I know I'm a few days late, but I've been really giving my New Year's Resolutions a lot of thought. I have come up with a few things that I'm going to resolve to do. I'm not really interested in saying, "I'm going to lose 25 pounds," or "I'm going to work out every single day." First off, making a resolution like that would be setting myself up for failure. As far as health goes, I'm resolving to cut back on the cheesy, chocolatey, fried foods that have been a staple in my diet. Now, notice I said 'cut back' - not cut out. Because I've learned that depriving myself ruins the whole thing. I'm going to work on adding in more fruits and vegetables. Maybe instead of grabbing a cookie when I'm having a sweet craving, I'll eat an apple instead.
As far as my beauty resolutions go, washing my face thoroughly every single night is one of them. Every once in a while I will go to bed, forgetting to wash my face. This is a terrible habit that I tell my clients every single day not to do. Forgetting to wash your face leaves all the yucky makeup on, clogging your pores causing breakouts and dulls the skin. If you're lazy and don't feel like standing at the sink to wash your face, keep a package of Estee Lauder's Take It Away Makeup-Removing Wipes ($17.50) in your bedside drawer. When you're in bed, you can just pull one out and wipe away all your makeup, even mascara and eyeliner.
That being said, washing your face with a cleanser and water benefits you more because the warm water opens up pores, purging them of dirt and grime. As far as dry skin goes (you're dry if you don't ever get any oily patches and your skin can get tight and sometimes flaky), you'll want to use something gentle that will still take off makeup. DDF Non-Drying Gentle Cleanser ($32) is a very creamy cleanser that gently removes makeup and environmental impurities in the skin.
Clinique's Foaming Mousse Cleanser ($20) is a very lightweight, instant-foaming cleanser that quickly washes everything off the skin. Another bonus - because it's a liquid that instantly foams when you pump it, you just need one tiny pump of cleanser, so the bottle lasts forever and ever. Sweet! That helps save some money in the New Year, another little resolution of mine.
If you have normal/combination skin, you've probably got a little oil through the T-Zone (the forehead down the nose and chin) and your cheeks probably aren't really either oily or dry. Fresh's Soy Face Cleanser ($15) is a gentle, soap-free cleanser that takes everything away without leaving any grimy residue. Lancome's Creme Radiance ($24) is a creamy foaming cleanser that takes everything off and leaves the ski
n feeling squeaky clean.
If you have oily skin, you've more than likely got oil all over the face, not just in the T-Zone. Oily-skinned people (like me) tend to break out a little bit more often because the pores can get clogged up with excess oil and dirt. Kate Somerville's Purifying Exfoliating Cleanser ($32) lathers up and removes oil, dirt, makeup, and any other impurities on the skin, while also helping to slough off dead skin that dulls the complexion and builds up in the pores, causing more breakouts. If you are broken out, Korres' Thyme and Sage Facial Gel Cleanser ($21) is plant-derived and all-natural, perfect for skin that breaks out from fragranced products or other unnatural ingredients. Another great option is Clinique's Liquid Facial Soap for Oily Skin
($15) which dispense the perfect amount in one pump and removes everything from oily skin.
There is one other product that I'm so obsessed with it's ridiculous, and that's Lancome's Huile Douceur ($34.50). It's a cleansing oil that works perfectly for any skin type and it removes absolutely everything from the skin. I was scared of it at first because it really looks like a bottle filled with vegetable oil. The great thing is it takes everything off and doesn't leave a greasy residue. All you do is put a little on dry fingers and massage it into the skin, and even around the eyes because it takes off eye makeup (including waterproof). After you've got it rubbed all over the skin well, you just dampen your fingers a little and rub that water in - miraculously, the oil will actually lather up. Then, you just splash away the lather and rinse it all off and your skin is clean, refreshed, and super smooth. An added bonus - Huile Douceur smells unbelievable.
Another resolution of mine is to moisturize! I have super oily skin, and a lot of moisturizers can feel too heavy to wear during the day under my makeup. I will say, though, that I love Clinique's Moisture Surge (reference back to my post about good moisturizers I recommend). That's one I can put on under my makeup and it will still look perfectly smooth and won't get shiny throughout the day. I've learned something - moisturized skin always looks younger, more luminous, and more healthy. And always use a moisturizer at night - you lose three times more moisture in your sleep than you do during the day when you're awake. Why? Because you're asleep, so you're not drinking anything usually that's helping bring moisture into your skin. So slap on some moisturizer!
