Spend a lot less.
6 timeless looks that are cost effective to cultivate.
1. Get a haircut that’s always in style.
A simple, nearly blunt cut that falls somewhere around the shoulders. It flatters most faces & grows out nicely. It’s also low maintenance, requiring infrequent hair cuts and works with curly or straight hair allowing you to work with your natural texture. Saves both time & money!
2. Opt for shorter nails & non-trendy polish.
“A rounded short nail is always on trend,” says celebrity manicurist Jin Soon Choi. Pair this shape with a shade that has no expiration date. Pale pink and red are the standards but taupe and navy have joined the ranks as timeless classics.
3. Cultivate a healthy glow.
“Exfoliating regularly keeps skin glowing,” says Dennis Gross, MD, a Manhatten dermatologist. It not only looks healthy but has the added benefit of minimizing the appearance of sun damage, fine lines, blemishes, etc., saving you money & time at a spa or doctor’s office. Dr. Gross believes you can do the job at home with peels & scrubs.
My personal fave? 2 T baking soda & warm water to make a paste. Gently rub onto skin, let sit for 5 min. Rinse off. 1 x/week.
4. Play up your lashes.
Another timeless trick is to keep the focus on your peepers. This can be accomplished many different ways but the easiest option is multiple layers of thickening black mascara (add black liner for evening events). For the quickest, most dramatic style: Too Faced‘s new Better Than False Lashes ($35 at Sephora) which uses 2 coats mascara plus a layer of thickening fibers.
5. Go for gleaming locks.
Megashiny strands have always been in style. They make a simple cut seem more chic, show off your color to best effect & boost your confidence. Good hair starts with good nutrition but there are many tricks out there as well. From keratin treatments (at home or in the salon) to drugstore shine enhancers. For extreme dullness - or fuzz – consider Redken‘s new-to-salons Shape Control System. Pricey but the results last up to 4 months.
6. Choose a complex scent.
The more complicated the ‘recipe’ the longer the shelf life. “A fragrance you can wear today and 5 years down the road should be as multilayered & complicated as you are,” says Laura Slatkin, CEO of Nest Fragrances. One of her favorites: Shalimar by Guerlain, which combines opulent floral notes with Oriental-vanilla notes. Other suggestions: Versace Yellow Diamond; L’Eau de Chloe; and Givenchy Dahlia Noir.
Article from More Magazine, April 2012.
