Blog Posts by RealBeauty.com

Most of us have a drawer filled with half-used lip glosses, cracked blushes, and mascaras from who even knows when. That's why we solicited the help of an expert to find out what products you need to ditch (like, now) and what's worth holding onto.

Divide and Conquer
Start by dumping all of your makeup onto a table or the floor, says Raychel Wade, a makeup artist who offers a service called Makeup Bag Rx, in which she cleans out her clients' makeup, discarding prehistoric products and unearthing hidden gems. Next, arrange the makeup into the following categories: lips, cheeks, eyes, miscellaneous. Once everything is separated into groups, you'll probably notice that you own several products in the same shade, says Wade. "No one needs a dozen pink blushes or six red lipsticks."

Check for Quality
When it comes to the quality of your powder shadows, blushes, and bronzers, a fancy brand name or how much you paid for it shouldn't be a factor, says Wade. Here's a better way to gauge what

Age may just be a number, but it's not one we like to give out willingly. Knock a few years off by tweaking your diet with these foods proven to be full of anti-aging properties. Plus, they'll help you reap the benefits of a smaller waist, too.

Nibble on...Berries

Stocked with antioxidants, these yummy snacks neutralize damaging free radicals, says Paula Simpson, BASc, RNCP. They also help the body manufacture collagen, leaving your skin firm and smooth.

And though all berries have some anti-aging perks, blueberries are soaring in popularity because of the amount of vitamin C and E they contain, says Lisa Drayer MA, RD. These vitamins fight aging by ridding the body of harmful chemicals that have long-term, damaging effects on our organs. We'll be making a blueberry pie this weekend, stat.

Related: Foods That Make You Glow from Head to Toe

Nibble on...Water-Rich Foods

Foods high in water content, such as cucumbers, watermelon, apples, peaches, melons, and celery, are some of the

Admit it: If you took a peek into your cosmetic bag, you might find a tube of your favorite lip gloss from 7th grade. We all hang on to makeup longer than we should, but with fall almost in full swing, make a vow to start fresh for your face's sake. Follow this timeline to see if you should keep or ditch your everyday hair and makeup products. Your skin will thank you!

Lipsticks

Lip glosses and lipsticks can last anywhere from 18 months to two years. Keep a watchful eye on your favorite hues - if you notice an off smell or taste, toss them in the trash and treat yourself to a new tube! Also be wary of who you let stick their fingers in your favorite pot 'o gloss. Friends with a cold who swipe your gloss with their fingers have now just made your favorite lip gloss a breeding ground for bacteria.

Related: 33 Beauty Myths: Fact or Fiction?


Foundation

Liquid foundations and concealers should be replaced every six months. To make your foundation last as long as possible, be sure to store

Sorry, milk. It looks like sex actually does a body good. Your nighttime romp is a proven factor in burning calories, keeping you limber, and even blasting cellulite. Take a look at how and why having sex can keep you fit and healthy.

Related: How to Get Sex Hair

Sex is an Energy Booster

Exercise boosts not only your energy, but also your stamina. The more you have sex, the more you increase your stamina - not only in the bedroom, but also to handle the long workdays, family mountain-climbing trips, and anything else life throws your way.


Related: The Benefits of Sex for Your Mind and Body



Sex is a Form of Cardio

"If you are having sex, it is a form of exercise, both aerobic and cardiovascular," Dr. Gloria G. Bramer, a Georgia-based licensed clinical sexologist, says. "It works multiple muscles in your body (especially if you are trying something new!) and keeps you flexible."

Related: 15 Ways to Channel Your Inner Seductress



Sex Helps Him Out Too

Bramer says that when you have sex,

Whether you're packing your kids' lunches or preparing to hit the books yourself, the new school year is fast approaching, and it's easy to let your skin-care and makeup routines fall short amid all the back-to-school chaos. Dr. Howard Sobel, a dermatologist in New York City, and celebrity makeup artist Eric Sakas explain how to stay on top of your routines in three minutes or less. Their trick? Use multi-use products…

Cleanse and exfoliate: 60 seconds.
It's important to treat sun damage accumulated over the summer months before you head into autumn. Your sunny glow may have turned into patchy pigmentation, so the first important step is exfoliation. Look for a gentle exfoliating wash, such as DDF Glycolic 5% Exfoliating Wash ($35, ddfskincare.com) or the exfoliating Purifying Cleanser by Petite Marie Organics ($25, petitemarieorganics.com), and use it in the morning. This exfoliation will help get rid of dead skin, which has been shown in clinical studies to stimulate new collagen

There is nothing sexier than batting your eyelashes at a guy from across the room, but when your lashes feel brittle, thin, or are falling out, you're more apt to more on a pair of big sunglasses than flaunt them. We tapped into our experts to get the latest and greatest on lash treatments, tricks, and techniques to get longer-looking lashes.

Related: VIDEO: Maximize Your Lashes

Q: I've heard a lot about the new eyelash growth treatment. Does it work, and is it safe?

A: The newly FDA approved eyelash treatment LATISSE® (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution 0.03%) has been on the market since early 2009, says Real Beauty expert Dr. Eric Schweiger, M.D. Latisse is a daily solution you apply topically to the upper eyelashes. In a clinical study, patients noticed improvement in two months with full results after four months. Continued use as necessary to maintain benefit. I have prescribed Latisse to many patients and thus far all have reported noticeable success with it. The most common side

Abs. Everyone's got 'em, yet sometimes they can be little harder to locate. If you find yourself with some stubborn belly fat, it could be as simple as changing the way you workout or a simple tweak in your diet. Take a look at these facts to help you blast bulge so you can get your firmest, tightest abs yet.

Tummy Trick #1: Beat Your Bloat

Your diet and exercise regimens work hand-in-hand so make sure you avoid belly-bloating foods on days you want a tight tummy. Here are two to know:

Sorbitol, a sugar found naturally in fruits, (apples, pears, peaches, prunes), as well as in artificial sweeteners, many dietetic foods, and sugar-free candies and gums.

Starches, including potatoes, corn, rice, bread, noodles and any products made from flour. These produce more gas as they are broken down in the large intestine.

Related: 7 Healthy Foods to Help You Lose Weight

Tummy Trick #2: Steer Clear from Carbonation

Fizzy drinks are infused with air, so it makes sense that they have

Feeling incredibly smooth is a treat, but let's face it: the more hair you start taking off, the more you risk developing the dreaded ingrown. Before you start plucking and picking, read these tips from dermatologist Catherine Orentreich and Completely Bare Spas owner, Cindy Barshop, to prevent and treat this hairy situation.

Q: What Is an Ingrown Hair?
A: "Ingrown hairs occur when a hair that is shaved, waxed, or tweezed grows backwards or sideways into the skin and becomes trapped, causing inflammation, irritation, and possibly infection. They can also occur without an external cause, like when the pore is blocked," explains Dr. Orentreich.

Q: Why Do I Get Them?
A: Certain hair types and ethnicities are predisposed to ingrown hairs, says Orentreich. People with curly hair are particularly susceptible, since their hair naturally wants to curl back in on itself. This is also why many African Americans are exceptionally prone to ingrown hairs - tightly coiled hair tends to reenter the