezing out the last drops of the foundation you bought three years ago may benefit your budget, remember that it’s not the best for your health.

Genesis HealthCare System’s Health and Wellness content conveniently provides accurate and helpful information. Your health history and current health may impact suggestions provided through our Health and Wellness content. Although we hope this information is helpful, it is not a substitute for your doctor's medical advice. Before making any significant changes, please consult your doctor.

HerHealth

Thu, 10/31/2024 - 08:00

Just like our favorite food and drinks, makeup products also expire.

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Heart shocking news

Read more about Heart shocking news

On pace to a better life

Vicci Biles noticed that she was short of breath, tired from walking to one side of the house from the other and was not able to work in her flowers like she used to. Her smartwatch notified her that her heart was 100% in A-Fib. After consulting her sister, who works in healthcare, she called her doctor to see what was happening. Vicci took action, and because of this, she was able to go on a two-week-long vacation with her husband, Lee Biles, like they used to.

Out of rhythm

Atrial Fibrillation, better known as A-Fib, is a diagnosis that Grant V. Chow, M.D., Fellowship-trained and Board-certified Electrophysiologist at the Genesis Heart & Vascular Institute works with most days. Dr. Chow immediately diagnosed Vicci with a heart flutter when he first saw her. Ultimately, he inserted a pacemaker to align Vicci’s heartbeat.

Placing a pacemaker is a simple procedure. General anesthesia is used so you do not feel any pain during the procedure, it is similar to being in a light sleep. The doctors insert the pacemaker through a small incision and to make sure that the leads (wires) are placed in the correct spot they use a X-Ray machine.

“When your heart is out of rhythm, in A-Fib, it causes your body to not pump as much blood as it should,” said Dr. Chow. “This is because there is a problem with the electrical system that controls the pumping of blood. The pacemaker can solve this problem by putting the heart back into rhythm, therefore enabling the electrical systems to pump a normal amount of blood.”

Back on track

"I never would have been able to do everything on the trip if I hadn’t received the pacemaker."

After the pacemaker procedure was complete, Vicci immediately felt better. She was up and walking that night. She could not thank Dr. Chow enough.

“The pacemaker made me feel like I was in my 50s instead of in my 80s,” Vicci stated.

After Vicci returned home from the hospital, she and her husband immediately booked a two-week trip overseas to the Netherlands. One of the sites on Vicci’s bucket list was to see the tulips in bloom in Holland. Every day on their vacation Vicci and her husband took about 12,000 to 15,000 steps.

“I never would have been able to do everything on the trip if I hadn’t received the pacemaker. I became winded so quickly before. During our vacation, we were able to walk all day,” said Vicci.

When she is not traveling overseas Vicci is active at home. She notices that she has a lot more energy. She recently baked 150 cookies and did not get tired while baking or icing them.

She and her husband have been married for 63 years, and now that Vicci has a pacemaker, her husband jokes that he wants one.

“I want a pacemaker now because I have seen how much better my wife feels,” said Lee.

“This procedure is done to help you stay out of the hospital and live longer,” Dr. Chow explains. “We are so happy to hear that Vicci is doing well and traveling the way she used to. Vicci is just one of the patients with A-Fib we have treated at Genesis. She is a great example that the pacemaker works for patients with A-Fib and that you can be more active after the procedure.”

Wed, 10/02/2024 - 13:31

On pace to a better life.

Heart & Vascular

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Empowering women: Understanding and managing PCOS

Read more about Empowering women: Understanding and managing PCOS

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal disorder affecting millions of women around the globe. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, it is a condition where the ovaries produce an abnormal number of androgen (male sex hormones), which women typically have a small amount of. If you're dealing with irregular periods, stubborn acne or unexplained weight gain, PCOS might be the culprit. But don't worry. With the correct information and a few lifestyle tweaks, you can manage PCOS effectively and live your best life.

How do I manage PCOS?

1) Healthy diet and exercise:

Balanced diet: Focus on fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains while avoiding processed foods and sugars.
Regular exercise: Incorporate aerobic activities like walking, cycling and strength training to improve insulin sensitivity and manage weight.
According to the Mayo Clinic, losing 5% of your body weight will substantially impact the effectiveness of medications and help with infertility.

