New Year, new you

MANILA, Philippines -The New Year only calls for one thing: a brand- new mindset!

Each year, we are pressured to live up to so many resolutions that we end up disappointing ourselves and never bother trying to gain momentum again.

From getting a brand-new hairdo to a brand-new wardrobe, to losing weight to starting a business; these things take time, money and tons of motivation. How about starting off small so the probability of success is greater?

Let’s take Anj Perez, a busy career woman who rarely has the time nor the budget to nail a new look for 2014. Here’s a doable checklist for you all to get ideas from. All it takes is a shift in perspective, in the name of an overall makeover.

First, identify what you wish to adjust/correct or renew.

1. You want flawless skin.

Rather than piling on concealer and foundation, smooth out your complexion with a silicone-based primer, beforehand, which fills in pores, scars and the like. Try Smashbox Photo Finish.

2. You want a thinner-looking face in an instant.

Matte bronzers are your best tool to contour the features you wish to recede or thin out, like your cheeks, your forehead, nose line and double chin. Try BeneFit blush in Hoola.

3. You want salon-hair treatment for dull, dry strands.

Even on your own, flat ironing hair, rather than curling, is not only easier but makes hair look shinier and healthier. Add serums like Vitress Hair Repair Cuticle Coat to hair strands AFTER ironing from mid-length to tips to enhance shine and coat dry ends.

4. You want a professional studio shoot for your new look.

Never underestimate the power of a gray backdrop and natural light. Beauty magazines mostly do shots against a gray backdrop as this is most flattering.  

Natural light is most ideal when you don’t know how to work with indoor, artificial light. Just look at all the bloggers who use the great outdoors for great photos! So can you!

5. You want to look and be more confident.

Body language speaks volumes even when we are silent. Look at Anj in her “before” photo with closed arms. She appears shy, slouched and unsure.

Then compare that to her pose in the “after” photo, shoulders back with open arms, which loudly spells out presence, confidence and willingness to step out of her comfort zone. We may never know if she feels this way but she surely projects it. And that’s all that matters because confidence is slowly built up from the mind, then body then words and actions.

Though these are temporary quick fixes, they are still doable solutions that are less expensive, convenient and less daunting (until you get to your true end goal).

All it takes is adjusting that focus, that mindset to achieving a newfound you for 2014. So, where do you begin yours today?

Photography by Sean Armenta • Makeup by Bianca S. Valerio • Hairstyling by Eddie mar Cabiltes for L’Oréal Academy • Model: Angelica Perez