Real beauty resolutions for 2009

As I sat down to write an article about product & trend reviews from the past year, I had a change of heart. 2009 comes packed with unprecedented change and a recharged yearning for progression. New years always do, but this one feels different.

So in the spirit of 2008, I’m going to attempt to inspire you. Focus on what’s important this year. YOU. Not how you look, but how you feel. The perfect lipgloss, shiny highlights, and fake lashes can be bought. Confidence and spirit can’t. After applying makeup to countless women, let me assure you that the most gorgeous among them think they are beautiful before they sit down in my chair. Makeup is an enhancer, not the answer.

For those of you that need a booster or just a new way of looking at your beauty routine, here are some Beauty Resolutions for 2009 worth making:

• Get good skin. Make your skincare routine into a Zen ritual for yourself. You deserve it. Good skin is part of good health and it only takes 5 minutes. Washing your face and applying a couple of products at night is essential. Massage your face with your cleanser. Get a luxuriously soft washcloth or towel, hide it from everyone else in your house and use it! Smell your night cream as you massage it into your skin. Pat eye cream around your eye by gently drumming your fingers. Make sure to use a moisturizer with SPF during the day – you don’t want age spots, wrinkles or cancer.
• At night, massage (don’t just apply) some really good foot cream into your feet and up your calves. They’ll thank you in the morning.
• Use a facial mask weekly. They really do great things for your skin. Slap one on right after the shower while blow drying your hair. I do it while bathing my kids. They get a kick out of “green monster mommy” and my skin enjoys being around the moisture-rich bathtub air. Some masks can even be left on overnight.
• I have literally begged some of my clients to wear a slightly more vibrant shade of lipstick. It’s an instant picker-upper for your face and your confidence. I’m not talking orange or bright fuchsia (ew). Baby steps people. If you’re currently in love with a nude pink, bump it up to a berry shade. If that’s too scary, try a sheer berry gloss first. Take pictures with both colors and compare. I promise, you won’t regret making this switch.
• Stand up straight. It does wonders for how you feel and how others perceive you. Confident.

The key of course, to any of these is consistency! May your New Year be filled with happiness, love and lipstick!

Have a beauty resolution to share? Post it under comments!