2) Medical treatments:

Medications with estrogen and/or progestin can regulate menstrual cycles and reduce androgen levels, while metformin can improve insulin sensitivity.
Fertility treatments: Options such as clomiphene, letrozole or other medicines to support conception may be recommended for those facing infertility issues.

3) Stress management:

Mindfulness and counseling: Meditation and support groups can help manage stress and provide emotional support.

You've got this

Educating yourself about PCOS is empowering. Dive into online resources, attend workshops and do not hesitate to ask your doctor questions. Connect with others who are going through the same thing.

Living with PCOS doesn't have to be a solo journey. With the right tools and support, you can take charge of your health and live a fulfilling, vibrant life. So, embrace your journey, stay positive and remember, you've got this.

Walter W. Randolph, M.D., FACOG, discusses polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) symptoms and treatment options.

HerHealth

Wed, 10/02/2024 - 08:00

Living with PCOS doesn't have to be a solo journey. With the right tools and support, you can take charge of your health and live a fulfilling, vibrant life.

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Self-care 101: how well do you treat yourself?

Read more about Self-care 101: how well do you treat yourself?

Welcome to our self-care quiz. Self-care is crucial for maintaining your physical, mental and emotional well-being. It's about taking time to nurture yourself and prioritize your needs. Let's see how well you're doing with your self-care routine.

Question 1:

How often do you take time for yourself during the week?

a. Every day, I make self-care a priority.

b. A few times a week when I can squeeze it in.

c. Once a week or less, I'm always on the go.

Question 2:

How do you prioritize your mental health?

a. I regularly practice mindfulness, meditation or other mental health activities.

b. I try to check in with my emotions and mental state regularly.

c. I often ignore my mental needs. There's just too much to do.

Question 3:

What does your sleep schedule look like?

a. I consistently get 7-9 hours of sleep per night.

b. I get enough sleep most nights, but sometimes I stay up late.

c. My sleep schedule is irregular, and I often feel exhausted.

Question 4:

How do you handle stress?

a. I have a healthy coping mechanism that helps me manage stress effectively.

b. I try to relax and take breaks when I'm feeling stressed.

c. I often feel overwhelmed and struggle to cope with stress.

Question 5:

What do you do to unwind and relax?

a. I have hobbies or activities that help me relax.

b. I try to relax but often feel guilty for taking time for myself.

c. I rarely take time to unwind and relax.

Results:

Mostly A's: Congratulations, you're a self-care superstar. Keep up the fantastic work.

Mostly, B's: You're on the right track with your self-care, but there's always room for improvement. Keep taking those moments for yourself.

Mostly C's: It sounds like you could use more self-care. Remember, taking care of yourself is not selfish. It's necessary for your well-being.

Self-care is not a luxury. It's a necessity. Use the results of this quiz to identify areas for improvement in your self-care routine and start prioritizing yourself today.

Ready to get healthy?

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Behavioral Health

Tue, 10/01/2024 - 08:00

Self-care 101: how well do you treat yourself?

Use the results of this quiz to identify areas for improvement in your self-care routine and start prioritizing yourself today.

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Pain, pain go away

Read more about Pain, pain go away

Chronic pain persists, sometimes for years. How individuals experience pain varies widely. For some, it can feel like a dull ache; for others, a burning or throbbing sensation. Regardless of how you describe it, chronic pain is debilitating and can interfere in daily activities. It also causes other functional and psychological symptoms, such as fatigue, trouble sleeping and mood changes.

Tips on how to manage your chronic pain:

Move. We know: You hurt. You don’t want to move. However, physical activity helps in several ways. Exercise builds strong muscles and bones. Exercise also releases endorphins—feel-good hormones—so you can better cope with pain. Finally, being active prevents obesity.
Try physical or occupational therapy. Physical therapy treats pain through movement, with strengthening and range-of-motion exercises, and occupational therapy gives you skills and strategies to manage pain.
Relax. Meditation and other relaxation techniques help you better manage stress (being in pain is stressful) and reduce tension that can aggravate pain.
Stay engaged. Spending time with family and friends, and engaging in activities that bring you pleasure, help take your mind off pain and remind you of the positive aspects of life.
Explore complementary health modalities. Medical literature provides some support that complementary approaches, such as acupuncture, massage and yoga, may be helpful in alleviating lower back and arthritis-related pain, and relaxation training and biofeedback may reduce pain associated with migraines and chronic headaches.
Stop smoking. It’s bad for your health, and nicotine can make some pain medications less effective.
Practice good self-care. Eat a healthy diet that includes plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and limit sugar, saturated fats and alcohol. Maintain a healthy weight and get plenty of sleep.

