January is the perfect time to re-evaluate your beauty regimen and make a few New Year, New You resolutions. But how do you reinvent your look without completely revamping the contents of your makeup bag? Try these swaps, tricks and multi-use tools to refresh your approach to hair and makeup to stay on-trend and beautiful in 2014!
1. The Kitten Eye
If you haven’t quite mastered this year’s most important eye look, the Cat’s Eye flick, or it’s just too trendy for you, try the ‘baby’ version. It’s amazing what a fine line of color along the lashes can do to boost the appearance of fullness and create a stunning eye look with minimal effort. Use an ultra-fine eyeliner pen like Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner to dot (not draw) along the upper lash line, filling in the spaces between lashes. You don’t need a steady hand, just a little patience!
2. Go for the Glow
If you’re loyal to a favorite foundation but looking for a sheerer “BB Cream” look, there’s no need to search for a new formula. Do as makeup artists do and buff out your foundation after application to create a lit-from-within glow. My absolute favorite brush for this is the Hourglass Retractable Kabuki, which is also amazing for applying bronzer or highlighting powder. To “buff” your foundation, simply swirl the brush in a circular motion over your skin with a bit of gentle pressure to blend the product into skin.
3. Just Dew You
Now that you’re glowing, try switching from a powder blush to a cream like Korres Cheek Butter. This has the added benefit of keeping skin looking moist in the dry winter months! The secret to successful application of any cream or tint product is in the tool. Invest in a stippling brush like Trish McEvoy Mistake-Proof Application Brush that lets you slowly build color and blend to perfection. The fine, diffuse top hairs of a stippling brush pick up just a bit of color, letting you delicately swirl color onto skin with laying down too much pigment at once. Simply add more color to your brush and swirl again to flawlessly build and blend color.
4. Take it All Off
If you add one product to your skincare regimen this year, make it an Beta peel, which gently exfoliates, minimizes the appearance of pores, helps prevent break outs, and generally keeps your skin looking fresh! Available in easy pads, there’s no excuse not to swipe this miracle-maker across your face before bed! Trish McEvoy’s Even Skin Beta Hydroxy Pads are one of my cult favorites. If your skin is oily, try using them a few times a week; if your skin tends to be drier, use them once weekly as a facial treatment.
5. Wave Clips Goodbye
The singular sensation in haircare this year is the clipless curler. If you’re looking to change up your hair look, this brilliant tool creates beautiful waves without leaving those weird dents in your hair! The cone-shaped barrel is fatter at the base, creating a bigger curl closer to the roots, which really boosts volume and creates a super-natural beachy look. Don’t be afraid of the clipless design; Amika’s Obliphica Tourmaline Clip-Free Curler comes with a heat protecting glove.
With a few smart beauty investments in January, you’ll be reaping beautiful returns all the way to 2015!