Jade Gaskin, Make-up and Prosthetics Student

My skirt, jumper, hat and bag are all from Urban Outfitters, my shoes are from Mango and the cardigan belongs to my dad. Edie Sedgwick is my style icon and I like to look at the Lookbook tumblr for outfit ideas.

Photographed by Suzanne Middlemass.

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Reader Question: Can I Disinfect My Makeup Products?

So, there are a few guidelines about how long you should keep makeup before it starts getting funky (a good rule: 3 months for eyeliners and mascara, a year for foundation and concealer, and two years for powders, lipsticks, lipgloss and lotions). If you hit those dates, you should probably toss them. But sometimes, you just get the urge to give your products a good wipe down.

So, when SELF's Web Managing Editor, JD, asked me if she could disinfect her products, my answer was: "Totally! It just depends what you are trying to disinfect." Here, a crib sheet.

Lipstick: Dip your tube into alcohol (of the rubbing variety, though, who knows, tequila may work -- but don't take my word for it) for 30 seconds, then wipe away the top layer with a tissue. Powders: You won't believe how easy this is. Ready? Scrape off the top layer. Really, that's it. I've used a fresh-from-the-dishwasher, flat-topped cheese knife, but anything that's super clean and scrape-y will work on powder compacts. A word to the wise: Be gentle so the powder doesn't crumble. The same goes for cream, BTW, except instead of scraping, you scoop with a spoon. So easy, right?
Pencils: Dull the pencil down to a nub, then grab a sharpener, and sharpen until you have a fresh point. I like to do this twice, just to be sure, but I'm a little nuts -- and def a little germaphobic, too, but hey -- can you ever really be too clean? Mascara: There's this trend in Japan where dudes put their jeans in the freezer to "wash" them so they don't get misshapen in the laundry. Welp, you can do the same with your mascara. Close the tube, leave it in the freezer overnight, and viola! Apparently, the sub zero temps kill germs.

There ya go, JD! Thanks for the question!

Do you have questions? Ask us your #BeautyQ on Twitter @AESam and @SELFMagazine!

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My Organic Makeup Musts

OK, we know you probably know already, but April is Earth Month -- which means there's a bevy of earth-friendlier, body-friendly beauty choices on the market right now, but it's actually taken me FOREVER to find ones I actually like. For example, one kinda popular brand makes me smell like curry (a friend who worked at the brand says it's something with my pheromones and the product's essential oils mixing to produce that scent, but I digress), another line sends my skin to a clog-frenzy and then there's a third label I played with that left my face totally cakey. But, there are a few really great brands out there -- you just need to know where to look! Here are three of my fave Earth Month musts.

THE TOOL: Alima Pure #15 Flat Top Brush, $22, is the best brush for dealing with summertime temps. I like to keep makeup super light when it's a zillion degrees (I mean, no one wants a drippy mess of a mug), so I use this to blend out face powder or foundation so it looks smoother and feels lighter. (Brushing a liquid formula may sound crazy, but trust: it works.) The flat-top brush is soft and dense, made from wood and synthetic fibers (not animal hair, which is actually pretty commonplace), and doesn't shed weird little black fibers on your face. THE PRODUCT: Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation, $48, is simply freaking awesome. Whether you rock it solo, or mix it with lotion so it's more of a tinted moisturizer, this formula wonders for creating Instagram like-levels of perfection in real life. Spritz a makeup sponge with a facial spray or makeup finisher -- I'm currently obsessed with Benefit Cosmetics B. Right Ultra-Radiance Facial Rehydrating Mist, and use that to blend this stuff into skin. THE WEBSITE: SaffronRouge.com is my absolute go-to for all organic products. They have makeup, skincare, body care, hair stuff, aromatherapy, baby stuff and men's stuff. Literally everything. My favorite thing about the site? The option to shop by skin type, since I have a hard time finding organic stuff that's okay for my overly sensitive skin.

What are your fave Earth Month products? Tweet us at @AESam and @SELFMagazine.

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Beauty 411: Makeup Primers

By Mary Lupo, MD
WebMD Magazine - Feature

Think of these products like the primer you'd use for painting a house. The goal is the same: to fill in any bumps, lumps, and uneven spots so that whatever you put on next starts on a smooth, even surface. In the case of your face, that would be concealer, foundation, or powder.