Lifestyle

Mon, 08/15/2022 - 08:00

Are you living with chronic pain? Here are some tips to help manage it.

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Win at weight loss

Read more about Win at weight loss

If you’ve watched more weight loss workouts than you’d like to admit or eaten grapefruit for breakfast lunch or dinner, then read on to learn tips for successful weight loss.

Do you:

Eat too many refined grains (white bread or rice)?
Eat big portions?
Skip meals?
Eat a lot of meals away from home?
Graze all day on high-calorie snacks?
Frequently drink high-calorie coffee drinks, juice drinks or regular soda?
Consume too much alcohol?
Eat for emotional reasons?
Eat in front of the screen like your phone or computer?

Changes are coming

OK, let’s get real. Pick at least one habit from above and work on changing this habit. For example, try limiting sweets and treats to only 200 calories a day, cutting out fried foods or only eating out once per week.
Replace the old habit with a new lower calorie habit, such as trying new fruits or vegetables or a new type of exercise class.

On track

Self-monitor. You can do it. Studies show that people who self-monitor their meals lose more weight and keep it off.
Weigh yourself. The most successful “losers” tend to weigh themselves about once a week.

Nutrition

Thu, 08/18/2022 - 08:00

If you’ve watched more weight loss workouts than you’d like to admit or eaten grapefruit for breakfast lunch or dinner, then read on to learn tips for successful weight loss.

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Feeling rotten? Find out if it’s a stomach bug or E. Coli

Read more about Feeling rotten? Find out if it’s a stomach bug or E. Coli

If you find yourself on the verge of vomiting or are rushing to the bathroom with a bad case of diarrhea, you’re probably not analyzing what caused it – you just want to get it over with and feel better.

Taking care of bathroom business is clearly the first priority. But finding out whether you have a stomach bug (caused by a virus) or food poisoning caused by a bacteria, like E. coli or salmonella, is important.

Why? Knowing what made you feel rotten can reveal a few things, namely: how long the illness is likely to last, how you can care for yourself at home and how to know if things are bad enough that you should seek medical care.

Here are the key differences between the two illnesses:

Food poisoning: Caused by eating food that’s been contaminated by bacteria, viruses or parasites. E coli and salmonella are two types of food poisoning.
Stomach virus: Caused by viral infection that targets your digestive system.

If you’re trying to figure out what happened to you, know this: many symptoms of food poisoning and stomach bugs are the same – vomiting, diarrhea, headaches and fever. But there are some differences, such as:

If you have food poisoning like E. coli, symptoms usually appear just a few hours after eating contaminated food.
If you’ve recently had a meal with others and they’re feeling sick, too, you probably have food poisoning.
If you have a stomach bug, you’ll probably feel better in a day or two: food poisoning can last much longer, up to 10 days.

If you have food poisoning or a stomach bug, staying hydrated should be a top priority. Take small sips of water, suck on ice chips or sip broth throughout the day to stay hydrated. Just make sure to avoid sugary drinks – although it seems like they might help, they can actually cause dehydration. Also, on the road to recovery, take your preferred over-the-counter pain reliever or fever reducer as needed. And make sure to take advantage of one of the best remedies there is – lots of rest.

Get medical help if you have bloody stools and/or:

Diarrhea that lasts for more than three days
Fever over 100.4°F (in adults) or above 101°F (in kids)
Are noticing signs of dehydration, like extreme thirst
Vomiting

Primary Care

Tue, 08/23/2022 - 08:00

Here are the key differences between the two illnesses.

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Bon voyage, old salt!

Read more about Bon voyage, old salt!

While sea captains might be accustomed to inhaling salt daily, most of us could stand to limit our salt intake. Just like the sea water surrounding the captain’s ship, salt comes at us from every point on the compass.

In the early days of exploration, food used to be packed in salt so it wouldn’t spoil during travel, but now we have huge freezers and salt’s still everywhere, especially frozen foods. Blimey! More than 70% of the sodium we eat comes from processed and prepackaged grub. There’s also an ocean of salt in breads and rolls, pizza, sandwiches, cold cuts and cured meats and soup.

