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There is something so tempting about New Year's resolutions, isn't there? Even those of who know better are lured into promising that we'll stop drinking! and start excercising! and call our mothers EVERY DAY!
Yeah, right.
This year, instead of vowing to completely reform everything about yourself and your life, resolve to make some very small changes. Because while it might seem like the only resolutions that really count are the big ones, little tweaks to your routine can add up to big results overall. We have four suggestions to keep you looking and feeling beautiful in the new year; none of them is particularly time consuming or expensive, but all of them will leave you looking -- and feeling -- more beautiful.
Clean out your makeup bag. The New Year is a good time to take stock, but instead of cataloging your faults and failures, how about taking inventory of your lipsticks? Get everything out and give it a good once over. Anything that you're not wearing should go, either in the trash (if it's old and worn out) or in another bag (if it's Special Occasion makeup that you don't use every day). What stays in your makeup bag? Only the products that you use on a daily basis. Total time: 30 minutes, tops.
Wear sunscreen. Every single day, rain or shine. This is the simplest thing you can do for your skin. Make your sunscreen part of your morning routine; choose a moisturizer with SPF for one less step. Keep in mind that a foundation with SPF probably isn't enough -- your foundation will rub off and migrate around during the day, leaving you exposed. Total time: ten seconds each morning.
Wash your face. By the end of the day, your face has sunscreen and makeup and bacteria all over it (mmm, nice). Give your skin a break and get all that ick off before you go to sleep. Use a liquid cleanser and cool water (I'm partial to Neutrogena's Fresh Foaming Cleanser, which has no scent and is gentle on my simultaneously oily AND dry skin), or a makeup remover cloth (anyone have a brand they love?). Unless you have very oily skin or are using topical anti-acne treatments, you really only need to wash your face at night. So easy, but so worth while. Total time: five minutes each evening.
Get a haircut. It's easy to neglect your hair, especially in a bad economy (who doesn't need that extra cash?) or when you're super busy (who doesn't need that extra hour?) but taking the time to get a trim will make a huge difference in your look. Ever notice how much easier it is to style your hair after a salon visit? You'll save time in the day-to-day if you make time in the bigger picture. Girls with short hair need a cut every four to six weeks; longer hair can go six to eight weeks before it's time for a trim. Schedule appointments ahead of time and then block that window in your schedule. Total time: one hour every two months.
What are YOUR beauty resolutions for 2009? Or what do you need help with in the new year? BeautyHacks is here for you -- share your own tips and tricks by writing a post, or ask us your most pressing beauty questions. We know you have some, and we're here to answer them.
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In case you missed them, here's the best of BeautyHacks for the past week:
MacGyver Beauty: Five Quick Emergency Fixes!
Hair Care Tips for Black Hair for the Winter