Drinking more water is another beauty resolution of mine. I watched a special study on drinking water and how it affects your skin, and some scientists and dermatologists have stated that drinking water doesn't actually clear up acne or breakouts. But, it does provide the body and skin with lots and lots of much-needed moisture. Bottoms up!
My last big beauty resolution is to go more natural. In high school, I did the natural thing. But once I got to college and in the years since, I've always gone for super-dramatic makeup. I've worn all the bright colors of eyeshadows and lipsticks, bold designs on my eyes, anything and everything you can imagine. I've drawn inspiration from ads for MAC and Makeup Forever and tried their unique, interesting, and bold looks on my own face. I don't just do this when I'm going out, I wear this look during the daytime, too. Of course, I can probably get away with more than the average person because I work at a makeup counter that has a lot of bold, bright colors, but I'm feeling the need to simplify a little bit and wear my makeup lighter. I want to have fresh, bright, radiant skin. I want to have naturally blushing cheeks. I want my eyes to look bright and wide awake. These women below are some of my inspiration for a fresh natural look that I'm going to try to emulate more this year. And don't worry, I won't ever give up my red lipstick, no matter how natural I go.
I love Zooey Deschanel's matte, flawless skin, nude lips, and super long lashes.
Scarlett Johansson's skin is so radiant and glowing - gorgeous.
Sandra Bullock's look is a little more dramatic than the rest because of her rimmed eyes and rosy blush, but the pale pink lipstick looks natural and the perfect finish to her look.
Reese Witherspoon's look is amazing, and I feel very lucky because my skin tone is very similar to hers. I love that she's groomed her brows perfectly, added a light pink blush, and her makeup is pretty much natural aside from that great red lipstick. Beautiful!
You might not recognize this girl, but it's Nikki Reed, of Twilight and New Moon fame. She plays a pale, light blonde vampire, but I think this red carpet look is a million times better. Her skin looks luminous and fresh, and that little touch of dark eyeliner finishes the look.
Natalie Portman is the epitome of fresh-faced beauty. She's a modern-day Audrey Hepburn, whose skin is always flawless. Love her!
French actress Marion Cotillard (of La Vie En Rose fame) looks gorgeous with her rosy full lips and light eyeshadow.
Mandy Moore never fails to have bright, dewy skin and a radiant smile.
Liv Tyler's super-natural look shows off her flawless skin and amazing smile.
"Glee" actress Lea Michele goes glam with a bronzy blush and extra thick eyelashes with otherwise natural makeup. So pretty.
Twilight and New Moon actress Kristen Stewart proves that all-natural and low-maintenance is beautiful.
"Nip/Tuck" actress Kelly Carlson keeps looking young and fresh with smooth, flawless skin, perfectly arched brows, and shiny lips.
Katherine Heigl is forever looking luminous and glowy with perfect skin. I love the long, dark lashes and pale pink lips she wears here. This is a great look for everyday.
Kate Winslet is yet another natural beauty with fresh skin, defined eyes, and shiny lips. She can do no wrong.
Kate Bosworth is the kind of pretty that almost makes you want to puke. Her skin looks amazing here, and she's finished off her look with black eyeliner, mascara, and the prettiest flushing cheeks.
How could you not include Jennifer Aniston on a list of the most gorgeous celebrities who wear very natural makeup? She's hit her forties now and still manages to look very young because of her perfect skin.
I love when Across the Universe actress Evan Rachel Woods ditches the dark, dramatic hair and makeup and goes natural. Everything about her face is absolutely perfect, and this lighter look shows it off much better.
Ellen Pompeo of "Grey's Anatomy" looks incredible with her smooth skin, lined eyes, and natural lips. She looks just as hot on the show with her scrubs on, too.
Cate Blanchett is a spokesperson for SK-II skincare, and although I've never tried their products, they must pay off because her skin looks incredible.
Camilla Belle's a gorgeous throwback to old Hollywood glamour with her absolutely flawless, matte skin, super defined, dark eyebrows, and bright red lipstick. Even without the red lipstick, she looks like sheer perfection.
My final muse is Audrey Hepburn. Although this look pictured below isn't quite that natural, what with the super dark eyelilner, she exuded such elegance and glamour that so many women aspire to. Not just her outer appearance were impressive, either - her work for UNICEF continues to inspire me.
"For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone." - Audrey Hepburn
"I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles." - Audrey Hepburn
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