In walks Freshpair. This website for undies is mega-celebrating by giving away 5,000 "fresh pairs" for free.

Ladies, I tell you. Ladies. My squeals of glee, however, quickly turned to disgust when I read WHY they're giving it away: A recent Freshpair poll told the sick tale that 73 percent of the American population wears old "expired" underwear that's been ruined by stains, holes and more runs than your granny's pantyhose. I've had heard enough. 

All this time I've been doling out wisdom on everything from while completely overlooking the basic concept of housekeeping. The more you wash, the more wear and tear they endure, and soon you're wearing two rags joined together by elastic and calling it a bra. Something must be done immediately. Ladies, it's time to clean house.

Begin to think of your underwear drawer as the vegetable drawer in your fridge. The longer things are in there, the older they are and the longer you've worn and washed them. Bras and panties, like fruits and veggies, don't last forever. You know fruit is rotten because it gets soft and moldy, but how do you tell when it's time to chuck out underthings that have passed their expiration? Let's start with bras. Almost every bra uses elastic to provide a snug fit, but the stretch doesn't last forever. Wearing a bra all day reduces the longevity of the elastic. Bra experts recommend spacing out when you wear your bras by at least two days to allow the elastic time to regain its shape. A brand new bra that fits you correctly should fasten on the outermost column of hooks, so as the elastic weakens over time, you can fasten it inward and still have a snug fit. Once you've reached the innermost column of hooks, it's time to start looking for a new bra. If you're not wearing your bra in that systematic way, you can try the "skin test" to see how much time your bra has left. Simply hold the bra up and pull. If the elastic feels fresh and vigorously bounces back like the skin of a 20-year-old, you've got a fresh one. If it feels limp and with little give, like the sun-damaged, leathery hide of our grandmothers, off to the grave it goes. If it's in between, use your discretion and be smart about it. Keep in mind that if you're wearing the same bra regularly-say two to three times per week-you've reached the "sell-by" date at three months, and by six, you better have a replacement ready because that bra is finished.

Onto panties. Your bra and panties may have come as a set, but that doesn't mean they're going to last the same amount of time. Panties are also more roughly handled, enduring a constant cycle of sitting, standing, stretching, sweating, and rubbing up against your clothing. The rate at which a panty ages depends highly on the fabric of which it's made. Cotton and microfiber will obviously last longer than lace and mesh, which is why "everyday underwear" is typically made from the former. Delicate fabrics show their wear and tear up front, as tiny holes tear their way into bigger holes pretty easily. When it comes to the more enduring fabrics, however, the aging process is usually slower and more subtle. At first, the elastic waistband loses its tenseness and gets frilly on the edges. Then the fabric starts to fade, and eventually pill. (That, by the way, is gross. Pills belong in my pocketbook, not on my panties). Certain areas begin to wear through, eventually tearing into holes. The leg openings lose their snug fit and the whole panty starts to droop in the back. At this point, which generally occurs around the sixth month of wear, your panties are "in a bunch" and not in the good way.

I know what some of you may say. "But Cristina, ole wise and powerful one, who sees our bra and panties? Unless we have a hot date and plan on showing off our stuff, we don't mind wearing worn out bras and panties underneath our clothes." To which I say, "It's all nice that you don't mind wearing a saggy bra, but let's ask your breasts what they think!" A saggy bra doesn't support, so why bother to wear one at all? And while most of our mothers' advice is now outdated, the one rule that sticks is "always wear clean underwear." It just feels better. Slipping on panties that look and feel good will make you smile every morning, and you owe it to yourself to be happy.

So in the spirit of National Underwear Day, crank up some empowering Aretha and take a quick inventory of your underthings. Then head to Freshpair and enter to win some for free! The contest lasts through August, so you've got plenty of time. And while you're at it, inspire the men in your life to do the same. I won't even start on the state of men's underwear atrocities.  

But it's my job to test products and figure things out for you fine viewers.  This week I've tried a combination of things to make sure what I put on was lasting all day.  And if I do say so myself, I did a pretty good job.  Really the trick is a good primer and finishing powder. And not caking your makeup on. 

Layering: This is a great hint. When it comes to makeup, you need to start with your skin and go from the thickest product to the thinnest.

Oil-Free products: A must.  

Primer: I use Smashbox's Photo-finish Primer. It's best to spend a little extra money on a really good primer because that's what's going to make your makeup last.  

Eye-primer: Urban Decay's Potion Primer helps your eye makeup from falling down around your knees. 

Either Foundation or Powder: It's ok to choose both if it's for night time but if you're going to be outside in the heat of the day, it's best to choose one or the other.  

Tinted Moisturizers: We have talked and talked about this. They are my all time favorite products just for the light coverage and the SPF factor.  

Finishing Powder: Makeup Forever's HD High-Definition powder is absolutely AMAZING! 

Oil-Blotting Sheets: Boscia makes these awesome green tea sheets that take away oil and sweat without taking off makeup.  

Just remember less is more in the summertime. And I don't care what else you put on as long as you have sunscreen :)  

But what about the rest of the country's nail technicians -- not to mention the hair stylists working with Brazilian Blowout-type straighteners and ammonia-laden hair dye, and the estheticians working with a whole range of toxic-chemical-laden face goo?  

We need more green nail salons, and hair salons and spas. Everywhere. Right now, this workforce of nearly half a million women are acting as our canaries in the beauty shop coal mine, inhaling toxins for $8 to $15 an hour, while we debate just how toxic is this stuff, really? I love, love, love me a shiny new pedicure, but wow, does that kill the foot-rub buzz.   

Currently, there is still no law anywhere in the U.S. that requires nail polish companies (or any other cosmetics manufacturer) to test their products for safety before putting them on store shelves. Plus there's a major legislation loophole that allows them to be less than transparent when it comes to ingredient lists. (Phthalates, for example, are almost never listed on products that contain them, because they're considered part of the proprietary fragrance formula and thus a "trade secret.") Which is how we end up with formaldehyde in our nail hardeners -- and our formaldehyde-free Brazilian Blowouts. 

This new legislation in San Francisco is an amazing baby step. Let's all of us start making sure workers have some damn gloves and masks to offer a modicum of protection. Yes, let's give public recognition to salons that choose safer product lines to protect their workers' health. And while we're waiting for bigger, better laws to protect them, we can do our part as beauty consumers, by supporting green salons when we can find 'em and encouraging the non-green salons in our area to make small changes. For example: Many nail salon owners are reluctant to use masks and gloves because they worry it will scare off customers. So if you see your manicurist wearing them, make a point to tell the owner that you appreciate them taking appropriate safety precautions, and are, in fact, happier to support a salon that cares about its workers. Ty :)