10 Beauty Resolutions NOT To Make This Year

Have you made any new year beauty resolutions? How many of them have you broken by now? I didn't care enough to make any this year, which might or might not be a good thing. In any case, browsing the web and the blogs to see what people are thinking and feeling, I couldn't help noticing some worrisome ideas. So here are my thoughts on ten beauty resolution better NOT made.

1. Follow all the latest beauty and fashion trends- Seriously, this is the fastest way to fashion victimhood. It's not even that cute when 14 year old are doing it, never mind grown women. Instead, stay informed and pick one or two elements every season, something that speaks to you and make you feel genuinely pretty and keep everything else classy and at your comfort level.

2. Get plastic surgery- I'm not saying not to do it, but undergoing a serious medical procedure requires more justification than a new year resolution. Instead, do all the research and have a heart-to-heart with yourself about how much you really want/need the surgery and if the benefits are worth the possible consequences.

3. Drastically change hairstyle- Of course, if you're still sporting the Rachel this might not be such a bad idea, but don't cut off all your hair on a whim. Instead, consider a subtle change- side part, highlights, even bangs. Do something that would make you happy. You can always chop more later on.

4. Start wearing daring colors- Let's face it, if you've never enjoyed attracting all the stares on the subway, wearing an acid green mascara and red eyeliner might not feel all that good after all. The same goes for black nail  polish if you're a beige-only lady and Ke$ha blue lipstick when you know you look best in coral. Instead, consider a red lipstick for date night or experiment with blue r green eyeliner. Subtly.

5. Wake up an hour earlier to apply more makeup/do a facial mask/flat iron hair etc.- Seriously, you need your sleep more than you need an elaborate cheek contouring. Besides, waking 5-10 minutes earlier would still make a difference in terms of preparedness without depriving yourself of precious beauty sleep. That snooze button is pure evil.

6. Never leave the house without makeup- Sometimes you really don't have the time or don't feel like it and there's no point beating yourself up over a missing foundation. Instead, your nearest and dearest might be a lot more appreciative if you focus on never leaving the house in sweats or your partner's old t-shirt.

7. Only shop sales- This looks like a great idea in theory but leads to countless bad purchases. The fact something is on sale doesn't necessarily makes it a good buy and stocking up on discontinued items might leave you with a bunch of lipsticks that smell past their prime (hence money wasted). Instead sign up for newsletters and pay attention to Friends & Family sales from stores and companies you normally buy. Then purchase just an item or two you already had on your wishlist for a while.

8. Get backups for beloved products- It's related to the one above, especially in regards to limited edition items you adore and then find yourself buying ten units in the post-holiday sale. The thing is that companies improve their formulas and pigments all the time. There's going to be newer and better stuff and you really don't want to get stuck with a foundation that has the texture of eight years ago.

9. Not spend money at all or always avoid expensive items- Making this resolution is setting yourself up to failure, feeling deprived and prone to too many impulse purchases at the drugstore telling yourself they're so cheap they don't count. Now go count how many of those "little" treats are hiding in your drawers and tally them up. Were they really worth it? Instead, why not wait and buy one item of an excellent quality that you know you'll use and  that makes you really really happy? A gorgeous lipstick, a small but wearable palette or an excellent and durable makeup brush have better chances to make you smile in the long run.

10. Find your holy grail lipstick/perfume/pair of jeans- Don't get so focused on "the one" you stop enjoying the process. Chances are you need more than one color of lipstick or one perfume to end them all. Instead, think of a range of flattering colors or a perfume genre you love and explore them with joy.

Do you have an experience with resolutions that have gone awry? Other useful advice when you have the urge to revamp your routine without having a personality transplant in the process? Please share!


Image from an old Barneys New York newsletter.