Beauty

Beauty resolutions

Start fresh with a new beauty and health routine.

by : Elle Canada- Dec 6th, 2010

Text by Ally Dean & Katherine Flemming

At the start of every new year, we resolve to get our act together. But crazy work schedules and family obligations often mean that Italian lessons and charity work get bumped to the bottom of our to-do list, along with breaking a bad habit, hitting the gym or cutting our hair. The good news? Regardless of how many resolutions fell off our radar the year before, the arrival of January offers everyone a second chance. It’s never too late to turn things around.

1) NIGHT WATCH Canadian supe Coco Rocha recently revealed a dirty little secret: “I’m not the most consistent at washing off my makeup before bed,” she confesses. “That’s my New Year’s resolution: to start taking my makeup off at night.” If you don’t remove makeup, you’re more prone to breakouts and you miss the chance to give your skin an anti-aging boost, says Paul Cohen, a Toronto-based dermatologist. “Your skin needs to breathe at night, and it’s also a great time to use products with retinol and ascorbic acid to help your skin look younger for longer.”

Product suggestion: Keihl’s Dermatologist Solutions Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate ($77).

2) SMALL BITES Whether your resolution is to start meditating or stop ordering sweet-potato fries for lunch, breaking your goals down into measurable tasks is the key to your success, says Victoria Bailey, a Torontobased life coach. “If you resolve to ‘eat healthier’ or ‘be more physically active,’ how will you know that you’ve achieved it?” Be specific: Plan to eat at least four fresh salads a week or sign up for a monthly yoga class. “Setting goals in this way makes a seemingly overwhelming resolution more manageable.”

Product suggestion: Moleskin Wellness Journal ($26).

PALM READER While lacquered nails are a no-brainer for looking pulled together, parched hands are a dead giveaway that your beauty routine needs a reboot,4 says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, executive vice-president and artistic director for OPI. “There’s nothing less attractive than white, dry cuticles—even if your nails are perfectly polished,” she says. The fix? Keep some cuticle oil nearby, and make sure to moisturize hands with a hydrating lotion at least twice a day.

Product suggestion: Sephora by OPI Brush-on Cuticle Oil ($12).

More health and beauty resolutions on the next page…

4) SIMPLE PLAN On What Not to Wear, makeup artist Carmindy coined the “five-minute face,” so it’s not surprising that she’s preaching minimalism for your makeup bag in 2011. “It shouldn’t be obvious that you’re wearing makeup,” she explains. Invest in a great highlighter to play up your features. Dabbing it under the brow, in the inner corners of the eyes and along the top of the cheekbones will bestow a healthy glow and net you a few compliments. “People will be asking ‘Oh my, did you just get a facial?’” says Carmindy.

Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy Fast Fix Concealer ($12)

5) SUPERNATURAL Flat-iron addicts can bid adieu to their beloved straighteners given all the teased and unruly hair seen on the spring/summer 2011 runways. (Think ’70s frizzy coifs at Marc Jacobs and bird’s-nest updos at Proenza Schouler.) Stop pining for pin-straight locks and embrace your natural texture, says Eric Del Monaco, official hair artist and colourist for L’Oréal Paris. He suggests using a conditioning treatment and lathering up with a moisturizing shampoo to get fried tresses back on track, which also has a time- and money-saving bonus. “If your hair is healthy, you won’t need as much product and it takes less time to style.”

L’Oréal Paris EverStrong Hydrate Shampoo and Conditioner ($11 each)

Find out where to pick up these products on the next page…