New Year, New You

With a shiny, New Year ahead of us, it’s time we take stock of our beauty routine and get rid of those bad habits in 2016.

After all, 2015 was the year of “just too muchery.” Too much contouring, too much makeup, too much Kardashian.

You get the gist.

Our style team predicts that next year will be all about natural beauty. No need to overdraw your lips, contour your eyelids, or flat iron your hair into submission every day. Celebrate the New Year with a fresh approach to your beauty routine.

Out with the old: Instagram Brows.
In with the new: Tamed, Natural Eyebrows  

Makeup Artist Danielle Forte cringes every time she sees a set of overfilled eyebrows. The thick, Sharpie marker brows were spawned on Instagram and have caught steam. “The heavier filled-in eyebrows that were popular on social media in 2015 need to stay there,” Forte says. “You want to see your natural hair and not a waxy, shiny eyebrow product.”

On Jo: BLOUSE ($48) and EARRINGS by Kopious ($65), both available at Tusc Boutique

Out with the old: Extreme Contouring and Poreless Makeup Coverage
In with the new: Natural-Looking Makeup

Sky-high cheekbones and a chiseled face may be appealing for photo shoots, but the amount of product these routines require is staggering. The makeup coverage often conceals natural freckles or beauty marks and can appear abrasive in person. The New Year calls for a softer application. White under eyes and sideburn-like contour streaks are not the answer. “A natural skin that has a glow and a slight bronze on the cheek is what we need moving forward in 2016,” Forte says.

On Kristine: Limits Fluffy Knit DRESS ($78) and BRACELET ($48), both available at Tusc Boutique; NECKLACE by The Girls Style Boutique ($25), available at Tickled Pink

Out with the old: Bone Straight Tresses
In with the new: Healthy Curls

Straight hair and blowouts were a style of choice for many women last year, but the potential heat damage was enough to make one reconsider this beauty ritual. In 2016, defining your natural curls is not only easier but completely on trend, too. Hair Stylist and Master Educator Felicia Dixon recommends using lightweight products with no alcohol content to achieve definition and maintain moisture.

On Gabrielle: White BLOUSE ($72) and SKORT ($42), both available at Tusc Boutique

Photographer: Sarah Conely, sarahconelyphotography.com
Stylist: Jessica De Vault,  jessicadevault.com
Models: Jo Maye, Gabrielle Goodman, and Kristina Stephens of Directions USA Model and Artist Management
Hair: Felicia Dixon, owner of Hair Tease Salon, www.facebook.com/HairTeaseSalonNC/
Makeup: Danielle Forte, Facebook.com/DanielleForteMakeupArtist
Fashion Assistant: Caitlyn Campagna
Location: 2nd Space Photo Studio, 221 North Second Street