Many women find primers to be especially useful around the eyes, where fine lines can become more prominent when makeup settles into the crevices, as well as in areas with enlarged pores. When you use a primer on areas that tend to be oily, like the eyelid, makeup tends to adhere better and last longer. Also, a thin layer of primer all over can help makeup stay put.

Another primer perk: Whether your skin is oily or dry, acne-prone or sensitive, you can use a primer, since the moisture it imparts comes via silicone, not oil.

Apply these products sparingly. Less definitely is more. After you apply sunscreen and a moisturizer, then comes the primer. Use your finger to apply only the thinnest dabs around your trouble spots. This way, you create a very fine film, but you can blend it out as far as you like.

Finally, because primers have staying power, be diligent about washing your face well each night. Consider an electronic cleansing brush, which gently but effectively gets your face squeaky clean. But any cleanser and water will work, too.

Find more articles, browse back issues, and read the current issue of "WebMD Magazine." 

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Workday to Glam Night: Makeup to Have Handy

By Paige Herman-Axel
WebMD Feature

Taking your makeup look from day to evening is easier than you think. These tricks of the trade from celebrity makeup artists help you dial up the drama with just a few brush and pencil strokes. No time-wasting pit stop at home needed!

Just remember to take off all your makeup after your night on the town to keep your skin as healthy as possible.

Dirty Secret: Trying on Makeup

Q: I love trying on makeup, but I don't use those tiny plastic swabs at beauty counters. Am I going to bring home something besides a great new shade of gloss? A: It's quite possible. To a dermatologist, that's like strolling through a public restroom. Those tubes and jars resemble petri dishes, teeming with microbes and bacteria. The viruses that cause herpes and pink eye thrive on moist, inanimate objects -- making a pot of lip gloss, foundation, or eye shadow a perfect breeding ground. Even...

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When you know you’re going out after work, keep your daytime makeup simple, suggests Alicia Mizrahi Siller, a Hollywood makeup artist.  That way you can easily punch it up for your nighttime look.

Touch up your foundation. If you've sprouted shiny patches over the day, dab them with blotting papers.  New York City makeup artist Scott Barnes swears by this easy way to restore smooth, pretty skin. The papers absorb excess oil while avoiding a powdery look.

Tanya Rae (who counts Bette Midler and Megan Hilty as clients) suggests carrying some foundation in a travel-friendly container. Dab and blend with a damp sponge where needed to restore a smooth, even-looking complexion.

Deepen your color and luminance. A subtle glow is ideal at any hour. Full-on radiance is a necessity after hours!

Emmy-winning makeup artist Kevin James Bennett suggests creating a candlelit glow with a highlighting powder. Brush it on the tops of your cheekbones and under your eyes to accent and brighten the center of your face.

For extra oomph, try a light swipe of bronzing powder from your cheekbones back toward your temples, across your hairline, and just below your chin.

Your eyes are the prize. Rae offers simple ways to amp up your eyes.

Line the inner rims of your upper and lower lash lines with a black eye pencil for instant sex appeal.Try topping your lids with a smoky shadow for more drama.

If you find yourself without eye shadow for your evening update, draw short strokes of black liner on your lid and blend really well for a soft, yet sultry look.

Two more tactics courtesy of Siller: Add a darker eyeshadow just to the crease for a more defined, dramatic look. Or simply take your eyeliner pencil and draw a cat-eye or winged look over your daytime makeup.

Pucker up. Change your lip color and you change your whole look, says Siler. If you go neutral by day, a bold pop of lip color by night does the trick.

Rae says it's easy to start from scratch on your lips -- and you probably should for a fresh look. “Remove all traces of lipstick, add lip balm, blot, and apply a new lip” she says.

Bennett offers this secret: “Top off your lipstick with a dab of sparkling gold or silver iridescent gloss to give it some glamorous gleam.”

Cheat fatigue with shimmer. Eight hours in front of computer can take a toll on your appearance.  Give your look a second wind with a Rae's glimmery trick. Apply shimmer cream under the brows and in the corners of the eyes to create an awake appearance and help you sparkle.

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