Salt and sodium are different. Sodium occurs naturally in foods or is added during manufacturing. Table salt is a 40 to 60% mix of sodium and chloride. One teaspoon of salt has 2,300 milligrams of sodium, which each crewmate is supposed to have each day. Most of that is in what the chief cook prepares. Many people add about 1,100 milligrams extra per day. Shiver me timbers!

We all need a teaspoon of sodium a day for health but diets any higher in sodium are associated with high blood pressure (hypertension), which burdens your heart. Increased blood flow can harm your heart, brain, kidneys and eyes. It raises the risk of heart attacks, heart failure, stroke, kidney disease and blindness. Not exactly ship-shape!

Sure, there are sodium substitutes. Many contain a lot of potassium, which is bad for those with kidney disease. Check with your family doctor before trying salt substitutes. And sea salt? There’s very little sodium difference between sea, table or kosher salt.

Salt’s boring, anyway! Sea captains have sailed every ocean blue and found many great alternatives like cider vinegar for vegetables — salads and sauces. Allspice really gives lean meats and stews a kick in the britches. Try cayenne pepper on eggs and nutmeg on fruits, potatoes, chicken and fish.

The list goes on but remember the American Heart Association and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans support a long list of good foods. Take it from the old salt, there are no saltshakers in the mess hall, and no-one’s jumped ship yet!

Nutrition

Wed, 08/24/2022 - 08:00

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Can learning a second language help your brain? Si.

Read more about Can learning a second language help your brain? Si.

We all know fitness and nutrition are vital to having a healthy body. Did you know to have a healthy brain, you need to exercise it too? Take our quick two-question quiz and discover what learning a second language can do for your mind, or mente in Spanish, or esprit in French and so on.

With evidence supporting that learning a second language will improve the minds of the young and elderly both, it becomes more of a question of which language do you want to learn? With numerous online resources and apps on mobile phones, learning a new dialect is more convenient than ever. Even if you question the mental benefits, at least you will be able to order your favorite dish the next time you travel to a foreign county.

Behavioral Health

Quiz

Wed, 09/07/2022 - 08:00

Take our quick two-question quiz and discover what learning a second language can do for your mind.

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Pickers and squeezers: 5 ways to avoid pimple scars

Read more about Pickers and squeezers: 5 ways to avoid pimple scars

Having a pimple scar is like having a stain or damage on a white dress: It's noticeable or more pigmented than the skin's overall color. A scar is formed from a deep wound to the skin. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, when an injury penetrates the inner layer of your skin called the dermis, collagen is made to heal the wound, which forms scar tissue. The most common type of acne scar is atrophic or sunken scars. Pitted scars are often the result of collagen loss on the area where an acne breakout was present. Other post-acne blemishes that are mistaken for scarring are post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Large, inflamed pimples are more likely to leave darker pigments behind. Let's look at how you can prevent and treat your acne scars.

Prevent skin damage

The worst thing you can do is tamper with an inflamed pimple. Doing so can cause further irritation and spread infection. It also causes prolonged scarring. The best practice is to let it heal by minimizing irritation. 

Treat acne once it forms

Add salicylic acid face wash to your skin routine. It clears oil, dirt, dead skin cells or any contaminant that leads to acne. Find the salicylic acid product that's right for you. Always test on a small portion of your skin before applying on a larger skin surface. 

Microdermabrasion and collagen treatment

Also known as depressed scars, an ice-pick-scar may go away on its own. If it does not, ask your dermatologist about microdermabrasion, a treatment where the top layer of the skin is removed with gentle exfoliation to reveal new skin. Another option is to get a collagen injection. It will smooth out uneven skin surfaces.

Remove dark marks  

Use retinol-based creams or cleansers. Retin-A is a vitamin that helps increase cell regeneration. That means it speeds up the production of new skin cells. It also reduces inflammation and skin lesions.  

Alpha Hydroxy (AHA)

AHAs are also an excellent way to unclog pores and remove marks on the skin. Find an AHA product that's gentle to use every day and get rid of rough, bumpy skin. 

Beauty

Mon, 09/12/2022 - 08:00

The worst thing you can do is tamper with an inflamed pimple. Doing so can cause further irritation and spread infection. It also causes prolonged scarring.

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