Even I, an educated and experienced makeup artist, am guilty of hanging on to my favorite mascara for too long. The danger of this nasty habit is primarily the risk of bacteria growth in your mascara tube, which can result in serious eye infections. Additionally, even if you dodge a medical issue, chances are after the recommended three months, the product tends to flake and clump.
1 / 10
Resolution: Clean Your Makeup Brushes Daily
A step we often skip that can end up with disastrous effects, is leaving our tools filled with bacteria-growing makeup and skincare still on them. Invest in a great brush cleaner, and this resolution will be so easy to follow.
As a professional makeup artist, the thought of cleaning all of my brushes after a wedding or a photo-shoot day would be daunting. Now that I have the best product ever invented, I can quickly clean all of my brushes. IT Cosmetics Brush Love Skin Loving Brush Cleanser ($20) — which has antibacterial properties — can be spritzed onto brushes and makeup will literally pour out of your brushes onto a paper towel.
The best part is that after all of this cleaning, the brushes are instantly dry. No more laying brushes out to dry overnight. Make this a 2018 priority.
2 / 10
Resolution: Use Eye Cream At Least Once a Day
This is not as hard as we make it out to be. You can do this. I always tell clients — who balk at the thought of adding something else into their skincare routines — that it doesn't have to be twice a day to see results. Put it next to your nightstand and try to do it at night or put it in your fridge (cold formulas will help with puffiness in the morning) next to the creamer so you will remember it each morning with your coffee. If you can get in the habit of applying it just once a day you will see great results.
My go-to product that I always suggest to first-time eye treatment users, is the Laura Mercier Repair Eye Serum($83). This product can be used under an eye cream or by itself. It has arnica in it, which helps with dark circles, as well as caffeine for puffiness, and anti-aging ingredients that will plump up and treat fine lines. It's an all-in-one miracle product that will provide instant results so you will feel good about your New Year's Resolution immediately.
3 / 10
Resolution: Ingest One New Thing
It is easy to get overwhelmed by all of the ideas and tips that we find ourselves inundated with. Pick one thing to ingest in 2018. Maybe you never take your multi-vitamin, maybe you don’t drink enough water, maybe you want to start taking collagen or fish oil to improve your skin. No matter what you choose, any of these and countless others will reap beauty benefits.
Don't stress yourself out with a million new things to take or drink, just pick one and see if you can stick with it. Once you start seeing results, which will likely be a few weeks, you won’t want to stop, and the rest of 2018 is in the bag.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Kathryna Hancock Product Credit: NOMIA jumpsuit Tibi sweater Christian Louboutin shoes Miu Miu bag JENNIFER FISHER rings // France & Søn Moduline sofa Blu Dot Toro Sling lounge chair Turn side tables and Punk lamp ABC Carpet & Home Masana rug
My derm notoriously runs an hour behind schedule, so I know that a very valuable twp hours will be wasted on my day off at this office when I make an appointment. This is super annoying but it has to be done.
If you have a skin condition (rosacea, acne, eczema, weird moles or growths, or anything else) that is not going away or worsening, then it is imperative that you seek medical attention. Often certain skin issues can be resolved swiftly with a proper diagnosis, and many conditions simply cannot be rectified with over-the-counter solutions. Sometimes a prescription is in order. Stop putting off your dermatologist appointment, call today.
5 / 10
Resolution: Address the State of Your Lips
Women who have dry, flaky, chapped lips seem to just resign themselves to this condition. Everyday, especially in the Winter, my clients often tell me, "Oh I have tried every lip balm but I still always have dry lips." This doesn't have to be!
First of all if it's true that you have tried every lip treatment in the world and nothing works then seek professional help from your dermatologist. Secondly, if by "every" lip treatment, you mean a variety of drugstore balms, there is still hope for you. Your lips will never get better if you don't remove the dry dead skin from the surface. You have to scrub your pucker once or twice a week with a proper lip scrub and follow with a hydrating balm or treatment. My favorite during the cold months for creating perfectly kissable lips is the Fresh Sugar Lip Polish. ($24)
6 / 10
Resolution: Take the Time to Wash Your Face at Night
There is not a person alive who is so busy that they can't take two minutes to wash their faces. Wipes are for travel or for emergencies when you are camping or lost at sea. Resolve to wash your face properly at night. It will make a world of difference when you choose an appropriate cleanser for your skin type — creamy for drier skin and oil-free gels for oilier skin.
This step is especially important for people who wear makeup. Over time, not taking your makeup off at night can lead to dull, aging skin that is covered with layers of dead, filthy skin. Take a few minutes at night to allow yourself the luxury of a properly cleansed face. You deserve it.
7 / 10
Resolution: Let there Be Light
I am guilty of getting ready everyday in a space that does not have good light or a nice mirror. It is a beautiful master bathroom that I designed myself. When it was all done, I realized that I had poor lighting and a bad mirror for doing my makeup each day. I just accepted defeat.
As a result, I leave for work each day thinking I look like a bombshell only to be met by the evils of the rear-view mirror in my car. I am putting the YTE Smart Touch Mirror with Light ($37) on my holiday wish list to alleviate this ongoing problem.
Fix your light or mirror if you do your makeup each morning and you know you can't see perfectly. If you just keep applying your face in the dark, you may not be well-blending or wearing enough blush. This is an easy fix.
8 / 10
Resolution: Get Your Hair Growth Under Control
You might have gotten away without waxing or plucking your whole life and suddenly notice in that deadly rear-view mirror that you have a thick blonde 'stache or a black chin hair or peach fuzz lining your jawline. You can either embrace it (which is totally fine and empowering!) or remove it.
If you choose the latter, it can be overwhelming and time-consuming to treat it. But if you do want it gone, the process will be worth it. Just this year, I discovered Nair Face Cream ($10), and it really helped me to keep my hair growth under control when I didn't have time to make an appointment to get waxed. After years of attempting to remove facial hair, Nair Face is my new favorite. There are many options for hair removal these days - so find the best one for you.
When it comes to eyebrows I never met a Benefit Brow Bar girl who I didn't love. They are trained to create the most perfect brows, so if eyebrow grooming is your problem, then make an appointment with your local Benefit.
This is a big one and it is admittedly easier said than done. Repeatedly staring at yourself all day is never a good idea, unless of course you are looking in the mirror and thinking, "I am gorgeous." Let's face it, most of us are looking at our reflection and only narrowing on on our flaws. This is not good for your mental health or wellness.
We will find that our happiness will increase significantly if we aren't ripping ourselves apart in the mirror all day. Look once in the morning when we are getting ready. Get in that obligatory car mirror view. Maybe look once in the afternoon when you go to the bathroom and need a touch up and then again if you are going out at night. Try to keep it to four or less peeks a day, and you will be happier and have more time in your life for what's important!
