The new year has set in, it’s no longer acceptable to ask “did you have a nice Christmas?” or wish people a happy New Year, so this means one thing, your pact for a new year, new me regime has to begin. Oh dear. If your “new me” means a new look then we’ve compiled some do and don’t tips on what habits you need to swap within your make-up routine to achieve bigger and better look.
Eyelashes: Swap those thick feather lashes for natural looking falsies. Look for thinner more whispery lashes to achieve great natural length, if you want to add volume and thickness to your lashes buy false lashes which are thicker towards the outer corners, not just caterpillar looking strips. you could also try individual lashes, they may be fiddly but they give a much more natural look to strip lashes.
Save with Eylure individual false lashes, £5.29 at Boots / Splurge with lash extensions at 2000 Salon, in Washington, from £15.
Big Waves: Swap your big barrelled curling tong and those old out of date rollers for a smaller tong styling tool to rock subtle natural looking waves this year. Narciso Rodriguez showcased natural waves at his show by using a flat straighter to create his look.
Save with Remington Silk Curling Wand £20.99 at Boots / Splurge with GHD Curve Classice Wave Wand £110 ghdhair.com
High Ponytails: Swap the over-the-top sky high pony for a classic sleek low ponytail hairstyle. Sleek all your hair back and tie your hair securely at the nape of your neck.
Save with TRESemme Superior Hold Touchable Feel Hairspray £5.25 at Boots / Splurge with Bumble & Bumble Cityswept Finish Sprayn £21.50 at Boots
Boxy Brows:
Swap your felt tip eyebrow tools to a softer pencil and eyebrow gel. Instead of pencilling on a stencil of block colour over your eyebrows, lightly fill them in with a pencil. Using a colour one shade lighter than your natural hair colour will make your makeup appear a lot more natural and put together. Use eyebrow gel to add thickness to your lashes.
Save with Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil, £2.99 at Boots / Splurge with Clarins Eyebrow Pencil, £17, available at Debenhams
Bye-Bye ombre: Swap your previous ombré / dip dyed locks for sun kissed highlights through your hair. This will give your skin a warm glow and looks a lot more natural than half your hair in a block of blonde, as well as being easier to style and change up.
Save with Touch of Silver Brightening Shampoo, £2.09 for 200ml at Boots / Splurge with LUSH Daddy-O Brightening Shampoo, £17.95 for 500g at LUSH
Talon Nails: Swap your witch like long talons for your own natural short and squared off nails. These will look natural, be easier to maintain, save you money and basically makes your life a lot more practical.
Save with Sally Hansen Miracle Nail Growth, £9.99 at Boots / Splurge with Jessica Nibble No More with Nail Growth formula, £14.75 at lookfantastic.com
Forehead Braids: Swap the habit of French braiding your fringe to your forehead and instead braid your hair with a fishtail or messy braid. Donna Karan showed beautifully twisted braids during her show. They still look fun and girly while being more sophisticated.
Save with Accessorise, packs from £3.50 at Accessorise / Splurge with Topshop Velvet Cuff Hair band, £8.50 at Topshop
Black Lipstick: Swap the only make-up look which should be left for Halloween and change black lipsticks for deep plums to maintain a softer yet still dramatic lip look. Black lipstick is probably one of the most difficult looks to pull off, whilst berry lip colours, worn religiously by the likes of Kylie Jenner, complements all skin tones.
Save with Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick, £4.99 at feelunique.com / Splurge with MAC Lipstick, £15.50 at Debenhams